After the Snowin'

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After the snowin' - - - at least 12 inch accumulation of snowin' - - - the clouds rolled away, the skies turned blue, and the sun came out!


Our little town began the process of digging out.


There were precious few church cancellations today - - - ours was on, and if not going strong at least going! I thought the crowd was mighty sparse - - - but I was there as were others.


Oh but Yesterday, when the skies were still gray and the winds were still howlin' and the snow was still sifting down, who'd a thunk it could be so pretty today.


Yesterday these red accoutrements were very important to me as I made many trips to shovel my walk. I am the self-appointed technitian in charge of our front walk.

Are you ready for this? Here's how we look NOW that the snowin' is temporarily over:


You can see my little sidewalk snow-tunnel and Fisherhubby's cleared (snowblower) driveway.


My corner snow shoveling pile is now taller than the little snowmen sled.


During the storm our shrubs looked like this.


And AFTER the snowin' - - - - look at our shrubs now!


Shrubs, shrubs, who's got the shrubs?????

Stay tuned to this same blog for all your future snow-dates!

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And Then it Precipitated H2O With Low Kinetic Energy!!!!!

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You'll just have to IMAGINE that 2 in this post title is a subscript for I cannot MAKE Blogger put a subscript there.

I just gotta tell ya - - - since I was a little kid growing up in this wonderful northwoods state, I have LOVED snow. LOVED it.


So just IMAGINE my joy today when our ENTIRE part of the state is COVERED on the weather map in a huge BLUE blob and water with low kinetic energy is sprinkling down on our heads ALL DAY LONG!!!! I'd say we've got about 8 inches now, and still more coming.

This morning, during a pause in the flurries, I went out and shoveled our sidewalk.

Yes I DID say that - - - ME, MOI, I, MYSELF went out and shoveled the walk. Fisherhubby is sniffling and snuffling with a cold on the couch.

In fact, I've been out again SINCE then to shovel it a second time. I figure if I keep ahead of the deepness, it will be easier shoveling.


I propped my little snowmen sled up at the corner of the shoveled walk as a marker to indicate how DEEP the snow is getting. I'll show you at the end just how deep it GOT.

Do you see that little hill of snow out in the middle of our yard BEHIND the snowmen? Look closely, I think you can see it - - - in fact, there may be an eensy weensy teensy little clue there to help you find it.

That is where they guy who plowed out our drive yesterday PLOWED RIGHT INTO OUR YARD!!!! I'm so happy the clean new pristine snow has COVERED his ugly tracks. Today when he returns to plow again, I am going to go out there and very kindly and gently accost him and BEG him to NOT do that again. Goodness - - - I NEED my white beauty right outside my window!


Anyway - - - back to the lovely snow. Trees and bushes are getting all Christmasized - - - and it is ALL NATURAL! Purely inorganic, but natural nonetheless.


Even Fisherhubby's truck is sportin' a new white coat!!


And if all this natural inorganic white stuff isn't making me Christmas-happy enough - - - just look what Andy, my new nail tech, put on my nail yesterday!!! Yes, he did that all freehand and everything. Isn't he the bestest????

Hope you are enjoying your Saturday as much as I'm enjoying mine.

So - - - get out a jig-saw puzzle, make a cup of latte or hot cocoa, bundle up, and STAY WARM!!! 'Cause winter is here and Christmas is a comin'!!!

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Anybody Else Out There - - -

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Having trouble with the Template Design feature on Blogger today????

I'm trying to change the color of my header font, and every stinkin' time I go to Template Design, it's pretty much blank and nothing is working. Oh, and I've tried multiple times since late yesterday afternoon.

Is this another Blogger glitch that will clear up soon, or am I really a Blogging Dummy????

Later addendum: It was my Firefox browser blocking it for some reason. Now if I can just figure out how to tell Firefox I WANT to use it - - - -

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Check It Out!!!

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Christmas Greetings from Brunhilda and Borris Bearsaltandpepper here.

