It seems even Punxsutawney Phil is observing strict quarantine and social distancing guidelines. Phil has canceled all in-person events and has scheduled to broadcast his revelations streaming online via his Facebook Page and his YouTube channel. His show starts at 6:30 am EST, which is 5:30 am here in Chicago. Sorry, buddy boy, but I don’t function well at that hour of the morning. I intended to be snug in my bed and sleeping like the dead. I will have to catch the re-run at a more reasonable hour, after a cup of coffee.

February 2nd is an astronomical holiday, the year’s first cross-quarter day, to be specific. A cross-quarter day falls halfway between the solstice and the equinox. They also call it Candlemas or Imbolc. The other three cross-quarter days are May Day on May 1st also called Beltane. August 1st  is Lughnasadh or Lammas Day, and October 31st is called Samhain, or Halloween. In our calendar system, verse the astrological system, those exact days can vary, and the dates offer intriguing traditions to explore.

The people at The Farmers’ Almanac published their predictions, and they say, “winter is here for the long haul.” Despite Spring’s official arrival on March 20, their forecast is “warmer spring-like weather may not arrive until a little later.” It looks like we are in store for more exciting times and are about to experience a wild ride into Spring. Nobody said finding Paradise would be easy.

Are you hoping for a sunny day or, are you wishing for an early spring?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

It snowed and snowed and snowed. At 6 pm on Sunday, O’Hare airport logged 9.9 inches, while Romeoville reported 12.1 inches. The pile left by the plows at the end of my driveway reached above my knee, and while I didn’t measure, I guestimate the depth there at 18 -24 inches deep. Blowing and drifting create white-capped waves on the lawn, and already they are warning we will get another 1-4 inches on Thursday. Their cautions make me smile. I have a stocked fridge, heat, electricity, internet service, plenty of coffee, and I don’t have to rush to my office early Monday morning. These days, my car only requires an injection of gasoline every three months.

With our work at home mandates, I get by with clearing a safe walkway for a few sporadic deliveries. There are no venue changes and escapes to the coffeehouse for a writing session, no dinner plans with friends, and expecting company is a thing of the past. I relish the ability to ignore winter weather warnings and focus on my immediate responsibilities.

It is blissful. I choose not to engage with the reactionary media. The din recedes, creating a gentle, albeit an annoying hum I soon dismiss. Better still, I switch to my favorite background music as a more fitting compliment for my writing. I hope the snow descends and covers the world in a thick, muffling blanket. In the silent night, I listen to my heart. My muse giggles, and arm in arm, we explore.

What problems can you safely ignore?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday our staycation activities director packed her bags and prepared to leave. She reminded us of the terms and conditions of our contract. We agreed to return everything in the same or better condition, or we would forfeit our deposit. There was no way I was leaving my money on the table. So we took an inventory, created our marching orders, and went shopping. We included pantry supplies, staples, toilet paper, and dishwasher tablets on the list, along with a few goodies for our reentry into our regularly scheduled business operations.

As we loaded the car with provisions, snowflakes began to fall. Once again, they forecast an additional 5-9 inches of beautiful fluffy snow, slated to start Saturday night and finish late Sunday evening. I’m sure my sore muscles ordered another round of driveway shoveling. Soon we turn the page and start the longest month of the year. I don’t care if the calendar contradicts my assertion – I maintain my position that February, with its perpetual grey dreary days, lasts forever. It also marks the official kickoff of my countdown to Spring. Forty-seven sunrises to go.

This weekend we end our staycation and report back to work. We say goodbye to January, hello February, while we hit winter’s midpoint and move into the long transition to warmer weather. We have scheduled the arborist to fell my lovely but fatally infected, Blue Spruce. When circumstances are more appropriate, we will plant a new tree. A once necessary storage locker now stands empty, waiting to provide shelter for someone else’s precious belongings. I raise my glass of Brunello di Montalcino to cherish the memories and relish the future.

What are you celebrating?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The jury is in – all votes have been counted – the truth is undeniable. Our staycation activities director is a sadist. I thought the idea of a vacation, whether stay at home or escape from home destinations, was to relax, unwind, and enjoy activities you don’t have time to pursue during the everyday grind. She did not get the memo. I had envisioned mimosas and massages, but her idea of fun and games was to perform a Marie Kondo on the storage locker. Yep, you heard me. Who rents a U-Haul in January?

It is difficult for me to admit, but she had a point, as less than twenty items languished in an 8 x 10 unit. There is also the matter of the New Year’s Resolution which states we should live with less and keep only the things we love. So, we bit the bullet, and heaved, lifted, tugged, and carted until we loaded everything, and then we drove the truck home, where the reverse process ensued. One benefit was nobody broke into a sweat because it was far too cold. At home, we rearranged, sorted, found places for everything, and then totally exhausted, we collapse on the couch.

Thank goodness it’s Friday, and she had the good grace to serve a celebratory drink. She scowled at me when I asked for a double. I didn’t care. My muscles were already complaining, and I know Saturday will involve lots of soreness. I hope she doesn’t have any more bright ideas. I think I need to go back to work.

Do you need a vacation from your vacation?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Our staycation activities director is full of surprises. Before I was properly caffeinated, she had us donning coats and gloves to venture outside. I checked my phone and shuddered. My weather app reported a balmy 20 F and clear skies. Without a cloud in the sky, sunlight glistened, sparkled, and reflected off the 10-inch-deep snowdrifts. Snowblind, I squinted and fumbled for my sunglasses. Meanwhile, I attempted to step in the footsteps of the person in front of me. It didn’t work, and all my trouble only rewarded me with the unpleasant sensation of cold, wet snow snaking into my boots. Yuck.

The day’s excursion was an exploration of the backyard forest with an arborist. It was easy to see that the man loved trees. He gleefully pointed to Arborvitae, Norway Pine, Scotch Pine, White Pine, Crab Apple, Linden, Freeman Maple, Tree Lilac, Shrub Lilac, Dogwood, Blue Spruce, Oak, Locust, Eastern Red Bud, American Beech, and River Birch in the landscape. We traipsed after the little boy in the candy store as he pointed out candles on evergreens, debated the merits of planting one species versus another in our backyard micro-climate, and detailed the advantages of winter pruning on maples.

Unfortunately, he also identified evidence of a Cytospora Canker on the Blue Spruce. Instead of the canker girdling a lower branch, a manageable situation, the infestation has encircled the trunk about halfway up the 40-foot-tall tree. Dieback is already apparent at the tree’s apex. There are no treatment options for the once beautiful specimen, and the disease will undermine the tress’s structural integrity and symmetry. Given its proximity to a driveway, the best course of action is to remove the tree. I wanted to cry.

The ever-effervescent arborist noted the advantages of planting a different species in a better position to replace the Spruce. He also suggested a Bald Cypress as a focal point and windbreak and a planting Pussy Willow as a screen in another area. They say the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, and the next best time is today. I foresee a few new trees sprouting in my backyard sanctuary this spring.

Do you notice trees in the winter?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer