Hello Again and Merry Christmas!

This end of year has been hectic but mostly in a good way. I've been committed to my scrapbooking and recording daily life. Here's some of my latest about a week in Boston this month!

Maybe I'll be able to stick with the blog once again.










That's a wrap for today! Tomorrow sees the arrival of teenage granddaughter! Looking forward to seeing her again. Have a great holiday and enjoy life!

AAM Monday: Project Life Weeks 3 and 4

Project Life moves on. Here in mid January it WAS cold! Bitter cold but I don't mind this kind of weather. He was in Florida and I was glad I wasn't. Only doing one page a week worked then but from a March perspective, I think I'll definitely do what I want whether it's one or two pages. Time will tell.

Travel With Me Tuesday: England Day 8

I inadvertently put two of Day 8 ahead of the tail end of Day 7 but that's how the brain fails to work correctly some times. I doubt anyone is upset about that, are you. So here's wrapping up Day 8.

The light in London on this afternoon was nothing less than spectacular. I know part of it is the city's latitude and reminds me of Vermeer's light or the photos I've seen taken up in Vancouver BC. In my memory of my year's in England, we didn't often have these gorgeous days or if we did they were rare and relished.

AAM Monday: Project Life 2018 Weeks 2 and 3

Getting caught up is a good feeling after a few weeks not doing Project Life. I'd forgotten how cold it was in the second week of January. I was so very glad to have the puffer coat I bought for Boston. I haven't actually needed it much lately. PL helps me remember those differences.

Home Again, Home Again

Back from a week up here visiting my 2nd son and his wife. A totally good week.

Cold Boston, just the way I like it for a visit.

Wordless Wednesday: Let it End

AAM Monday: PL Week 10

While I am not far behind in doing these pages, I hope that this week  I can finish up March and with it the idea of winter. Spring may have arrived officially but we had snow flurries a couple of times on Saturday. That's go back to bed and hide under the covers or sit by the fire with a good book. I chose the latter but darn, yesterday started out at 27º. brrrr brrr brrrr

However earlier in the month, Week 10, we really did have snow. Snow and ice. Serious yuck.

Wordless Wednesday May 28, 2014

Bawlmer, hon - 2000

On a Cold December Morn

original by Kim Klassen

Listening to a lot of Christmas music lately, I have heard one carol that talks of ...on a cold December morn. That phrase has stuck with me and when Kim Klassen sent the basic photo of her Manitoba fields to us, I wanted to play with it. Several textures, a mask, text and a frame, and I'm happy with it.

I suspect it could have looked just the same way...long long ago.

Finally...a new winter header

I coulda shoulda - didn't - use a photo from snowmageddon 2010 but instead stuck to the tried and true food pic. I was thinking that the photo of little pretty flowers was not only out of date but probably wishful thinking for this year. Flowers are transient little things but food is constant round here.

These guys were twice the size, at least, last year.


















As I've watched the snow melt, bit by bit, I've seen the occasional serious garden damage. Falling, melting snow snapped the above plants in half. Sigh. My wonderful rosemary and lavenders are still hidden and in areas unshoveled. With my back on the mend, the only shoveling done round here is going to be by himself. I wouldn't even like to try to explain how and where he might shovel now. I've had enough gardens over the years to know that plants come and plants go. That's the cycle of life. I only hope my neighbor's fig trees have survived this year's shock trauma. I love my bowls of free figs!

Walking to the Westin

By late afternoon yesterday, the blizzard of 10 let up and my dh said "Let's go for a walk." I had been determined to stay in my jammies all day but it was not to be. "Ok.", I said without a lot of enthusiasm for getting dressed. I do like a walk in the snow though, and it would be dark soon so dressed I got.














What a sight to see West Street covered with snow and ice but passable. It's so typical. West St. gets cleared, and we, two houses off West, never see a plow. My dh felt the need to take the lead though had I fallen down in the road, he would never have known. So much for gallantry... Looking back into the sunset, it looked like this.














The Veterans Cemetery had been plowed but the graves just stuck up a bit to give a different look to the familiar place.














Next we headed into the Westin lot.






















Mortons' had recently closed shop but we weren't looking for that. Fado was open though. Never underestimate how far we'll go for a meal! I wasn't that hungry so I split the fish and chips while dh had an appetizer of corned beef rolls. A good walk and a good, hot dinner.

Wordless Wednesday

February 2

February 3

Dishing The Week 12-06-09

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW I can see the occasional flash of a cardinal. So pretty with the green bamboo and the white snow. Nature's Christmas palette.













I AM HEARING the airplanes fly overhead on their way to and from BWI. That means it's crisp and cold out.

I AM WEARING fleecy clothes. God bless the inventors of fleece!

I AM THINKING that it will be nice to see various extended family today and all together at one time!

I AM READING "Matchless: A Christmas Story" by Gregory Maguire. Excellent


I AM THANKFUL FOR a husband who is always willing to do what is needed.

I AM CREATING a simple meal today. Sometimes it's good to remember I don't have to do it all. That's what good purchased food is for.










I AM HOPING that the weather stays as it is so everyone can make it today. I'm also hoping I can find decent folding chairs at Target!

FROM THE KITCHEN there will be stuffed pork loins enough for a dozen today.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS is driving out in the snow as I did yesterday but only if it's for fun.













A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK- Mammogram Monday, then try to catch up with a couple more friends, then head off to Boston via Acela. What a treat!

Simmering on Saturday

I usually try to have a Souper Saturday but there was no soup made this week, nor any pictures of last week's Halibut Chowder. I'll have to do the latter again and both take pictures and write down what I did.

