Days like today feel as if all of life has slowed down to one topic—the weather! How dull. Why? Because you are probably experiencing the same thing as I—the bitter cold, the howling winds, the blowing drifts. You have only to look out your own windows for that story. Just in case I have anyone from a tropical isle reading, I'll pop in a few of my wintry photos.
~neighbor's barn beyond my living room windows~
~the end of our drive and my neighbor's home to the northeast~
~the streets have narrowed just like blog post topics~
Ha! That photo makes me grin because the streets are not quite that narrow.
If I wanted to get dressed for the occasion and had no concern for my camera in these below zero temps, I'd go out and take a photo of my own house. I don't want to get dressed and I do have concern for the camera.
***
Okay, enough of that. It is Presidents' Day after all. And I want to discuss Parson Weems. Parson who? Weems that's who. Trouble is that I can not tell the tale nearly so well as Anthony already has so I'm sending you *over there* to read the story. Just one question before you go: Did little George Washington chop down that cherry tree? Go ahead, tell me, what do you really think?
A cozy day to you!
. . . . . . yep, we're even waiting here in the south with bated breath Vee, snow, sleet and ice possible later today! It will be our first of the season - snow is OK, ice not so good as concerns for downed power lines bring extra shivers!
ReplyDeleteLovely pics, reminds me of those New England years I relished years back - couldn't do it these days though, you are stoic that's for sure!
Stay toasty - and yes, agree the camera would not like to be outside for very long.
Hugs - Mary
I do enjoy the pics of the snow, it is beautiful to me, being a Florida girl !
ReplyDeleteI love cherries, so I hope George really didn't chop down the cherry tree! I'm going to try the cherry bounce. Thanks for a link to another blog. Just what I needed!!!! Stay warm and cozy.....
ReplyDeleteOh I had forgotten about Martha's Cherry Bounce recipe! Sounds good if I were a drinking gal. Wonder if I could substitute soda water...
DeleteI think the GW story is just that, a story or legend, made up by a biographer after he was long gone. But it's a nice legend. Your first picture makes me shiver, you have captured the wind and the cold very well. I won't repeat what Mary has said, but just say "ditto" as to our weather, though I think she is north of me so may get more snow. I have filled the oil lamps just in case we lose power.
ReplyDeleteThen you really must read Anthony's post! ; >
DeleteSo true Vee, I blog very little this time of year, the cold and blah of late winter tends to sap my creativity and energy, and yes, I think we are all experiencing the weather blues now! As for George, I find the concept of a President who "cannot tell a lie" more amazing than the issue of whether the tree fell. The tree being cut down may actually be the more likely truth in that story ;>)
ReplyDeleteNothing can cheer me up with this weather. It is 14 degrees, it was 4 yesterday and earlier today. I am SO over it. I always believed the story about GW. I don't like cherry pie, only pie I won't eat! Stay warm and cozy, Vee!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading the link and it would seem that Parson Weems could have only gotten that story during the recorded visit. (I was smiling and thinking of a winky face as I wrote that!) So, is it true that he had wooden false teeth. . .possibly made of cherry wood?
ReplyDeleteYour neighborhood pictures remind me of Courier and Ives greeting cards.
I think that George Washington probably climbed the cherry tree and broke a branch, from which the tree never recovered. His parents then had to cut it down. Okay, just guessing. :-) Who would cut down a cherry tree on purpose?
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you're getting that ton of snow that is usually our winter fate. We do have snow, but nothing like what y'all are getting out there.
Beautiful photos, Vee! We finally recieved our first significant snowfall. The ice came first then the snow. Travel is discouraged.
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
Carol
Thanks for sharing that link. Such a good read on a cold snow laden morning! I like to believe it's true.
ReplyDeleteYep, it's a cold Family Day over here.....glad you posted some pictures for those folks missing out on this Winter weather. I agree about the topic being so dull but had to giggle at your fine print about narrow streets and blog posts!! Stay cozy...
ReplyDeleteLike Mary, above, we are scheduled to get some snow today and then freezing rain. Not a fan of the freezing rain! I think the cherry trees story is just a story. Off to go check out the other blog!
ReplyDeleteOh- You have more snow than we do this year. ugh! I don't think Georgie boy actually cut down a cherry tree-I think that was made up to show what an honest man he was (because he supposedly confessed to his dad that he did it). I also don't think he threw a silver dollar across the Potomac.
