Winter Storm Fern

 The winter storm we anticipated had arrived.  I'm hearing this storm's name is Fern.  Well Fern did do what they said she would do.  I believe we totaled about 10" where I live.  

I shared a picture of our backyard from the other day and this was what it looked like Sunday morning.

The snow fell for most of the day and then turning to sleet and then back to snow at night.  I shoveled while Rob used the snowblower but we'll have to go back out today since more snow has fallen since.  My least favorite part of snow is having to shovel it away.  

And the Siberian Husky has been spending time outside, then back inside for a nap, then outside again, and back and forth.  

We watched church online.  At first they couldn't get the sound to work and I could see how the enemy was trying to keep us from having church at all, but thankfully God is bigger, and the sound began and we were able to enjoy the service from the comfort of our couch.  The pastor shared a story of a girl from Nicaragua, who he had met during a recent missions trip.  This girl was being abused by her father.  After listening, I began thinking of some of my own issues I've been having.  It's been years of prayers and asking for direction but I believe my question of what I should do was answered by that sermon.  I love when that happens.  We watched the Sunday night service online, this time the pastor had closed church and recorded from his own house.  It was, again, a great message and had another one of my questions answered.  

My husband, who makes a great homemade pizza, prepared us each our own personal pizza.  He took a picture and texted it to me and I think was hinting that I should post it on my blog.  As my Italian ancestors would say, "Deliciouso!"    

Today, school is being done virtually and Rob is tucked away in our bedroom doing work from home.  I'm trying to keep the house quiet for them as I type this up and sip the last of my coffee.  But soon, I will work towards house cleaning and finishing up the shoveling outside.  I also have a dessert to make for everyone later.  A day off means a day I'm not getting paid but I do enjoy another day of being home.  

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire; it is the time for home." -- Edith Sitwell  

The Calm Before The Storm

 Right now my backyard looks like this.

But by Monday morning that ground will be around 8 - 14 inches deep in snow.  Well, that's what they are calling for.  Who knows what will really happen.  Starting on Saturday night and all day Sunday the snow is supposed to fall and there may be some sleet too.  Schools are preparing for a virtual day on Monday and I'm guessing it may be so for Tuesday too.  

Everyone keeps asking if I'm ready for the snow and my answer to that question has been - I'm ready for summer.  

Yesterday I did some much needed grocery shopping.  I would have gone regardless of the weather but it's crazy to see how many people are rushing to the store and emptying the shelves.  If we get the amounts they are calling for we'll be stuck for a few days but once the snow stops the plows will come through and do their jobs.  There's no need for the panic and commotion.  My only concern is the possibility of losing power.  That would not be good at all.  

This morning I went for my six month check up at the dermatologist.  It seems every visit I have a few more basal cell spots.  That's what Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome is all about.  He's concerned with some spots around the eye but will have me continue to monitor it until the next appointment in the summer and will remove them then.  I try to keep a positive attitude while going through this rare genetic disorder but deep down inside it's tough.  I try not to admit my true feelings.  Looking in the mirror and seeing more and more skin cancer spots and several scars from previous surgeries is enough to bring anyone down but I remain thankful that it is not terminal.  Just ugly.  

Anyway, after the appointment I went across the street to Maple Donuts.  A local family favorite.  I purchased six donuts to get us through the storm.  Not the healthiest choice but a good treat every once in awhile ain't so bad.  I'll only have one and will save it for Sunday morning when I'm more than sure we'll be watching church online.  

It looks like a big chunk of the country will be experiencing this upcoming storm with either heavy wind, snow or ice.  If that's you I pray that you remain safe and warm.  Don't travel unless absolutely necessary.  

I'll be out there shoveling often but also plan on enjoying as much time as I can inside a warm house and pray that the power does not go out.  If that's the case, we have plenty of blankets and flashlights.  

Stay safe!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Greetings everyone!  I'm on a roll with keeping up with these Wednesday Hodgepodge questions brought to us by Joyce.  Here's another round of wintry questions for mid January.  Can you believe we are almost through January already?  The month is speeding by quickly and I'm okay with that.  Okay, here we go.  Thankfully she adds these questions in the beginning of the week so I have some time to think.  

