Hoar Frost

Walker and I were running errands the other day when I noticed fog floating in from the direction of the river. The temps had been way below zero for a few days, and when I saw the fog I suspected we were in for some hoar frost. We finished our errands quickly and headed straight for home.

Hoar frost occurs when water vapor, such as fog, touches a very cold surface and freezes on it instantly. This can happen to any object that's cold enough for the water vapor to freeze on. It doesn't happen a lot around here, though. When it does, I grab my camera and head outside because it doesn’t last long. But what a beautiful sight while it lasts!

We took our little rent-a-dog, Baizie, along with my camera and walked the bike trail near our house. The evergreens looked like flocked Christmas trees. The view was absolutely gorgeous. We walked for an hour or so on the bike trail near our home. By the time we headed back, snow had started to fall and the hoar frost was already disappearing.

Here's a little red for Ruby Tuesday:

Muir Woods Creek

On a recent trip to California, Walker and I drove to the ancient redwood forest known as Muir Woods. We lucked out – it was Veteran’s Day, and admission to this national park was waived. Wahoo! The forest was cool, shady, and quiet except for bird calls and the sound of water bubbling nearby. Thirty minutes or so into our walk, we came to a footbridge over this little stream.




Check out other Watery Wednesday photos here

Back to Second Grade

A couple years ago, Walker and I became the proud temporary foster parents of a paper doll named Flat Stanley. For those of you who aren’t in touch with second grade curriculum, Flat Stanley is a character in a book who suffers an injury that leave him, well, flattened. He decides to make the most of his new shape by mailing himself to folks around the country. Cheapest way to travel, that’s for sure!

So the idea is, a child you know mails you their Stanley and you spend a few months taking him around your area, shooting photos and sending them along with letters and postcards back to your kid-friend. The kid then shares with their class, and they get to learn about different parts of the country and even, sometimes, overseas. Some classes try to get their Stanley around the world during one school year.

My Stanley came from my cousin Christian, who I actually think of more like a nephew. And anyone who knows me also knows of my quest to become the Coolest Auntie Ever. Which means, of course, that a few postcards were not going to cut it. Walker and I had talked briefly of visiting his mom in Orlando, and what Stanley wouldn’t like a visit to Disney? Off we went. Stanley not only sent back postcards, but when we returned home we typed up his adventures, complete with photos, and sent them in with several packages of Disney pencils to share with the class. Stanley then accompanied a co-worker on a cruise to Hawaii. His travel log for that trip was bound into a book and sent to the class with a big box of leis.

By this time we were really getting into the whole Stanley thing. I mean, pretty much every where we went someone would recognize him and comment to us. How fun is that? Unfortunately, Stanley had to be back at the school before the end of the term. We sadly sent him back the first week in May.

This year, Christian’s little sister started second grade. We pestered her until she got her teacher to agree to send us a Stanley. Seriously. The class hadn’t even gotten that far yet and we made the poor kid bug her teacher til we got our paper doll. Then the adventure began. Our first stop: San Francisco! We spent a few days touring the city, then traveled down the coast a few miles to Pacifica. And here's Stanley at the beach outside our hotel.



Check out other Watery Wednesday photos here

What I REALLY Love about Winter

Okay, that last post was a joke. A bad one, I know. While winter is not my favorite season (but it's in the top four!) here is my list of things to love:

1 - Snow days are a good excuse to watch movies all day.

2 - Hot cocoa

3 - Fires in the fireplace. Wish we had one!

4 - Lots of free time to catch up on housework. Cause, you know, who wants to go outside when it's -30?

5 - Christmas lights in the snow. So pretty!

6 - Sledding!

7 - Celebrating birthdays for Diva and Squeak

8 - Planning a winter getaway to the beach

9 - Valentine's Day

10 - When it's finally over

What I Love About Winter

Remembering Henrietta.....

On December 6, a light went out in a small town in Minnesota. Unremarkable, really, unless you were lucky enough to know the source of that light: my aunt, Henrietta.

Henrietta was a quiet, constant presence in my life. Always smiling, always supportive. She had a vast network of friends, and the ability to put people at ease no matter what the situation. No matter how brief your meeting, she would remember you. And you would remember her. She was unforgettable.

Henrietta checked on me regularly during my fibroid saga, as that was something we had in common. I think she was the only person in my circle who really understood what I was dealing with. After my surgery, I asked my family and friends to let me recoup for a few weeks before stopping by. Henrietta came anyway, bringing flowers and offering support. I was very glad she came.

It's impossible to imagine the holidays without my aunt. Saturday night, Walker and I took Diva to a city park to see the displays of holiday lights. One display pretty much said it all. "I love you all dearly; now don't shed a tear. I'm spending Christmas with Jesus this year!" I think it was very fitting that it was done in lights.

Rest in peace, Henrietta. We miss you.

Seven Degrees....

Winter has decended with a fury. Snow, ice, and bitter cold wind combined to make life miserable here in the Midwest. This time of year, with Christmas approaching, it's usually easy to block out the weather and focus on the season and the family. This year, somehow, things are differnt. I seem to feel a perpetual chill. Walker has been saying the same thing: he has a chill he can't shake. I know it isn't the house, as we feel this where ever we go. Winters get so long here.

January is the time when I start thinking we need some sun. I watch for airfare sales and, on more than one occasion, I have called Walker at work asking him to "take a few days off next week." Of course he does, though at the time he usually doesn't know why. Somehow, spending a week with sand between our toes makes the rest of the winter fly by.

This year things will probably be different. With both of us having surgery this year, and the economy still in the toilet, we will most likely be staying put for the winter. Maybe that has something to do with the chill.....it's going to be a long, cold winter.