Things I'm Grateful for #8

Mid-winter snow storms.

We've had a lot of storms recently that involve snow. It will accumulate rapidly before it quickly fades away. It is so beautiful to go about with everything accented with touches of white.

Spring is scheduled to arrive on Friday. I've been fascinated every year at how promptly the trees and shrubbery befin to bud right on schedule with the calendar. Kinda weird.

Hopefully next weekend will involve some sort of get-a-way. Hope the start of the week has been wonderful for all of you!

Things I'm Grateful For #7

I'm not exactly sure what is causing the weeks to feel like they are never ending. I forget what day of the week it actually is. I'm sure that it must be Thursday, but no, it is Tuesday. Things with work feel so busy...so much paperwork, so many kids to see, so many reports to write and hearings to attend. By the time I arrive home I have no energy to do anything. I know I'm not the only one.

As this week was creeping by, I thought how much I have always hated wishing time away.

Though I may be utterly beside myself looking forward to something, I know better than to wish time away. We'll never know just how much time we do have. I try to enjoy each day...somehow :)

We were lucky enough to have rain much of this week. I like rain. I like when it pelts my windows. I like when it dances on the rooftops...especially those made of metal. For me, rain is good.


Here is a shot of the raindrops on my window at work. The drops pattered against the pane of glass most of the day on Wednesday. Rhythmically pattering, musically weaving a sense of peace through my soul...an echo of sanity.

I am very grateful for the rain.



Then...I awoke on Thursday morning to snow! There was quite a dusting of the white stuff on all the outdoor surfaces and it continued to lightly fall. By the time I was mostly ready for work...there were big fluffy flakes falling. When I went to start my wee auto there was over an inch piled atop it. I knew it wouldn't last, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love driving to work surrounded by snow covered trees and shrubbery. I find the layer of cool snow to be very calming...soothing to my spirit.

I am grateful for the snow.

How about you guys this week? What helped make your week special, or just help you make it through?

100

Here I am. My 100th post.

I've seen many fellow bloggers reach this landmark with much fanfare. I've seen folks give things away, create fun lists of 100 things and other creative stuff.

I've known it was coming...watching the numbers tick higher. I even asked my sister what, if anything, I should do.

Today it hit me like a hundred bricks.

I walked into the auto parts store and asked for a new set of snow chains (my previous set is long gone and wouldn't fit my current auto anyway).

BAM!



$100!!
(ok, so it was really $91.40, but seriously---that's a hundred bucks!)

***hmmm...perhaps this is a sign I need to move to Denali or back to Lake City where I'll really get my money out of these little guys?? ;) ***


So, I drove across to my bank. They have a nice, flat back lot that is usually pretty empty. I opened the box and noticed that they did seem easier to put on than the old ones. Some consolation! I stepped out with my bare hands and went to work. It really wasn't too difficult. Too bad the joints in my fingers were beginning to solidify. UGH! You'd think I'd remember gloves in winter--oh, yah, I NEVER remember gloves!

There was another guy heaving out his rugged truck chains and I meekly went over and asked for assistance. I hate looking like a helpless girl.

HATE IT

Thankfully he was one of the nicest folks I've met in this state. Typically strangers are polite, but they (really) like to keep their distance.

He came over, made a suggestion and wha-la! - chains fully installed.


I managed to equip the snow chains with their bungee thingy to take up the slack. I was grateful my hands were rather frozen as I kept whacking them with the yellow grippy things.

Off I went knowing I'd be able to make it back to my parking space when it was time to return home.

Apparently this storm is to last through the week. Supposedly the wind is to return and we are to expect power outages. I did pick up some extra logs...but it's a little disconcerting knowing temps have remained in the 20s outside...I'm not sure Duraflame will keep it near sixty as it did during the last big outage.

Ah well. At least I have control of my front wheel drive!



Did I mention that I've really missed winter. I'm loving the snow and the cold. It's beautiful and wonderful!!


edit: DANG! Do I look fatty in that photo or what! ICK-A-NAST!
: )

Winter

Well...the snow finally came. Initially a couple of inches fell at my place and the temperatures remained below freezing for the following days. It has been brilliant! The winter sun shining down upon the frozen earth.
Winter.
Lovely.

Here are a few photos from the last week:


This is dear old Normie as the flakes began to fly. He loves the snow. Thankfully, after quite a rough go he seems to be feeling well. It's been difficult. I expect it shan't be any easier as time continues to roll by.









Here is the snow lingering upon an evergreen bough. Snow in trees--I find it quite lovely :)








I decided while in California that it was time to cut my hair. I didn't chop it all off, though. I went to a new shop and had about two inches trimmed off and asked for some good texture and wispies--no fringe. I am quite pleased with the outcome! Both of
these photos show my locks with no actual style, but they do show how much it pulled up with just a bit of weight taken off!

Perhaps I'll post some photos from Cali and some of the treats I've been working on (though I've actually remembered to photograph very few). I'm absolutely enjoying the Christmas season--and it's been made even better by the snow!
It began falling yesterday before four and has basically continued right up to about an hour ago. Since then I've seen only a few flakes. We'll see if it is going to truly let up. Either way, this is not the Rockies. Things just sort of stop when there is snow or ice.

Weird, yes.

It has begun!

The snow is coming!!!

Supposedly there is a giant storm occurring RIGHT NOW...I'll get to that later. Yah, I'll get to my NaBloPoMo failure and Thanksgiving and all that too...but now, I need to make it to the market and shoppe to have my hair cut before the ice really starts to form.

See, I'm alive, I'm well...and Christmas is RIGHT around the corner!!!


I'll be back