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You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Cat Blogging / A Frosty Respite

A Frosty Respite

by Major Major Major Major|  February 1, 20214:48 pm| 64 Comments

This post is in: Cat Blogging, Nature & Respite, Open Threads, Pet Blogging

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As you may have heard, there’s a big nor’easter parked over the, er, Northeast right now. Huge volumes of snow, high winds, and even some thunder are expected throughout the region. New York City may see upwards of two feet over the course of the thirty-six hour storm. Here’s the view from my window right now. Samwise is loving it. We just moved, and have a good street view for the first time, so this is sort of his first big snowstorm.

A Frosty Respite
A Frosty Respite 1
A Frosty Respite 2

He’s just been watching it all day, when he hasn’t been sleeping. Some pigeons came to chill out on the windowsill for a while. Being the big city pigeons that they are, they were unfazed by a cat staring at them with murder in his eyes.

Anyway, we’ve been staying in, and would have been even if there weren’t a raging pandemic. Did some work. Made some pasta. Going to do a Chinese cumin beef thing we like tonight. Nothing to report, really. Just thought we could use a nice thread.

I have this song stuck in my head at the moment. I think of it whenever there’s a big snowstorm. What are some weathery songs you all like?

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    64Comments

    1. 1.

      raven

      February 1, 2021 at 4:53 pm

      Hands down the best

      Stormy Monday

      Reply
    2. 2.

      danielx

      February 1, 2021 at 4:55 pm

      @raven: ​
       
      Top shelf.

      Reply
    3. 3.

      Mary G

      February 1, 2021 at 4:56 pm

      So he came out from under the bed, good. That picture of him on the bed with the WTF expression on his face is so fun – I can just imagine him thinking “We never had this happen in California!”

      And now I have that song “it never rains in California, but let me warn you, it pours” as an earworm. Thanks a lot.

      Reply
    4. 4.

      JanieM

      February 1, 2021 at 4:56 pm

      The Mermaid, Schooner Fare version.

      Reply
    5. 5.

      No name

      February 1, 2021 at 4:57 pm

      You can just sense how soft that kitty is ❤️ Nothing better than a snow day with a kitty or two.

      Reply
    6. 6.

      geg6

      February 1, 2021 at 4:57 pm

      California Dreaming

      Perfect song for a day like today.

      Reply
    7. 7.

      MagdaInBlack

      February 1, 2021 at 4:58 pm

      I have a vet tech. friend in Lowell, MA who was wtf-ing under her breath at last minute customers. She’d kinda like to go home, ffs.

      Eta: She’s home, in jammies =-)

      Reply
    8. 8.

      opiejeanne

      February 1, 2021 at 4:58 pm

      I am jealous. We got a couple of inches, maybe 3, on December 21, and nothing since. We really need the snow to help the fruit trees and certain plants stay dormant. Right now they seem to think it’s early spring and the buds are starting to push out already, and there’s almost always a hard frost in February.

      Reply
    9. 9.

      piratedan

      February 1, 2021 at 4:59 pm

      seems an appropriate time to drop this…. as an example

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNTSk8EsoAM

      It’s Cold Outside – The Choir

      Reply
    10. 10.

      Ceci n est pas mon nym

      February 1, 2021 at 5:00 pm

      Well yesterday I was looking at the overcast and singing “I got sunshine on a cloudy day” to my bride. (My Girl)

      There’s a Randy Newman song I like a lot called “I think it’s Going to Rain Today” that has a lot of personal memories. Here’s a recording by Audra McDonald.

      Can’t actually think of any good blizzardy songs. But a great orchestral piece for snowy days is the Sinfonia Antarctica by Ralph Vaughan-Williams. I believe it was originally a movie score.

      Reply
    11. 11.

      WaterGirl

      February 1, 2021 at 5:00 pm

      Samwise has asked me to politely inquire as to why he did not have a window before?!!!!

      In any case, he informs me that he does not hold a grudge.

      Happy day, Samwise.

      Reply
    12. 12.

      zhena gogolia

      February 1, 2021 at 5:03 pm

      Well, the street plows have come a few times and our driveway got plowed once — he’ll have to come again tomorrow. But at least there is hope we won’t be stuck for a week, as in (?) 2014

      ETA: Samwise is beautiful, as usual!

      Reply
    13. 13.

      Steve in the ATL

      February 1, 2021 at 5:04 pm

      Steppenwolf “snowblind friend”

      But that may be a different theme….

      So, one of my kids moved to NYC last week. Should I check in her today?

      Reply
    14. 14.

      danielx

      February 1, 2021 at 5:04 pm

      Driving to IU Bloomington on a hot summer night with the windows down on a hot summer night with the smell of cornfields and grass filling the car….

      And the sax break after the first verse is to die for.

      Reply
    15. 15.

      Jim, Foolish Literalist

      February 1, 2021 at 5:05 pm

      Going to do a Chinese cumin beef thing we like tonight.

      any chance that’s 1) and idiot proof recipe that 2) you’d be willing to share?

      I like cumin, I like beef, anything beyond “Add ingredients to pan, turn up heat and stir” is pretty much beyond me

      Reply
    16. 16.

      Ken

      February 1, 2021 at 5:07 pm

      I imagine the savvy city pigeons know (1) window has glass, and (2) if the window is open and the cat pounces, it has a much bigger problem than does the pigeon.

      Reply
    17. 17.

      evap

      February 1, 2021 at 5:08 pm

      The last time my choir was able to have a holiday concert (Dec 2019), we did a great version of Let It Snow and that is now my current earworm.

      Reply
    18. 18.

      zhena gogolia

      February 1, 2021 at 5:09 pm

      This pup is so fucking cute

      Life goals: Find someone who loves you even half as much as this dog loves opera. 🔊 🆙 📹: Imgur user MonStar1203 pic.twitter.com/neVHObBNzc— Paul Bronks (@SlenderSherbet) February 1, 2021

      Reply
    19. 19.

      rikyrah

      February 1, 2021 at 5:10 pm

      Samwise😍😍😍😍

      Reply
    20. 20.

      raven

      February 1, 2021 at 5:10 pm

      @danielx: We played IU on the last football game of the season and drove and RV over from Champaign. We broke down on the way back and walked though deep snow to a farm and the nice guy gave us a can of ATF and it got us home!

      Reply
    21. 21.

      raven

      February 1, 2021 at 5:11 pm

      @danielx: All night long, we sang that stupid song. . .

      Reply
    22. 22.

      J.

      February 1, 2021 at 5:11 pm

      I know that street. (It’s also easy to identify from the photos. Just sayin’.) Glad Samwise is enjoying the snow. :-)

      Reply
    23. 23.

      Benw

      February 1, 2021 at 5:11 pm

      One thing about a pandemic is much less reason to shovel out our big dumb LI driveway.

      Curse the Weather by Royal Tusk: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gMKZv6z8Rvg

      Reply
    24. 24.

      Major Major Major Major

      February 1, 2021 at 5:12 pm

      @WaterGirl: He had plenty of windows! With a great view of the neighboring building, ten feet away!

      @J.: Yeah I thought about redacting a little but you know what, I’ve already posted these on Twitter, and in general a sufficiently motivated adversary could figure out my block without much difficulty anyway.

      Reply
    25. 25.

      Danielx

      February 1, 2021 at 5:14 pm

      @raven:

      time and place…

      Reply
    26. 26.

      Barbara

      February 1, 2021 at 5:14 pm

      Snow seems to be picking up again in the Mid-Atlantic region.  I think we had around 4 inches yesterday, maybe one or two more before it’s over.  It’s nothing like what you are having.  One big difference now is that a lot of local governments pre-treat streets with saline solution, and this really does seem to keep roads a lot clearer.

      Reply
    27. 27.

      Major Major Major Major

      February 1, 2021 at 5:14 pm

      @Jim, Foolish Literalist: It’s from the excellent cookbook “Every Grain of Rice” by Fuschia Dunlop. Husband is using it at the moment, but I might be able to get it down for you later if you remind me.

      Reply
    28. 28.

      Roger Moore

      February 1, 2021 at 5:16 pm

      @Ceci n est pas mon nym:

      Can’t actually think of any good blizzardy songs.

      Let It Snow?

      Reply
    29. 29.

      LuciaMia

      February 1, 2021 at 5:17 pm

      “We’re having a heatwave…a tropical heatwave…”

      Reply
    30. 30.

      Spanky

      February 1, 2021 at 5:17 pm

      Still freezing rain here in Southern MD, and the cats are driving me nuts. Underfoot, on the laptop, on the lap, arguing with each other …

      They just had their dinner, and I don’t think it’s helped the situation at all.

      Reply
    31. 31.

      SiubhanDuinne

      February 1, 2021 at 5:19 pm

      @zhena gogolia:

      Love that!

      Reply
    32. 32.

      Major Major Major Major

      February 1, 2021 at 5:23 pm

      @Spanky: what about second dinner?

      Reply
    33. 33.

      BruceFromOhio

      February 1, 2021 at 5:27 pm

      I love a rainy night.

      Reply
    34. 34.

      Delk

      February 1, 2021 at 5:29 pm

      Last song people

      Reply
    35. 35.

      Jim, Foolish Literalist

      February 1, 2021 at 5:31 pm

      @Major Major Major Major: Found it at the NYT cooking section, if that’s the same one. Thanks for the tip.

      I’m surprised they say cumin is rarely used in Chinese cooking. Not that I ever gave it a lot of thought.

      Reply
    36. 36.

      Major Major Major Major

      February 1, 2021 at 5:34 pm

      @Jim, Foolish Literalist: That looks very similar to the version in the book!

      There are some popular northern dishes that use it but it does seem to be, if not rare, then not something I encounter at restaurants too often.

      Reply
    37. 37.

      VOR

      February 1, 2021 at 5:35 pm

      Jethro Tull “Something’s on the Move” from their Stormwatch album. A song about an approaching ice age. http://youtu.be/_UYhULU3Yb0

      Reply
    38. 38.

      sab

      February 1, 2021 at 5:37 pm

      I learned this the hard way with my Shadow for the calendar: it is really hard to make a gray cat look gray in a photograph. Usually you succeed. This time you didn’t. I really like Samwise as a black cat. I’m glad he is okay with the move.

      Reply
    39. 39.

      Roger Moore

      February 1, 2021 at 5:37 pm

      @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

      I think cumin is mostly found in parts of Chinese cuisine with more of a Central Asian influence, which is not what shows up in most Chinese restaurants here in the USA.

      Reply
    40. 40.

      Spanky

      February 1, 2021 at 5:38 pm

      @Major Major Major Major:

      what about second dinner?

      I’ll put down some dry food around 6, when I start prepping for  hooman’s dinner.

      Reply
    41. 41.

      misterpuff

      February 1, 2021 at 5:38 pm

      “Valley Winter Song” by Fountains of Wayne

      Go find it on YouTube.

      You will be in sync with the snow.

      Reply
    42. 42.

      Roger Moore

      February 1, 2021 at 5:40 pm

      @sab: ​
       

      it is really hard to make a gray cat look gray in a photograph.

      You have to get the exposure right. It might help to shoot in raw format and adjust the exposure in post processing to get the tone right.

      Reply
    43. 43.

      Ceci n est pas mon nym

      February 1, 2021 at 5:40 pm

      @Roger Moore: While that is admittedly a snowy song, and so is “Baby it’s Cold Outside”, I wouldn’t classify either as a good blizzardy song in the sense that I’d be likely to start playing it.

      One of the quirky things I do sometimes when there’s a really good storm outside is try to find a good performance of King Lear’s “Blow, wind” speech.

      My bride is very tolerant sometimes.

      Reply
    44. 44.

      evap

      February 1, 2021 at 5:41 pm

      @Major Major Major Major:  One of my favorites!   We have three of her cookbooks and they are all worth having.

      Reply
    45. 45.

      Major Major Major Major

      February 1, 2021 at 5:46 pm

      @sab: he does too look gray, especially in the second pic! But yeah, automatic white balance on the phone, whatcha gonna do

      Reply
    46. 46.

      sab

      February 1, 2021 at 5:48 pm

      @Major Major Major Major: He looks like a black cat that you can actually see, like in real life and unlike in photos

      ETA In other photos you have shown he had a silvery sheen.

      Reply
    47. 47.

      schrodingers_cat

      February 1, 2021 at 5:49 pm

      Nothing more beautiful than Mumbai in the rains.

      Rim Jhim Gire Sawan

      Reply
    48. 48.

      grandmaBear

      February 1, 2021 at 5:49 pm

      @Jim, Foolish Literalist: it’s also on seriousEats.com : Hunan beef with cumin

      Reply
    49. 49.

      schrodingers_cat

      February 1, 2021 at 5:51 pm

      @Roger Moore: Cumin is my favorite spice. I probably use it more than any other spice.

