MORNING ROLL CALL! January-March 2021 CLOSED

[DaveMcK]

Spoiler

Closed

Good morning everyone on this Friday morning January 1, 2021

Good morning to everyone on the Front Porch on this January 1, 2021!

Ringing in 2021 at San Filippo Neri Hospital in Rome. Credit...Antonio Masiello/Getty Images

A difficult year comes to a muted end

Most places in the world, from a virtually coronavirus-free New Zealand to an Ireland in lockdown, have now greeted the arrival of 2021.

In Auckland, a fireworks show and parties went on as usual. The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus first emerged, enjoyed boisterous festivities. But in general, celebrations were muted — or virtual — as the world bade good riddance to a difficult year. In most cities, there were no roaring crowds, no gatherings for fireworks shows and, let’s hope, no strangers kissing at midnight.

Though Madrid eased its curfew for the night from midnight to 1:30 a.m., people were told to stay at home as much as possible, to eat the traditional New Year’s Eve grapes while watching events on TV (and gathering in groups of no more than six). London’s Big Ben, largely silent in recent years as its clock tower underwent renovations, rang 12 times at midnight. And in Paris, the only people roaming the Champs-Élysées were some of the 100,000 police officers deployed around the country to prevent crowds from gathering.

[MsStretch]

I'm so excited.   Got email today telling me to "Come on down!"   It appears my health district has moved to 1b.  My first vaccine is this Thursday! 

Gee, never thought I'd be so excited about getting a shot.

[Frozenoem]

@MsStretch 

Congrats you begin to walk amongst the living once more.

Still have many 70-100+ year olds ahead of me.

Eventually will get my call and run to Hospital for shot. Think I’m avoiding the J&J at Walgreens doesn’t work to hot for new Covid strain, and that ones still for 70+ year olds.

Still digging out from storm, needed a fire for warmth, and came in.

Monday little storm coming, and my left side is saying bigger for weekend next.

The first floors are buried finally, looks like Winter is here, despite what ground hog said.

Froze

[wvgirlforever]

@MsStretch I totally understand your excitement in getting this vaccine.  I was the same when I got mine on 1/25.  Now I need to make an appointment for this month around 2/22.  😁

[DaveMcK]

[Frozenoem]

Morning Tuesday it’s snowing, fire is going, temp is 11* maybe.

Snow will continue through tonight perhaps.

Spent the night typing to old AARPers until 3:00 am, most words and subjects I’ve thought of since March lockdowns began. Yes, that means I snapped missed conversing or even typing on iPhone , awaiting rolling blackouts.

Hope all are enjoying today if you’re in the snowbelt😀 seem to have 2 more storms coming my way Friday and Sunday, the snow drought has ended.😇Sunday looks fun.👍

Hey, it’s different and Maine weather, sometimes relieves boredom.👍

Suddenly happy my food delivery came last night, as I gaze out on snow covered roads.And bucket loader or town or DOT plows going down street, signaling the socialists are coming.Turned in for night with 40 mph gusts.

Oh yeah , I saw this last night and suddenly wonder a.) will it post B.) can I use the tractor tire in garage and C.) will it be comfy.

Life of Riley 

Froze

[catwoman500]

Hi there, Peeps!

Well, we sure got hammered and it’s still snowing off and on. I was able to make a path to the street and get the newspaper, but that did me in. Ice grippers worked well, but had to leave the cane at the door since a cane in one hand and shovel in the other rarely works. Best part is that we didn't lose power!

Maybe tomorrow I can try to dig at the huge knee high icy plow deposits at the end of the driveway. Then clear around the car and then do the car and….. ugh!

@Frozenoem … love the swing! 😸

"Oh, just what I need."

[Frozenoem]

Hasn’t stopped yet here constant snow since Monday 11:00 pm , 1-2” per hour.

Need to gas up and blow my garage entry out, and porch before door is blocked at least 16” at noon.👍probably more, left an arc in the snow from screen door when I looked out.

