A winter storm warning?
How can that be?
I snapped the photo at right of my father's iris in bloom two weeks ago - and the other bud opened after that.
Today Massachusetts may get several inches of snow - wet heavy snow. At least that's what the forecasters are predicting. If the predictions come true it will be the largest snowfall recorded in October in our area.
While I'm not ready for winter - and convinced that any snow will soon vanish - that's not the half of it.
The problem is that the leaves are still on many trees - all the trees near me in fact.
The heavy wet snow that's forecast will be horrible for trees that are not made to carry the weight of snow on their leaves. Branches and trees will come down everywhere.
What a disaster! Trees have had a really tough time of it lately in our area - many have died or are dying from last year's drought, many fell during the hurricane/tropical storm that came through a month or two ago, and invasions of non-native pests like the Wooly Adelgid and the Longhorn Asian Beetle are taking a toll.
Climate change is a bear!
A day in the life - Winter 2011
It's a challenging season for Massachusetts real estate agents. We won't soon forget the winter of 2011.
8:30 am: Leave the house for work. Realize that you can't leave since the front door is frozen shut.
9:30 am: Actually leave the house for work having successfully opened the door after wedging it open wide enough to throw ice salt on the stoop and hammering at the ice pile repeatedly - for an hour.
9:45 am: Arrive at the office.
9:45 to 10:15 am: Circle the block - over and over again - trying to score a parking space.
10:15 am: Bingo! Nab a parking spot at a meter in front of the office. So what if you're parked five feet from the curb? So's everybody else. Fold your mirror in - you're lucky you still have one. No need to fish for quarters - the meter's buried.
11:00 am: Boots back on - it's time to head out on tour. Bummer - that means you've got to vacate your hard earned parking space.
11:10 - 11:30 am: Good thing you allowed for extra time - there's nary a parking space to be found. Finally move a chair out of a shoveled space two blocks away - hopefully you'll be back before the owner of the chair comes home.
11:30 - 11:40 am: After clambering through snow banks and walking in the street - while dodging cars that don't have a full lane to drive in - you arrive at the property with your buyers. Boots off, quick run through, boots back on.
11:40 - noon: The next stop is just five minutes away but sitting behind a recycling truck takes up an extra 15 minutes.
Noon - 12:10 pm: Arrive at the second property on your tour. Boots off, quick run through, boots back on.
Repeat. Ad nauseum.
4 pm: Leave work early in time to hit the hardware stores. Rumor has it that one store is getting a shipment of ice melt. You're too late. Third store is taking deposits for future shipment. Sign up for two bags - the maximum per customer.
6 pm: Arrive home. Park at end of driveway - there's a big storm in the forecast. Boots off one last time today.
10 pm: Head off to bed. Dream of spring.
On Sunday, Dec 12, 2010 stop by 14 Holton Street in Medford MA for an open house from noon to 1 pm.
Set on the top floor of a handsome six-unit building, the condo is an appealing mix of modern upgrades and original architectural details including transom windows, exposed brick, wood floors, high ceilings and beautiful golden oak woodwork in the entry foyer.
If you work at home or just need space for an office you'll appreciate the flexible floor plan. Previously used as a three bedroom, the third bedroom has been opened up and is a spacious office. There's also a small den off the living room and a built-in desk in the former pantry adjacent to the kitchen.
The sunny and spacious eat-in kitchen opens to a private deck. There are granite counters, stylish cabinets and washer /dryer - no need to lug the laundry downstairs!
14 Holton Street is just two blocks from the heart of West Medford Square. Hop on the train - the next stop is North Station in Boston. There's a variety of shops and restaurants in West Medford and even more if you head in the other direction towards Tufts. Whole Foods is down the street and you'll have no problem grabbing your morning coffee - both Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks are in the neighborhood.
Commuters will have lots of options from this convenient location. In addition to the commuter rail the bus stops just outside your door and takes you to Davis Square, Lechmere Station or Arlington. Zipcars can be picked up nearby. There's quick and easy access to routes 2, 3, 93, 95 and 128. By bike Teele Square or Davis Square aren't far.
14 Holton Street is listed for $299,000. If you can't make the open house on Sunday I'd be happy to set up a time for you to come by. If you'd like to see additional photos and get more information about the West Medford neighborhood check out the website for 14 Holton St Medford MA.
This little fella is the cutest guard dog I ever did see.
My parents and I walked around Cambridgeport today reading the homeowvner-created signs for If This House Could Talk telling stories about their houses. My dad grew up in the neighborhood so it was a chance to hear some fun stories of his too.
This adorable pup tickled our funny bone. No matter how much we waved at him he wasn't about to bark - wag his tail maybe but not bark.
He loved to pose - this crossed-paws shot was my favorite.
One of my favorite things about Cambridge, and Harvard Square in particular, is how many decades, centuries actually, are commemorated here.
From Colonial times to the recent past - there are buildings, monuments, plaques and more memorializing people, places and events from Cambridge's past.
Walk down any block and you're likely to come across the juxtaposition of Cambridge then and Cambridge now.
Here are a couple I spotted recently:
The first school house in Cambridge in 1646 was here on what is now Holyoke Street in Harvard Square. The street was called Crooked Lane in the 1600s.
Today, where the school house once stood is Looks, a women's boutique - one of several you'll find in Harvard Square.
On the other side of the square, in the Cambridge Common, this plaque marks the site of a Revolutionary War encampment (complete with a 21st century water bottle littering the lawn)
Now, the site of a playground for Cambridge kids.
Take a walk around Cambridge and stroll through the centuries.
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