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Yesterday Looked Like This - - -

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And "they" say tomorrow will be even worse - - - maybe 18 inches or so.

Of course, to a snow bird like me, even worse means even better!!!

And when I say SNOW BIRD, I mean a bird who loves the snow. Round these here parts, little Juncos are called snow birds 'cause they LOVE to come out and play in the snow.

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Klondike Gal - From Sublime to Ridiculous

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More from our own Klondike Gal reporter, Misti.


You may or may not remember that David, who is married to our own KG reporter, is a Coast Guard helicopter pilot. Somehow this whole technology meets nature picture is a little shocking, isn't it? Another oxymoron???

Maybe even more so when we find out from our KG reporter that THIS was an "emergency" potty break stop.


First snow on Mount Verstovia. Mount Verstovia is the view from Misti and David's bedroom window.

The next pictures were taken on a hike through Herring Cove. They, along with the waterfall in the top picture are the sublime of this post.


Pretty little waterfall.


David and Carson had to "suck it up" to squeeze through this cleft in the rock.


Momma Misti wasn't too far behind.


David and Misti at the Alaska Day ball. They look right handsome together, don't they?


Carson - - - Little Miss Kitty - - - in her Halloween best.


Complete with a tiny tail behind.

And now folks, here comes the ridiculous promised in the post title:


David as a pregnant Tinker Bell at his Airstation Halloween party.

So wrong on oh so many levels!

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Bucky's Goin' Bowling!!!

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"My boys" are going bowling and I couldn't be any prouder!!!!

Oh, but mes amis, this isn't just ANY old bowl - - - this is the GRAND DADDY of all bowls - - -


The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

I'm sure we all have memories of many a New Year's Day watching the Rose Bowl Parade, and whether or not you love football as I do, I imagine somewhere in the house at least ONE television was tuned in to that most famous of all bowls - - - the Rose Bowl!!!!

Well, THIS YEAR, it will be "my boys" playing on that field. This is not our FIRST Rose Bowl Dance, Wisconsin has been to the Rose Bowl six times and won it three of those. But this is our first trip back there since January of 2000.

You'll be able to tell which ones are "my boys" - - - they will be the bold RED (and white) band running right up the middle of that smaller purple purple line. Running the ball right down the throat of the opponent - - - that is how football is PLAYED in Wisconsin.

And if you READ this blog, you better NEVER DARE pull for that little purple line. At least you better NEVER DARE let me KNOW you did.


And the red will NOT be confined to the gridiron. Oh no my friends!!! The entire stadium will be ablaze in crimson for the Badger Nation will flock to California in droves to support Bucky Badger!!!!

On Wisconsin!!!!

(Photo credits: top-universalwaste.org, middle-betvega.com, bottom-gamedaymarketing.com)

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Home Again, Home Again Jiggity Jig!

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We left Fort Wayne, Indiana this morning amidst lots of THIS. I wondered if we were "doomed" to drive through that the whole way home.

Hallelujah! We drove OUT of the snow by the time we reached Plymouth and had clear sailing the rest of the way.

Now we are home - - - in our own little "bungalow." It snowed here while we were away, so we are immersed in a blanket of white.

As fun as it was to go, see our grans, and celebrate an early Christmas with them - - - it is just that fun to be back home in our own little habitat.

Now - - - I WONDER what I'll find to post about here now that life is back to "ho-hum"!?


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Wherein Santa, Being Old and Gray, Gets the Date Mixed Up

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Yesterday the kiddos woke up raring to have breakfast. Kamma made sure each one got their food of choice, and Papoo "helped".

There was great excitement in the air, for jolly old St. Nick got his DATES mixed up, and brought some Christmas goodies just in time for Kamma and Papoo to share the "joy."


It was hard to wait for daddy to come back from his morning work.


Presents were handed out to all the GOOD girls and boy (that's all of them) and then the great anticipation ensued.


Finally all the big people were ready and the unwrapping commenced in earnest.


