Feeling Cozy

 A post before November slips through my fingers and disappears.

Winter is just around the corner. We had a taste of it this week, complete with snow two to three inches thick on my car Tuesday morning. Good thing I keep that snow brush handy year round! On Monday morning my gloves were still hidden away upstairs, but I'd heard more snow was in the forecast and donned both my new Grinch hat and last year's gloves when the snow was deep and formidable. My commute is barely long enough to warm up the car and I am super thankful for my heated seat.

I've recently revisited my felting needles and stabbed out a few fabulous friends. I have six complete, aside from hangers and they're so cute. Unfortunately the arthritis in my left thumb/wrist is not in favor of my creativity. (Either that or I was too enthusiastic about finishing more penguins than my hands could handle.) I'd hoped for five penguins and five snowmen by Saturday but may have to be happy with what I have, which is better than nothing. Ruth and I are doing another craft sale.

Speaking of Ruth, we went out shopping a couple Saturdays ago. I texted her early that morning and said I wanted to go looking at furniture. There is nothing quite like a best friend to encourage us on the adventure. LOL! First we went to Bob's Discount Furniture where we saw some fabulous dining room sets, and then we went to Ashley where I fell in love with a cute little loveseat the perfect size for the end of my living room. So, so cozy. It arrived today and I love it!

The Powers That Be decided to shake things up a bit at work. The manager that hired me a year ago was suddenly moved into a different position outside of our store. (It was a surprise to her as well...) We got a new manager along with three new employees who had formerly worked with her at a different coffee shop. The first week was tough with the entire store being rearranged and few of us sure what was happening. This week was better. We're getting to know each other and falling into a groove. Maybe it's going to be okay after all.

More Bits and Pieces

 * Unbeknownst to me, three of my offspring boarded a plane last weekend and flew from Toronto to Halifax, Nova Scotia. (They're all grown up and allowed to go where they will, but as a mom, I wish they would let me know when they take off like that...) They went to find their dad and three aunties. The flight back to Toronto on Sunday was cancelled due to inclement weather and they weren't pleased with the offering of a flight back on Thursday, so they rented a car in Halifax and caravanned home through the northeastern snowstorm with their dad who had driven up the day after his mom's passing. In spite of ice and freezing rain, a pile up on I-90 early Monday, and blowing snow, they arrived home safely Monday night. On Tuesday my daughter took the Canadian rental car back to the Toronto Airport to retrieve her brother's car. (Photo of the lighthouse at Peggy's Cove borrowed from my son Ben.)

* We have been plunged into the deep freeze. Ice and snow on Sunday. Churches closed and the roads were treacherous. I picked up my son Joe at his apartment around 1pm and we drove to Bethany's house to pick up the keys to Ben's apartment. We fed Smoky and hung out with her for a while before heading into Rochester to see Nathan and his band play a show. (I'd purchased tickets ahead of time not knowing the weather.) After the show we returned the keys to Beth's house and went home. 

* Monday was bitter cold but the sun was shining bright when I returned home from work. It seemed a shame to waste the beautiful day so I donned my boots, winter coat, hat, neckie, and warm gloves and took a walk down by the lake. I did not stay long, just long enough to walk from the parking lot at the top of the hill, down the hill and across to the little bridge over the creek. My fingers ached with the cold but I persevered and came home with some nice photos. Without the neckie protecting my neck, chin, cheeks, and nose, I would not have made it that far. 

* It's been a week of snow and arctic temperatures (much of it wind chill), and my coworkers are "so over the snow!" I'll be over it in another month but have purposed to enjoy the cold of February. It will be summer in no time at all and then we will complain about being "too hot!" 

* Family in town this weekend. It remains to be seen how many with whom we'll connect. We're all hoping to join the Celebration of Life in Halifax via Zoom on Saturday, along with a bazillion others scattered across the continent in both Canada and the US.  Prayers are appreciated.

Looking A Little Christmassy

Well, we got some snow last night. A layer of fluffy, whiteness blanketed vehicles this morning and icy temperatures had us donning gloves and mittens.

