winter — Page 3

The Calm Before the Storm

March 12, 2023 at 9:55 am by Claudia

Late today because of the time change.

The puzzle I’ve been working on is one I took at stab at about 3 years ago. Back then, I started with the borders, as I usually do, and I just couldn’t get them to work. There were a few missing pieces and a couple that didn’t fit anywhere. So I gave up and put it in the closet.

This time, I started from the middle of the puzzle and did the two side borders last.

Same problem.

I’m glad I started with the flowers this time because, at the very least, I was able to see the finished piece. It really is lovely. But I can’t donate this one because it doesn’t have all the pieces.

On to the Renoir puzzle, which is in the ‘find the outside edge pieces’ stage.

Well, my friends, we are going to get walloped by a nor’easter tomorrow and Tuesday. The forecast has fluctuated over the past 36 hours, but it’s starting to look like we’ll get at least 8 -12 inches of heavy, wet snow. There will be high winds. It will be quite dangerous out there.

I pray for the safety of everyone in the path of this storm, for the safety of trees and animals, and I hope we don’t lose power. In the meantime, Don is out right now buying bottled water in case we do. I can hear birds singing right now and it’s beautifully sunny. You would have no idea what’s on the way.

Crap. It’s very worrisome. Don thinks I worry too much, and he’s right.

It starts tomorrow morning, but I should be able to get a post up. Then, we’ll take it day by day.

We watched Everything, Everywhere, All at Once last night, which is nominated for lots of Oscars.

I hated it. In fact, we didn’t finish it. It was like being assaulted with a strobe light for over 2 hours. I get the message of the movie, but it was all special effects. I’m not even sure why the performances were nominated – how could you chart any through line and character growth with all that going on? Lots of people disagree with me on this one, but both Don and I disliked it. It’s the kind of movie that is so different and edgy that all the critics hop on board and praise it. Bravo to the critics that called it out for what it is – and isn’t.

Wings of Desire said it so much better. Stranger Things also has lots of time/place/different world special effects, but the story is enhanced by it, not lost.

Okay. Today is the calm before the storm. Literally.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Saturday

March 4, 2023 at 9:19 am by Claudia

Snow, sleet, a bit of ice – I’m not sure how much snow fell but it looks to be about an inch and a half. We’re staying away from it for a while because we have no idea how slippery it is out there. It’s already above freezing and the temp should reach 40, so we might wait for Mother Nature to melt some of this mess.

It’s not really a pretty snow. It’s a messy snow.

May this be the last. The next 10 days shows snow showers off and on, but no measurable snow. Though we certainly have been surprised in the past by snow in late March and early April. Who knows?

My old friend Tom Sizemore died yesterday, surrounded by his family. Much too young. I’m very sad.

Rest in Peace, Tom.

Too much worry and loss lately. Too much.

I don’t have a whole lot more to say today. I’ll leave you with this little photo of Katie. When my friend Stacy gave her to me, she was wearing a wig. Wigs aren’t my favorite choice for a Blythe doll, but then again, you can play with different looks. I recently bought an inexpensive $20 wig for her and it arrived yesterday. My instincts were right about this choice:

I love these little curls! (She’s not sad, by the way, she just doesn’t like posing for pictures.)

Beautiful Katie.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Mother Nature, Cell Phones, and Lucy

March 3, 2023 at 8:43 am by Claudia

Friday.

We have another ‘event’ coming this evening, but the guidance from various weather forecasters is wildly different. Yesterday: 8-12 inches with sleet and ice. Then 5-8 inches with sleet and ice. The National Weather Service says 1 -3 inches with sleet and ice. And our local guys now say 1- 3 inches. Obviously, when you factor in ice, I much prefer 1 -3 inches. Yesterday, we had a high of 53 degrees, so much of the snow from Monday night has melted.

Right now, it’s sunny. The calm before the storm.

Thank you, Mother Nature, for giving us an entire winter in one week.

Grateful for the snow for our water table. But very ready for spring.

I ended up running to the library yesterday to pick up two more books. I have to read 3 books in 3 weeks time. I can do it! Yes, I can!

A story from yesterday. Don went to the store to stock up on things. While he was gone, I vacuumed, swiffered, sorted through things, straightened up, etc. So I was fairly busy. When I was finished, I sat down in my chair. Couldn’t find my cell phone. Okay. Got up, looked everywhere. No cell phone. I’d been in the house all day, so it couldn’t be in my car (I had yet to go to the library.) Looked everywhere again. Then I thought, I’ll have Don call my number so I can hear the phone ring. Ummm…no. Don isn’t here and you no longer have a landline, so you can’t call him. I had no way of communicating with him! Such a strange feeling. I finally came to the conclusion that Don must have it.

I sat down and checked to see if I had a message from Don via email. Sure enough, he had reached into one of his pockets and found my cell phone. He told me later that he just stood there in the grocery store staring at the phone trying to figure out why he had two phones with him. Thank goodness, I wasn’t expecting an important call!

I finally gave up waiting for him to get home and went to the library.

Let’s close with this photo of Monty, Lucy, and a carrot.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

The Calm Before the Storm

Saturday

Mother Nature, Cell Phones, and Lucy

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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