Shameless Trees

It was much cooler today, and the night is almost cold. The furnace might even go on later, maybe for the last time this spring. But the cooler day coincided with the arrival of the pine pollen. Patches of the golden dust were everywhere today, and that means it will be getting thicker for the next few days. I'm already achy and my sinuses are getting clogged and my throat scratchy, so I probably won't feel like doing much until the pines are done with their unspeakable acts. Oddly, I haven't sneezed very much today, but I probably will once the weather worms up again.

This would be a good time for one more rainstorm, just to wash away the evidence of this arboreal shamelessness. And the long range weather report does indeed predict some chance of rain next Sunday, but that will leave me with four days of discomfort, and this year predictions of rain have failed more than they've been fulfilled. Still, I can hope.

A new motor was installed for the blower in the HVAC system yesterday, so when the really hot weather arrives the machine will be more efficient. It's a bit quieter than the old motor, which was a pleasing surprise. I doubt that it will save more than a dollar or two a month on the electric bill, but knowing that the fan is likely to continue working is worth something too. I was getting worried about the old one as it was sometimes making some pretty banshee-like noises, indicating impending demise. Now I'll only have to worry about the other moving parts, but I haven't heard them complaining yet so I won't worry very hard.

My own moving parts are bit creakier. My next appointment with the chiropractor is a week from today, and as it will only have been four weeks between adjustments this time I'm hoping it will be a bit easier, and more enduring, than the last one was. In the meantime I'm going to be avoiding anything that might aggravate it.

Drat, there goes midnight again. This is getting to be a bad habit.

Nobody's April Fool

Early this morning about a dozen crows began chattering among the nearby trees before dawn. I had woken up much too early, and after I fed the feral cats I decided I should try to get back to sleep. In spite of the raucous crows I managed to do so, and ended up sleeping until almost noon. When I woke again a dense haze hung over the valley, while fluffy cumulus clouds topped the mountains, but here it was sunny and clear and remained so all day. The crows had departed, but butterflies fluttered about the rapidly decaying lilacs, and stiff breezes occasionally fluttered the young green leaves on the oaks.

It remained delightfully cool, so the day fit the season perfectly, being exactly what I would expect from the first day of April. I hope it wasn't just a prank, because I don't want summer to suddenly burst out tomorrow, and though I would like some rain I certainly wouldn't want winter to put in a belated appearance. It's too late for snow, which would damage the premature spring growth which is already well advanced. The only negative to the day was that damned pine pollen, which is still gathering on every surface. It's good thing I've got plenty of tissues on hand because the sneezing has begun.

I got around to several tasks I've been putting off, and might get around to a couple more tomorrow. Once the pine pollen dies down I hope to get around to washing the windows. The bright days call for clean windows. Spring is apt to be brief and I'd like to have good view of it while it lasts. The hot weather that is surely coming demands that the drapes be kept closed through much of the day. Dimness makes the house seem cooler than it is, and it's certainly cheaper than running the air conditioner. Plus once the yard turns mostly brown from lack of watering I don't think I'll be eager to look at it.

The evening is cool enough that I'll be able to fire up the oven. I've got frozen things to bake, including an apple pie. This is perfect apple pie a la mode weather: cool enough for baking and not too cold for ice cream. I doubt I'll want to sleep before two o'clock in the morning, so there's plenty of time for everything, as long as I don't let the Internets distract me. so goodnight, Internets.