On Saturday Hannah and I took the kids out to the "Christmas Store," which is actually called The Emporium. I came home with a few smallish snowmen who melted into my collection, and a set of snowman salt and pepper shakers, because I "needed" them. My "Christmas Room" is full of smiling faces. While shopping for snowmen we ran into Father Christmas. Killian, ever suspicious and expertly cautious, kept his distance, but I had met the particular jolly fellow a couple years ago and decided to give him a quick hug before we did our shopping. Somewhere along the upper floor of the establishment, Kili decided he wanted to see Santa after all. Too bad we didn't have Sergio along. We could have had the perfect Christmas card!

I was sidelined by thought of warm blankets on my way home from church Sunday and stopped in Burlington to see what they might have to offer. I came home with five snowmen who also melted into my collection. (There are so many now that once I rearrange them a tad, no one notices a few more. LOL!)

The Christmas Room, in other seasons known as my living room, is warm and cozy and I like it very much. It feels like home aside from the wood stove being cold, although it is glowing thanks to those flickering, orange Halloween lights.

Christmas isn't complete without a Nativity and so yesterday afternoon I went in search of mine. I found it packed away in the attic and set it up in my glass bookcase. (I added a few new friends this year.)

I Don't Blog Much Anymore

 I don't blog much anymore, but our baby went home Friday and that is pretty incredible. Totally blog worthy! I popped in to visit for a spell late this morning and a little into the afternoon.

He was looking chipper, crawling about, and even practiced a bit of free-standing.

I took him a stuffed doggie that I picked up at Walmart mid-week on a lunch break. This morning I hunted down some wide-eyed needles and a bit of black yarn, and I stitched a zipper scar on that puppy's chest.

It was a beautiful, snowy day. Colder than cold. Typical February in upstate NY.

Out and About for a Bit (Post #2)

 It's been a frigid week. Before going off to church this morning, I took a hammer and knocked the chunks of ice buildup behind my front tires off into the driveway. My sister Rachel was excited about the ice she knew was collecting along the lake shore and wondered if I would like to go out and take some pictures with her after church. 

We started at Webster Park where just two weeks ago I collected a handful of beach glass. Today any beach glass was buried under a layer of ice and snow. 

We had also planned a trip to see our brother and take him out for a ride. Because he has difficulty getting in and out of vehicles, we took my little SUV. It was a disappointing ride. He gobbled down the snacks we brought and promptly went to sleep. He didn't even complain when we stopped for pictures of the bison.

Before heading home, we took a ride to Sodus Point and were surprised to meet up with Tom The Backroads Traveller. Rachel had already struck up a conversation when I came around the front of the car. "I know you," he said, and he was right. It's been a while now since we fashioned Christmas wreaths in his barn and I almost didn't recognize him, which is funny because I am often running into people I know. This is the first time Tom and I have chanced to cross paths whilst out gallivanting.

Sodus Point did not disappoint us this afternoon. It was also robed in ice and snow and quite enchanting.

The Plans of Mice and Men

 Our baby's heart surgery has been postponed. The hospital only operates on healthy babies and little Henry decided to get a cold 2 days before his scheduled hospital stay. To say his mom is frustrated might be an understatement. I told her it is okay to be disappointed and upset and still trust God at the same time. It been such an exhausting month already and so much mental energy has been poured into gearing up for this event. God's timing is perfect, but doesn't mean it isn't hard.

I have to admit, I wasn't quite ready to find my car covered with snow this morning. Yes, it is December, but I still wasn't ready. Lucky for me I caught Sergio out in the driveway brushing the snow off his car and asked him to start mine so it could warm up while I finished getting ready for work. I'm not ready for the weeks of dark afternoons either, but I do plan to use them wisely. My room is comfy and cozy and evenings are the perfect time to de-stress and unwind tangles of heart and mind. A little music, an online puzzle or two, and maybe a chat with a friend all help me along the road to being whole.  It's okay if I listen to a little classic rock here and there, yes?

Today and "Yesterday"

March returned last night with cold winds and snow. I had to smile at Idris' excitement at the oversized flakes filling the air. Ah, to be a child and always filled with wonder. I am less pleased with May snowfalls, but there is little to be done aside from smiling at the oddity of it all. The cold won't last and warm weather will come. Eventually.

We had a visit from Numbers 7, 10 and 12 this afternoon. Talk about noise! Idris hasn't been able to play with his cousins in months and they took full advantage of the opportunity. Two months is forever in the eyes  of a child. (That "Teeny Little Super Guy on the end is only 2 moths younger than Idris!)

