February Ends

The old snow record from1911 was broken this year. The month of February
 had more snow than other on record!! Year to date we are ahead of the average by about 12 inches. No wonder we have thought this was a long winter. Looks like spring temperatures for the week. Great!!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

If only the calendar said December. Then maybe we could appreciate the beauty of this ice and snow. Unfortunately it is nearing the end of February and we are getting tired of snow. And the fact that we finally had warm enough temperatures last week to melt most of the snow gave us a touch of Spring Fever. But alas we have no say over the weather. So we must endure and look for the beauty. Spring will come.

Toledo Casino

I hadn't driven into Toledo for the last couple of weeks so I was surprised today when I saw the progress on the Toledo Casino. (which is really in Rossford). I thought it might be interesting to take a couple of pictures and follow the building of the casino until opening, which I think is scheduled for sometime early next year.The pictures from today are not great because I just stuck my head out the car window and took them with my phone. Hopefully I can get some better ones from across the river where the building actually looks nice. The construction trucks don't add much either.  The weather today is so warm we are having a major snow melt...hence the big puddles that do serve to reflect the construction.

Blue Spruce

Time for another walk in the backyard and a look at one variety of the evergreen trees. There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs. An evergreen tree is a tree that has leaves (needles)in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous trees, which completely lose their foliage during winter.

Blue spruce trees typically reach a height of 30'-60' and spread out 10'-20'. They are very slow growing but have strong branches making it a good choice for Christmas trees. Their silvery-blue needles are prickly to the touch and aromatic. The blue spruce needles are four sided, curved, almost square, 1/2 to 1 inch long. The needles on a spruce are actually the leaf of the tree.

The pine cone of the spruce is an organ on the tree that contains the reproductive structures. The familiar woody cone is the female cone, which produces seeds. The cones are slender cylindrical, 2 -4 inches long and 1-2 inches broad when closed, opening to 3 inches broad. They have thin, flexible scales 20–24 mm long, with a wavy margin. They are reddish to violet, maturing pale brown 5–7 months after pollination.

Mature Blue Spruce

Blue Spruce Bark

Blue Spruce Open Cone

Blue Spruce Needles

Happy Birthday Dad

On February 7, 1925 my Dad was born and so today we are celebrating his 86th birthday. For an 86 year old I would have to say he is in great shape. I am sure there are many things he feels have changed and there are activities he doesn't participate in anymore, but overall he is still very active. Mom won't let him climb on the roof anymore and I have to agree that is probably a good thing. As mom has slowed down Dad has become a great cook and baker. We are enjoying his creations this week. Mike and I will be here to make sure he enjoys a day of celebration.

Happy 86th birthday Dad.

Also a few clouds for Jessica today. The sun broke through the fog while we were out on the beach.