January 1, 2012



Dried wildflowers on the stem-
great for crafts!



Look what Santa brought!

















We received 2-1/2" of snow Thursday night, but the ice below it makes it slow going.  Have to really watch our step.  But it looks like winter again and that's what counts.  Saturday morning the temperature was a crisp 19.  It's chilly out there again today but I am not about to go out on the porch in my bathrobe to see exactly what the termperature is, especially since we received about another 1/2" of snow. . .

JB's Mom calls him every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and yesterday we learned that their power went out at 10:30 a.m. Christmas morning.  This when they were expecting 15 people for Christmas dinner at 2:00 p.m.!  With the help of the grill, everything was ready and served on time.  Two fireplaces and lots of candles kept everyone warm and well lit (or maybe that was the punch).  Anyway, a good time was had by all. 

Friday afternoon, clad head to foot except for my face, I climbed into the crawl space with a stack of towels, and wiped down all the water off the metal siding and wood.  Not fun.  Fortunately it was just around the outside edges and mainly on three sides.  Needless to say, we are now searching for an industrial size dehumidifier.  Have to get that moisture out as quickly as possible.  And keep it out. 

Larry and Elsie came up to visit last night and brought some of Elsie's pickles and home made salsa for us.  They ended up staying to play three rounds of cribbage partners (the women won two out of three), so it was a perfect new Year's Eve.

Well, it is finally 2012.  The year the Mayans and Chinese predicted something interpreted as ominous and earth changing would happen.  I would like to think it will be a positive change for mankind.  Lord knows we need it.  Perhaps it will be in the children.  I know I am seeing an intelligence and mental quickness in the youngsters I am acquainted with that is far beyond what I remember at that age.  Maybe if we all just pray for peace. . .

Thought for the day: 
  Cultivate Virtue in your self, and Virtue will be real.
  Cultivate Virtue in the family, and Virtue will flourish
  Cultivate Virtue in the village, and Virtue will spread.
  Cultivate Virtue in the nation, and Virtue will be abundant.
  Cultivate Virtue in the world, and Virtue will triumph everywhere.
         Lao Tsu