I've been copying more of Dad's diary and feeling encouraged at what is already done. We've a long, long way to go, but I have 9 months done and that feels like an accomplishment. It's still hard to read. Life was anything but easy...

August 12, 1964, Wed- Tim and Ar have been up since 4:00 AM. I worked all day. ... Ar had a rough and exhausting day. The Lord will lead through these cloudy days. Tim's been sleeping since 6:30 PM. Ar, Dan and Martha are sleeping... 

 August 14, 1964, Fri- Tim was up early. Ar had a good day with Tim. .... It's so wonderful to have all five of us together again. The Lord is very good to us. ...

August 24, 1964, Mon- Sunny, cool, nice. ... Tonight Ar, the kids and I went to Sears. Tim gave me a rough time. ...  Martha sure demands my attention. ...

 August 28, 1964, Fri- Worked all day till 4:30 PM, ... Tim got lost in the woods. ...

September 2, 1964, Wed- ... Tonight after supper Ar, Dan, Tim, Martha and I went to Webster park. Tim wanted to run away all the time. We got a letter from Elim. We're planning a trip out there. ...

 September 3, 1964, Thurs- Sunny, warm. Worked all day. Ar had a terrible time with Tim. He's rapidly becoming impossible again. Wants to run away and do everything contrary. Tonight we all took a ride. Rained. Later Ar and I had tea. We plan on going to Elim around 9/20 thru 9/25. Tired. 11:40

September 8, 1964, Tues- ... Ar had a rough day with Tim. He gulped down half a bottle of aspirins. ... Wrote to Elim.

September 9, 1964, Wed- Foggy, rainy, hot, humid. Busy at work. Dan's back to school. Martha's got a cold. Tonight Dan was sick with a headache. I played with Tim. Ar defrosted the refrigerator. Later tea by the fire (papers). Martha's reaching for this book. 11:20 PM.

September 11, 1964, Fri- Sunny, hot. Worked till 4:30 PM and paid bills. Tonight I played with the kids some and washed the car. Martha's crawling all over the living room (seal fashion). Tim's doing very well. 

Sometimes it the hard stuff like Tim waking much too early, running away, and being "impossible." And sometimes it's the little things, like the baby me demanding attention, reaching for Dad's diary, and crawling all over the living room... It was a package deal, some of it literally impossible and other pieces beautifully and peacefully normal. This was us.

Day Number ?

Henry had a Pediatric appointment yesterday morning, and so we saw the kids again. Josh went along with Beth to carry the car seat. Being a valid helper is so good for him.

It was a noisy morning, and a quiet afternoon.

Sunny days with frigid temperatures are disappointing in mid April. We did not go for a walk.

In the later afternoon Idris and I made "Monkey Bread". It's really an old recipe from Mom's red and white cookbook. The original name is "Golden Bubble Ring" but Monkey Bread sounds like more fun. After all the risings, it was barely out of the oven when he was climbing into bed. We promised him some for breakfast and he had a generous helping today.

We woke to snow. Not my favorite April sighting, but not out of the ordinary either. It won't last. Most of it is gone already. Little boys are as excited for snow in April and they are in mid November. Number Nine had to go outside and check it out. He washed the screen door window, dropped a few handfuls of snow in a puddle to melt, and took a taste of the fresh snow before deciding his hands were cold.

"Winter Storm"

"Winter Storm"

It's a curious term. At least it's curious to me. Isn't winter in upstate New York all about storms? And doesn't winter always come with wind, snow, sleet, and freezing rain? Oh, and below freezing temperatures? Aren't snow tires a necessity? And slippery, snow or ice covered roads a given? Has it really been winter at all without at least one "blizzard"?

When I was a young girl, forecast or not, winter storms typically roared in during the night with plummeting temperatures and swirling mounds of snow. We would lay in bed on week day mornings, ears trained on our radios, waiting for our town to be named in the list of school closings. An unanticipated holiday. A gift from above, in more ways than one. Not so today. Now days school closings are communicated by a call or text to parents, or decided the night before an impending storm is scheduled to arrive.

Today we had a real Snow Day. I went to work like usual because The Daycare never closes. We had one baby today instead of eight, but our toddler room was busy with 8 or 9 little people. The preschoolers combined into one class of about 7 or 8, and I think there were 6 or 7 school age kids. A grand total of about 25, give or take a couple. It was a good morning to visit my toddler friends during breakfast.

