Saying Good-bye To January

This has been the January of all Januaries...hasn't it? We broke a lot of records with the snow, with low temperatures, with ice and ice dams, with buildings caving in and damaged, with bad driving conditions, and with snow, snow, and MORE snow! But this post for me is about the January of my dreams. There were so many magical days of standing at a window, my nose pressed hard against the glass, watching thick fluffy snowflakes pouring down, or wind-driven small icy snowflakes slanting fast and thick to the ground. I watched the inches pile up and up, and the snow begin to engulf things like bushes, sidewalks, rocks, patio furniture and benches, and finally cars. I loved watching the insurance man jump out of bed of a morning, throwing on jeans, boots and a jacket, to rush outside to shovel snow yet again (he likes it), while I got to snuggle down deep, in my cozy bed, and watch snowflakes still falling.

Were you one of the many I've heard complaining about the snow? I get it, I really do, at least my practical self does. It's hard to get to work, hard to deal with no school yet again because of snow days, hard to get groceries and supplies, just plain hard to drive with all the other folks having a hard time of it too. Everyone dealing with the aftermath of of our many snow storms...like dirty snow, ginormous piles of snow and ice, very icy patches and many injuries as a result, and deep snow ruts in the streets.

But, if you are blessed as I am, you can pretend to be snowed in for days, while others go out to work, to school, and to the store, or to shovel once again. My schedule suddenly fell down to nothing booked for the day. I had one day to sit, read my current favorite book, snuggle by the fire and dream of snow drifts, snowmen, and long white unbroken patches of snow. On another day there was bustling, cleaning and cleaning out, sorting and bagging, all the while watching out the windows, enthralled with the birds and how they were surviving by cleaning up just like me, but cleaning up every leftover juniper berry or crab apple left on my trees. And yet another day found me mixing, baking, roasting and simmering, trying out some new recipes, steaming up the windows and making the whole house smell delicious. Everything I do, even the laundry, seems more fun while watching the mounds of snow growing outside. 

Being 'snowed in' is going to be one of my greatest pleasures of 2017, I just know it. And now it's time to say good-bye to the January of my dreams and wishes. Time to say good-bye to deepest winter with all the joy it has brought me. For today, we say hello to February, and just a tiny crack of hope for spring. But wait, January is not yet ready to let go....it snowed again last night, and it's still snowing outside my windows. So it's spilling into February...and I will just continue secretly smiling while others are complaining!

Wrapped in Snow

 It's hard to quit writing about snow. Snow is what we have, what we see every morning, every day. We are all but engulfed in it here in Central Oregon. 

I love snow, and it does look like a ski resort around here. 

My chair is almost full, but not quite. It's fluffy one minute, icy the next and foggy and icy the next. It's hard to drive in, but if you get to stay home like I do, it's wonderful to watch.Beautiful, enchanting and amazing. Since we only have this kind of winter once every 20 or more years apart, it's fun to take photos and document the winter of 2016-2017. No one here can remember a more severe January. One day 'they' will be saying remember the winter of?... Possibly a century storm.

 The geese struck me as funny going for a walk to the gas station one morning.

But don't worry about me, I'm snug as a bug.

A Winter to Remember

This is a random photo of Bronwyn about two years ago. Isn't it a beautiful picture? I love the repose it suggests, and our weather looks much like this outside. We have so much more snow than in my last post...it is amazing. A winter to remember and a time for solitude and reflection, just like Bronwyn.

A very white Christmas!

We do LOVE snow, and the three of us are having a very white and merry Christmas! Hope yours is merry too!

Wonderful Birthday Celebration!

My birthday falls on the first day of December, and due to the usual weather and getting older, there isn't too much to celebrate. But this year we decided to take a trip to Seattle where I grew up to celebrate. We had a fun trip there, stopping to see granddaughter Kory, and daughter Joy and family on the way. As we pulled into Seattle in time for lunch, the insurance man took me to a favorite, Ivars down on Elliott Bay. We picked out our plates of food, then sat where the hopeful seagulls watched us intently. It was damp and cold, but they have large heaters warming the outside air, and the view was marvelous. 

It was 'blue Friday', which was the discount you got for being a Seahawks fan. Tis' the land of the Huskies and Seahawks after all. 

One reason we made the trip was to see my brother and sister-in-law. My brother Joe had been in an accident recently, hence the wrist cast, and I wanted to check up on him.

We also wanted to meet the newest family member, Teddy. He is an ENORMOUS golden doodle puppy! That's right, I said puppy!!

Just like any toddler, he wants to be entertained and played with, so the insurance man did his part and danced with Teddy. I just tried to keep myself uncovered from his love and affection.

That evening we found our way back to downtown Seattle where we had booked a room at this very interesting boutique hotel. It is at the foot of Queen Anne Hill, and in a brick building built in 1908. The building is a city block in size, and was built to train car mechanics from blacksmiths to work at the Ford factory. 

 Front door of the hotel...

and the beautiful main lobby. The staircase goes up both sides for a total of 3 stories.

Second floor landing.

This is a shot of the wonderful architecture of the staircase.

At the top, a stained glass skylight.

The next morning we found that the complimentary breakfast was served in the pub on the main floor. We found a wonderful little alcove with cozy chairs and a gas fire burning. We enjoyed homemade yogurt with honey and fresh fruit, a toasted bagel and wonderful coffee. But you couldn't beat the atmosphere~We relaxed and really enjoyed this.

On Saturday we drove up the hill and enjoyed a walk with a marvelous view of Puget Sound, the city and the beautiful mansions there. We spent the day again visiting Joe, Cathy and Teddy then returned to the MarQueen for the night.

After enjoying the breakfast for a second day, we walked again before leaving Seattle, this time down to the Seattle Center just a few blocks away. The fountain has always been a special friend of mine, but not the right time of year for it to display with a cold spell on the way. Still, always nice to re-acquaint with old friends. 

We decided to get on our way south, and drive back home over Mount Hood before the weather closed in. Good thing too. We enjoyed the snow, and made it just fine before being snowed in by a foot and a half of snow that hit us later that week. 

Good thing JoAnn crocheted me this scarf and matching mittens for my birthday!! 

Bed or No Bed?

What a warm inviting cozy Christmas bed to climb into each night in December!
But I can't help but also think each night of the many in our community that don't have a warm cozy bed in our very cold temperatures. Our shelters are doing what they can to bring the homeless into town from their many camps, but it's never enough. I can't do much. I can help fill their stomachs with hot food. And I can whisper a prayer each night to the One who can do it all. 

Thanksgiving Greetings

"I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, among the peoples;

And I will sing praises to Thee, among the nations.

For Thy steadfast love is great, above the heavens;

and Thy faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

and Thy glory above all the earth."

Psalm 108

Thanksgiving greetings and love to all our family and friends!