One Less Tree in the World

After talking about it for years, the soft maple tree in our back yard is gone. For you tree lovers I have listed the legitimate reasons for cutting it down  1. It was getting over grown filling up much of our yard.  2. It blocked the sun and grass couldn't grow. 3. Its' roots were near the top of the ground so grass had no moisture. 4. It did not drop its' leaves in the fall, it would wait until it got really cold and then green leaves would be setting on top of the snow. Raking leaves in the snow is not fun  5. Any kind of wind would always produce lots of twigs and leaves all over the ground.

 I called a tree removal company and they came on Tuesday and left a quote. I called them back on Wednesday to try to schedule an appointment for getting it done. To my surprise on Friday when I got home from work they were here getting ready to start, they had a cancelation and came over. In 1.5 hours 3 men had it was down, made into wood chips and the the yard was cleaned up.

This event happened a little to fast for B, who likes time to adjust to the change. She just hates to see trees come down. She said we had to have a new tree picked out before we cut down this one. It will take me years to do the research for just the right tree. 

 I do know that soft maples trees belong in the woods and not in home owners yards. For safety and convenience have professionals remove the tree and stump. 

We celebrate 34 years of marriage on the 13th tomorrow. I will celebrate by watching the Masters. T and S will join us for lunch after Church.

Where is the Global Warming?

Snowfall Records Begin Piling up

If you think winters were snowier when you were a kid...think again! The stormy winter of 2007-2008 has set or is on the way to setting some very impressive snowfall records. Here’s a list of a few of them.

As of 7 am on February 19th, a total of 85.4 inches of snow has fallen since December 1st at Grand Rapids. This is a record for the three month period of December, January and February at Grand Rapids. The old record was 85.1 inches set back in the winter of 1951-1952. This three month period is defined as being the climatological winter, so technically this is the snowiest winter on record at Grand Rapids!

However, the snowiest winter season (which actually goes from July 1st to June 30th) is the 1951-1952 season with 132.0 inches. We still have quite a ways to go before we challenge that. Our seasonal snowfall total since July 1st is 88.3 inches as of 7 am February 19th

Grand Rapids has an excellent chance at breaking the record for the snowiest February on record. The current record is 35.5 inches set in 1900. As of 7 am Feb. 19th we are at 32.1 inches, only 3.4 inches from the record. With more snow expected over the next 24 hours, this record could fall soon. Interestingly, the second snowiest February in Grand Rapids history occurred only last year. February 2007 produced 33.6 inches of snow!  NOAA

Check out our snow pictures

Let it Snow !!!!

Merry Christmas to All

Try to remember in the busy times of this season the reason we celebrate Christmas.... The gift of Jesus Christ from God and the gift of eternal life that comes through Him.

I am looking forward to being away from work the next two weeks. I am working only 4 out of the 10 "opportunities". Opportunities is now the new word used in the work place that has replaced the word "challenge." Challenge replaced the word "problem." The word "problem" is no longer allowed to be used since it brings on such a negative atmosphere. Evidently these opportunities are a good thing in that it makes us better people because we perservere through the C word and we are much happier since we never have or recognize any P words at work any more. So for the next year I hope your "opportunities" are few.

I will now break the blogging rule about not mentioning weather.

Yesterday was living in West Michigan at its best. At 6 AM it was 50 and all the snow was gone. By 9:30 AM the temp was 26. It began to snow around noon and has just stopped this morning leaving us about 6 inches. During the last 24 hours the wind has been blowing 25- 35 MPH with gusts of 50. We came close to a brown Christmas but, .......

Our bird feeder this year has been busy with activity. The sparrows just love the hedges and bushes that surround the feeder. It gives them protection from Mr. Hawk. Usually Mr. H just swoops in for a kill but yesterday he was walking around and plunging into the brush chasing sparrows on the ground. B made the effort to frighten him away but I heard Mr. Hawk exclaim as he flew out of sight " I'll be back" (Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!)

Football Update

Congrats to Ohio State for their victory over Michigan. Michigan's defense was good but you are not going to win games by scoring only 3 points. Ohio State held Michigan to less than 100 yards in offense. I would have to say that I have never seen Michigan's offense play and struggle that bad.  3 plays, Punt.  Even the lost to Appalachian State was not as bad as this one. Losing to OSU is bad but losing and not playing well is not acceptable. OSU fans would even admit that they expected better from Michigan.  So it would seem that Lloyd Carr's days at Michigan are just about over. He should resign soon. There is talk of Les Miles who coaches LSU being asked to be the next coach. This has been one weird and unexpected year for Wolverine fans

In other action, Illinois is going to be the team to watch next year with their record of 9-3 this year. Michigan State beat Penn State to get to a bowl game with a 7-5 record. Indiana beat Purdue and both end the year with 7-5 records. Notre Dame won at home over Duke? ND is now 2-9

Congrats again to Ohio State winning the Big Ten title and getting the trip to the Rose Bowl.

Last Friday it was announce that a big die shop in Grand Rapids closed,  no warning. Open on Thursday closed on Friday. About 165 workers lost their jobs.

 I went to the hand doctor on Tuesday every thing is OK and I don't need to see him again. I can return to normal activities at work

I put up the bird feeders yesterday and the birds are busily feeding today. And so the long cold winter begins in Michigan.  How is that for a depressing thought.

Football Update

It all comes down to the Big game at the Big House; Michigan vs Ohio State. The losses this weekend didn't change the importance of this game although Ohio State is now No. 7 instead of No.1.  Did that loss make OSU blue?Whovever wins Saturday wins outright the Big Ten Championship and the trip to the Rose Bowl. If  Henne and Hart play for Michigan, U of M has a real good chance to win. I know they will play Carr kept them out of the Wisconsin game so they would be ready for the OSU game.  I really must make that phone call this year to Ohio on Saturday at 3:30 or so. GO BLUE. Before I forget, Thanks to Illinois for a great victory over OSU. Congrats to MSU (A & K) for their victory over Purdue (sorry B & K). Notre Dame lost to Air Force they are now 1-9.

Check out my audio file.....  turn up your speakers on high and enjoy

GO BLUE