SKIING INTO THE HODGEPODGE - mid January edition

 1. Ice skating, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, playing in the snow, or a snowy walk...which winter activity do you choose? Have you done any of these activities so far this winter? 

I've tried ice skating a few times and was on my butt more than my feet.  I don't know why I just couldn't get the hang of it.  I used to enjoy sledding as a kid but haven't done so in many years.  Playing in the snow most certainly is a favorite past time, as a child myself and also when my kids were little.  So far this year I've done nothing aside from a little driveway shoveling and scraping ice off of the car whenever we have snow.  I'm sure my kids would enjoy doing something but I am just not a be outside in the winter type of person.  Snuggling up on the couch under a blanket reading a book while the fireplace is on is my type of winter activity.  

2. Everyone is posting pictures from ten years ago on their social media sites so let's jump on the bandwagon too. Share one photo and one thought to go with said photo from the year 2016. And maybe everyone isn't doing this, but many are and we're going to be part of the fun. 

Summertime 2016 when we visited a zoo in Maryland.  This bird looks just like a parakeet we used to have named Sprite. 

3. What's a trend you hope disappears in this new year? 

The current way of life where people will hear something said on mainstream media or read something on social media and take it as facts instead of doing their own research and thinking, which ends up causing a lot of unnecessary chaos in the country right now.  

4. 'They' say there's a day for everything and January 21st proves it. National Granola Bar Day. Do you like granola bars? How about just regular granola? Do you like bars of other kinds? 

I do like granola bars.  Peanut butter or chocolate chip are my top two choices.  I've never made homemade granola bars but it's on my list of things to try.   I've also enjoyed putting granola in yogurt or granola cereal.  

5.  A frozen lake, a trickling stream, a raging river, or a deep well...which one describes something about your life right now? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

This is a great question.  To say it literally, life right now feels like a frozen lake because of how cold it's been and there's a blizzard in the forecast for my area this weekend.  Although, if we're speaking hypothetically I'd say my life can sometimes feel like a raging river but I try very hard to focus on the trickling stream.  For example, there's so much going on around me that has me instantly feeling the need to be angry but then I take a deep breath, pray to the Lord for guidance and then become someone who can slowly control the flow of my emotions.  I'm trying, at least.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Here in south-central Pennsylvania and other parts of the country are forecasted to recieve a large amount of snowfall this weekend.  I'm getting a mix of information in regarding how much.  I've heard anywhere from a few inches to 2-feet.  Time will tell.  Tomorrow is pay day for both my husband and I so a trip to the grocery store is needed.  No, I'm not one of those that has to rush to buy bread, milk and eggs whenever a snow storm is upon us, but we are really in desperate need of food no matter the weather.  I'm going to keep a positive attitude through the storm but will certainly be dreaming about the warmer seasons to come.  

A Few Random Things

 Here we are, more than halfway through January and winter reminds us she's still very much here.  

On Saturday we woke up to a few inches of snow.  Fearful of the unpredictability of the day, my sister cancelled her plans to visit from Long Island.  They were going to stay at a hotel and we were all going to meet up at my parents.  So, instead, I spent Saturday at home doing a mix of cleaning and resting.  

There is no greater joy in wintertime than being able to snuggle up with a good book.  

And my girl, as you can see, has her hand in a brace.  On Thursday at midnight she woke me up to say she was getting out of bed to use the bathroom and fell, landing on her hand, which resulted in a sprained wrist.  She was off of school on Friday so we went in for an x-ray to check for a possible fracture but she's all good there.  

It was a weekend of snuggles.  

Today there is no school all thanks to the wonderful Martin Luther King, jr.  I still woke up early since Bri had to go to swim practice.  My son drove to the coffee shop to sit and study the book of Job and I worked on my book while getting some laundry done.  You know, for a family of four we sure accumulate a lot of dirty laundry way too quickly.  My husband is at work and sadly caught a cold, which started yesterday.  He's feeling miserable.  I made homemade chicken noodle soup last night but still deciding on what to make tonight.  I really, really need to get my act together and come up with a weekly meal plan.  It's so difficult to decide each and every night what to cook, especially with picky children and a husband that can't eat certain things.  I suppose I'll figure it out.  

Have a great week ahead, friends.  Stay cozy and warm!