Winter’s Last Hurrah
A long stretch of mild late-winter weather just before Mother Nature brings the hammer down one last time—it happens nearly every year here in Minnesota. Meteorologists live for this particular kind of storm. Yesterday different sources were beginning to forecast anywhere between 8” and 31” of snow by Sunday evening followed by blizzard level winds.
I think the reality of it will land somewhere closer to that lower prediction. I took the picture above yesterday afternoon before the snow started. The squirrels stuffed themselves all day in preparation for what was coming.
This next photo was taken just before we turned in for the night.
And this is what I woke up to. It looks like, by this evening we’ll have a little over a foot of snow on the ground. Winter’s last hurrah, indeed. Thankfully I was able to get out last night after dinner to stock up on the provisions we needed before all hell broke loose. I can't help but wonder if thundersnow just a Minnesota phenomena?
Peaky Blinders
It's going to be an excruciatingly long week for me because the new Peaky Blinders movie, The Immortal Man is debuting this coming Friday, the 20th.
The last season (Season 6) of Peaky Blinders was released in 2022 so it's been a four year wait for us fans of the series. The Immortal Man is, apparently, marks the final appearance of Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy). It will truly be the end of an era. There have been rumors of a spin-off where younger characters carry the torch into the 1950's and beyond.
I'll be sad to see the original cast be put to rest. This series just ticked all the boxes for me. Peaky Blinders was such a entertaining distraction, especially during those crazy Covid years.
The State of the World
The War in Iran. The Epstein files. Wall Street manipulation of Bitcoin. Government Fraud. The invasion of Venezuela. The War in Ukraine. Mexican Cartel violence. China-Taiwan standoff. AI-driven economic instability. Rampant inflation.
Did I miss anything? I probably did.
The world is in such a crazy state right now. It's a time of such great transition. Doom and gloom abounds. I remember the mid-1970's feeling similar to this time but not quite to this degree. However, I was just a boy then—not truly understanding the full scope of what was going on.
On good days I think to myself "what a time to be alive!" because I can truly see a better world on the other side of all this chaos. But on the bad days I can't help but wonder if we'll all survive it or make it to the other side with our sanity intact.
How do you cope?
I've retreated more into my spiritual practice (meditation), reading, writing, spending time in nature, and making sure I'm doing what I can to remain mentally, psychologically, and physically fit.
I do feel in the depths of my soul like humanity is right on the cusp of something remarkable. Hopefully that gut feeling proves to be correct.
All for now. Thanks so much for reading.
Seems the squirrels know how to prepare for the storm, nature's little survivalists 😉
They certainly do! I knew the storm would be bad because they were eating so much.
The State of the world: really these are horrible days. I wasn't Around in 1970s but I'm afraid how we are going to survive these days. The wars make me afraid of what will happen to the world next.
I'm optimistic, overall. I think we're just in the middle of a very tumultuous phase right now. I think within five or so years we'll find ourselves in a much better world.
I saw they were calling for close to three feet of snow in the upper peninsula. They are totally getting hammered. We got about three to four inches of snow overnight, but then the temps are supposed to run up to 57 today before thunderstorms come through the area tonight. Then the temps are supposed to drop again and we are looking at ice and wind on Monday I think. Hopefully this is the last big one of the year!
I saw that forecast for the U.P.! We ended up with around a foot where we are, just south of St. Paul. We drop below zero over the next 24hrs and then we'll hit close to 70 on Saturday. March never disappoints when it comes to variety. : )
No it doesn't! We are getting the crazy wind right now.
We had that last evening. It felt like the walls would cave in.
Ah even Peaky Blinders must die. I always admired Cillian Murphy, even before this show. I really liked the whole effect of war on the characters and how it damaged them. That felt really period correct to me and added a whole other depth to the show. I wouldn't mind watching it again. Jamie used to do some hilarious imitations of the characters in mundane situations like making a cup of tea which made me laugh.
Meditation seems a good way to handle everything and it's good to remain positive despite the insanity.
He's one of my favorite actors of his generation. The writing on Peaky is exceptional, that's what drew me in from the get-go. Tom Hardy's character, Alfie Solomon, (along with Tommy Shelby) is some of the best acting I've seen on television. Many of the Blinders' characters remind me of my great-uncles on my father's side. They all lived on the fringes of civilized society—ran moonshine and such during prohibition. There was always an element of danger when they were around. I sensed that even as a small child.
Yeah, meditation has been my savior several times in my life.
Sounds like a really interesting family! Fringe dwellers are always the good stories. My favourite is Jamie's great grandfather - or great great? - who was sent to Western Australia and Fremantle prison for killing his wife. He spent alot of time in solitary but when he got out became WA's first train driver - apparently. The best part of this story is that they didn't hang him because his wife was a nag and thus provoked him.
They were! Most of them mellowed in old age. Wow, that's a wild story about Jamie's ancestor! What different times those were.
https://x.com/i/status/2033454975272071424
https://x.com/i/status/2033643277543464981
#hive #posh
Me too. It is likely to feel worse for awhile though.
another season of Peaky Blinders! Hurray!
Speaking of weather, I thought of you a few hours ago as I passed through Columbus during gale force winds and heavy snow! On my way to Nashville. It's 31 degrees in Louisville! I sure hope that weather doesn't last. I go to nashville to be in a warmer clime, which often does not happen.
I have that same feeling—a few years of turbulence, followed by a new kind of renaissance. I can't wait for Friday. I'll probably watch the movie the day it's released. My YouTube feed is flooded with old Peaky clips and interviews with the actors, that's getting me primed. : )
Columbus' weather has been an absolute roller coaster! My Mom said the winds got up to 70mph a few days ago. It seems like one day it's in the 70's and the next they're getting snow. Very strange for them! I hope you enjoy your time in Nashville and have decent weather! We have friends who're visiting Florida now and it's been gorgeous almost every day.
I bit the bullet and took a walk down in the woods yesterday and discovered the snow drifts were above my knees. That mile walk ended up being a lot more exercise than I expected. : )
I like to start series all over at the beginning, season one. I've forgotten so much, it will be as if I haven't watched it at all. Looking forward to it!
Above your knees! Intrepid, aren't you? Sounds like a great deal of work, I'm sure you used muscles you haven't used for many years.
It's good that you keep yourself distracted with movies, reading, and of course, meditating. The world and the weather can be discouraging, but no evil lasts a thousand years. We have to give ourselves permission to decree better times. These things that are happening will be like that cold weather you see from your window: although strong, it is temporary. Let's just do like the squirrels, take shelter, and don't let pessimism win over you. Hug, Eric
Those distractions are our saving graces during these long winters. This Saturday it's supposed to get up to nearly 70 degrees so this snow will be short-lived. Yes! We have to have hope about the world. I believe that, long term, we're moving into a much better time. All this recent turmoil is just the old world and its power structure starting to crumble. Thanks Nancy! I hope you enjoy the rest of your week!
In our city, the heat has increased for the past month and the cold has completely disappeared. The heat is getting more intense here. Due to pollution and the high population, the heat of summer has also increased. Earlier, it used to be cold for six months and hot for six months, but now it is hot for eight months and cold for only four months.
Family, pets, and blogging. In that order :)
BTW, @ericvancewalton: Wrote the review tonight. Amazon says it's live but I don't see it there. I guess it takes a while to post with the book.