Bon Appétit

It has been colder than usual. Maybe I’ve been spoiled, as living near the ocean normally allows for warmer temperatures than locations inland. For the last few years, we have had it easy. The winters have been mild with the occasional polar vortex visiting for a day or two and moving on.

Mother Nature has decided this year to remind us of her power. Perhaps she enjoys the works of French author Marie- Joseph “Eugene” Sue and has decided that she too believes revenge is a dish best served cold! It’s been two weeks of single digit temperatures at sunrise, with daily highs well below the freeze mark. This last weekend’s sunrise reading on Saturday was a crisp -1F/-18C. Coupled with a stiff breeze off the river, the wind chills were in the -10/20F range, enough to keep one from playing outdoors.

Today we warmed up to a tropical 32F/0C. It felt marvelous! You’ve got to take your wins when you can, and after two weeks of old man winter scratching at the windows, anything above freezing was a gift.

Note: The day this post was written was Groundhog Day, where for some reason here in the US and Canada, we place stock in a tradition that relies on a marmot forecasting the arrival of spring.

Unfortunately the celebrated Philadelphia rodent has determined we will not see an early spring this year.

I can only hope Mother Nature wasn’t watching his activities this week and it doesn’t influence her decision making.