Believe it or not, my impatiens are still blooming.
They are a little leggy, yes, and not every plant has a bloom. But most of them do. I had a wild thought: will it be at all possible to keep them going until spring?
That would be a first. Whatever happens, I am enjoying the blooms in the midst of this trying winter of 2014. We had snow yesterday and more is expected tonight. The temperatures are frigid. The drips from the faucet are going much of the day.
This is when I call our house The Bunker. It feels like we’re in some outpost, far from civilization, sort of like the movie, Ice Station Zebra. Even getting to the mailbox is a battle with the wind and the falling snow and the ice.
I imagine many of you feel exactly as we do. This has been a tough winter and it ain’t over yet.
The scene outside at the moment is quite beautiful, with blue skies and the sun shining on the freshly fallen snow. I do love the light of winter, that special light that comes from sun and snow. And, of course, Scoutie loves the snow. Yesterday she was outside for a while and when she was ready to head back to the house, she loped along the path we had shoveled, a big old smile on her face.
So when I complain about the snow, I remember my little girl who has arthritis and groans with the effort it takes to lie down. But when she’s out in the snow, she’s like a puppy again. She’s transformed.
That makes me very happy.
A reminder: Tomorrow is the Linky Party for the January edition of our Christmas Critter Felt Along. The links will remain open for five days. We’d love to have you join us. I will have the party post up and active by 6 pm (EST) tonight. Hope to see you there!
Happy Sunday.
Hello Claudia! I feel like I’ve joined the ranks of the living again – January has NOT been kind to me (thus the lack of comments I’ve left). Yes, we are expecting snow as well, but (fingers crossed) I don’t think much. But the bitter, bitter temperatures are way worse to deal with than any of the snow we’ve had. What was a ‘maybe’ project has become a ‘definite’ project in our little house as we have decided to replace the three very drafty bedroom windows (each bedroom has 1 window). Stay warm in New York! You and I are in very similar winter weather locales!
Donna
Have you been sick, Donna? What a January we have had. Stay warm yourself, my friend.
Leave it to our beloved pets to find the WOW in life instead of the WOE
Thank goodness for their delightful outlook on life!
Ooooh, a bit of spring! How pretty. This winter has been waaaaay too long already. Although, my “Bud E.” is enjoying it just like Scout-he has a bit of arthritis also and I noticed he loves to be outside. I want it to warm up so I can get out and go for a hike at Minnewaska :)
Too cold to hike right now!
Same weather here and my dogs are the same; especially Lily who hates to go out in the summer but in wintertime with her long hair she’s frisky as can be.
This morning, with the sun shining and NO WIND, even though it is only 9 degrees, seemed almost balmy to me when I went out to shovel and fill bird feeders etc. Well the wind will be back, unfortunately, over the next few days. My little unheated galley kitchen will have to have the faucet dripping then, as well as the bathroom ( same situation )
If I work on any projects for the dollhouse on the kitchen island, the constant drip-drip is like Chinese Water Torture!
The little things we can find to make us happy are always there! I just need to remember to ‘see’ them! Thanks for the reminder. I have missed out on making the first of the felt ornaments, but hope to join in and catch up next month. I had trouble printing the patterns for some reason. AW, I’ll figure it out. Hugs, LInda
If you have trouble printing the patterns, send an email to Dawn and she’ll fix you up!
I will do that! I so want to join in the fun of making these little critters!
We are in the middle of another storm right now. I don’t think the kids will ever return to school here, as for me I am staying put unless I absolutely have to go out. I bet you could cut the impatiens back and they would be just fine.
Too. much. snow. We have more coming tonight – probably what you’re getting right now!
Morning! Regarding your impatiens, I’m wondering if you could pinch them back…and they might reward you with full and luscious plants. You can do that with a lot of annuals…don’t know about impatiens though. What is it about dogs and snow…I remember my dachshund Rusty, was always frisky when he played in the snow…even as he aged. We braved the Saturday crowds to get a few items from Costco and the grocery store…it was unbelievably crowded! We got about 5 inches or so this morning…lots of blowing and drifting is expected. Polar Vortex Part Deux is about to commence! Stay warm…it’s gonna get cold outside! ;)
I was thinking of doing that, Donna. I may pinch them back sometime this week.
Claudia,
I have my two ornaments made….actually, made two sets that I am giving for gifts….I have never tried to link a photo…so, if I can figure that out…I will join in.
My african violets are my only blooms and they need divided:)
Thanks.
Terri
Can you write a post with the photo of the ornament and then copy the URLand paste it in the linky box? That should take readers right to your photo.
I will try, but I am not real good at computer “stuff”….I do know how to get my photos to desktop now and hopefully will be as simple as it sounds:)
Thanks, Claudia.
Terri
I remember days spent sitting near a sunny window – stitching, reading or just enjoying the warmth. It was a small respite from wintry chills. Our dogs would be lying outside in their kennel runs, warm and toasty and absorbing every last ray of light. We all waited for summer to return with all the wonderful outdoor smells we missed in the winter. Just like Scout, they loved “snow plowing” with their noses and playing in the white stuff.
