It has been a nice day today. We had around 8-10 inches of snow last night and into today and I am loving it.
The dogs and I spent some time outside walking around the property, just taking in the view.
I shoveled the deck, twice so that Zeke would have a nice place to rest while I removed the snow from the Jeep.

I spent a good deal of the morning on the phone and plan on spending the rest of the afternoon and evening reading as I stay warm by the wood stove.
Stay warm all!!!

Sunday we had some big time rain by Monday all the snow we had gotten last December was finally gone and temperatures were in the 50’s. Today we have snow flurries with temperatures in the 30’s. The saying back at the beach was if you did not like the weather wait a minute and it will change, this saying seems to be the case around here for now. To be honest the snow flurries are very pretty, the snow is coming from the west and the sun is shinning in the east so the snow seems to be glowing. Tried to get a photo of this but it did not turn out. I want a better camera but its way down on the want/need list for now.

I have some happy kinfolk down in the Big Easy, the Saints are on there way to the Super Bowl. The family in PA are a bit disappointed they had hopes for the Eagles but we know how that went......

Just a taste of winter

and the view it gives me

The weather was so nice last weekend that it gave those who were looking for it a false hope for an early spring. Yesterday dashed those hopes. We got another taste of winter; we got a bit of an ice storm. I had to work yesterday and as luck would have it we were very slow and I was able to go home early which was a good thing because it took me more than 2 hours to get home, 45mins of that was spent going the last 3 ½ miles. A friend of mine had attempted to call me on my cell but I did not turn it on so I missed the message about not trying to get home. To be honest the major roads were fine up until I reached Dugspur that’s when the ice on the road began to become more obvious. By the time I got to Willis it was bad. The ride home became a white knuckle 4 wheel drive night time adventure that I don’t care to have again.

One thing good about this weather is that the ground is frozen so the dogs aren’t bringing in mud, annnnnd I cant roll logs down the hill annnnnd its too cold to work in the shed soooo I get to spent the day reading and not feeling guilty about it!!!!!

I got a birthday card from my #2 son yesterday. The card he sent me at Christmas came 2 week’s after he sent it, not through any fault of the US post office mind you; my son addressed it to “mom” and then put the wrong address on it. The post master looked at the address and noted that it was a non existent address then looked at the return address, noted where it came from, could think of only one person that was from that area, knew she was out of town for the winter so he sent the card to that persons daughter. The daughter called me and said she thought she had a card that belonged to me. This could only have happened in a small community.

The card I got yesterday was still addressed to “Mom” but it had the correct address this time.

We are having a bit of a January thaw here in Floyd County VA. I spent much of the morning and early afternoon cleaning the shed and rolling logs down my back hill. I had DZ tree removal come over and cut a bunch of trees that were either on the ground or about to be on the ground into fire wood size pieces that I then rolled down the hill (I will be rolling the wood for quiet a few days but it is the only way to get it down). I will then split them so that I will have fire wood for next year. It’s a lot of work but I can’t see buying a lot of wood when I have my own trees that need to be taken care of. I think when you factor in paying to cut the logs then rolling them down the hill, then splitting and stacking the wood it would have been more cost effective to have just paid for firewood but the trees are good fire wood and it would be a waste not to use them so I don’t mind burning a few calories.

After all that work I spent a little time on the deck enjoying the sun, a magazine and a glass of lemonade. Ahh feels like spring.

The weather around here has been shall we say.. nippy, but today at least the sun was out . I can take the cold but the lack of sun is a true downer for me. Any way it has been too cold to spend any unnecessary time out side and I have a touch of cabin fever at least this year it’s in a real cabin. Well as I am sitting around in what should be the cleanest house on the block, its not I hate house work, I have been thinking of gardening. I know, I know, there is dry wall that needs to be finished and then trim that needs to be put up along with a wall of cabinets that needs to be started, I mean I have tons of things that need to be done inside and I should not even be thinking of gardening but I am; sooo today I made a kitchen composting box. I don’t know how well it will work but what the heck I’m gonna give it a try.

I took a spair storage container

Put a bunch of holes in it...
added some paper (brown stuff)
and some kitchen waste

and in a few months I shall see what I get....

to be continued..........

It’s another day in paradise with cold temps, no sun and a good chance of snow but although it is cold it is warmer than it has been sooo if this warm up continues and we get the mid January thaw that seems to come every year I will be really happy. I am ready for the thaw. I am hoping for a little sun and a chance to get out side. I am in need of a little fresh air and I want to try out the electric chain saw I recently ordered. I am looking forward to putting it to the test. A friend loaned me his electric saw and it was so easy to use that I ordered one for myself. Burning wood is a great way to heat the house but it is a hard work and I am hoping this will make it a little easier. I know I will need a gas saw but this will help with the stuff that is already cut and just too big for my stove. Its relativity quiet, light and easy to use, the only draw back is that it has an extension cord.

Wild turkeys

I came across these guys on my way home from a drive today.

Last year was a… shall we say stressful year for me. I am glad it is behind me and I look forward to a good 2010. The past few days have been good. I have spent them in the company of friends enjoying food, drink, great conversation and movies. The new year is opening burr.. cold but the sun is shinning the wind has let down a bit and a walk this afternoon is not out of the question. Happy New Year, let’s all make it a positive one.