It snowed most of the day and night and it was snowing when we got up this morning. But surprisingly, I think we got about 3 inches at most. Don is out there shoveling right now, so I’ll have a better idea when he comes back in. We’re supposed to have more snow on Monday, but after that, temperatures will be in the forties with some rain and a lot of snow melt.
It ended up being a lovely cozy-day-inside with Don recording a song and lots of puzzle work from yours truly. I know how lucky we are. We have power and heat and shelter and food. My heart breaks for the citizens of Texas who are suffering during this crisis. It didn’t have to be so devastating.
And Ted Cruz continues to be an ass. Not only is he an inciter of insurrection, but he’s also a guy who takes off with his family for Cancun in the middle of this crisis, leaving his dog behind in his ‘freezing’ house. And then he lies about it and blames it on his kids. I vowed not to write about politics for a while, but this isn’t politics. This is dereliction of duty, plain and simple.
On to something else:
Almost done. This puzzle, The Piano Lesson, is one of my all-time favorites. I took piano lessons for eight years and I well remember sitting in my teacher’s living room waiting for my turn. I also remember several of us crammed into that same room for our recitals.
It’s perfect. She obviously lives in NYC, perhaps in a brownstone. She has a loft upstairs where she sleeps. Lots of bookcases, a birdcage, cactus plants on top of a radiator cover, framed photos of musicians, tchotchkes, including miniature pianos, a statue of a composer (perhaps Beethoven?), a miniature Eiffel Tower. A poster of a Glenn Gould concert. One child is playing the piano. Three are waiting; two with arms crossed, one studying her music. There are mugs and hot chocolate(?) and some sort of cake waiting on the table. A comfy sofa, flowers everywhere, an umbrella stand near the entrance.
I loved working on this one because there was so much detail – little objects and hidden gems that were unveiled over time. Speaking of flowers everywhere, that unworked area is filled by a hanging ivy plant.
I’ll miss this one.
Next up:
From 1964, Art Shop.
And I’m going to order more.
Don is still shoveling, but it’s obviously easy to clear because he’s not using the snowblower. Good!
Stay safe.
Happy Friday (which I keep thinking is Saturday.)
I’m glad you didn’t get alot more snow. I hope some of that warmer weather comes our way.
I am thankful too. We got our 2nd vaccine dose Wednesday with no issue. No delay because of bad weather. No long drives or long lines to wait in.
I feel for the people in Texas but it’s so nice to have a President who will actually try to help the situation, not just throw paper towels at them.
Trump is still in the news too much. I wish they could just ignore him. The only news I want to hear about him is when they take him to prison.
Have a good day. Stay safe
Exactly. I’ll watch that with a batch of popcorn!
Stay safe, Marilyn.
glad you received less snow than was forecast and it’s less heavy to move.
what a darling scenario in that “piano lessons” puzzle! and even better that it brings childhood memories to mind.
based purely on what you wrote about “fled cruz” this morning, i’d say he needs to find a new job and his dog deserves a much better home.
all day i thought yesterday was friday. funny how days have feelings to them like that. i will paint this morning (yay), but first need to take care of bills and breakfast dishes.
happy friday to all.
and stay safe!
kathy in iowa
Agree!
Stay safe, Kathy.
i pushed “post comment” too soon (really need to read what I write before doing that) …
i don’t want it to sound like i was a fan of cruz before his cancun trip, because i wasn’t. heard he abided (until lately) by the constitution and i believe in that, but his support of pino and then abandoning his dog and constituents in a crisis and blaming it on his kids? despicable.
promising to read my comments before posting them …
kathy in iowa
Oh, I know you weren’t a fan.
xo
Those puzzles are really classics! Lucky you! Great way to spend the time when the snow (and covid) keeps you stuck inside!
Cruz?! I really wonder about the people who could vote for him?!
Meanwhile, Beto O’Rourke, who ran against him, is making calls, helping those in need.
Stay safe, Ellen.
Can you believe how crazy our days are so mixed up? I don’t seem to have any real idea of what day it is. Maybe it’s just old age! LOL. HAVE A GOOD AND SAFE WEEKEND.
I still think it’s Saturday. I’ve said that it was Saturday to Don at least three times!
xo
Stay safe, Judy.
That’s a fabulous puzzle. I love all the detail and how you have a wonderful story already made up about it — down to the loft upstairs and the exterior of the house! And I say it again – you are a puzzle rock star.
We’re still cold but Rick is skiing every day (XC) and a bit of snow last night but not too much. When my hair is dry, I’ll go shovel, just to keep on top of it as more is due. It seems like everything out of our walls is just going into a tailspin. Rick’s mom — and concerns about what’s happening to her house in TX while she’s in the nursing home; issues with his son who deals with clinical depression — and isn’t dealing well at all right now… all out of our control. Not a good week for anyone, in general but pockets of it — as you’ve showed us here — are quite delicious.
I’m so sorry to hear that everything is hard right now, Jeanie. All those issues may be out of your control, but they involve your loved ones. You and Rick should have some sort of treat today. You deserve it.
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Love those puzzles of New Yorker magazine covers, Claudia. It’s funny, but I never noticed the covers so much when I was reading the magazine! Hope the snow stays manageable.
