Yippee!!

the countdown to Spring is on a downward trend.  It is 65 days now till spring. 

I know a lot of you like the snow and the winter weather.  Me, not so much.  I like to look at the snow and I feel all warm and fuzzy when I am safe inside and a blizzard is blowing outside.  A good book to read and something fattening to eat and I am in HOG HEAVEN for 2 or 3 days.  Then reality sets in and I start to realize that I am stuck indoors for an indeterminate period.  Winter weather started here right after the tornado on November 17th and we have had bouts of bitter cold temperatures and mega amounts of snow.  We have a winter weather mixture predicted for this afternoon.

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hog heaven

noun

: a very pleasing or satisfying state or situation

 

Full Definition of HOG HEAVEN

:  an extremely satisfying state or situation

 

Example of HOG HEAVEN

1. We had plenty of food, good wine, and beautiful weather. We were in hog heaven.

First Known Use of HOG HEAVEN

1944

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Have a wonderful day.  I hope the sun is shining where you are.  It is dreary and cloudy here this morning.

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Snow is drifted everywhere…

and the real temp is –14 with the wind chill reading at 31 degrees  below zero right now. It is 73 days till Spring!!  The high for today is to be –12 and the wind chill is to be 40 – 50 below zero because the winds are to be  gusting higher.

Footprints from the paper carrier.

And so life goes on as does global warming??  I am in sweats again today.  I did put some makeup on though as I scared myself each time I looked in the mirror yesterday.  I will spend the day cooking I think and reading more on the Nora Roberts book.  It is very interesting although a tiny bit on the supernatural side, but then a lot of her books are that way.  This is a trilogy and there are 2 more books to follow in this series so of course I am hooked.

And speaking of books, the downloads for Nook and Kindle are different.  I like my Nook but I much prefer a book that I can hold in my hands.

Stay warm…and Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

 

A drizzly…

dreary day on day 45 on the countdown to Spring.  It is 37 degrees and I am not complaining, mind you, just stating a fact.  After what has been happening to Colorado with the huge blizzards I consider myself lucky.

It is the day of the month for me to take a picture of ‘the tree.’

Picture taken 4 January 2012 at 10 AM

Picture taken 4 February 2012 at 10 AM

Click on pictures to enlarge.

All for this morning.  You all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

And the snow is over…

at least for now.  I am sending it all to Bill in North Carolina along with a wish that he would get a foot or more of the white stuff.  lol  Our total was about 4 inches.  Just enough to blow around good.  Maintenance has been over and used the snow blower on the front and back sidewalks and the driveway.  In so doing in the back they threw it all up against my car.

I will ask my daughter and SIL to come over in the morning and help me dig out as I am not supposed to be doing strenuous exercise.

The countdown to Spring stands at 67 days and I am longing for it.  Yesterday I tried to hunker down but I was just too antsy to do it.  So I made some brownies with peanut butter chips and ate a big piece of that.  Then being a smart lady I put them all in the freezer to give to my daughter when I see her.  I really hate being stuck in the house as it makes me claustrophobic.

 

“Claustrophobia (from Latin claustrum "a shut in place" and Greek φόβος, phóbos, "fear") is the fear of having no escape and being closed in small spaces or rooms (opposite: claustrophilia).”

And that about sums it up.  I now have to struggle a few yards to the laundry room and get my clothes out of the dryer.  You all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

SNOW and the countdown is…

68!  We are under a winter advisory here for blizzard like conditions.  It is snowing like crazy and the wind is whipping around.  the storm is to last until 6 AM tomorrow.  Should I mention again that I do not like snow.  It wasn’t so bad until I had to handle it all on my own and now I dread it each winter.

The storm has just started and this is what my car looks like now.  This photo also shows the tree that I am taking a picture of each month for the year.  If you click on the pic you can also see the cemetery in the background.

So I am hunkered down and ready to face the day.  I have plenty of books and my Nook is filled with over 90 books so I guess I  will be OK.  Boston Boy, take note that I have bread, milk, eggs, and deli meat and cheese on hand.  Watch out for tomorrow ‘cause I think this is headed your way.

hunkeredpast participle, past tense of hunk·er (Verb)

Verb:

1. Squat or crouch down low: "he hunkered down beside her".
2. Take shelter in a defensive position: "hunker down and let it blow over".

Definition #2 is the one I am using today.

For my Twin, I hope your wall unit is delivered safe and sound today.  Don’t take any crap from anyone and make them all wipe their feet.

I am getting into my hunkered down position so you all stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Not much…

to report on the home front today and I am thankful for that.  I was sad that I was unable to go home for my friend’s funeral.  It is too long a trip to go alone.

However, today is sunshiny and beautiful with the promise of brighter days ahead.  It is 52 degrees today, to get up to 65 for the high.  It doesn’t get much better than that for a great fall day.  And this is the first day of Autumn.  I love the fall and the spring of the year.  The winter I can definitely do without.  I guess I really don’t mind snow so much if I can still get out and go.  The February blizzard of this year is still fresh in my mind.  In fact, last winter is still fresh in my mind as it was one of the worst that I can remember in my lifetime.

We are still suffering drought here with less than 3 inches total rainfall for the months of July, August and September.  My marigolds are dead as we had a frost a week or so ago and I didn’t cover them.  I will try again next year.

I miss having my own house and my beautiful flowers.  My friend Sandi told me that she takes long walks through the cemetery at home keeping an eye on Jim’s grave and I know that my friend Jo puts flowers on it too.  I have met some really nice people here but nothing to compare with old friends of many years.  Oh, I am sorry for being so nostalgic.  Probably because of Jim’s birthday yesterday and mine looming ahead.  Nothing like growing a year older to put your thoughts in prospective.

I have a few errands to run.  But first I want to share this picture with you.

My kids, another memory from the past.

  Beth

You oughta be here with me…

as we are having a blizzard.  The wind is gusting and is predicted at times to peak at 50 miles an hour.  The snow is blowing against the window and I don’t dare to venture outdoors.  The temp tonight is to have wind chills of 15 to 20 below zero.  I am stuck here in the house with that awesome peach pie and I guess you all know what that means.  I am cooking too, oven baked steak with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes and corn.  I never cook anymore and Marie Callender and Healthy Choice are the ladies who usually feed me.  Hurry, come save me from myself. 

For my friend Paul in Iraq, if you are reading this, I am so glad your mom was able to get a fruit cake to you.  I normally make homemade fruit cake each year which I send to unsuspecting family and friends.  This year for some reason I did not (probably because I have an electric stove here and for 50 years I cooked with gas). I love fruit cake, especially homemade so I think everyone else should too.  Prayers for you Paul and all of our troops all around the world.  Our  blogging family here is praying each day for you all!

I just talked to my sis in WV.  The weather there is one day behind us as they are getting the rain and then some snow to come.  She is busy getting presents ready for several of the special needs kids she works with.  Kudos for you Rae.  I am so proud of you.

I need to close now and check on the steak.  You are all welcome to come and join me.

  Beth