Winter's Last Gasp?

That is what I am hoping today is bringing us. Flooding rains, icy cold wind and quickly falling temperatures. I have a big pot of chili simmering in the stove and am preparing a salad to take to a women's gathering at our church this evening. I was puttering around the house today and stopped to think about these suitcases. A dusty shop find a year ago, they now sit proudly in our living room. I often wonder just who Mrs. Thompson is, or was. What was her first name? Obviously beginning with the letter M, was it Mary? Mildred? Myrtle? Where did these suitcases accompany her? A Spring visit to Florida by bus? A car trip out West to see the Rocky Mountains? Perhaps she even ventured across the wide Atlantic Ocean to Europe. Did she spend a week on a lovely ship or get there more quickly by airplane? I will never know the answers to these questions but it is such fun to ponder them, especially on a cold, gray day like today. I just had to show you my new kitchen light fixture! I bought it at a JC Penney's close out sale....a year ago! I am a procrastinator did you say? Hmmm...but my brother came over and put it up for me last week and I adore it. Something so simple can change the entire look of a space. It *lightened* my mood today! A fun new item and a sweet brother who helped me add it to my home. Now that is something special to bring a bit of warmth to a dreary Tuesday!

Stay warm, dry and happy! Love and Hugs, Susie Q

April In Paris

It was damp & cold....the sort of stinging, bitter cold that gets into your bones and stays there. Trembling and tired, I went to sleep and dreamed of France in the Spring where it's colorful, poetic spring landscapes stretched before me for miles. Streets and parks in which I ambled happily along and lazed about in for long, delightful stretches. The light seemed soft, the people seemed...soft. I found myself humming the old Doris Day song...

"I never knew the charm of spring Never met it face to face I never new my heart could sing Never missed a warm embrace 'Til April in Paris Whom can I run to What have you done to My heart..."

It was the time of year when sweet Paris truly resembles its most appealing of cliches. It was a day to discuss life and all of it's wild twists and turns over a glass of wine at a small outdoor cafe. It was a time when the city was suddenly awash in cherry and apple blossoms, daffodils & tulips, painting itself in the brilliant pinks, reds, yellows and greens of a Van Gogh masterpiece or, at least, that of a 1950's Hollywood technicolor musical. Paris in the Spring was worthy of the legendary songs and poems that pay tribute to it's beauty. I smiled as I remembered the line from "Sabrina",

"Paris is always a good idea..."

It was here that pure joie de vivre was found. And then the alarm clock rang...ah. Being in Paris IS always a good idea, even if I only get there in a dream. Photos courtesy of Flickr.com

An Early Spring?

Okay, the furry little rodent did NOT see his shadow this morning! So, does this mean that there has to be law requiring us to have an early Spring? Yeah, that's it! It's a law! Phil did not see his shadow and declared it to be an early warm up! He wouldn't lie would he?

But, just to be on the safe side, I think

I will keep my boots and woolens at the ready. We are to have

-15 to -20 degree wind chills tomorrow evening. Now, That is cold enough to freeze the grin right off that know it all groundhog's face!

A Little Of This, That And The Other Cold Thing

I know what you are thinking. Maybe not but *I would be thinking, "Why is she posting a picture of sand and beaches when she should be posting her Christmas tree?" Okay, here is the answer. First, it is COLD. Windy with a sub zero wind chill. Numbing cold. I was just thinking about sitting on this beach last Summer and it made me smile. The footprints are Bill's and Grace's. I was following just behind and really enjoying watching them talk, hold hands and act silly. And it was waaaarrrrmmmm. Breezy and warm.

The answer to that second question is even more simple. No tree pictures because it is not quite finished! My head is hanging in shame. I blame the frigid temperatures. Could not be MY fault. Nope. It's the cold.

Okay. It is cold. Really cold. I am not kidding! COLD! I was freezing all day. Just could not get warm to save my life. Brrr...I am going to head off to bed in a minute (or 30) to snuggle with the dog and cat and layers o'quilts (I MISS BILL!) and hope I get nice and warm! And all this from a woman who actually LIKES Winter. I DO! But I am STILL cold. Really.

We had our first real snowfall. Not a lot to measure but gee did it mess with the morning rush and then some. I had to head out early to take my nephew to his pre school. It was my day to do that and I LOVE that time with him. Of course, today it all took a lot longer to go anywhere. I can't complain though. So many accidents today and I did just fine...my family and friends did fine too. So, no complainin' out of me. Well, maybe just a smidge.

Grace LOVED it. She was so excited and made me promise that she could play in it this afternoon. Now, to you and me it did not look like enough to play in. To her, it was a veritable snow mardi gras! She made a snow person that, and I am guesstimating here, was about 2 inches tall. Oh yeah, she was happy! The kid just gets more out of life than most! Give her a little snow, a pink hat and some art supplies and she is in la la land!

Grace had a special sewing class this evening at her instructor's home. She lives in a wonderful old farm house and has the greatest studio. The girls had the best time, almost as much as I did just watching them. Her teacher is a super lady and as patient a person as can be. She was a pediatric nurse for years and her skill with children is something sweet to see.

Have I mentioned it is COLD? Um, was that complaining? Yep, I guess so. Gee, I have to quit doing that! But the wind chill is 0. Feel sorry for me yet? Hmm...nah. I wouldn't either!

Today is the 65th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. So many lives lost that day. Some were friends of my Dad's...

I have such an interest in WW II history and it's effect on the lives of American's, German's, the Japanese, the Italian's, French...all those involved. Those who fought, those who were persecuted, those who grew up during those years, families just trying to live their lives amid chaos...those whose lives were forever marked by that war.

I am thinking about them all tonight.

Sleep well...stay well. See you tomorrow.