Stay safe and warm as the temperatures drop again, Claudia. It’s good to know that we’re always promised a glorious Spring to follow the bleak Winter.
xoxo
Donna and Tag
Good old Scout. What a happy girl! You once showed a video of you and Don in the kitchen; maybe one of Scout playing?
-Karen
Sweet image of Scout smiling in the snow. Our greyhounds do that, too. With not much fur I am always surprised they love the snow so much. We have tried coats on them, but they stand like statues and won’t move. That is kind of funny, too.
When a pot stops flowering, try pinching the impatiens back at the node ~ almost to where they are even w/ the top of your pot. They will reward you with more branching out into a more full pot, too. I bet they will be beautifully flowered this summer. We are wintering over about 10 or 12 Geraniums and they are all doing really well. Love getting more than one season out of them!! My succulents look wonderful, too. Oh, spring, where art thou??
We had another 5 inches over night. Now the winds have picked up and the horrid below zero temps and horrendous wind chills are here for the next 3 days. My husband teaches PT and they are hoping they won’t still be in school for the 4th of July!!!! Just want it all to stop!!! Soon!!!!!
Woohoo it’s a balmy 30 degrees here today in Maryland, heat wave compared to the 5 degrees or less we have been seeing in the morning. My Lucy (she is a doxie) loves to be outside when its warm, she helps me in the garden and she patrols the whole yard hunting for the rabbits that like to visit, so I have to keep a close eye on her to make sure she doesn’t catch one! Seeing the impatiens warms me up reminding me spring is on its way! Can’t wait to start making the ornaments, been downloading the patterns, now to just find time to make them. Stay warm and give Scout a hug for me!!
Amazing that your impatiens are still blooming! We are having the same weather as you. Woke up to a few more inches of snow this morning. Temps will be plunging…-40+ wind chill factor tomorrow and Tues. I worry so much about Tim walking 1/2 mile to and from his college campus in this weather.
I know folks in Alaska that have impatiens as houseplants and they bloom so much they are referred to as ‘blooming idiots’ up there!
I love to see dogs who pounce and play in the snow..at least someone enjoys it..lol..The impatiens look pretty..so nice to see flowers blooming in this horrible weather..If you pinch them back and it works I think I will give it a try next Winter..I miss my flowers so much..:-(
It is almost 60 degrees out today in the St Louis area. Tomorrow it is going to be all of 12 degrees with a wind chill of -25. Good grief. No wonder there is so much sickness now. The only good thing about the cold is maybe some of the summer pests will freeze and we won’t be inundated with them this summer. Like the fleas, ticks and mosquitos. Let’s hope.
I remember having to let the water drip in the faucet when I was young. Lived in an old farmhouse without much insulation. We also opened the cabinet doors for under the kitchen sink.
Stay warm. pam
Wouldn’t it be wild IF – despite this Winter’s bone-chilling record-setting cold – your impatiens actually did make it? Right through to Spring? That would HAVE to be a sign – of something. Or maybe a celestial reward for having to put up with all this Winter’s weather? Glad to hear that Scoutie loves the snow – good that someone does at least. And it looks like there’s going to be at least two more months of all this fun for her to enjoy!!
Hi Claudia!!! Yes, it is a tedious winter this year! The winds and the frigid temperatures are really not happy making, and at it is snowing over here in New Hampshire right now. Supposed to get 2 or 3 more inches, which of course is nothing compared to many winters but nonetheless it shall add to what has been accumulating over the last several snow falls. It is terribly drafty here in the old barn and Raphael my poor kitty is what I call “down in the trenches” close to the floor where the drafts are worst. I end up carrying him around the house with me, which he is quite content with as I’m warm and he’s off the floor, LOL! Well, he is a cuddle bug anyway so it’s pretty neat to have him and his little fur coat so close! :D
Hmmm, I have never done felting but I have been getting an itch to give it a try. Is it hard to learn?
Well, I’m off to make some hot chocolate and try to warm up a bit… Brrrrrrrrrrr
Hugs always,
Beth P
This winter really has been a challenge, Claudia! I’ll be glad when the primroses are blooming again. Your impatiens is so pretty. I hope it lasts until you can put them out again.
So nice to hear about Scoutie being a playful puppy in the snow. Enjoy her.
Please keep my beagle puppy Lolo in your thoughts and prayers. She went in for her spay a month ago but it was cancelled due to extremely high liver enzymes (thankfully we did the pre-anethesia bloodwork or she might not be with us today!). She has been on a supplement – was tested again two weeks ago and the enzymes had dropped drastically but still far from normal. We tested again last week and the enzyme levels were higher – but still lower than the first time. The vet suspects a liver shunt – and Miss Lolo will be having a Biles Acid Test tomorrow. I am so scared and can now really relate to how pet mamas like yourself feel when our babies may not be well.