Good early morning GH. I wouldn't be up now if my shoulder wasn't aching so much. I took an OTC pain killer, and I should be fine in about one hour. This is an example of that old phrase, "I must have slept funny," except that there is nothing funny about the ache. But I digress.

It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City." Our current indoor temperatures is 70° and the outdoor temperature is 16°. The expected high for today is 9°, so we have a bit of a drop in store. There is snow in the forecast for each of the next several days. We could see one to three inches, but I'm hoping that the forecast amount of snow is wrong.

We had a light dusting on Wednesday, but it wasn't enough to cause a problem. As I looked out the Weather Window a few moments ago, there hasn't been any new snow, yet. The percentage prediction for precipitation peaks at 70% about 9:00 a.m., and then stays above 60% for the next several hours. Maybe for the first time the snow will skip us this year.

Today I anticipate doing very little. I don't know why I feel that way, but right now that would be fine with me. Mary has to work but I don't, so I feel sorry for her. I think that the ache in my shoulder may be a contributing factor. Pain can bring your mind set to a less than optimal level. Or, it could be S.A.D., due to the forecast for an extended winter.

Mary and I were discussing the problems that farmers in the cold weather afflicted Midwest may experience if the snow melts and the ground thaws later this year. It will be the opposite of the early spring we experienced three years ago that devastated the fruit trees here in Michigan, when the newly formed buds were zapped. The frost hit shortly after they formed, and 70% to 80% of the cherry, blueberry, and apple crop was lost.

Sure many plants will continue to grow as fall comes, but having seen the results in my own garden last year, when the temperature gets too cold at night, it won't be pretty. We also talked about whether our perennial garden will survive the heavier snow pack this year. It was just planted last year and now we have to wait to see what is left when the snow is finally gone.

Since we planted our garden in the shade, with shade tolerant plants, the snow will melt more slowly in that location with less sun. Will that prove to be a problem? We just don't know. Will all of the landscapers, farmers, or other businesses that rely on people wanting to get their gardens in this spring have a shorter sales season? Who knows? And what about our own vegetable garden? I'm sure that my horseradish crop will be fine, but the other vegetables, who knows? I should be able to grow kale and spinach, but tomatoes and cucumbers will be problematical. Lettuce should be okay too.

Last year, the annual Fall Fest at the Post had sparse attendance as did the spring Rib Fest. Come to think of it, Mary and I were looking at pictures of the previous spring's Rib Fest, and I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, and Mary was in a short sleeved blouse. She never wears shorts. Last spring, a parka was required to be outdoors. Rib Fest is a major fund raiser for the Post. Had Fall Fest been one week earlier, everything would have gone fine.

Today the sun will rise at 7:22 a.m., a few hours before...Tea time. Sunset will occur at 6:30 p.m.

I didn't hear any trains earlier, so if they passed, I didn't notice. Since I don't sleep all that soundly, there probably weren't any. Ciao.