Cold and a Snowy January

Although it's cozy inside, the snowy January weather has come.

Last Friday's commute was an absolute nightmare. The snow started at about 9:00 a.m., and a lot of people left work early. The snow plows didn't have a chance to get started before the roads filled up with people trying to get home before the normal rush hour. What happened is the rush hour started at about 1:00 p.m., instead of 4:00 p.m.

I am usually o.k. with my commute because I am a teacher, and I am on the road by 3:00. I know I'm lucky. Even though I was on the road by 3:00, I didn't beat the rush. Not this time. Not at all. I was right in the middle of the rush hour. I was driving through snow-covered streets that had not been plowed, if you can call it driving. It was more like crawling.

By the time I got to my town, my windshield wipers had frozen, and I could barely see. I was so thankful when I got to my subdivision, but the snow was so high on the entry street, I said prayers that I would make it three more blocks to my house. My home never looked so good when I finally saw it. My thirty-five minute commute had turned into a just under two-hour nightmare.

As soon as I greeted my cats, I started a fire in the fireplace, cuddled up under my great aunt's antique quilt, and relaxed with a cup of tea. Today, we have about eight inches of snow drifted all over the yard. We are expecting some more snow tomorrow. I don't think we'll get what we had Friday, but it will just add to the snow in the yard.

I will try to take some pictures tomorow of my winter snow, which I actually love. I'm happy that we got this snow because it is beautiful and refreshing. On Friday night, I turned on my outside lights, and the snow glittered like diamonds in the light. I was so thankful I was home safely. It is lovely to be able to appreciate the beauty of nature when you're safe.

On the other hand, I always miss the best photo opportunities.Yesterday I saw a large coyote walking across the frozen ice behind my yard. A gorgeous male cardinal was in a tree in my yard. By the time I got my camera, the coyote had moved on, and so had the cardinal. Lesson to be learned. Keep my camera with me. My picture today is of three cold doves who are trying to keep warm under my pear tree. This was taken a few days before our Friday snow, when we just had a few inches of snow. Keep warm and enjoy your January. Thank you for reading my post.

Squirels Living In My Yard

I have three squirrels who have decided to live in and around my yard. They have a favorite tree. One I believe is a female. She eats her food but hides a great deal of it away. She is my favorite, and the one who is pictured here. The other is probably a male, a little bigger and more rambunctious. The third squirrel is a renegade. He comes by once in a while. I know they're rodents and can be a problem, but I prefer to coexist with them. I give them peanuts and some corn. I think they look absolutely adorable. They also provide endless hours of entertainment for my cats. . .and for me!

She holds on to her dinner quite tightly.

She seems quite happy eating her corn and hanging out in her tree.

Fall Decorating

I love the way my fall corner looks. It is on the landing at the bottom of my stairs.

I really enjoy looking at the two decorative birds, a little red and white one and a black crow.

The colonial candle holder belonged to my parents. I change the color of the candle to fit the season.

The blue dish on the bottom of the table was my parents and is quite old. The blue dish originally belonged to my great-aunts, my mother's aunts.

The lace doilies originally belonged to my mother's aunts as well.

The little Welcome Fall is just a small piece from Hobby Lobby.

I love the crow rug. It's quite welcoming, and my cats love to lie on the rug. I think they like the texture of the rug.

Winter Wonderland

After waking up to a green lawn on Christmas Day, I think the beautiful snow today is like a winter wonderland. It's quiet and peaceful inside the house.  It's always so nice to be with family during the holidays. Today I'm considering what book to start reading and what stitching project to work on. My cats enjoyed their Christmas. They got a remote control mouse that they have been chasing around for two days.

Jessie Rose is taking a nap after Christmas.

Dasher is so elegant.

Snowball fades into the carpet because he is so white.

"O.K., I'm chilaxing. What of it?"

Jessie Rose is always ready to have her picture taken.

I took this picture of a hawk. He was in a tree behind my house. I took it from my upstairs window.

I love the ice on the redwood bushes. I took this picture on Christmas Eve.

Dasher and Snowball

Jessie's brothers, Dasher and Snowball, have allowed their photographs to be taken today.


Dasher hides behind a flower tree. This is one of his favorite spots. Dasher is a silver tabby Maine Coon Cat.

Snowball won't look directly into the camera, but you can still see him. He is a solid white Maine Coon Cat.