Brrr, it's winter

After a cold walk at 6AM on Saturdays and Sundays with walking buddy, R, smoke from our wood stove is a welcome sight.  Today was not as cold as yesterday morning's walk, but the wind has picked up since lunch.  That wind is ushering in a frigid blast from the west.  We are to have cold, cold days and even colder nights this coming week.

I haven't been as diligent as I wanted to be in 2013 with my desire to post at least once a week.

New Year's came and went and here we are past the middle of January already.  The flu that everyone is talking about and a lot of people are catching is making the rounds at work.  I haven't had a flu shot in years and didn't get one again this year so I try to do all the things necessary to try and keep from getting it.  Most people that I know who have had the flu have been sick for a lengthy period of time and have had reoccurances after they thought they were rid of the nasty bug.
 
The week following New Years, the Farm Show opened at of all places the Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg.  This is a yearly agricultural show that runs for a week and historically, the notion is if there is going to be bad weather (snow, sleet, etc) it will happen during Farm Show week.  Not so this year.  The weather was lovely and while I haven't attended the show in years, attendance was good from the articles written in the paper.



On one of our early morning walks, R, my walking buddy mentioned that while doing some Christmas shopping last year she found and purchased a head lamp to wear when we walk in the dark, early morning hours. In mentioning it to Mr P, I discovered that he had one still in its original box stored in his work area in the basement.  R and I decided to give them a try and boy are they great.  I still carry the nice flashlight that was one of my Xmas gifts from Mr P just for my walking forays but the head lamps are a great addition.  At their highest setting, they illuminate a large part of the side of the roadway for us.
We wear them on the walk out and are able to turn them off on the return trip about halfway back.
Don't tell Grandsons #1 and #2, but we purchased one for each of them and set them aside for Christmas 2013.

  
Happy Birthday to OnlySonInLaw who celebrated his birthday last Thursday.  I decided to make him a do-rag for under his motorcycle helmet.  (Bikes are stored now for the winter months but he can pull it out in the spring to wear.)  I found this pirate fabric which coordinates with his black and silver bike and shows his love of all things pirate related.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ONLYSONINLAW!  Many more to you!

My hope is to work on crafting this year more than I did last year.  The do-rag was the start.  I'm working on something for Grandson #2's birthday which is in March and also have a pair of socks I've been knitting.  I want to knit a pair of socks for everyone this year, a goal for last year which I didn't meet.
Well, dinner is finished (roast chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy and corn) and the dishes are done.  I will make myself a cup of tea and work on the knitted socks for a while this afternoon.  Football and ice hockey will be on the TV today.  Don't forget, Downton Abbey is on this evening.  Oh and Go Ravens!!
Have a good weekend whever you are and stay warm.