ReplyDeleteWonder what stories they will make up about me when I am dead? lol xo Diana
Hi Vee, Tired of cold and snow? Me too! I think the east coast received a great deal more snow than we here in the midwest. Your photos tell part of the story...I see the rest on the Today show! :)
ReplyDeleteHere's to spring! Like your blog header, Vee and that artwork is lovely.
Oh Vee, you certainly do have winter at your home. We're supposed to get snow this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the George Washington and the cherry tree story--I live on property that was once part of Ferry Farm. We took our grandson over to the boyhood home area for a visit and went on their ipad tour last fall. This very subject was addressed and this is what they had to say--- http://www.kenmore.org/education/kidstuff/legends.html
There is also a link to Parson Weems story.
I did read Carl Anthony's article--very interesting!! I love history and this is quite interesting. ♥
Gosh! Yours is an amazing connection to history! How wonderful!
DeleteWe got our first snow of the winter today! I know I sound eager, but the first snow is often the most fun. We baked banana bread, made chili, and I took some photos outside. The sun is starting to shine. I don't think this snow will be around for long, so I will enjoy it while I can!
ReplyDeleteWe got around 3 inches of the white stuff through the night. I don't think I could deal with the kind of snows other areas like yours have been getting. I'd want to move! Hurry spring is all I can think of these days. Now I'm going to check out the link. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAt least you have snow...a very mild winter here this year. Our pastor just shared a photo of one of the passes through the Cascade mountains...so bare, not enough for the local ski resorts. We will see if we get anymore before spring truly arrives! ;)
ReplyDeleteWell my dear... We have been very lucky when it comes to snow. With the exception of Lake Effect snow close to Lake Michigan we can count our snowfall in inches not feet.
ReplyDeleteBe brave!!
I'm so grateful to live much father South this year. :) Our winter has rough but tolerable compared to what the Northeast has had to suffer. Well, just remember, you get to laugh at us when it's 100* in the shade, the humidity is thicker than pea soup and the bugs are so bad you wanna stay inside 24/7. Every place has it's down side. That's ours.
ReplyDeleteFor the camera, I wonder if you could use a waterproof housing to keep it safe? Might be able to pick one up cheap on E-Bay or somewhere.
I'm told that the story of George Washington is a myth not perpetrated by him. I think it came out years after his passing.
Stay safe and warm up there my friend. ~:)
Well that was a very interesting read about George and his cherry tree. I enjoyed seeing the photos of your neighbourhood and the snow. The weather is wicked and I can't wait for at least some warmer days so the sun will melt some of this down. I hope you have a super week Vee.
ReplyDeleteI sure don't mind snow photos :) The temps have risen into the teens right now though it still feels pretty cold.
ReplyDeleteOh now...that is a whole lot of snow. I'd be hankering down with my jammies and a hot cup of something while looking out the windows. I'll have to click over and read about Parson Weems. About George Washington, I'm not sure what I believe about that cherry tree....
ReplyDeleteI, for one, enjoy seeing the snowy photos and wouldn't mind a good heap of snow for a few weeks. I'm not writing from a tropical isle, although it might seem so to some with all the spring flowers we have blooming.
ReplyDeleteStay warm, Vee, and cozy. I'm off to read about George and the cherry tree.
It snows every other day but we don't get that much accumulation. It's been COLD though.
ReplyDeleteThe snow sure makes everything pretty though. : )
Cold, snowy, and very windy here too. Supposed to be ten below by morning. Wind chills are subzero. I tend not to blog as much this time of year either, mostly because our computer room is the coldest in the house!
ReplyDeleteNot sure what I think about the cherry tree!
Vee, the first photo looks like a painting. It is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAs for here....Central California...there is no snow...however, I would love to have all of your snow melted down and delivered to our drought state.
Thanks for sharing your snowy photos.
Well you have managed to capture the dreary cold from safely and snugly inside your house...where you should be, mercy i can't imagine. I am sure you've grown weary of this Ca gal complaining of the warm temps we've been having so I will keep quiet. We are cooling down into the mid 70's this week so I would have probably stopped anyway. I am off to read the link you gave....my curiosity is way up. Keep warm Vee!