The clothing items were tossed to the wayside like so much useless tripe - - -


But the toys received MORE than their just share of squeals, glee, and hugs.


And for most of the REST of the afternoon - - -


Three little ones played in peace and harmony with their new delights.


It was a huge success.

If you'll look very closely in the BACKGROUND, you will see a couch, on that couch you will see a pillow and a jean covered knee. That would be Papoo, busy "helping."


And as Mackinley would say, "It was CRAZY!"

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Today in Indiana

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The sun was shining and the ground was all asparkle with snow and ice crystals.

Lovely day for a wee trek over to Marion for some VIB (very important business!)

I climbed in my candy apple red Durango about 9:30 AM, turned on the defrost and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Enough of waiting - - - I started pushing the window washer button, and after a few more minutes the wiper blades cleaned away the ice crystals and I could SEE enough to hit the road.


My first stop was to see my friend Amy, who also just happens to be my stylist. She fixed me up with a new do in nothing flat.

Unfortunately, I didn't think to take this picture TODAY, so I dug it out of an old photo file. But, put long sleeves on both of us and it COULD have been today.

Besides being a great stylist, Amy has been a true friend. I shall MISS her. Don't think I can plan to return to Indiana every 6 weeks when my hair needs attention- - - though it IS a thought.

Next I ran a couple of errands - - - paid off what I owed here for my last Indiana water bill and returned four books to the library.


Then I met some of my school friends for lunch. These girls are THE BEST and I miss them every day!!!

Shelli (left) was our guidance counselor and she has a propensity for pulling practical jokes and shifting the blame onto me. I'm not nearly smart enough to come up with all the zany things she manages to think up.

Vickie (middle) taught Bible and elementary science lab. I managed to break the lock on her classroom door one day and trap her and Shelli in the room for about a half an hour. I'm pretty sure Vickie needed a straight jacket after that.

Janell (right) was our school nurse. She was also the mom that helped me plan and orchestrate field trips. She had a smile and encouragement for me every day.


Vickie, being the bravest of us, drafted a perfect stranger to step over to our table and snap this shot of the four of us together.

And that IS the new "do" I got today!

Later I met Fisherhubby and more friends at our FAVORITE Mexican Restaurant, La Charreada, for supper.

Then we returned to Bluffton and our darling little grans - - -


Piper and Kaeleigh were in high spirits. We don't get to see Kaeleigh as often as we'd like and we're so happy she was able to join us for the weekend.


Poor little Mackey was ensconsed on the couch, piled under blankies running a low grade fever. Kamma did her best to help him feel better with a little bit of good old fashioned babying. We're hoping love, attention, and acetaminophen will perk him right up.

And now, this old Kamma needs to get some sleep. See you tomorrow!

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While the Cat's Away - - -

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Yesterday we packed up our car with a few of our "choice" belongings and around 1 AM we hit the highway.

As we drove, all through the the night, snow flurries swirled around us. They made white feathery "snakes" before and behind on the roads - - - but no slick spots to speak of.


By midmorning, we arrived at our gran's house in Indiana. Seems we brought the snow flakes with us.

We're here for the next few days to help take care of the grans while their mommy (the "cat" in the title) is in Africa and their daddy is workin' 9 to 5. Well, those aren't his actual hours, but you get the idea.


First Kamma took Mackinley to preschool and then picked him back up. He LOVES his school and his teacher.


Today there is no preschool, and since Kamma and Papoo are tired old things - - - and that all night driving business is hard on their old weary bones, we have decided to take a jammies day.


Jammies, snacks, and movies. What could be better?


Well, how about a spontaneous little dance to the movie music???


Even daddy got in the act with a twirl - - -


And a dip!


Later there was more fun making a cozy hide-away under the piano bench.


And through all this glorious activity, Papoo was a BIG HELP!

OK, OK, so I only caught him napping once and the rest of the time he was up and going strong with the kiddos, but where's the FUN in showing that???

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