Allergy Season – ND #106

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Lisa Weikel 2 Comments

Budding Weeping Willow (yesterday – when the sky was blue!) – Photo: L. Weikel

Allergy Season

Well, tonight’s post is going to be short. I have a headache behind my eyes that only seems to be getting worse as the night goes on. I’m pretty sure it’s because, like it or not, allergy season has arrived. I can tell it’s allergies because my feather-light wire-framed glasses are leaving indentations on the bridge of my nose. Ugh.

Not only are a plethora of flowers joyfully springing forth, the culprits of my misery are the trees that are blooming. It seems early to me to see the buds bursting out in all their chartreuse and burgundy splendor. (Different trees, different colors, just to be clear.)

Add to That

As we walked earlier this evening, Karl and I thought we’d heeded the weather forecast. But alas, it started raining when we were just a little past halfway around our walk-around. (Of course!) The gloomy, low ceiling of rippling charcoal colored clouds were depressing as it is. But then the wind picked up and started whipping around us, making the raindrops feel especially aggressive.

Even Princess, Middle, and Liddle had taken cover, snuggling into their warm and dry beds of hay. Meanwhile, the four of us plugged along as quickly as we could, not only getting wet and cold but also feeling the stuff from the trees being blown right into our faces. The only up-side to walking during allergy season is the pure and unadulterated joy I experience when I wash my face with a steaming hot washcloth when I walk in the door. Aaaaah.

I’d like to think that if allergy season is arriving early, it’ll also abate earlier as well. Shh. Let me live with my delusions a little bit longer.

Tonight

As I’m sitting here now, I can hear the wind again picking up and pelting our windows with raindrops. There will probably be a lot of buds littering the lawn tomorrow morning, too.

Oooh, I just checked my Weather Channel app – it’s 38 degrees out but feels like 31. Yep. It’s raw out there. Stay warm – and try not to let the outside world bring you down.

(T+106)

Plausible Explanation – Day 958

Posted on June 27, 2021June 27, 2021 by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment

Photo: L. Weikel

Plausible Explanation

Ever have one of those days when you wake up with a headache? That’s never a good sign – particularly if there’s no ‘good’ reason to do so. Not that imbibing the night before is a good reason. But it’s at least a plausible explanation, albeit one that calls into question your choices.

The only explanation I can come up with for my headache, which sadly has persisted all day and is actually getting worse again now, is the sudden onslaught of excessive heat and humidity.

Really, though? Yeah, it’s unpleasant here in eastern PA at the moment. But it’s nothing like the hell Portland, Oregon is living through. Portland broke its heat record today by reaching 108 degrees. That’s gross no matter where you live. But in the Pacific Northwest. What!?

And tomorrow they’re looking at a predicted high of 115 degrees. We’re not talking Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, folks. This is not good.

Walked Anyway

In spite of my headache I still managed to get a walk in today. I waited longer than usual to set out; so long, in fact, that Spartacus was almost begging me to go himself.

Naturally, as soon as we set out a squall appeared on the horizon. It bore down on us remarkably quickly and I made the executive decision to stay the course.

It poured for approximately a minute. Just enough to cool us both down. We didn’t even get drenched, as we were sheltered enough by some trees to only get hit by about half the drops raining down upon us.

At least we were rewarded with a rainbow. It’s the first one I’ve seen in a couple months.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow’s supposed to be hotter here, too. Not as hot as Portland, but hot for June 27^th.

If we’re paying attention, it sure seems the dominoes are starting to fall. You know, the climate change dominoes that most people in power have been paid by special interests for decades to ignore.

Pretty soon it will be too late. I hope it isn’t already.

(T-153)

A Short One – Day 885

Posted on April 15, 2021April 15, 2021 by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment

Weeping Willow Blossoming – Photo: L. Weikel

A Short One

Tonight’s blog post is going to be a short one. I’m in the midst of being felled by an onslaught of tree pollen.

It’s hard to keep my eyes open this evening, and it’s not just a function of being tired – although that’s a part of it. My fatigue is merely a symptom.

My head is throbbing yet again and another reason I can’t keep my eyes open is because of the sensation of a knotted rope behind them. Every time I spent any amount of time outside today, when I came back inside I could feel the sensation of pollen clinging to my face and the faint buzz in my ears that’s always a tell-tale sign of allergies afoot.

I’ll admit, it’s hard to concentrate on anything at the moment. Everything became exponentially worse after our longer walkabout (4 miler) tonight. We actually tried to get in a shorter walkaround (2 miler) this morning, when we weren’t sure whether the rain would hold off later in the afternoon.

That means we managed to get in 5.5 miles today. No, we didn’t make it all the way around on the shorter walk because, of course, it started drizzling only about half a mile in.

Willows, Elm, and Ash

Maple, Juniper, and Alder. We’ve got all of these heavy-hitters not only on or near our property but perhaps even more importantly also lining our path as we walk through the countryside. What a double-edged sword the springtime can wield! The beauty of the lime green buds sprouting in every direction is such an affirmation of life and new growth. And yet.

Well, clearly I’m having a hard time thinking or writing about anything beyond my own miserable self. So I will spare you any further details.

In the meantime, please also enjoy this photo of a Goldfinch showing us a little feather in front of a lovely magnolia blossom.