Ol’ Man Winter is testing my mettle and meddling with my miles!  #Wordless Wednesday #Grrr!

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Linda Schaub

#Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

About Linda Schaub

This is my first blog and I enjoy writing each post immensely. I started a walking regimen in 2011 and in 2013 I decided to create a blog as a means of memorializing the people, places and things seen on my daily walks. I have always enjoyed people watching, so my blog is peppered with folks I meet or reflections of characters I have known through the years. Often something piques my interest, or evokes a pleasant memory from my memory bank, so this becomes a “slice o’ life” blog post. I respect and appreciate nature and my interactions with Mother Nature’s gifts is also a common theme. Sometimes the most-ordinary items become fodder for points to ponder over and touch upon. I retired in March 2024 after a career in the legal field. I was a legal secretary for almost 45 years, primarily working in downtown Detroit, then working from my home. I graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Mass Communications (print journalism) in 1978, though I’ve never worked in that field. I would like to think this blog is the writer in me finally emerging!! Walking and writing have met, shaken hands and the creative juices are flowing in Walkin’, Writin’, Wit & Whimsy. I hope you think so too. - Linda Schaub
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72 Responses to Ol’ Man Winter is testing my mettle and meddling with my miles!  #Wordless Wednesday #Grrr!

  1. Anne Mehrling says:
    January 12, 2022 at 7:09 am

    That photo says a lot!

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Ally Bean says:
    January 12, 2022 at 7:47 am

    Nice photo that shows a snarl like you mean it.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 12, 2022 at 6:35 pm

      Glad you liked it Ally. It’s from my neighbor’s backyard and there are two other characters nearby, similar, but a little smaller. I figure the snarl comes from having all that snow on top of its “head”. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Laurie says:
    January 12, 2022 at 8:58 am

    It IS tough to run or walk during this nasty cold spell. I am looking forward to getting some warmer miles in when I visit my sister in Florida next week!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 12, 2022 at 6:39 pm

      Yes, it is Laurie and I did this post last Saturday, which was a bitter cold day, still icy and freezing rain was that evening. Yesterday it was 12 degrees when I went out and today, just 24 hours later, it was in the 35s with no wind. The weather makes no sense these days. We have bitter cold weather again on Friday and into the weekend, but no big snows, so I’m happy to get a chance to recoup those miles lost. I was wondering if you were still going – you mentioned awhile ago, it was Florida for January. You’ll get a lot of miles in now!

      Liked by 1 person

      • Laurie says:
        January 13, 2022 at 3:19 pm

        I think you sort of get weather 1 day ahead of when I do. It was 9 degrees when I ran the trail race last Saturday. It warmed up this week and today is in the high 40s, but it’s supposed to get very cold again this Saturday. Of course, I have another trail race that day. We leave for Florida on Sunday.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        January 13, 2022 at 8:38 pm

        That’s very cold for running Laurie. Well, we got to 37 this morning, but there were loads of accidents as it rained early a.m. and there was black ice. So, it was a walk the garage to run the car and better luck tomorrow. Good luck on Saturday’s trail race and have a safe trip to Florida.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Tofino Photography says:
    January 12, 2022 at 10:39 am

    That’s the expression when it was told how much longer this pandemic will be going on!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 12, 2022 at 6:40 pm

      Yes, a definite snarl from his face Wayne for that reason (mine too). He is in my neighbor’s backyard, so I took his photo last Sunday when I was out taking the pretty pictures of the snow in my backyard.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. bekitschig says:
    January 12, 2022 at 10:42 am

    What a cool photo!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 12, 2022 at 6:43 pm

      Glad you liked it Jeanine – that tree stump guy (and a few other smaller ones) have been in my neighbor’s yard for at least 25 years. When I was taking those snow photos in my own backyard last week, I saw him with the snow on it and thought “Ill bet that’s what Ol’ Man Winter looks like!”

      Like

  6. Pam Lazos says:
    January 12, 2022 at 1:27 pm

    👏😂♥️

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Dave says:
    January 12, 2022 at 4:22 pm

    That stump looks like the gatekeeper to an enchanted forest!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 12, 2022 at 7:21 pm

      He’s got quite a personality going doesn’t he Dave? He and a few of his friends have been in my neighbor’s backyard at least 25 years. When I was taking snow pics last week, I decided he looked even more interesting with snow on his head.

      Like

  9. singlikewildflowers says:
    January 12, 2022 at 10:30 pm

    what???? so cool and shocking. I can imagine so many silly photos to take with it. lol

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Barbara Rodgers says:
    January 13, 2022 at 6:29 am

    Old Man Winter personified! What a great snow photo of a cool sculpture!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Kate Crimmins says:
    January 13, 2022 at 8:16 am

    That’s me all winter!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 13, 2022 at 8:30 pm

      When I complain about the heat and humidity in Summer, I always tell myself there will be a day in January or February that I will want to kick myself for whining about a hot August day!

      Like

  12. Annika Perry says:
    January 13, 2022 at 1:30 pm

    A fun photo, Linda! 😀 Definitely not happy and more likely than not bemoaning his lot!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 13, 2022 at 8:35 pm

      Glad you liked it Annika. We had some snow last Sunday and I went out in my backyard to take some photos of it. My next-door neighbor has had this figure, as well as two more similar figures, in their yard for well over 20 years. I decided it was perfect to be the persona of Ol’ Man Winter.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. AnnMarie R stevens says:
    January 13, 2022 at 9:45 pm

    Miss Linda…………………………….THAT’s how I look when I go outside in the winter!!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 13, 2022 at 10:08 pm

      That’s me too Ann Marie, especially if I’m grumbling about missing a walk on a non-Polar-feeling morning. I didn’t get out this morning Ann Marie – black ice on the sidewalk and driveway when I went out to run the car, so didn’t attempt a walk. They said there were some car crashes earlier from black ice.

