And it kept snowing!

We got more snow last week. On the 13th we got hit with around 8 inches. WOW! The railing tells the tale.

And then it turned sleety. B went out to snow blow and did a great job - and then there was more snow so we still had to dig out.

Just the other day we got snow then sleet then snow. AGAIN!!

Well, we are now in a "warming" trend. Up here that means that today it was up to 32 with the sun out. But not too much melted. The SUV is filthy again.. and it wasn't warm enough for B to clean it.

We went to Sam's today to get some fish (frozen) for our Christmas Eve family party here. It is a family tradition that B's family does NOT eat meat on Christmas Eve! When his mom passed, we took over the Christmas Eve get together. Fish is not a favorite thing for the family to eat. I had salmon last year along with talapia and breaded cod and flounder. The salmon was a flop - cod and flounder was good and so was the talapia. Well, this year we are trying some new things. It will be breaded cod and fish sticks. We had tasted the fish sticks and they were really good. And, not too big. So, people who don't like fish can slather them in cocktail sauce and really not taste the fish! "sounds like a plan".
I'm also going to make vegetarian chili with black beans. I know everyone likes chili so it should be a go. Then there will be shrimp and scallops and the family brings things too so there is no concern that we won't have enough food! The only question is... WHAT WILL THEY LIKE AND WHAT WILL THEY NOT EAT?????
Dessert should be good - I'm making chocolate chip sour cream cake (thank you Doris) and Ron's bring pie and I'm not sure what else will arrive. Kim usually makes cookies and I'm sure there will be some other things.
The house is ready - the tree up the presents wrapped and bowed and mostly clean (need to do some last minute things over the weekend)

And so we more toward the end of December. And we still like it here!!!

Ice Storm Sunday Night

We expected ice... and we got it. It rained and then froze. I heard the rain last night. When we woke, it was 31 outside and really didn't look too bad. So, we looked at the TV. Local school was 2 hour delay We are in the "northern tier" and had gotten hit with ice after the snow. There was no one on the roads but it was still early. I got my coat on to go out to take pictures. B said they had just changed the school announcement from 2 hour delay to closed. Well, as I got to the porch I could see why... slippery!! The pictures I took at 7:15 are too dark to just upload.. I'll have to fool around with them.

So we spent the morning home - had coffee and bagel - and got the Christmas Cards ready to go. I packed up the book I sold on Amazon and we were ready to hit the trail. By noon the temperatures were up to 33 and the roads were fine. After the post office we went to lunch at Fluff's and then came home. Then I went out again to take these pictures before the ice totally melted.

This is toward the little stream taken from the back driveway.

And this is on the septic mound looking back into the woods.
Really lovely and it was nice to NOT have to go out until the roads were better.
Retirement is nice!!!!

Snow/Sleet/Rain/Snow

Yea, well, that's what we got. Now it's Monday night and it's just cold and very windy. Right now the temperature is 28. We expected snow... and we got it Sunday. And it was really pretty.. light and only about 2 inches. Now yes, I said "only" because up here, two inches isn't much. B went out yesterday to deal with the snow. It was light and fluffy, so he first "attacked" it with the leaf blower. Now, before you laugh... this really works!!!! The leaf blower is really powerfully and he blows the snow off the driveway and the cars. He later went with the snow blower but the leaf blower cleared the cars which was a BIG HELP. This morning, we could see very little new snow and there was ice on the car... thus the sleet rain part.... We had to scrape the car windshield off but the ice wasn't that thick. When we came home from breakfast, the temps were 36 and up so when I went to the Library around 9:45 there was no problem. We are supposed to get more something... it has been very windy all day.
We are doing well. The sun came out off and on and the day was really OK.
I have to say I'm enjoying this... we are safe, warm, and doing well. What more can you ask for??? I am thankful every day for how we are doing... both of us healthy, and enjoying what we do... which is, WHAT WE WANT TO DO. Boy, is that nice.
More snow/sleet/rain/snow in the forecast... we shall see. We watched the weather over the US and are glad we don't have to deal with the West coast's concerns.... And with that, we bid you "good night".