YAY! THE SUN WAS OUT TODAY – SO WERE WE! 

Well, today, Saturday, February 20, 2021 – the sun was out for a change.

No idea how long it was out – I saw it in the morning, two-hours before noon, and then around 4:30 p.m. in the late afternoon.

We have a lot of overcast days in Cleveland – so when the sun is out – it sure brightens the heart.

Since February 1 – I have been inside – waiting for the snow to melt.

Since I don’t have to go anywhere, being without a car – I wait for the snow to melt before it is safe for me to walk on the sidewalks.

This month, based on my records, we got about 12-14 inches of snow. And it did not melt – because the temperatures have been below freezing all the time. The weather is projected to warm up – starting on Sunday (tomorrow) and the snow should clear up soon.

I had to go out this afternoon (just to the front) to pick up some delivery packages (food for our cats) that were left by the front porch. I had instructed the supplier to notify the delivery people to leave them in the back porch because of all the thefts that are taking place – but somehow the instructions were not followed.

So when I tried to open our driveway gate – it would not budge – because of all the accumulated snow all around – it took some effort to push it – just enough so I could barely scrape through.

And as I was making my way to the packages – our Galena (a golden retriever with a curly tail) – sneaked out behind me – and made a dash. Even though she has a full vacant lot to play in – she has more fun getting out and walking – mostly along the south side of the Cooley Avenue sidewalk – our house faces Jefferson Park. She usually walks for a short distance – sniffing everything and after she has explored the area for the nth time – she will come back. I try to keep an eye on her. She is a darling – and sometimes she runs across the avenue to the other side and when I follow her she makes sure not to listen to my calls to come back and enjoys seeing me chase her from one end of the southern edge of the park to the other. For senior citizens, like me, who live alone -- our pets are our constant and best companions.

Today – Galena had a big challenge walking in the deep snow. She enjoyed it. She gets out 3-4 times a day to walk around in the backyard.

The composite photograph and the separate photographs show a view of the park – looking northeast along West 132nd Street, icicles formed on the awning of our back porch, Galena, and myself. Even though I look bundled up – today, because there was no wind, -- it was 25 deg. F – I did not feel the cold.

Today the sun rose at 7:14 a.m. and set at 6:06 p.m. giving us a 10-hr. and 52-min. long day.

On December 21, 2020 – the first day of winter – also the shortest day of the year – the day was 9 hr. – 10 min. long. So far, within two months, we have gained 1-hour and 42 minutes.

On March 21 – the first day of spring – the day will be over 3-hours longer –- 12 hrs. - 13 min. to be exact.

Enjoy the remaining four weeks of winter – they should fly by!