Day 1.085: Pick up sticks

It has been a glorious Spring day today. We started the day (after Saturday Breakfast of course) with a trip to an open day at the complex where I work. The kids found a few things to interest themselves with (free popcorn amongst them) and I think Exile #2 enjoyed having a look around. We left while things were going well and went in search of some lunch.

When we returned I decided to spend some time raking left-over fallen leaves (those that fell just before the first snow, or since then). Exile #3 elected to help (so did Exile #4 briefly at least) and while I raked, she picked up sticks - she was quite pleased with the pile she created as you can probably detect. We wondered why there was a concentration of fairly straight sticks in one area until we remembered that we had put them there. She pointed out that it's much easier to find sticks when there isn't a blanket of snow over everything. Very true, but that's when you need them most.

Day 1.084: Popcorn, rock, yawn

We have had a packed evening. I rushed home to have tea with the whole family and get things set up for Rock Band night. Then we all trooped off to school for the 'First Annual' school dance - there was a live band and two callers and a fair amount of inexpert dancing. Also a lot of running around. And eating popcorn and sno-cones (slush-puppie in a paper cone). E5N1 enjoyed joining in with the clapping during this number - Exile #2, Exile #3 and Exile #4 can all be seen in the background.

At the end of the dance, we rushed back to find Rock Band night already under way - and what a night it was - some valiant performances and rave reviews for our Friday-night band: Killasaurus Monday.

By the end of the night (11.30pm), we were all quite tired but still having lots of fun. By the time we had cleared up ready for Saturday breakfast it was past midnight. Then Exile #4 made a surprise and rather bleary-eyed appearance downstairs - she went back to bed without much persuasion though, and now it's time for me to do the same.

Day 1.083: The O.C.

Not Orange County - either the one in California where the show is set or the one elsewhere in New York where the moustachioed ones make the crazy bikes. No, this is Exiles in New York's Operations Centre (Center?). As far as suggestions that I do things (trips to Japan, snow clearance...) just to have something to write about and so to further my blog-war campaign against Albaniana and others - that is an outrageous slur on my character.

On the other hand, maybe I should start, then maybe I wouldn't be reduced to taking pictures of the computer on its new desk and trying and failing to find something interesting to say about it.

Day 1.082: Full Spring ahead

The thing about the long drawn out end to winter here is that when the plants finally decide it's time to start growing again, they don't waste any time about it. This morning the grass that had started looking green yesterday was looking even greener - at least one tree in our yard has leaf-buds that can be discerned easily from inside the house. Considering how amazed I was by such signs of Spring on my trip down to Maryland this time last week - it has all happened very quickly. Of course I need to keep in mind that we had the snowploughs out on April 16th last year - although by 22nd I was wearing shorts.

Canada geese have also been appearing lately - one of my first sightings was on the first day of Spring when I sadly missed the chance to photograph a few standing on a still-frozen pond. There was very little processing required to make this picture - the world was still rather colourless back on Sunday when I took it.

You may have noticed the 'listen now' buttons - thanks to the clever people at Odiogo, you can now have my words read to you. Whether anyone will be subscribing to the daily Exiles in New York podcast is rather doubtful - but please leave a comment to let me know if you do. There's a link in the sidebar somewhere.

The voice may sound strange to you - but it is rather like Capital News 9's evening current affairs show's presenter Brian Taffe. Although he's a local - Exile #2 is convinced that he (like the area) has some Dutch heritage - a reasonable interpretation of his odd accent. Thanks to Odiogo I now know better - he's a computer-generated presenter - Max Headroom 2.0.

Day 1.081: Look - green!

Exile #3 genuinely said this pointing to the just barely green grass by the road this morning as we waited for the school bus - there are definitely signs of life that have been absent for a long time.

I also had another go at photographing the last of the snow on our property. In the sense that a windy and occasionally rainy day with temperatures in the 60s cleared the snow away I succeeded - it may still be to early to say if it will be the last of the season though.

Don't be ridiculous, it's April, we can't possibly have a fifth month of winter - can we? No - here it is (say this part confidently) the last snow of the 07/08 winter season:

Incidentally - for anyone still wondering about sloping icicles, check out yesterday's comments for a slightly cryptic answer.