Just charging phone, and blowing out today, should stop by 9 pm tonight maybe later, then comes more 40 mph wind gusts.🤣

Sun is down enough and woods for backdrop you might see Paradise in a blizzard, we’ll see. After the charge shooting out window while charging goes against everything I ever learned.

@catwoman500 

I know the feeling Re:cane and implement for clearing snow. Couldn’t find anywhere to put holster for cane on snowblower. Lawnmower ez peasy.

No such luck on snowblower.

Froze

Yep, picture is too large guess I’ll downsize on laptop later.

[MsStretch]

@Frozenoem , oh yeah, my inner child and the furkids are having a ball in the icepack...er... snow.  Last night, slid on out to feed the kids and thaw out their water and Willie Mae naturally assumed time for walkabout.  Cleared a trail down to a tree and a spot under said tree for a pee break (there is always an underlying reason for a walkabout) and she disappeared!  Didn't see her glowing eyeballs in my headlamp.  What the... ?!  She was on the other side downslope a bit where I guess the ground was a little more workable.  She is fastidious in 'hiding the evidence' and it takes her forever! 🙄  Being relieved, she had a burst of energy and was ready for some serious cavorting, but I was done with the slide/shuffleabout in the dark and the icy snow falling on my Klondike-covered head.

One perk about getting older is how well the joints can predict the weather.  Didn't know how accurate they could be.  😁  

[Frozenoem]

@MsStretch 

Learned a more fitting way of predicting snow this year, predictor had been back giving out for blizzards and snow.

Now, after PT for months. It’s left side locks up is blizzard or 12+, right side rain, neck is crap shoot.

Just discovered neck stiffness through weather man, entire west side of Maine,straight up to Caribou is snow 18”+.

I’ve broken too many parts and pieces through the years.But, those creaks and groans of my bones prove I still live, with never a tree named after me.

Snowmobile hits tree and causes more damage to rider or sled, Tree is named after you, by companions.

Froze

[catwoman500]

"Febpurrary!" Love it!

Hello, All! Happy February, or Febpurrary if you prefer. 😻

@Frozenoem …yes, I did find that GS cookie link yesterday and first thing this AM I ordered my cookies. YAY! Sure glad you are prepared for your weather conditions!

@MsStretch …hope your fur kids are grateful for you endangering your life. LOL. Glad you found Willie Mae.

No outings for me today. Neighborhood looks like a frozen ghost town.

We have a mix of everything going on here. 28 degrees with a wind chill of 14. The worst is yet to come. A nor’easter is meeting up and mixing with the snowstorm that started yesterday.

I swear someone used the snow blower on my driveway last night, but you’d never know it. Was rudely awakened at 4 AM with pellets of ice pinging my window.

I see my newspaper at the end of the driveway but am afraid to brave the elements to try to retrieve it. Guessing my neighbor either didn’t go to work today or the paper hadn’t been delivered by the time she left because she always brings it up on her way to work.

All of you in the path of this "weather," take care!

[MsStretch]

@catwoman500 , gotta laugh at the grumpy cat in the snow.  Georgio (one of the shed kitties) loves the snow, but Willie Mae, his mom, not so much.  She's staying hunkered down in her hut with heated pad.  Georgio is also sporting a much furrier, longer-haired coat than Willie Mae.

I think it's mostly down to a mix now.  Neighbor was out playing with Bobcat earlier, so driveway looks good, not that I intend on heading out anytime soon.  In fact, a nap is sounding pretty good. 

[RosemaryF433825]

@MsStretch   Mmmmm.  A winter nap with a warm blanket and snuggled up to a warm kitty.  Mmmm.

[LaDolceVita]

Everyone in the storm's path stay safe!    We have a cold and foggy day here to look forward to but no slippery stuff.

[wvgirlforever]

@LaDolceVita Looks like the storm that we experienced here over the weekend has now made it to the east coast.  We got several inches on top of what we already had in the Chicago area.  Today though, the sun is shining & the snow is piled up everywhere.

@Frozenoem where do you live that it's so cold & you look forward to the 12-19" of snow being of insulated value?  That sounds like living far out of any town.

