Sunday Sunrise Musings

Radio Flyer View of the Neighborhood
March 24, 2018

Sunday's after the change to daylight saving time have taken on a new perspective with the dawn breaking so late. I'm sitting here watching the first rays of dawn break over the neighborhood.

I love the dawn, but I'm not too keen on waiting for it. 

I do get to plan the day and wake up, but the dawn can still be elusive.

Across the Hedgerow
March 24, 2018

Yesterday was a good day for flying. Radio Flyer, my drone, ascended to image the neighborhood and assess the snow cover remaining form the storm. As it turns out, the storm's snow has receded from the area, melted away and become runoff into the streams and rivers. Maybe Spring is about to arrive, finally. 

I know that I need to broaden my drone flights to new territory, but I am still getting comfortable with flying it. With each flight I am trying something new and pushing my limits to help me know how to react when something unexpected happens. Yesterday was height and distance. I lost sight of it when it blended into the sky and had to figure out where it was from my screen display. 

Quote for the Day

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts.
-- President John Adams

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Funny Snow Pictures

Winter meets Summer
Snow on the Mowers
March 21, 2018

During the first day of Spring snow storm on Wednesday, Chris and I had the opportunity to go out to Lowe's for a new door handle. Our lock set broke and it prevented the door from closing without additional effort. Not a good situation. 

Snow on the Spring Plants
March 21, 2018

It was an interesting drive in the middle of the storm.  There wasn't much traffic and the roads were in good condition on the way to the store. Coming home, however, over an inch of snow had fallen during our brief visit and things changed dramatically. The roads were snow covered and slick. 

While at Lowe's, however, I took two images of things that just shouldn't be allowed. Both of them involved snow. They document what happens when Winter meets Springtime on the first full day of Spring. 

The snow on the mowers and Spring plants was an interesting sight. The scene was an example of what is to come meeting what is happening right now.

The snow will be gone soon. Not soon enough.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

A Bright Day

The Neighborhood
March 22, 2018

The Yard
March 22, 2018

A beautiful day dawned yesterday, the day after the storm.

It is amazing how blue the sky looked as the sun rose yesterday. I enjoyed seeing the golden rays illuminate the still naked trees as the day dawned bright.

The snow retreated significantly during the day in a clear victory for the forces of Springtime. 

The ground was saturated as the snow melted, which is what I had hoped for when I oversewed the lawn and put down fertilizer for the season as the storm approached. 

Now all we need are some great 70 degree days! Did I mention that there are none in the 10 day forecast?

I always wanted to be a pilot and now, through the magic of my drone, I can make that a reality on a much more personal level. Yesterday I received the high winds alert warning again. The winds aloft were really buffeting Radio Flyer, but it did great.

It was fun to fly Radio Flyer during the storm and the day after to get some comparison shots. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Dogs in the Snow

Makayla in the Snow

Finnegan After Running in the Snow

Unlike me, my dogs love the snow.

Whenever it snows they rush outside to play in the cold, wet, white stuff. 

I am always amazed at their reactions as they charge out the door and off the steps into the snow. They frolic, yes frolic, through the snow like they have never seen it before. 



I'm sure that if we had snow all year, they would tire of it, but as it is they continue to enjoy the freshness of the newly fallen snow. 

I am glad at least my dogs enjoy the snow, even though I wish that I lived somewhere that it never falls.

Spring is coming soon, I am sure of it.

I have to keep telling myself that.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Flying in the Storm

From the Storm
March 21, 2018

More from the Storm
March 21, 2018

Radio Flyer, my drone, conducted a flight in the falling snow this morning. 

It was interesting because the collision avoidance sensors frequently activated due to the falling snow. 

It was fun flying through the snowflakes and imaging the trees and the yard. Later, I will be flying up the street as the snow is already melting and I am hopeful that this Spring storm is the last of the winter period. It is time for flowers and sunny warmth.

The big snowflakes made the flying interesting, but the flight provided some unique views of the snow on the trees.

I am glad that the leaves had not yet appeared as there likely would have been a lot of tree damage.

It is not 5:30 PM and the storm appears to have spent its energy. Now comes the freezing and the cold!

But then there is the Spring, although temperatures are not forecast to be in the 50's until a week hence, next Tuesday.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

And This is Spring?

Welcome to the first full day of Spring! And we are expecting 4-7 inches of snow. It may even develop into a snowpocalypse! But probably not.

Beginning of the Storm
March 21, 2018

Schools are closed in celebration of the arrival of Spring! Not really. They are closed because the roads are a mess. 

What a way to welcome Spring, with snow.