I was free to leave work by 1:15 pm and decided to head to Rochester and the pottery studio. I got a great parking place just outside the studio door. I'd bee inside the building less than 5 minutes and was talking with the resident artist who is my current instructor when my phone started to ring. "No one ever calls me..." I told her as I reached for my phone. I glanced at the screen which read "Flower City Art." Ha ha! It was Kate at the front desk in the office calling to tell me my evening class had been cancelled. I stayed to play for a while before heading home for the evening.

* I've made a connection with each of my kids this week and have a new sense of peace inside. In all the world there are none who mean more to me than my kids and grandchildren. Taking care of myself means making sure we stay connected.

Snow and a Play Date With Clay

Just about the last thing I want to see at the end of April is snow, but there it was, filling the sky and piling up on my windshield. I'd hoped for a sweet, sunny weekend, but instead I was seeing snow. Boo! Part of me wanted to crawl back in bed to hibernate, but another thought it would be a great day to lug my new bag of clay off to the pottery studio to play in the mud.

I spent several hours wedging, spinning, and shaping lumps of clay into forms. A few flopped, but six went onto my shelf to await the next phase, which will come when they dry out enough to trim. No photos from today's play date with Clay. Maybe next time.These pots won't have the same properties as my others. It's a different kind of clay, but it was fun working with a clay that was a bit better behaved.

 Went grocery shopping with my son Joe this afternoon, then went out to the house in Williamson for a bit.

Sleep, a Storm, and a Song

It's not late, but I need to go to sleep. I haven't been sleeping well and I have to be at work a half hour earlier now. Our baby room was overflowing this morning and we must stay in ratio. There were six infants by the time I punched in this morning. Theoretically, starting a half hour earlier means I'll get out a half hour earlier, but realistically, that ain't happenin'.


We're having another "winter storm." That means it's snowing and driving is nasty. I am still scratching my head and wondering why this is big news. Ever since I can remember we've had winter weather in the winter. We drove in the snow if possible, and stayed home if it was too dangerous. Okay, sometimes we stayed home.

If my praying friends are reading, we still need your prayers. I know I need to turn it all over to the One Who Holds All Things, but I don't always know how. The burden is bigger than I can carry alone and your prayers help. Thank you for lifting us up.

The song? It touched my heart many years ago. I came across it this evening and found myself touched all over again. I once sang it for a child, and today I wonder if it's really sung for me...

Snow Tires and Stuff

Yesterday morning I was entirely thankful for good tires on my vehicle. (I can't remember if they are snow tires or brand new all-season tires, but they are doing a good job in the snow.) All the roads were snow covered and slick. It was so cold that every step I took made a squeaking sound as the snow moved under my feet. It was what I call "booger-freezing weather! I left home while it was still dark out and didn't come home until it was dark again.

Monday night is Step Study night. I am sorting through hard things. Some of it gets written down, but there are also thoughts still swirling, thoughts that haven't yet found a landing place. I'm learning more about me and it's an interesting journey.

Today was a hard day. A cranky day. I felt off and I knew it, but I made it through. It helps to be aware of my feelings and work my way through the day by giving myself room to breathe and admit I'm not always going to be okay every day. I just need to take one day at a time.

This evening I met my son Joe and we went out to Chipotle for a bite to eat. It's nice to catch up with my kids every once in a while. I knew there would come a day when they would go off on their own, I just didn't know how fast it would get here.

I'm expected at work a half hour early tomorrow morning. For some reason that makes me feel like I need to go to sleep earlier. Or maybe I'm really tired and that's why I was feeling cranky today.
:0)
 

A Little Snow Storm Too

I didn't leave home early enough this morning. I wasn't late leaving, I just needed to leave earlier than I did. My first clue was the snow piled on the hood and windshield. The second was the ice underneath the snow...

Had the roads not been snow covered, the snow not flying sideways, and the temperatures not bitter, I might have arrived at work on time, but blizzard-like conditions have a way of convincing folks to drive closer to 25 miles an hour rather than 45 or 50. (The photo is not from today, rather one I took one snowy November morning. I left my camera upstairs today.) At the halfway point I was doing okay, but rapidly approaching a time crunch. The kicker was the 55 mile an hour section where the guy in front was going about 20 miles an hour.

