I haven't been very inspired this last week. The weather continues cold - 4 degrees above zero this morning. Some days we actually get some sunshine and the snow either compacts or melts a little around the edges. Winter begins to wear. This also is the day that Dorothy has her thyroid removed - We are wishing her the best recovery time. She meets life with a determination to see things through, and looks on the bright side of things.

"Where the Skies Are Not Cloudy All Day"

When yesterday dawned so beautiful and clear with the first glimpse of blue sky we've had in ages, it seemed like a good omen. The blizzards of this weekend were over for a time. We were thankful, because it was the day of the funeral for our neighbor and friend, Don, and we were dreading the difficulties for the family with all the bad weather.

As you can see, the old picnic bench on the patio looks like a sarcophagus.

Ron posing for me as he rests from digging out the dog trail to Hampton's.

As you can see, the snow does want to fill in the path.

One of our neighbors complained that you can go 50 miles in any direction and run out of the snow. We really know that we are blessed, because it's that melting snow that sustains this little farming community when summer comes, but when the days continue gray and stormy, or gray and foggy, it's a little hard to find the light. As Mark Twain said, "Everybody wants to have something done about the weather, but no one does anything." (Or something like that.) We got above freezing yesterday - remarkable!

Ron's Birthday

I didn't get around to recognizing Ron on his birthday last Saturday. We spent a happy day. I baked a yellow cake with chocolate frosting, and invited a couple of friends in to share. His sister, Evie, baked the most humongous batch of his favorite cookies, snickerdoodles, and sent them in a box - absolutely none were broken in the trip from Lake Stevens, Washington to Preston. And our neighbor, Carolyn, baked him six (yes, six) big cinnamon rolls! Her son, Lucas, 4 years old, made this portrait of Ron to include with his homemade birthday greetings. One leg has a more prominent knee than the other. That's probably because a little while ago, while he and his mother were looking at pictures of surfers in Hawaii, he announced that "Brother Gage is a surfer", a comment that caused a great deal of merriment to all. The world as seen through the eyes of a four-year-old is certainly different than the one that we "elders" live in. It is full of possibilities. Maybe we need to borrow a few? Late Happy Birthday.

The "Tale" of Bo, the Neighbor's Dog

Ron had to shovel a path through the deep snow, because Bo didn't have the energy to plow his way through on Sunday.

About 14 years ago, our neighbor, the orchardist and retired Boeing engineer, got this dog, which he named Bo. He acquired the dog because his old herd dog, Smokey, had become blind, and was not of any help herding the cattle on the farm. However, as a herd dog, Bo proved to be worthless - he was a very enthusiastic chaser of cows, sending them all over the place. So, Bo became the follower of the 4-wheeler, the constant companion of his owner, and a frequent visitor here (the path in the snow is similar to the one that is worn in the grass, through our back hard, across the basketball court, between the evergreens and to his warm garage bed.) Ron began going to the local grocery store (there is only 1 in town), and buying packages of soup bones, which he then bakes in the oven, and freezes, thawing one each morning for Bo. Sometimes Bo will exchange his dry bone treat (from a box) for the real thing, leaving his other bone discarded on the patio. The summer when Bo was about 3, our grandchildren were here. Bo always loved to come over and let them maul him. They discovered a heavy rubber band caught around his lower jaw, and digging into the flesh. In time, the jaw might have been amputated, had it not been discovered. Our neighbor, Don, took the dog to the vet, and he operated to dig out the rubber band. Ever after, when these grandchildren would come, they would look for the place on his jaw where the rubber band had been, feeling that their keen observation had saved his life. Over the years, Bo has become somewhat blind, so that he barks at us now when we go to our neighbor's home, but a scold reminds him that you shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you. He has also become very arthritic, and, although he sleeps on a heated pad, he has difficulty getting around some days. He is on a regimen of glucosamine-chondroitin-msm, which helps, just as it helps us. His time on this earth can't be very long. However, we received a real shock this morning, when a call came quite early, telling us that Bo's master had had a stroke last night after the Preston basketball victory in Pocatello. Don, his son, and three grandchildren, went to a restaurant to eat, and he quickly became ill, and died in the ambulance halfway to the hospital. We are constantly reminded that our time here is not ours to determine. Change can come very quickly. So, sometimes, as in the case of Bo, the dog, we live in expectation of death, and prepare for that eventuality. But, the shock of having a friend and neighbor unexpectedly pass from life so suddenly requires a great shift in thinking and being, and reminds us all of our mortality, and that things will not go on forever as they are today. Moral to be learned? Take care of each minute that you can. Enjoy the people in your family and around you. Mend fences where they need it. Be there for others. Follow the commandments, and say your prayers.