ReplyDeleteWinter, winter, winter. We have battled it today...I think we won, but I'm not sure! :)
ReplyDeleteMy brain is too tired to make heads or tails of the cherry tree article tonight. I'd love to have a slice of cherry pie though!
Winter- bah humbug! Now I am off to see what this "no-reply" commenter doohicky thing is. Have a super day!
ReplyDeleteWell I have learned something new! Thanks for posting a link to the directions.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness Vee!!!! Yikes, so much snow, I never remember seeing that much while growing up in New England back in the 60's, geesh! Your photos are pretty though, the homes there are so pretty and charming. I don't blame you for NOT going out or getting dressed, I wouldn't either. Stay safe and warm my friend!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I can see it's winter in your neck of the woods! But be happy if weather is the main topic....I woke up Sunday morning to a phone call from the daughter of a dear friend who was calling to tell me that her parents were in a terrible car crash on the Ohio turnpike. Her Mom, my friend Peggy, did not make it and her Dad was in critical condition. It's been all I can think of since. Please pray for them all....Her Dad needs to be life flighted across two states, now, for cranial surgery. I am so sad. I just had lunch with Peggy a few weeks ago and we made lots of plans for the coming months. One never knows. We need to pay attention every day and have a heart of gratitude for our blessings. (Well, I am sure you do, and forgive me for going on like this.)
ReplyDeleteWell, I just wrote a comment and google started asking for my password and now it's gone...shucks...oh well, I was just saying that your snowy neighborhood was so lovely and I am somewhat jealous of your snowfall...we only got a 2 inch mixture if snow and sleet yesterday...not enough to even cover the ground. Interesting stuff about ol' George :)
ReplyDeleteYour neighboring houses look very pretty in the snow, Vee. We had a lot of snow yesterday but half has melted away today--love that fact about Colorado's strong sunshine!
ReplyDeleteGeorge Washington is my favorite President and I've read many biographies about him through the years that had many surprising facts about him. One thing for sure is that he was a humble man with good morals and faith. The cherry tree story might be a fable but it could also have been a fond memory he had in his later years --I'd like to believe that! I enjoyed reading the information on the link you sent us to. I always enjoyed "bumping into" GW while I lived in NYC--there were many places he had been that I found myself in, and I could feel his spirit. My favorite was Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan where had bid farewell to his troops after the Revolutionary War. I blogged about that a long time ago. His speech still brings tears to my eyes, as well as the story of the Maryland 400 during the Battle of Brooklyn.
Yes, way back in 2008! It was an excellent and interesting post!
DeleteWill add to this comment if I can.
http://millefiorifavoriti.blogspot.com/2008/06/george-washingtons-farewll-address.html
DeleteVee
ReplyDeleteI thought of you when I saw that more storms were hitting the eastern US again. I would be staying inside too. I have to tell you that I've missed this years Downtown Abbey post. I was only able to see the 1st four episodes so now I'm hanging in limbo wondering how it all ended this year...think you can help me out?
The final program doesn't air until March 1. It has been interesting so far.
DeleteI loved the article about Parson Weems and George Washington. I never knew that he only 'barked' the tree, and not cut it down completely. I think it really happened.
ReplyDeleteDeanna
Hi there, Vee! Thanks for the link to the cherry tree! Hey - is your roof in danger of caving in? I've been seeing on the news that the heavy snows are causing people's roofs to fall in! I don't know how much it takes - and if you get bored, put on your coat and go outside and take a picture of your lovely house covered in snow! It's coldish here, but no precip. Man, I really feel for all you folks from the Red River north. Adam's doing some shows in Texas this week and he and the band got out just in the nick of time! They were right in front of the front! LOL!
ReplyDeleteJohn gets up on that roof regularly and shovels it off. A lot of work to be sure and, yes, it is a chore that needs doing in snow country. Glad Adam made it out in the knick of time!
DeleteHi Vee, ooh all that snow makes me shiver! My mom, in Ohio, has been cold since October, and it doesn't seem to want to let up. Thanks for the link on Parson Weems. I'm off to go read it now......
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit and stay warm.
Yes, the weather is all most anyone around here is talking about. It's been -11 below zero for several days.
ReplyDeleteIt's so cold they can't have school. Sure hope it warms soon, don't want to lose any more boxwoods or trees as we did last winter when it got too cold too long.
Hugs.