Hope everyone has a great day and stay safe.

I got my first shot for Covid last week and will have to call county health department to set up next one in a few weeks for this month.  So happy to get it and really didn't have any side effects.😎

[Frozenoem]

NW corner of Maine , 20 minutes from Mt.Washington in NH, and 20 minutes from Sunday River Ski Resort, where moose, deer and bear frequent the town and backyahd.

Paradise on Earth not going crazy yet, just said that 41 years back and still think it is.👍

First year up here in rented house not to happy, 2nd year in bought house, better. Now, it’s heaven on earth.

Although Roo may have different opinion @Rosemary and numbers.

I like country vs city pop700, vs 100 up the road. Or pop 10,000 down the road.

I’m in the 12-18” band of dark red, near Brrrrlin, NH and Rangeley, ME.🤣

Froze

[Frozenoem]

First warm day in week, woke up to temp of 1*F, and turned on furnace set at 40*. Think I set it too low last night.

Have 12-19” coming and looking forward to it, insulating value.Haven’t had to dig down to oil fill since last year, and have been capable of 👀 ng out south Windows all winter🤣.

My Kerosene lamps filled, LED as well, Battery USB power pack for cell charged.

Think I’m ready to hunker down, just need to bring in some firewood to thaw.

Have fun if in path of snow, shoveling in moderation, pray for powder or neighbor with snowblower or plow or town plow and 2feet in bylaws.

Snowseal‘Ed my Sorels, REI’d my Bean parka (waterproof ER), think I’m ready for anything.🙏

Even cleaned the tracks on garage door in case of more snow, don’t want to jump out 2nd floor Windows because of snow against storm doors, got old when I was 65.

Now, I must act more mature👍Think I’ll get some food in and then I’m Golden.

@MsStretch Allow your inner child to play on the snow, keeps you young at heart and cussing is allowed in slipping.

Least here it’s considered OK and normal.🤣

Froze

[MsStretch]

❄Snowy❄ Sunday here in Virginia.  First significant snow of the season.  OK, very pretty, but I'm done, it can all go away now.

@LaDolceVita , maybe the new mutations affecting more peeps?  South Africa strain getting closer to home here.  SC, and now MD reported its first case.  I've gone to wearing 2 masks most of the time.  Particularly in indoor situations.  So close to vaccine and yet so far away.  Come too far to throw caution to the wind now.

Stay safe and vigilant.

[Frozenoem]

I’ve been waiting for this storm awhile.  6-12” to fall in Maine and break the sub-zero weather.

Got my HillbillyWeatherman alert this morning, soon will see which band I get 🤣.

Next week looks fun might even practice with snowshoes for a change, beats the penguin walk for ice.

Froze

[catwoman500]

Hi there, Everyone!

@MsStretch ...snow has started here, too. Looks like 2 systems are coming together to make it worse.

@LaDolceVita ...yes, we have to keep eyes and ears open for the first opportunity to get that vaccine.

Grocery store was like a zoo this morning. All the "French toast" people were out in full force. 🙄 Not sure why they think they will be snowed in for more than a day or two.

I was just thinking that it should be Girl Scout Cookie time. Wonder how to get cookies since the troops won't be setting up stands at the stores during COVID. Wish I knew a scout, but I don't. I'll Google and see if there is a way to get some.

Meanwhile...keeping fingers crossed that this storm won't be as bad as they say.

Everybody stay safe!

"It's too cold and I hate snow!"

[RosemaryF433825]

@catwoman500   So getting a chuckle out of your kitty pics!  Thanks for posting them!!

[Frozenoem]

@catwoman500 

Girl Scout cookies in pandemic you’re covered, they ship to house.

Follow the link🤣

https://www.girlscouts.org/en/cookies/share-joy.html

Froze

[DaveMcK]

February is the Second Month of the Year on the calendar and has 28 days commonly but 29 days in Leap Year. Each month of the year has its merits. In February the month's main emphasize is the arrival of a Valentine's Week. It comes after January and comes before the month of March. February is also known as Valentine Month and provides us Passion, Faithfulness, Respect and Sentiment and also this Month has Semi Cold Weather. Free Download Goodbye January Welcome February Images from here.