Still Snowing - A New Scene

Still snowing - we need a change of scenery!

Pictures from New Mexico

View from the top at Cedar Crest.

Great grandchildren, Dillon holding Mia. (This is an older picture - Mia is over a year and very mobile.)

Mandy and Mia - perhaps in Arkansas?

Mother and Daughter - Dorothy and Mandy.

Ken took pity on me, and sent some pictures last night. I'ts been forever since we've seen this part of the family. Too bad distance and difficulty of travel for some makes the miles too many to have more contact, but it's good to see the pictures. Thanks, Ken.

Still Frosty - And Cold

The blog seems to have grown into a weather report and pictures of the cold snap that goes on and on, with its accompanying foggy smog and bone-chilling temperatures. Four above this morning is almost a heat wave. I shudder to think of how many perennials might not make it through this winter, even though they are covered with snow.

January - Oh, goody!

The twisted branches of "Harry Lauder's Walking Stick" really make a wonderful snowy pattern.

We always measure winter snows by the height of the snow on the sundial. Can't tell the time today!

Winter in Idaho

Jenny took these first two pictures when she was here - they are at the ranch at Eight Mile.

And this picture is close to our front door. The snow is piling up, thank goodness - we've had a very dry December.

Happy New Year

There is more snow on the ground now than in the frosty picture above. We have "enjoyed" temperatures hovering around zero, and maybe getting into the 'teens in the daytime since just after Thanksgiving. There has been very little snow, but what there is has not melted. Also, as those who listen to the news or read newspapers, Cache Valley has had the worst air quality in the whole country. Thank goodness we live at the far northern end, so ours is not quite such pea soup as farther south. A little snow fell yesterday, giving us some relief. Jenny took the picture below when she was here for Christmas. This was taken at her aunt's and uncle's ranch at Eight Mile southeast of Soda Springs, ID.

Christmas Means Family

Jenny and her Dad on Sunday.

Christmas flowers and greenery from the Consoliver 5. The smell of the greens was wonderful. We laughed, because when the florist came, he rang the doorbell, and we were slow coming to answer the doorbell. When Ron got there, the florist was walking through the front door, because he didn't want to leave the bouquet on the porch to freeze. More than once, we have come home to find something from the florist on the kitchen counter. We hate to think of our small town growing so big that we can't leave the door unlocked at times, or that the florist wouldn't feel comfortable doing that service.

Christmas Day

Lights never fail to enchant.

The Japanese cranes stained glass is reflected in the table where three Nativity sets are displayed. The one on this end is made of corn husks.

And this is the entire tree - full of ornaments from Germany, friends, Ron's making, and other acquisitions.

The miniature tree always delights. These are the outward signs of Christmas. More important is the sharing that takes place over the miles - pictures sent, expressions of caring, neighbors and friends dropping by with treats, all of the Christmas cards that come to remind us of friends past and present. We are thankful for them all.

Christmas Eve - The Nativity

It's Still Christmas at Our House

This cuddly elf was found years ago at a craft show. Someone paid attention to detail in constructing him. He has never sported a label, so perhaps he was home made?

Once upon a time I did counted cross stitch. This is a long, narrow wall hanging, in the shape of a bell pull. We're getting ready for Christmas dinner.

And this husband has done his Christmas shopping!

You can see how long ago this was done - my zillions of counted cross stitch books sit on the shelf while I make quilts.... To everything there is a season.

Ornament of Friendship and Love

My friend, Dorrit, (who came from Denmark) gave me this Danish ornament before we moved to Preston.

Granddaughter Brittany made this Christmas decoration for us a couple of years ago. It tells a truth not to be forgotten.

Years ago, Dad and Mother cut silhouettes of Christmas out of wood. Steve took the patterns, and cut out a smaller pattern of the baby Jesus, lying in the manger, guarded by a couple of cats with curling tails. It's nice to have reminders of people we love as we put our Christmas decorations about the house.