Me either! There’s nothing like a puzzle to bring out all the details you normally wouldn’t notice.
Stay safe, Wendy.
My family in Texas has had a very hard time. One of my cousins has a newborn in her home and they had no power for days. Things are a bit better now but pipes burst and no water. The South is just not prepared for this kind of weather. Ted Cruz is a jerk. A really big big Jerk!
I love these puzzles and the details. I’m enjoying watching you put them together. Stay warm.
I can’t imagine dealing with all of this while taking care of a newborn! My goodness.
Cruz is an ass. And a pompous one, at that.
Stay safe, Linda.
I had a bit of a laugh over Ted Cruz. A guy who is supposed to be a leader doesn’t know how to explain to his kids that there is more important work to be done? All the daughters fault? Such a wimp!
Incredible wimp!
Stay safe, Jan.
Hi, Claudia! I don”t comment a whole lot but I do read your blog every day. We live in the North Dallas area and so far we are doing well. ( we live a half mile from a major sewer pumping station and we are on that power grid, so no rolling black out for us). The biggest problem we’ve had is a spotty internet connection. I can’t say enough about how fortunate we are but I can’t believe the amount of destruction this cold weather has bought to other homes. Texas power grid is ancient and over utilized and unbelievably, not to connected to the national power grid which requires higher standards for cold weather. Most houses built down here are not suitable for extended periods of extreme cold and are kept warm by only electric heat pumps so when the power goes out, so does the heat. Five days after a 3″ snowfall, the roads are still a frozen mess. We are not retired yet, but the irony of all this is that once we do, we will probably be safer in a cold weather state in the winter than in the state of Tx. Oh, and Ted Cruz is a total ass, but we already knew that.
I’m so sorry for everyone in Teas. I’m glad you’re okay, but what a heartbreaking mess!
Take care of yourself, Teresa and stay safe!
So very happy to read that you didn’t get the higher amounts of snow which they forecast. Yay! We are supposed to get 1-2 in on Sunday. The brutal cold has exited which is a very good thing.
Yes, Texas is in a mess. And most of their elected officials have no time for sicience. Seems there might be a connection there. And Cruz is just another waste of skin. They should have taken the dog and left him home alone. Maybe a few entitlement issues with his children that should be addressed?? I realize they aren’t prepared for the cold like we tough Northerners are, but perhaps if they had a bit of regulation it might help that situation. So very very tired of hearing about how great big ol’ Texas is. ugh. Not so great when tough times come….such as Covid and cold weather. Wow. Not too bright. Maybe Cruz and his other idiot wannabes could toss paper towels out to people showing how much they care. Hopefully this will wake some people up and get them moving those deadbeats out of office.
Have fun puzzling this weekend!! Take care.
It’s still snowing as I write this. Don shoeled by I’d say we have at least a half-inch more on the ground.
All the group texts about their trip were leaked. Clueless – every one of them.
Stay safe, Chris.
I think it’s about time for him to cruz on outta there, since he’s obviously no good to the people of Texas.
Really interesting puzzle…love the story you’ve attached to it. Glad you didn’t get too much snow. Stay safe! ;)
It’s still snowing.
It was supposed to stop at noon. But it’s a pretty snow, big old flakes. At least another half-inch on the ground since Don shoveled.
Stay safe, Donna.
I have enjoyed seeing all your puzzles – and how rapidly you accomplish putting them together. In the early months of Covid quarantine, we tried a few 1000 piece puzzles but quickly realized we did not enjoy that level of intensity.
The Piano Teacher puzzle though – this was so wonderful to see, and to read your narration of the visible signs as well as the imagined – well, that was terrific. I too remember sitting in the room waiting for my piano lesson, and those little recitals with simple refreshments. This would be a puzzle/picture I would treasure and put on the wall above my piano!!
Be safe. Our 7th grader went back to school after a week of school closures, including one day for the school district staff to get their vaccines. We still have quite a bit of snow and ice. I’ve not been out of my house since last Sunday due to our city being out of salt so limiting snowplows usage (hence dangerous road conditions).
We know we are fortunate here in Ohio as we read of the horrors for the families in Texas.
We’re going to frame it and hang it on the stair wall, I think. Or upstairs. Don really loves it.
Stay safe, Jan!
I’ve just finished the New Yorker puzzle of a book shop. Loved it as it was a challenge but not impossible. This piano lesson one looks like it could be the inspiration for decor in one of your dollhouses.
A laugh from Facebook was this: “I get it now. Ted and Heidi Cruz wanted their children to be safe, to have basic sanitary services like heat and running water, to leave behind a third-world apocalyptic nightmare for a safer place. Like so many parents before them, they decided to cross the Mexican border.”
I did that puzzle, it’s lovely.
Perfect comment about Cruz!
Stay safe, Brenda.
Love the FB post – escaping over the border – absolutely ironic.
Also, wondering how those employees of Elon Musk with Tesla & Larry Ellison with Oracle moving to Texas is going. Ditching California for their tax haven and chaos right now. Both CEOs are more like tyrants and bullies to the communities where they are located.
Sorry, just venting again.