Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Winter Ramblings. #1
Good morning everyone! Well, I guess we can say that winter has officially arrived. We have some snow on the ground now, though not very much, about 2 inches (5cm). We are much below normal for snowfall in the month of November. Normal would be about 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25cm). I will take some photos later and show them in the next Ramblings. Although there isn’t really much to show yet. Still, it is our first snow, so it deserves some pictures.
We also had some freezing drizzle and rain yesterday, so it is very slippery out there for walking. It is that time of year again when I have to be very careful about walking outside. Oh well, it’s only for 6 months. Well, maybe less this year since winter began so late. In this part of the country, winter begins when there is snow on the ground and winter ends when the snow is gone in the spring. That is normally the end of April now, about 3 weeks later than it used to be.
One of our winter bird friends, the male Pine Grosbeak.
Winter makes me think of strange things sometimes. Like break-ins. Have you ever had anyone break into your house/apartment/flat? No? Perhaps you’re doing something wrong. Over the years people have broken into my place some 6 times. They were all in different places too, from houses to apartments. Why did they pick on me? I have no idea actually. The very first time I had just moved into a different house and did not have time to unpack everything at the time of the break-in.
I had just come home from church one Sunday morning and noticed that 3 of my boxes had been opened, and it certainly wasn’t me. Then I noticed that my cat was very scared. I looked around and saw the living room window was open. This was winter, there was a lot of snow and it was cold out. There were tracks in the snow coming in to the window, but none leaving. Was the person still inside? I looked around but found no one.
This is the female Pine Grosbeak.
Then I checked my bedroom last. Now, a word of caution is a good thing right about here. I was doing something the police always say not to do. I should have called the police right away and let them look around. After all, if there was someone inside, they might be armed with some kind of weapon. Not a good thought. Which is why the police should be called.
Anyway, no one was there, but the person must have been my size since he took my clothes. He also took all my camping equipment, a couple flashlights and an antique clock that had belonged to my grandparents. That was the worst loss since I could not replace it. There were other things stolen as well. The person was never caught, I didn’t really expect that he would be.
Another female Pine Grosbeak.
Strange things that happen sometimes. A couple of the break-ins over the years were really quite strange. I will mention all of them as we go through our winter ramblings, plus other things too of course. But I am thankful that nothing serious happened in this break-in. Things can be replaced, mostly anyway. No one was hurt, that’s the main thing. Well, I hope all of you have a really great day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2024 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
The best part no one was hurt during your breakins, Steve. I’m grateful I’ve never experienced a breakin where I lived. Once, I had my purse stolen where I worked, but I had my wallet with me and the thief got nothing. Ha ha. Have a lovely day and give Muffin a hug from Callie. 😻☕☕❄️
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Yes, no one was hurt in any of my break ins, except a cat I had one time, before Muffin. But she was not seriously hurt. Glad your wallet wasn’t in the purse!
Muffin thanks Callie and sends a hug back!😽😊❄️
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This week the temperature is heading downward toward a more winter-like landing. It’s probably too early for much snow. When I was a child, someone was in our home when we returned. My parents called the police, and the intruder was thankfully caught.
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It is always best to call the police right away, just in case the intruder/thief is armed. I wasn’t that smart, even after the second break-in. Sigh. Have a great day Richard. 😊😺❄️
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So sorry to read about your break-ins Steve
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Thanks Sheree, some of the break-ins were sort of interesting, even odd/unusual. But knowing that people have been in your home gives a strange feeling.
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Glad the burglar was gone when you got home. Otherwise, something bad could have happened. Many burglaries are things of happenstance. They see an opportunity and take it and have no sense of whom they have harmed. I have known many criminals and thieves in my former occupation. Their lives are never dull and they do not have any sense of how they have harmed others. Many have drug or alcohol addictions.
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Yes, one never knows what might happen when confronting a burglar. The police thought this was planned due to the timing and things taken. I was living with my brother at the time but nothing of his was taken or disturbed in any way. So possibly someone that I knew they said. I don’t know if that was actually the case though. Yes, thefts often go along with addictions.
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Yes, burglars can target people. Many would commit their burglaries while the people were at home. Terrorizing others gives them pleasure.
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Yes, one person broke into my apartment once when I was in bed sleeping. He/she ran when I yelled however.
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God was looking after you!
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Yes indeed, and He has done so many times over the years in dangerous situations!
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What⁉️ You got SNOW and did not post pics of it?
For shame, keeping all that beauty to yourself and other Canadians (and New Mexicans😂)!
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I couldn’t take pics while it was snowing, it would just look like the foggy pics I showed the other day. 2 inches is not much to get excited about anyway, but photos will be coming.😊📷❄️
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Well. two inches may not be a source of excitement in Canada (my sister-in-law lives in Edmonton and says “ho-hum” when she gets a foot!) but for we snow-deprived Southerners, two inches means school closings, get out the snow-blowers, don’t drive at all, but if you must stay below 25mph!😂
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Well, we have closer to 4 inches now and might get another inch or two today, it is snowing right now. A foot of snow would be a problem here since we do not have much flat terrain, it is mostly hills in this town, lots of steep hills. And they don’t plow a lot of those streets because the hills are too steep. Anyway, I will be showing pics soon, today or tomorrow. Enjoy your snowless days!😊😹❄️
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Looking forward to seeing ‘em! We’re in some hills with a town in them‼️ Branson, MO, is in the hollers of the Ozarks. I don’t think they have a 100 feet stretch that is level.🌄
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Sounds similar to our town!
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And no snow on ghe horizon, but dipping down to the 20s at night!🥶
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Wow, you’re going to be colder than us! That’s the nice thing about this big lake of ours, it isn’t frozen yet so it keeps the temp milder. That will soon change though.
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