Snow and Daffies - Huh?

Saturday evening it began to snow. In no time our tulip leaves, the same ones seen here, looked like this. They were completely buried soon after this photo was taken.

All that snow has melted already. We are in the banana belt of western Oregon. We get the fun, but not the mess.

Usually.

Areas further west, between the Willamette Valley and the Pacific Ocean are having quite a time of it though, with mud slides, downed trees, and wet snow making everything worse.

The folks further east, in the Cascades, have treacherous driving conditions on the roads and heavenly Utah Powder at the ski resorts. Yin and Yang, baby.

You can watch the news to see the devastation in California and Nevada. Wow.

Three storms, one-two-three, and we are feeling it. Another snow is due tonight. The skies have 'that look.'

We shall see.

For you kind souls who have inquired, my family and I are fine. Like I said, banana belt. So far, so good.

It's January 7th, and surprisingly, these brave (foolish?) daffodils are already peeking their chubby little heads and slender leaves through the mulch in one of our flower beds, watered aplenty by torrential rains, as well as melting ice and snow. I expect my one type of tulips to be banzai bulbs; they are always up and taking a ragged beating in the middle of winter, though they don't flower until true spring. But the daffies usually wait their turn, remaining nestled in the warmer earth. Will they make it? Probably. Still, I rubber-necked when I saw these brave soldiers this morning, thinking I must be crazy. Nope.

Always, the hope of new life.

Nature keeps me on my toes, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

At the same time my heart and prayers go out to those who are suffering the terrible effects of these storms. Heartwrenching. And yet, such courage is shown in times of tragedy. Courage that sustains - and inspires those of us watching from our safe havens.