We have at least 30 inches of snow on the ground. Today is sunny and the snow is sparkling. There are big wavy mounds of snow here and there – Don says it looks like whipped cream. Very magical. But that’s all the snow we need, thank you very much.

I took a break from the very challenging jigsaw puzzle to give Stella a major cleaning – there’s still a bit more to go. She really needed it. Here’s a view you don’t often see:

Stella with her ‘lid’ down. The lid converts into the shelf you see normally. Such a smart design! I keep forgetting about that gold strip across the back which glitters when the light is on. I have to say, getting Stella is one of the best things we have ever done. She’s clean now, nearly grease-free. I just have to soak the burner grates in some Dawn to degrease them and we should be all set. I just have to remember to do a deep cleaning more often.

As for the puzzle…it’s hard…which is what I want, of course. So while I mildly complain, I really love the challenge. You won’t see as much visible progress from day to day, but believe me, it’s there.

I’m currently working on the proscenium arch.

Have you seen puzzle tables? Someone I follow on IG bought one from Amazon and it has nifty side drawers. She has a cat and it keeps the pieces relatively safe from cat paws. I’d love one for the portability, but I can’t justify the expense.

Heck, I need to keep the pieces free from my hands and arms. I continually knock puzzle pieces off the table and have to go searching for them.

I finished Winter Solstice. Sob. I started Mrs. Tim Carries On  by D. E. Stevenson. I’m going to order The Shell Seekers  today. Mrs. Tim is a relatively short read, so I should be finished by the time the new Pilcher arrives. Thanks so much for your advice yesterday!

Of course, it’s not like I don’t have stacks of books to read. I do. But I’m yearning for simple comfort reads that are well written and engaging. That’s what I need right now as we get ready to head into our second year of this strange time. And while I’m so happy for those of you getting your vaccinations, there are no appointments available here. We have a shortage of vaccine here in NY. So I feel like a kid who doesn’t get picked for the team (that happened to me a lot when I was young) but in this case, the stakes are much higher. We check every day. But we’re still isolating and are fortunately able to do that, so it’s not like we’re facing danger on a daily basis. I must be patient.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.