Taste of Spring

Well, we made it to the Flower Lawn and Garden Show, along with half of Kansas City! And it was loverly! The fragrances, the colors, the flowers, the animals (yes even those), all the great ideas of what to do when the snow melts. Even got to re-up our membership at Powell Gardens, and got a nice little purple flowered plant, whose name I don't remember, but tiny purple flowers now grace our family room. And hubby gave me a beautiful orchid from Dave Bird's Orchid Farms. Went there ONLY to buy more bark, right? Fell in love with his orchids and since we got it nicely packed to weather the cold trip out to the car after the show, it is now in happy bloom by my soon-to-also-open orchid I raised up from a baby.

We also got ideas on new tricks for Molly dog (yeah right) and how to install a train running through our garden--which of course won't ever happen, but it certainly looks pretty neat. And saw Wings of Love, the bird lady and her friends, always a great attraction.

Snowbound

What do you do when you are stuck at home in a blizzard's aftermath? Well, feed the birds for one thing. Keep their heated water bowls filled. And refilled. Bake, sew, craft, cook lots of nourishing soup, read, play spider solitaire, watch satellite tv--the list just goes on and on. Actually did get some constructive things done, and shipped out, and dropped off, like more fleece blankets, serged and embroidered, yummy chocolate mint pretzels, and doll clothes. All for fun and excitement inside during the snows. Now we look forward to the Flower Lawn and Garden Show this weekend at the American Royal--everybody in KC needs that taste of spring!

The Blizzard of 2011

All we here in Blizzard land have to say about this is two words:
DIGGING
OUT!!!

Yup, while some of us sit on the beach, tanning and sipping those margaritas, the rest of the world in "fly-over country" gets to deal with the cold reality of, let's see, what do they call it? Global warming? Are you kidding me? This is more like Siberian winter here. So here is a little taste of what the weather delivered to our doorstep all day yesterday and into the night. Along with plummeting temperatures, wind chill today clocked at minus 20. Tonight is supposed to be in the minus teens, so I guess in this case, snow is acting as an insulator.

One of our neighbors has already attempted to find our driveway with his tractor, so I am baking some brownies to thank him. Otherwise, we muddle on with our trusty snow shovel and a broom. Meantime Molly Snow Dog LOVES it, only wants in quicker than we do when we head to the door.

Mmmm, brownies smell good, time to get them out of the oven!

Book Pages

It is cold here, and we are somewhat snowbound in the woods. So when I picked up my latest books on request from the public library, and discovered Travels in Siberia by Ian Frazier, I put everything else down and plunged into the "hot, dusty, buggy" days of Siberian summers, and the sable nights of frigid Siberian winters. I have to tell you, it was an awesome read. 528 pages including footnotes and index. Lots of transliterated Russian, and wonderful stories of interactions with the native tribes of the taiga, and reindeer herders and gulag remains. Having been to Russia on several visits, in the winter times, while reading this book, I could once again conjure up those same unique fragrances of diesel oil/old tea leaves/cucumber peelings/etc. in the air, even in my sitting room. Want a great travel book and don't want the headaches of making reservations? Grab this book and start reading!

It's a New Year!

Honestly, I don't know where 2010 dribbled away to, but here we go right into another year. To begin with, the weather brought us WINTER! We knew it was coming, because last year's Christmas was a doozy, so at least it waited for over a week, to permit travelers to return to their homes after Christmas break. Now I guess we have a New Year break. Third day of schools closed, roads snow-packed, and lots of pretty scenery as long as you don't have to drive in it. Lots of wrecks out there too, which aren't a pretty sight.

Been busy doing crafty stuff, once again trying my hand at small scale clothing, American Girl doll sized, and enjoying the results. As are the little girls and their dolls. And of course jewelry, can't forget my beading. Have a few more projects on the bead board at the moment too, in addition to sewing projects lined up. Lots of things to keep myself busy while snowbound!

Father Christmas

One of the nicest traditions enmeshed in the Christmas story is the legend of St. Nicholas, who was a real person, a bishop of the church in medieval times. He gave food and cloaks and toys to the poor, visiting them anonymously, and secretly leaving his presents at their doors. From this personage, we have Father Christmas, aka Santa Claus. I began collecting Father Christmas figures about 25 years ago, and over the years, friends and family have gifted me with many of my favorites. I have even found some wonders at garage sales and flea markets. So in addition to the Christmas trees scattered around the house, we have Father Christmases, reminding us of the real meaning of Christmas, sharing in the spirit of giving through the celebration of the Christ Child's birthday!

Thanksgiving--Giving thanks!

Honestly I do not know where November went. It just flew by in a big hurry, just so December could make its appearance. Been sewing and sewing most of the month, in between putting up Christmas decorations inside and out, baking, making some treats like Puppy Chow and White Trash, giving treats away, having family in for Thanksgiving turkey, taking a little Elderberry trip to Branson for Christmas lights, shows and a little shopping. For all of these things I give great thanks . And especially am I grateful for our beloved country, and the people who serve it day by day, in the front lines all over the world, and in our hospitals, on our streets and highways, on our borders, in uniforms of military or medical or police, we are grateful for their protection and help.

Our Elderberries have another blanket project going on, supplying fleece blankets to the children and youth of Rockaway Beach ministry, so this was also a good time to be grateful, being able to work on a "bunch" of blankets for Christmas. Then had to sew up some American Girl doll clothes, new branching out here, for some little girls with their new dolls, one my Grand grand-niece, the other a Grand good friend. Now I am grateful the projects are done, and being shipped out.

Now Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat (we see them flying over our house every day so we know!), please to put a penny in the old man's hat! And by the way, please don't forget the homeless this Christmas!! God bless us every one, as Tiny Tim says.