I punched in ten minutes late. (Yes, we still have a time clock with cards to punch.) Thankfully, I still worked my 8 hours and punched out at ten minutes til five. Between the holiday and going home early, I lost about 8 hours last week. My unused vacation time is in this week's check, but it feels like I've been shorted by an entire day. Ha.ha! I think I might get over it. I do typically garner a little bit of overtime most weeks.

I went to the pottery studio last night before the storm blew in and worked on another box with a figure on top. This time it's sitting on the edge of the lid with its legs hanging over the front. I'm never sure what I'm going to do with them until they happen and sometimes I find myself smiling at the result. Kind of like the little guy standing on his head on the lid of the little trinket box. I might have stayed longer last night, but the few others there cleared out early and being there alone just isn't quite the same. Besides, my car was parked across Monroe Avenue and I'm not real keen on being in the city alone in the dark. I decided to go home once I was done. It was only 7:30 pm. and the snow hadn't yet started to pile up.

Oh, Fickle Month of March

March is fickle. There was no snow on the ground yesterday. In fact it was sixty degrees earlier this week. I left my pottery class early last night (I'd run out of things to work on) and drove home in a drizzle of rain. It wasn't long after my return that the wind picked up. I heard the house squeak as the wind whipped around it, and I drifted off to sleep.

Sergio asked me early if I wanted him to clear out the driveway. "It looks really bad out there," he said. But I told him I'd see how it went... Ha ha! There was a foot or two of heavy wet snow in the driveway. Once I'd conceded defeat, we worked on clearing a path to the road together. It took both of us to break through the barrier the snowplow had created at the bottom of the driveway.




I must not have left too much later than normal. The roads were slushy and slick, and the drive was slow. Thankfully, the back roads I travel weren't too busy. We all took it slow this morning, everyone out driving, that is. I arrived at work late, but only by about ten minutes "Tot Spot time."








On my lunch hour I went for a ride and took a few pictures. I didn't travel far, just down the road and across the canal.

Maybe I should have used the time to build a snowman or two on the daycare sidewalk... Ha ha! (They would probably have me committed.)

Snowy Rochester on Sunday

I took a few photos as I looked for a parking spot on my way to the pottery studio yesterday afternoon. I normally park at the church across the street because they will share with the art studio, but being Sunday, the parking lot was a bit crowded.

I drove around the block. I drove around a couple blocks.

I went back to the church and as I drove into the lot I prayed, "Lord, could you please give me a little parking spot?" And what do you know?  A little red car was just backing out of hers. My prayer was answered. I smiled and said, "Thank you."

The parking lot at work was a sheet of ice this morning. I wished for a nice pair of freshly sharpened skates as I inched my way up the slope toward the safety of the side walk and hoped I would stay on my feet. Mostly because it's painful to fall, and also because I would be horribly embarrassed if I had to crawl across the lot on my hands and knees because the pavement was too slippery for me to get up again.

By late morning or early afternoon the ice was gone and the parking lot was safe again.

Winter Surprise!

Weekends are for snowstorms and bitter cold temperatures. Or maybe that is winter in general. The temperature gauge in my van read 54 degree on my way to work yesterday morning. By the time I went home nine hours later, it was reading 34. As the rain continued to fall, the temperature continued to drop. By this morning we had about two feet of snow in the driveway. I had my reservations when I saw Sergio's snowblower last weekend, but it is doing the job and has earned its keep in just seven days.

The snow must have fallen all night long. Rarely have I seen so many vehicles literally buried in snow. While Sergio ran the snowblower, I took the shovel and cleaned the house and garage sides of my car. Soft, fluffy and light on top, heavy and slushy underneath. It's crazy to think that yesterday morning there was literally no snow in the driveway or yard, just dirty, leftover piles along the edge of the street.

People are commenting on the "crazy weather" we've been having, but this is exactly what I remember it being like when I was a little girl, and that held true all the way through my high school years. In fact, I've often found myself wondering why we so rarely get crazy snowstorms anymore.

I even took a walk around the corner and down to the woods this afternoon. (I'm reliving my childhood whenever possible...) I came home with snow up to my knees and finally took off the wet jeans and traded them in for flannel jammie pants. And then I shivered for what felt like hours. Ha ha! (I'm toasty warm now.)