[DaveMcK]

Good morning to everyone on the Front Porch! I have an appointment for my first Covid-19 vaccination on Monday at 4:40 PM at a clinic near our retirement center. 

Hoping everyone has a restful weekend. Stay safe and stay well! 

We are being told that we  are going to have another snowstorm starting Saturday afternoon and ending Sunday evening. 

[RosemaryF433825]

Good Morning, Dave!

We are expecting another snowstorm starting shortly after noon here, too.  First rain, turning to sleet, then ice, then snow for the next 24 hours.  Then more snow the middle of this coming week.  At this rate, my poor little crocus won't be up until June!   😥 💐

I miss my flowers....

[Frozenoem]

@DaveMcK 

@RosemaryF433825 

Having a temporary warm up from -14 to 12 and sunny.

We will be getting same snowfall totals if it stays brisk, roll of the 🎲 🎲 on turning to rain.

Snow is happiness unless it blows, rain not so nice if it turns to ice.

Brought in 🪵 wood, just in case of heavy wet snow vs dry. Miss the insulation value of snow around the house and garage.

Have fun time to play with old stereos, have hit the late 70’s to 90’s pile and need to unload them, after cleaning and fixing them.

The 60’s and early 70’s, I’m keeping, if I can build shipping crates for speakers 80-100 lb towers.

Froze

[LaDolceVita]

Hi folks.  Rainy Sunday morning here.  Reading bad news about the virus, seems that most infections are now among kids.  Is that  because they are intermingling more than the rest of the population?    I have given up watching the numbers but looks like I am compelled to start back.  

[Frozenoem]

-3* and cloudy, great morning, afternoon.

Cracked a cap, and then had my cell stop working. Reset phone with hard reboot👍. Fixed that nasty static on my landline with a new filters, everything good except crown.

Trying to get dental approved during a pandemic, with dentist sick isn’t happening today.

In lighter news 19,000 doses of questionable vaccine are now allowed to be used, they were shipped at too cold temperature.

 But there still good.

Time to play outside, feel my warm pants coming. And discovering if it was temporary crown or permanent. Breathing should tell me.

Froze

[MsStretch]

@RosemaryF433825 , thanks for reminding me.  I still have to get my second shingles shot.  Got my first in October.  Yes, it sucked.  Got flu shot at same time in same arm and couldn't figure out if 2 shots in same arm caused the soreness and redness, then someone clued me in. 🙄  Luckily my recovery time was not as long as yours.

Speaking of ice, just did the 2-step slide and shuffle outside dealing with the shed kitties.  Freezing rain/snow mixture going on and it's miserable and dangerous out there.  Kids running hither and yon getting soggy and not liking it while I try to corral them all to their respective shelters with some treats. 🙄  Lordy, these guys are a spoiled bunch, for sure.

[catwoman500]

Happy Thursday, Porch Peeps!

I see I have a lot to catch up with. Sure wish I'd get notices that people have posted.

@LaDolceVita ...Luckily that ice forecasted wasn't bad. Some ice pebbles early that morning, but just rain by the time I left for my appointment on Tuesday. And yes, I have a pair of ice grippers in the house and one in my car...just in case!

@RosemaryF433825 ...Yep...the first shingles shot pain last a little over a week. The second one is not so bad. Shingles are worse, and I just had a mild case! 😒

@Frozenoem ...For sure the vaccine protocol is so messed up and willy nilly. They say we are eligible and then have no vaccines to even sign up for. Hoping the J&J one is approved soon and by spring we can get that one which is only a one and done shot.

@MsStretch ...please be careful. Dance in the house, not on ice! 😺

@DaveMcK ...Glad you are getting your shot. Hoping that you don't have to wait for hours in a long line! 😾

Time for some coffee!

[RosemaryF433825]

Oh my gosh!   Those kitties are sooooooo. cute!   Love your poster!  : )