So I like winter, inflatables however are another story
- Michelle Wood: SWCD
- December 18, 2015
- 555
The weather has certainly been mild due in part to El Niño, the term used to describe the above-average warming of the equatorial Pacific. Funny how warm water seemingly a world away can have such an impact on the living, breathing planet beneath our feet here.
Mild temperatures have been a blessing even though I long for snow, the kind that slows everything down for a few days, the kind that closes schools and keeps people at home, a blanket of still, white winter.
While the jet stream is displaced and temperatures have been higher than usual I have noticed more people enjoying outdoor activities from tennis to biking. Runners will run no matter the weather so they don't count.
The furnace hasn't had to work very hard yet and we have yet to have a fire in the fireplace.
***
Could somebody please explain Christmas inflatables to me? Larger than life and rather obnoxious, I am officially on record as not liking these bizarre decorations that seem to get more and more popular each year.
They come out at Halloween and even Easter.
Granted I am a pine roping, live tree kind of Christmas decorator, but I can even tolerate the festival of lights some families put out each year. I just don't get the inflatables.
The inflatables that left me scratching my head the most have to be the Santa dressed in desert camouflage holding a sign that says, “God bless America” and the polar bear with two penguins tempting her with fish. In the wild, a polar bear and a penguin could never meet. They live at different poles. I suppose I should also mention the sword fishing Santa on a yacht.
What?
***
I've noticed a lot of development on what was once farmland. Just down the street from me there is a medical center and an office building under construction. It's been said a fire station might go in as well to serve the burgeoning north end of town. I'm not quite sure what that means, burgeoning north end? Other than these projects, life's been pretty quiet.
It makes me worry about the 84 acres across the street from me.
Until recently the only question was corn or soybeans?
Farmers are getting old and hanging up their hats.
Developers are taking advantage of wide open spaces.
Progress has it's pros and cons, I suppose.
Gas stations are popping up, too. Berlin, Mount Eaton and the east side of New Philadelphia all have new ones. The one in Mount Eaton drastically changes the atmosphere in the sleepy little village.
Pros and cons.