Weather Puzzles

Weather Puzzles

This has been a strange time of year here, weatherwise. Sometimes the temperature is more like spring or fall and then it zips into extreme cold. Sometimes there is ice on the morning windshield and by afternoon jackets aren’t needed. Snow may be predicted but we haven’t seen a snowstorm yet. One day the wind was so aggressive that it moved things sideways. Another day was so foggy that it was hard to see beyond a few feet. The weather has been puzzling for a while now. It is changing across the world, causing great concern. I tend to worry about it.

On one of the coldest days, I took out a jigsaw puzzle with a weather-pleasant scene and sat down in my warm room to work on it. I found it calming, helping the grasses and birds emerge from the individual pieces, creating the butterflies, and imagining myself in such a warm, inviting place.

Being focused on one thing at a time helps to clear the webs of worrisome thoughts and move through our day more peacefully engaged. When I finally had to go out, I was still in a calm place, grateful for the time spent just putting together one puzzle and letting go of another one, at least for a little while.

NASA looks at our weather: https://climate.nasa.gov/

Puzzle by Marjolein Bastin

      

Autumn at Last

Autumn at Last

The trees have been late in losing their leaves around here this season. Some leaves have turned a brilliant orange, some a subdued red, but for the most part the leaves in my neighborhood are still attached to their branches. At least until this week when some suddenly started to float down and coat the sidewalks.

I like Autumn.  I like the colors that brighten up the trees and the crunch of the leaves that have fallen to the ground. The slight nip of the wind in the air energizes my walk. Mostly, though, I feel my energy lift after the lethargy of the hot summer days.

This Fall, though, has been slow in offering up its charms. The summer heat seemed to last longer than usual. After a round of cooler days, we are back to temps in the 70s! I wonder if our winter weather will be different as well. Certainly different from my childhood memories of autumn.

But then so much, these days, has changed. Weather-wise there are more storms, more drought, more floods all across our nation and the world. There is more political animosity, more anger, more active hatred. I try to look at people in a universal way, hoping to see what connects us rather than tears us apart. I look for the joy in life even though I know there are times for grief.

As the leaves finally fall, it is easy to forget their beauty. But they will be back, vibrant as ever, as Spring comes around. I hope that we all remember that as the seasons can change, so can we. Let’s seek the kindness and beauty of life and reach out to share it with those around us.

How are the seasons figured globally?

https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/aboutseasons.html

Our Own Weather Vane

Our Own Weather Vane

This has been a very strange year, weather-wise. April showers happened more in May.   We hear about intense thunderstorms and severe drought conditions in California. Snow fell in the Great Lakes and the Northeast while Alaska is experiencing record warm temperatures. Now the northeast is expecting intense summer heat in the middle of spring.

NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) National Weather Service map said predictability was low. Weather predictors on the news are often wrong. Each day seems to be a guess as to what we’ll find; we need to be flexible enough to deal with it.

Weather change is probably an apt metaphor for life in general. Sometimes the sun shines brightly for us, sometimes it rains on our parade. We can prepare for what life brings us by caring for ourselves. When we feel frenetic, it’s a good time to stop and take a few deep breaths before continuing on. We can plan for what we see coming but allow ourselves to understand that things may change. We might take time out of our busy days to take a walk or to exercise or listen to our favorite music, to dance, to smile. Let’s set our inner weather vane to predict a good life whatever it brings our way.

What’s going on with the weather?

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/2016-us-spring-forecast-march-snow-northeast-widespread-severe-weather-april/55085474