Groundhog Day 2010

I dreamed that night that there were flowers growing under the snow, and the next day my Tai Chi instructor said that she could smell Spring in the air; so, even though we were hit with a blizzard on Groundhog Day, the 8th straight day of snowfall here in Germany, I also believe that this was this Winter's last big blow.

Here is one glimpse of the big storm of 2010, as reported by me, and yes, I know I misspelled Groundhog Day in the title. Please overlook the brain fart and enjoy the images.

Winter sheep

We pass these sheep every day on the way to and from work. Their little field lies at the entrance to our street. I wouldn't go so far as to say they recognize our car, but they seemed interested today as we drove slowly by on the very slick snow-covered road, as though to say, "We aren't concerned, but really?"

Ladybug and First Snow

Winter is here, not officially, of course, but the first snow has fallen and all creatures great and small have sought shelter. Earlier in the week, I found a ladybug on a glass drying on the dish rack in the kitchen. When I gently tipped it off the glass onto my hand, it lay there on its back waving its miniscule little legs in the air. Ah, good, it was alive.

I moved it a very short distance and dropped it on the African violet that sits  on the counter next to the rack, wondering what circumstances had let it to settle on such an unforgiving and useless surface as a glass, when next to it was a perfectly good plant with soft dark leaves. That will remain a mystery. I checked back later. No sign of the ladybug. Hopefully, she is deep within the world bound by the plant and its pot and will emerge again come Spring.