Thursday

 It would seem that winter has come not as a wimp but a tough guy to be respected.  My early morning eyes told me that there was white stuff everywhere and it wasn't mana from heaven.  Should I say it was snow from heaven?  Well, at least was from the sky.  

I decided that retrieving the paper from the driveway was going to be a Doug job for this morning.  I'll use the good excuse of not wanting to fall.  Humm...I don't want Doug to fall either.  But I persevered.  It was easy.  I fed the birds and did a whole lot of waiting until one Downy showed up. 

                                      The woodpecker, looking at us, is on the left but hard to see.                                                                                              His background is sort of snowy.

Soon after, the Carolina Wren stopped by but that was all I saw all day long.  I learned this little poem a long time ago.  

The north wind doth blow, and we shall have snow, and what will poor robin do, poor thing?               He'll fly to the barn, to keep himself warm, and hide his head under his wing, poor thing, and hide his head under his wing. 

That sticks with me every winter. Maybe that's why I feed birds.  There was a robin drinking at the bird bath later in the morning.  

For all you southerners and northerner readers the snow has fallen at times all day long.  The roads and sidewalks are warm so they are clear but the grass is covered with the white stuff. 

It's probably time for Jack  to move back into his cupboard in the bathroom.  I would say it's warmer there. Jack seems pretty happy.  

An upside down view from the round marble of the tree in the front yard.  I did a little inhancing.  It's just a crazy interesting picture. It might not make any sense to the viewer. 

I spent the morning sewing and ripping and folding fabric. I sure you guessed that even before I typed it. Nothing took me outside to look at the garden.  It's on its own now for a while. I had my head into all my doing and Doug joined me with an emergency look saying that we needed to do some grocery shopping.  He was out of lunch food.  I can find anything to eat.  He has his menu.  So, off to Aldi's with a short list, mostly what Doug needed.  

I added this to the grocery cart today.  All the Russell's with perhaps the exception of Dee can do without pumpkin. My originality sticks with the Hostetler's who had pumpkin pie every Thanksgiving. This year I'm sticking with it.  There will be apple pie for the rest of the eaters filling all those extra pie pans. Never fear!

Woo...It was COLD.  I think the wind chill was in the teens.  I found a hat in the car.  When back home I added mittens and scarfs to what is going to be worn outside for the rest of the winter.  Brrrr.  What a shock to the system. 

So, during the afternoon I was back at the sewing machine doing more of the same as what happened in the morning.  It calms my mind. I hit the library books last night and more later today.  

I am learning some new things. The most interesting book The Cancer Code by Dr. Jason Fung has a lot to absorb.  I've done some skipping around reading what is relevant to me, finding some things written that I have experienced. The history of Cancer is very interesting. It's been here forever. How its treatment has changed in the last 100 years is captivating.  And it will continue to change as more is discovered.  I have another book on hold at the library suggested by my Kathy friend as a good read for more historical information. 

Supper was yum, yum turkey salad.  Grapes, Celery, Turkey and Mayo with Walnuts.  It's a riot of passage this time of year.  

                            The 50-year-old pilgrims are checking out Doug's turkey salad. 

Another Thursday evening, we can spend at home.  Our choir friends are busy tonight hosting a guest choir that will double the number of singers Sunday at church supported by a small orchestra.  It's Gospel Singing Sunday and our annual finance drive Sunday. 

So, the snow continues.  It's wet, not piling up very much but certainly says, there is a change in the air.  It's not coming, it's here.  I feel fortunate to have a warm place to live, food on the table and a husband who cares.  I am blessed. 

        Dee, these are even good cold and straight out of the refrigerator.  I'll make you some next week. 

                                            Last night cooked and then fried potatoes are no more.                                                                                                     You can't eat just one.