Two days ago I was outside working the team during baseball practice. Now, it will be until next week until i can do it again.

The local weather continues to remind me why I want to live somewhere that the sun shines and the temperatures are warm. Even though it was cool during my weekend get away to Florida, it was warmer than it has been in the Baltimore region.

Springtime brings such promise, but the weather can really crush those hopes with reality. 

I was thinking about when I will be opening the pool. May is beginning to look like a definite possibility.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Taking the Field

Mike Gathering the Team Before Practice
March 19, 2018

There is a big storm racing towards the Mid-Atlantic region. Hopefully the last gasp of Winter.

GORC Dodgers Take the Field
March 19, 2018

Spring begins today, if you can believe it, at 12:15 PM. Just after noon. 

The weather, however, will definitely be more winter-like during the next couple of days.

A sure sign of Spring, however, is baseball. Last evening the GORC Dodgers took the practice field for the third time and continued their journey developing as baseball players.

There team is actually pretty talented. We have a few pitchers, including Jax, and they have a good sense of how to play defense. It is going to be a great season. It is amazing how quickly practice passes when we are all busy and having fun.

Now, all we need is warmer weather. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - March 19, 2018

1. Spring begins in two days, even though it doesn't seem like it.

Chris at Carroll Park
March 18, 2018

2. Yesterday's weather was a great foretaste of Spring. The temperature made it into the mid-the 50s. 

3. Chris and I snuck out for a quick round of golf yesterday. I had an interesting round, I think I hit every tree on the course with a ball--it was frustrating. 

Around the Smoking Fire Pit
March 18, 2018

4. The evening was pleasant and we tried sitting around the fire pit, but the wood was a bit damp and we were soon overcome with smoke. We headed under the deck for a propane fire pit to finish off happy hour. 

5. Sunday was a good day to get some lawn work done, and I was successful in getting the work done. 

6. The situation in D.C. has become incredible. That any governing is being done is a miracle. Don't forget, there is another government shutdown looming.

7. There is a major winter storm looming, the region should begin panicking soon.

8. How about Syracuse making the March Madness's Sweet 16? Who saw that coming?

Headlines

Poisoning of Russian ex-spy puts spotlight onMoscow’s secret military labs - The Washington Post

Wireless firms seek to preempt local authority to install 5G equipment in neighborhoods - The Washington Post
Disabled Veterans Waited Up to Seven Months for VA to Fix Their Wheelchairs - The Washington Free Beacon

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"There is one other obligation that all of us as citizens must face up to if we are to preserve our freedom: We must restore the security of America. Without that security, survival itself is in doubt." Address Before a Joint Session of the Alabama State Legislature in Montgomery, March 15, 1982

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Despite the Weather . . .

We are a resilient bunch.

With the temperatures rising from an early morning low of 24 degrees into the mid-30's, baseball practice for the GORC Dodgers U10 baseball team was conducted for an hour-and-a-half yesterday. We had a great practice and the boys were really ready for the workouts.

It was cold, but the calm winds made it bearable. 



The temperatures are not expected to improve much this week. It is a very depressing forecast. More cold, ice, snow, and gray skies are in the forecast.

Getting outside despite the cold weather is important. 

Today, there may be some golf in my future. The temperature is expected to get into the 50's and a nine hole round is possible. A short respite form the crappy weather. 

And then there will likely be some yard work accomplished to continue to get ready for the season ahead. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Common Theme--COLD!

Sunset over a Venice, Florida Beach
March 8, 2018

It was a crazy week. Although I traveled the East Coast form Florida to New York, there was one common theme: cold!

Last week at this time I was in Florida and while that should be enough, it was cold in Florida. I go to Florida during March to experience a taste of what is to come when Summer finally breaks here in Maryland. I was disappointed because the temperatures were in the 60's and low 70's--except, of course, for the day I departed when the 80's finally appeared.

Geese in Niagara Falls
March 12, 2018

I did make it to a beach, briefly, while I was in Florida, but it was too cold to stay. Even with a coat on the temperatures were crashing into the 40's and it was just plain cold.

I arrived home after 8PM Sunday night and was on the road for Niagara Falls by 6:30AM Monday morning. If that is not a shock to the system, then I do not know what is.

I really got to experience cold in Niagara Falls. Even the geese were cold!

Leaving Niagara Falls, I returned to Maryland where it was also cold!

It is cold!

The temperature may crawl into the 50's tomorrow, but there are no 70's in sight.

It is 25 degrees outside right now and I have baseball practice in three short hours. 

That means more cold!

I hope it gets warm soon.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD