"ACHOO"

In a few hours February is history. Hooray, I thought it would never leave.

Tomorrow ushers in March, the windy month.

Now, tis the season for coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, etc.

Many people think allergy season starts with the blossoms on the trees, blooming flowers, and grass cutting.

Not necessarily so. Actually it starts much earlier here in northeast Pennsylvania.
Why? Because tiny, microscopic pollen can travel long distances on the wind current.

Right now pollen season is very high in Florida and is moving right on up the east coast as far north as Virginia.

Think about that, Virginia is only two states removed from Pennsylvania. These teeny, air-borne pollens have no difficulty visiting our neck of the woods.
Remember, March - windy.

Our own native trees are a culprit too.
Look at the deciduous trees. The leaf buds are swelling. This means as the leaves are developing they are shedding pollen, which blows in the wind, right up your nose.
Sorry about being graphic, but that's how it works.

I remember someone saying that allergy prone people suffer when the leaves form on the trees and when they fall, before the first frost.

So get your allergy prescriptions filled, both pills and nasal sprays. Dig out those headache remedies, clean up and sanitize those vaporizers. Stock up on tissues and hand sanitizers.

Most of all common sense prevents a lot of maladies.
Wash, wash, wash those hands. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze. Try to avoid others with like symptoms. Eat your fresh fruits and veggies. Drink that orange juice. Get enough sleep. Keep that car window closed.

Hey, it's almost SPRING. We've waited a long time for it.
So deal with the problems it brings.

And GOD BLESS you three times. Sneezes always come in three's don't they?

SHADOWY QUESTIONS

Okay, I have a few questions for that groundhog in western PA.
First of all his predication of an early spring.

Well Phil, how early? A month, a few weeks, or one day.
Does predicating an early spring mean, first we get a worse winter?

So we go to bed on Sunday night feeling good that we were able to finally see grass poking through the ice and snow.
Monday morning we awaken to find more snow had fallen. Not just some snow but more in one storm than we had all winter.

Around our neck of the woods there was between 8" and 15", depending on where you live.

Our deck had about 8". My husband plowed and shoveled most of the day. His estimations grew to upwards of 15" by the time he finished.
I think he must have seen a "snow mirage".

And now the bitter cold temperatures return.

So Phil, maybe next year you'll see your shadow and the weather will be normal again.

Make an effort, okay buddy.

                      VALENTINE DAY

A day to honor the one you love.

A day of frustration for men.

What to buy for the woman in his life?

What would she like?

Red roses - what if she's allergic to flowers?

Chocolates - what if she's on a diet?

The ads on TV are promoting Teddy Bears and Pajamas.

Pajamas - what size does she wear? Is there a one-size-fits-all?

A teddy bear - does she like stuffed animals?

Help! Is there a Cupid Hot Line for advice?

Guys, don't stress over Valentine Day. Whatever you give her she'll love.

Why? Because it came from you and you thought enough of her to make the effort.
And if she doesn't like it, then maybe there is something wrong with her.

If you don't have a love in your life to buy something for, you have a whole year until the next Valentine Day to meet someone. - Good Luck.

Happy Valentine Day to everyone. If you are blessed to have a love in your life, be sure to tell them you love them, not just on February 14th, but every day of the year.

                                                 

                  "QUIRKY"the SQUIRREL

Thaddeus R. Squirrel, of the gray squirrel family, but known to his friends as "Quirky
How did Thaddeus become "Quirky"?
Because he's always doing things normal squirrels don't.
For instance, he'll run at a tree trunk at a high rate of speed and then slam into it.
Everyone wonders why he doesn't knock himself out.
Once he shakes the cobwebs from his pea-sized brain, he'll run up the trunk about a half of a foot, then flip off of it.

Samantha Squirrel thinks he's showing off so she'll notice him.
She's not interested in him or his antics.

Another time he'll scamper up the pole to the bird feeder, grab a seed in his mouth and jump to the ground. Then he'll race across the snow and up another tree trunk.
After he eats his seed he'll go out onto the end of a limb and yell at all his friends on the ground. They ignore him. Frustrated no one pays him any attention he jumps back to the ground.

The Crow brothers, Jasper and Mike, have landed on the ground under the bird feeder.
"Quirky" has no fear. He goes right up to them and challenges them for the birdseed they're eating.They peck at "Quirky" a few times and he finally gets their message, "back off".

He runs under a big spruce tree where Marybelle Rabbit lives with her six babies.
"Quirky" thinks it might be fun to play with the baby bunnies, Marybelle doesn't agree and chases him away.

Poor "Quirky", no one wants to have fun with him. He scampers back to his nest high atop an oak tree. He always takes the long way home so no bad guys follow him. He'll jump from tree to tree before going in one of the two doors in his nest.

He had spent a long time building his nest last summer. That's when the leaves had the right amount of movement in them. He wove them around green twigs. When they dried they made a solid wall. He built the nest in the crook of two limbs so the wind didn't blow it away. Then he lined it with fur and feathers and any other soft material he found.

Home sweet home at last. He lay down and closed his eyes for a nap. He had a busy morning and lunch time would be here before long.

Sweet dreams "Quirky".

YAHOO

It's finally here. FEBRUARY.
It took so long, I was afraid it got lost.

The new month has appeared, but the weather isn't any better.
A lot more snow today and tonight freezing rain on top of it.
I sure hope we don't lose our electricity.

There was a story in our local paper about a woman who had a PFA filed against her ex-husband.
Ex-husband (allegedly) broke into his ex-wife's boyfriend's home and (allegedly) stabbed her boyfriend to death. He (allegedly) stabbed his ex-wife when she tried to help her boyfriend. She ended up in the hospital and has since been released. The alleged perpetrator is still on the run.

So many times a woman files a PFA against her abuser and ends up violently attacked or worse, dead.
The men involved are usually "control freaks" for one reason or another.Whether it is because of an inferiority complex or distaste for women in general.

Their thought process is abnormal at best. "How dare this woman file a PFA against ME, her boss, her ruler and king."

Most of them never allow the woman to escape their bonds. They mentally, emotionally, and physically control them.

That is why I think the PFA should not stand for Protection From Abuse. It should stand for, "Promise FOR Abuse" or "Permission FOR Abuse".
It is only a piece of paper. There really is no enforcement behind it.

How many times you read about women filing complaints about the man violating the PFA. The police lock him up for a few moments, then he is out and now is really mad and vows revenge . . .  and usually follows up on it. "How dare she do this to ME."

God bless the women who have enough courage to break free and run for help before it is too late for them and their children.

A big thank you to all the workers and volunteers who help these women at Domestic Violence Centers and Safe Houses.

Now on a lighter note.

 To: PunxsutawneyPhil
       Phil, it is really going to be nasty weather tomorrow, so don't bother to come out of your nice, cozy burrow. Let those fellows party without you. 
      When you do wake up, make sure you put on your sunglasses. . . please.