Some cooking has gone on, but not a lot. Fortunately, there was meat from the Amish Market for lunches and a couple of dinners out for dh. I was just in the mood for a good salad and something on Thursday, so I was the one who suggested Old Country Buffet. I used to joke about that place and roll my eyes but now I'm happy enough with lots of visual choices and no work. One thing I really like is their pickled beets. Thursday I had a bowl of them for 'dessert'. Weird but good. After so many English chips, we both are eating lighter again.

So what did I make recently? Well there was the mac/cheese and ham which later was a lunch or two for me.

Then the chicken adobo which got its flavor from a mix. It wasn't bad, but I really want to try my friend Chatoy's recipe and hope I find it! It's an interesting technique. Marinate the chicken or pork in the marinade, then drain meat and fry it crispy, then add the marinade and simmer till reduced and meat is tender.

Chatoy also gave me her flan recipe - again simple. She said "Start with a dozen eggs..." I can just about taste this now! which is hard since I stopped eating dessert when I came back from England. (weight and size issues...ugh)

Finally this am, I took the leftover rice and made some congee. Mine is usually ad hoc, and I had soaked the leftover rice with water and some other sliced spring onions and cilantro that didn't get used last night. Then this am, I simmered it with some Knorrs' prawn stock and when it was hot and pretty gluey, I poured it over some sliced cherry tomatoes and then added the Korean tofu pancake chunks on top. Not bad at all.

So what's cookin' round your kitchen these days? I need some push to do some serious cooking again so help me out please.

Snow Blankets Washington Area

Region Braces for What Could Be Largest Winter Storm in Three Years

Well it looks as if I haven't missed winter after all! Yesterday morning there was a light dusting outside. Not much, and it wasn't sticking to the grass etc but it WAS snow.


We waited all day, I had planned to put something in the oven, but it was just an ordinary Sunday. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow I thought. But didn't it look pretty on my oyster shells (for an outside collection I have)?


But this morning! Ah I woke up to hear my diligent neighbor scrape scrape scraping her walk before 7am. I had seen the light about 4am and realized that meant snow but I happily went back to sleep.


It has snowed continuously for the past couple of hours, and it just might do so all day. That's a storm for us here in MD!

I am so so glad I rescheduled my 2nd cataract surgery. I have a broken blood vessel in that eye (happened overnight Saturday) which would have postponed it and now the snow is the 2nd reason it might have been canceled. While the main road is clear enough, our street almost never gets plowed so all in all I am happy to be home, I'm enjoying the snow, and I'm gonna bake some whole wheat bread. I think I even have an Edward Norton flick on a dvd around here. As a rare snow event, this is just wonderful.

Yes, March you sure have roared in. I'll remember this arrival for sure!

Snow, Snow and More Snow

I thought I had sent all the snow to Australia and French Polynesia ( and perhaps a bit to the Gulf) but you either sent it back or it was the classic - The more you give, the more you'll receive. hmmm

This was the other day. It snowed then eventually the sun came out, it all melted, it got warmer, and then brrr it got good and cold again.

This is today, new snow, sun that gives us a clear line of how far the sun reaches - you are looking due east in these photos. Our daily line in the snow. I'm not even considering what tomorrow or the rest of the week will bring. I will be seriously busy in the house no matter what the weather.

btw, that funny path on the deck must be something the man of the house did on his walk out to the composte bin.

For Them's That's Down Under

Cold clear nights lead to cold cold days.

Thinking of you all and your hot hot weather, I'm sending you this. That's from my desk looking out over the kitchen roof down through the whole back yard. Sorry but I was not about to open the window and remove the (whole window) screen.

And then we have the same from the kitchen - it's shiny because that's a layer of ice on top of the snow.

Feel the cold!

In My Car I Have

Well I don't have it yet, and I'm not on the road that much. All my jobs for the prior 20+ years were barely over 1 mile from my home but I am gonna restock the items that left the car during the summer. Here is a guide to Winter Safety that might be especially good for those who have never faced a winter drive - yet. The DC area is always full of these transplants who Never Knew.

original

Trust me, we can get a winter here. Valentine's Day...I place my bets on that one for a Big Storm. You have been warned. It isn't fun being stuck with on 50 or 66 with a bunch of lunatics and who wants to join That Group.

Things You’ll Need:

• Flashlights with extra batteries
• First-aid kit with scissors
• Windshield scraper
• Maps and compass
• Paper towels, tissues, and moist towelettes
• Blankets
• Extra warm clothing and socks
• Gloves or mittens
• Rain gear
• Large plastic trash bags (for impromptu rain gear)
• Gallon-size resealable plastic bags
• Calorie-dense nonperishable food (e.g., energy or granola bars, nuts, pemmican)
• Pocket knife
• Bottled water
• Waterproof matches
• Newspaper/wooden shims (to burn for melting snow)
• Metal container such as a clean can (for melting snow in)
• Collapsible shovel
• Jumper cables
• Tow rope
• Bag of sand or nonclumping kitty litter (for traction)
• Red bandana or other brightly colored cloth (to make a distress flag)
• Small amount of cash (e.g., $20)
• Large permanent marker
• Bar of white soap (to write on interior of car windows)
• I add...if short people are part of your daily drive, I'd add munchies, diapers, good boots or at least loads of plastic bags and heavy rubber bands for their tootsies in the event you ALL have to hoof it.
  

Also...keep cell phone fully charged tho service will probably be &#^@% up in a big storm. Always is.

I'm just grateful that we don't have this kind of weather on a regular basis. Really grateful.

Winter Brides

The whole story is over at Once Wed where you may also find 'gently' worn wedding gowns. And check out that little knit cushion for holding the wedding rings. (Knitter ALERT!!) This was truly a winter wonderland, and reminiscent of my own mother's wedding suit.

All photographs are by Calla Evans in Toronto. Don't you wish your wedding pictures had this kind of uniqueness? Or maybe they do... Share them with me if you like.