Wednesday, February 1, 2012

In the absence of snow angels

It's hard to believe that while today's temps are hovering around the 50's, last year on this day it was snowing 23 inches.  That 'ole Mother Nature is a loony, isn't she?  It's February and I was taking a walk on my lunch hour--outside.  But as much as I love the warm winter temperatures, I like the snow too.  Hobbes and I agree--anything that gets us outside is okay with us.

I was snooping around the yard in all of this nice weather and I happened to catch a glimpse of the white underside of a frog on the bottom of the pond--which is not a good sign.  I scooped him out with the net and homeboy looked a little...uh....stiff.  I think he is dead, but who knows? Hibernation/dead--they sorta look the same sometimes.  You gotta love Joe who says "Throw him back in--we'll know soon enough if he is dead".  That man is all marshmallow, isn't he? I vote for him to be the one to have to scoop a dead frog out of the pond come March or April.

That's the one day I'm gonna be in the house.

19 comments:

Diana - FreeStyleMama said...

Me likey this mild winter!

Bossy Betty said...

I know how you love those little frogs! Let's hope Joe is a little more sensitive if you are ever stiff and and not looking too good! I have missed visiting you , my friend!

Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell said...

OH no, I hope he's just a little sleepy!

Duni said...

Oh no...sorry about the frog :(
As for the snow - we've got it now! Urrgh.

vanilla said...

Some of the Minnesotans heard that it was "51 back home" and they were ready to pack and head out. W-a-a-y premature. Hope Frog survives.

Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor said...

Miss the snow but love the spring. Hope your froggy pal was just playing possum!

Pricilla said...

poor froggie. But we all go sometime. The goats do not like the constant up and down with the temps. The keep growing and losing their underfur. They can't keep up with what to grow or not grow. They shed it and it gets cold. The grow it and it gets warm. This really messes with animals.

Anonymous said...

Don't give up on that little guy, remember how you saved the belly up frog in my pond? Phyl

Grace said...

I don't think frogs sleep on their backs...

Nancy said...

Eep...hopefully the little guy is OK. And yes, since Joe voted you put him back, Joe can get him out in the spring!

BeadedTail said...

Let's hope the frog is just sleeping really hard!

Ann said...

aw poor frog.

Sharkbytes said...

I once thought our 13-lined ground squirrel (remember Peabody?) was dead, but he was only hibernating. Not sure if a frog would be belly up for a nap, though. Life is tough in the pond.

silverneurotic said...

I am definitely NOT missing the white stuff. For the last three winters I've had nothing but the white stuff and I definitely need a break.

Lin said...

Diana--Yeah, it is nice not to be freezing all the time, isn't it?

Betty--No kidding! Sheesh. Joe's sensitivity is not so good all the time--especially when it comes to the animals. I'm glad you are back, Betty. :)

Liz--I don't think so. He's sort of stiff, so I'm thinking he's a goner. :(

Duni--I never take a frog death lightly. Ever. I wish I could get over that, but that's just me. Sorry about the snow. Hope it melts quickly.

Vanilla--It's been a really mild winter, but why rush home? It's still all brown and chilly. Best to stay in the sun, I say. I think the frog is a goner.:(

Jennifer--I looked out to see some bulbs popping up! I thought of you and your snowdrops!! I think mine are coming up too. I don't think it is good news for the frog, unfortunately.

Pricilla--Hobbes is LOVING this weather and he is very fit and trim this winter because he can still go outside. Well, when the cops aren't bringing him home, that is. Poor goaties. They need babushkas to keep warm! This was a young frog, so I was sad to see him die. And yes, I think he is dead.

G'ma Phyl--I think this guy is a whole lot further gone, Mom. He's stiff as a board. Blech!

Grace--Nah, I think it is a dead giveaway. "Dead"--get it??? ;)

Beaded Tail--Well, he sure doesn't move around in his sleep very much then! Nah, I think he is a goner. He is stiff as a board down there. I think Joe has a job to do! Hee! Hee!

Ann--Yeah, it's a bummer. I always feel bad when I lose one.

Sharkey--I left him in there, just in case, but I think he is dead. There are a couple of other frogs who came up for air in the warm weather and this guy was still just floating around down there. He's a little too stiff for hibernating. It's sad. :(

Silver--Yeah, it's nice to get a snow and then have it melt right away. I'm not complaining this winter--we have a nice mix.

Veronica Lee said...

Hope your froggy pally wakes up in March/April. Poor little guy!!

Jen Chandler said...

I love the snow too. Living in GA, however, does not afford one much experience with snow! If it's going to be cold, though, throw in some white powder and I'm fine. Other than that, I'm not a fan of being cold!

Poor little guy! I hope he's ok, hibernating and not, you know, dead.

Happy Thursday!
Jen

Catherine said...

So far ~ we've really only had 2 weeks of winter here in Southwest Saskatchewan. THAT is a beautiful thing!

Sending good thoughts that Mr. Froggie has not croaked. Well you knew I just had to use that word. :o)

xo Catherine

Lin said...

Veronica--Well, I figure if he didn't wake up with his frog friends this week (the temps were in the 50's), he ain't gonna wake up. That and he's a little, uh, stiff. :( It's not looking good.

Jen--I like the BIG snows. You know, the ones that cause snow days. There is just something fun about 2 feet of snow that makes you feel like a kid again. As for the frog friend--I think the fat lady just finished singing. :(

Catherine--Okay, I was waiting for Daisy to say it! ;) It's been a good winter because we've had a couple of good snows--but then they melt with the warm weather. I can handle winters like this!