      Reply
    50. 50.

      Major Major Major Major

      February 1, 2021 at 5:52 pm

      @sab: yeah I can see what you’re talking about on the windowsill pic.

      Reply
    51. 51.

      laura

      February 1, 2021 at 5:57 pm

      Fog pelted kiki is beautiful and a perfect moggie. The Anthony Bourdain Beef Bourguinon is just underway, bubbling on stove top and driving Chet the slightly used weinie dog into a beef tizzy.
      I’ve been thinking about When the Levy Breaks Stormy Monday, and Gimme Shelter.

      Reply
    52. 52.

      Delk

      February 1, 2021 at 5:57 pm

      Xi’an restaurants usually have cumin lamb on their menus.

      Reply
    53. 53.

      WaterGirl

      February 1, 2021 at 6:00 pm

      @Major Major Major Major: How soon they forget!  :-)

      Reply
    54. 54.

      Major Major Major Major

      February 1, 2021 at 6:22 pm

      Yum, cumin beef

      Reply
    55. 55.

      Yutsano

      February 1, 2021 at 6:42 pm

      @Delk: ​
      It’s common in Mongolian cuisine as well. Cumin most likely is a legacy of empire coming from the west. We wouldn’t be too familiar with Northern cuisine here in North America as we mostly have Cantonese and Szechuan restaurants available to us. Which is too bad as the diversity of Chinese food in China is amazing.

      Reply
    56. 56.

      BC in Illinois

      February 1, 2021 at 6:57 pm

      In June of 1972, Hurricane Agnes came through the Washington area. I was a Hospital Corpsman at the Naval Hospital (now doing business as Walter Reed Medical center) on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda. By the time Agnes hit DC, it was no longer a full hurricane; it was just lots and lots of rain. In the afternoon and evening, Mrs BC and I were visiting friends near Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. In between Georgia Ave and Wisconsin Ave was Rock Creek, normally a shallow stream, which could even be forded at some places by a normal car.

      That night, Rock Creek took out all of its bridges. And it did so, while we were on the road, trying to get to Bethesda. The bridge at East-West Highway was closed. A couple of other bridges were closed. We finally crossed Rock Creek on Connecticut Avenue. My brother, who was driving a wrecker for the Kensington Shell station that night, tells me that the Connecticut Avenue bridge was washed away, no more than 15 minutes after we crossed.

      The point of all of this, is that the radio station we were listening to — WHFS, I think — played every song in their record library that had to do with rain. Look Out, Houston, Storms A’Coming Through and Bad Moon A’Rising were the two I remember. They had a lot of songs.

      Reply
    57. 57.

      prostratedragon

      February 1, 2021 at 7:13 pm

      From James P. Johnson, “Snowy Morning Blues”

      Reply
    58. 58.

      Mart

      February 1, 2021 at 8:50 pm

      Ten? years back in a crowded bar on top of a Chicago hotel with twenty-two inches of snow starting to come down; it was accompanied by tremendous thunder booms. So nearly all us professional business traveler types revert to age 12, and pound on the tables shouting “Thunder Snow”. And then we all laughed. It felt great.

      Reply
    59. 59.

      worn

      February 1, 2021 at 9:25 pm

      How’s about the magnificent voice of David Ruffin, with his originally unreleased ode to my home state? A Rainy Night in Georgia

      Reply
    60. 60.

      Ascap_scab

      February 1, 2021 at 9:36 pm

      Driving my life away – Eddie Rabbit

      Riders on the storm – The Doors

      Reply
    61. 61.

      Jacel

      February 1, 2021 at 9:48 pm

      “I Think There’s A Change In The Weather” by The Kinks. Far less a downer than their earlier “Rainy Day In June.”
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWZx8I2IrtI

      Reply
    62. 62.

      Jim, Foolish Literalist

      February 1, 2021 at 9:50 pm

      @Mart: thunder snow is awesome

      Reply
    63. 63.

      NotMax

      February 1, 2021 at 9:51 pm

      Jethro Tull, anyone?

      A geographic hop and a skip away.

      Reply
    64. 64.

      Chacal Charles Calthrop

      February 1, 2021 at 10:06 pm

      @BC in Illinois:tina turner i can’t stand the rain

      Reply

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