Let it Snow...

 Somewhere else!!! These pictures were taken earlier this month when we had our third snowfall of this winter.  We didn't get any real accumulation to speak of but the start of the day was slow as a result.  This is a picture of our driveway taken from the house looking up towards the roadway.

 Here is a shot of the path from our house through the woods down to The Puddle on the same day.  At the end of the path is the opening to The Puddle.  The trees were coated with snow and it was a lovely view.

There has been no snow since and our temperatures have been above normal for most of this month.  Nothing has started to green up yet but no one seems to be missing the cold, snowy weather that is the norm.  I walk with two neighbor ladies always on the weekend and as often as time permits during the week in the evenings.  While it's dark when we start our walks on the weekend at 6AM, the sun comes up during our walks and the view is often breathtaking.
 

I mentioned in an earlier post that I participated in a postcard swap that was hosted by Anne at "frayed at the edge".  In that earlier post, there was a picture of the cards I made and purchased to send to Yvonne, my swap partner, in Scotland.  Here is a picture of the postcard that she made and the one she purchased and had sent to me.  The handmade postcard is a work of art.  Yvonne is an artist and works in various mediums especially textiles.  Her handmade postcard is made up of fabrics, beading, wire and embroidery.  The back of the postcard was as interesting as the front in a different way.  Yvonne hand stitched some of it and included a real stamp. 

Today was a holiday, "All President's Day", which is combination of President Washington and Lincoln's birthdays.  Because it is a Federal holiday, there was no work today for me.  I spent a few hours this morning making some "adjustments" to five dress shirts for the hubby of one of my walking partners.  His company provides a uniform which includes long-sleeved shirts.  He prefers short sleeved shirts and so the request was made to make the long-sleeved shirts into short sleeved ones. 

Just a little bit ago, I mixed up a half recipe of hot milk sponge cake to go with strawberries I purchased at the grocery store on Saturday.  I capped them all and then put a portion in a sandwich baggie for my lunch tomorrow.  Mr. P will enjoy the remainder, lightly sugared, over the sponge cake with a splash of milk and some whipped cream for dessert tonight. 

Hope everyone has a nice week.

The Puddle...

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was going to try and follow Lucy's lead and take a picture of The Puddle on the first of each month.  Here are two pictures taken on February 1, 2012.  This one is taken from the end where the dock is located.  The following one is taken from the far other end of The Puddle where we have some grasses planted which are now in that dead, dry winter stage.  

We really haven't had much snow here this winter nor have we had extended cold temperatures during the day and overnight.  We've had a thin coating of ice on The Puddle occasionally over the last few months but nothing that would support any kind of weight.  

The cold that everyone seems to be gifting and re-gifting to other coworkers lately was gifted to me and I was under the weather for the past week.  On Thursday evening, in anticipation of company on Friday evening, a quick trip to the local drugstore and a talk with the pharmacist ended with the purchase of some OTC medicine that seems to be working. 

For anyone reading in the States, especially here in PA, you are well aware that the groundhog, Punxatawney Phil saw his shadow on the 2nd.  Six more weeks of winter is the word but the coffee shop I pass each weekday morning keeps moving along with the countdown until spring. I think I'd rather think ahead to spring than dwell on the fact there is actually six more weeks of winter weather to get through.

This picture is not of Punxatawney Phil but one of the fat squirrels that visits our deck daily to cleanup the dregs left by the birds at the bird feeders.  

It's Super Bowl Sunday and we are rooting for the New England Patriots!  We were hoping the Baltimore Ravens would have made the Super Bowl playoff so the NE Patriots who are in the American Football League the next best thing.  Hope everyone has a good week!