      Like

  14. indianeskitchen says:
    January 14, 2022 at 12:54 am

    Haha perfect picture Linda, it says it all!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. J P says:
    January 14, 2022 at 6:08 am

    If you asked him how long before winter is over, I think he would be stumped. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Shelley@QuaintRevival.com says:
    January 17, 2022 at 6:36 am

    That’s a funny photo! How many days until Spring? 🤔😜👀🦥

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged.com says:
    January 17, 2022 at 2:18 pm

    That would be my face if I had to live in the snow. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Prior... says:
    January 28, 2022 at 11:52 pm

    old man winter is such a unique find, Linda

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      January 29, 2022 at 8:21 pm

      It’s funny Yvette – that tree stump character and two slightly smaller ones with similar-looking faces have been lined up along the fence in my neighbor’s yard for a least 20 years and I was out there taking pictures of the snow and it struck me “that’s Old Man Winter!” It seems there are blog-worthy or photo-worthy shots all around us, sometimes without looking to hard to find them. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • Prior... says:
        January 29, 2022 at 8:26 pm

        wow – that is fun that it has been there that long and then you were inspired to grab a photo for the blog – it truly does look like old man winter – hahaha

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        January 29, 2022 at 8:44 pm

        I know … isn’t it funny how you see things all the time as ordinary, then all of sudden you see them in a different light? I was taking photos for a Wordless Wednesday about how pretty and pristine the snow was in the backyard. That character however didn’t fit in that topic, so I tucked him away for a week. Then this past Tuesday, I went out to shovel and my neighbor on the other side left out a yard ornament, a mother and child. I noticed it before, so decided to wait until the snow was piled up enough on it, then take a picture and entitle it “Baby, It’s Cold Outside!” I think he looks like Old Man Winter too – a grumpy old guy.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Prior... says:
        January 30, 2022 at 2:00 am

        I like the connection to “Baby, It’s Cold Outside!” (and as noted many times before – you are so good with weaving in these fun phrases, songs, etc. into a post idea)
        –
        and the snow does have a pristine look to it – and often a quietness.
        Each time I look out at my neighbor’s on the right – my heart goes out to the widow who lives there (her husband died earlier this month from leukemia) and I see signs of the husband all over the yard and lawn – he took really good care of his lawn and yard (and shhhh – ironically that might have contributed to his demise – because guess what – he used “roundup” – and ugh – that has been known to cause leukemia – and I sent the wife the lawsuit information but not sure what she did with it – she is still in shock)
        anyhow, it is a little haunting to imagine my neighbor gone and not out and about doing his thing anymore.
        —

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        January 30, 2022 at 8:26 pm

        You swell my head Yvette. 🙂 The snow does look so perfect until the soot descends on it or it gets dirty in the street. To see freshly fallen snow is very peaceful. That is very sad with your neighbor and yes, the manufacturer continues to say their product is safe, but look at that long list I saw a few years ago of seemingly healthy food that might have been contaminated by the use of Round-up. I remember being shocked about Cheerios and Quaker Oatmeal and I think Triscuits as well. Scary. Many years ago, we had the sewer system replaced on various streets in the City – ours was one of them. I was mad as I had just spent an entire Summer landscaping the front and backyards and part of the landscaping was at or near the easement in the backyard. I took photos of my garden after receiving the letter advising what the work entailed. (And, as it turned out, they never touched our backyard.) A neighbor on the opposite corner however had a huge flower and veggie garden. There was also a rock garden with perennials in between. He would have received the same letter, but that night he came home from work, took one look at his backyard which had been decimated by a steam shovel and had a heart attack and died on the spot. The neighbors were shocked.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Prior... says:
        January 31, 2022 at 12:05 am

        oh that is such a sad story about his shock death – wow – and to think a letter and some mental preparation could have prevented that.
        that is so sad

        Like

      • Linda Schaub says:
        January 31, 2022 at 8:34 pm

        Yes it was sad Yvette and yes, we got letters detailing the work to be done. So it was a shock to see it. They plowed everything up. Lots of people plant or put a shed on the easement. Across the street from us, they had a double lot and she had a beautiful perennial garden which she had for years. She asked if she could put her flowers in our backyard while they did the work and we said “sure” so they bought five-gallon buckets and holes in the bottom and filled them with dirt. Each plant was dug up, planted in the bucket and brought to our backyard. I watered them along with my own flowers. She didn’t lose any plants, but they used their yard as a staging area and had a bulldozer in it for August and part of September 1988.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Prior... says:
        February 1, 2022 at 9:38 pm

        wow – glad she was able to save here plants and that you could help her
        –

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        February 2, 2022 at 7:54 pm

        Me too – she was very passionate about her garden. Sadly, after her husband died, she went into a tailspin, had major memory issues and a few times stood in the driveway, watering can in hand and staring into space. They were good friends of the family and I hated seeing what happened to her.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Prior... says:
        February 2, 2022 at 9:23 pm

        oh wow – that is sad

        Like

      • Linda Schaub says:
        February 3, 2022 at 8:14 pm

        Yes it is Yvette – I tell myself that every day is a gift and I look forward to when I have unlimited time to myself because I’ve known four people now that were robbed of their golden years by dementia. It’s very scary. It seems to me on the news, at least once or twice a week a person will go missing from an assisted care facility and they are dementia patients who leave and sometimes they are located and sometimes they perish as they are lost and die from the elements.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Prior... says:
        February 4, 2022 at 10:04 pm

        oh that is really sad – and you are right – when the mind goes every thing is lost.
        trust sad’
        and Linda – I am sure your walking is going to be a great dementia prevention thing 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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