Happy Holidays Everyone

Everything was frozen out there. The Weather Channel said -7, which is very cold for Surrey. I looked outside through bars of icicle - I can tell which window is old & single glazed - with not a crow in sight. My car was a white hill of snow. And my feral cat would NOT go outside. I have to admit that I won't go either but at least I'm taller than the snow! I ended up with a teeny bit more than 17" when Mike measured it the other day as he shoveled a path down my ramp. And I've had snow since .  .  .  .

So the cat & I stayed inside where it was safe & warm & woke up this morning to a mostly melted world out there. Santa brought bare roads & almost cleared cars & yards! All of my icicles are gone & an avalanche cleared the roof with a big bang around 5 AM. Hopefully my skunk was asleep under the stairs.

I am making soup for dinner tonight. A big pot of Italian Soup with Tortellini in it. I might even open a bottle of wine to celebrate another year of survival. Hopefully, you're all having a safe & warm holiday with your favorite people, animals & things. A good meal & warm toque to you all .  .  .

Let it Snow

 Another snow day! Looks like we might have a White Christmas this year! All I know is I'll be canceling my Doctor's appointment at the Clinic tomorrow since there's no way I'll be out in the snow we have right now, nevermind the next dump expected on Thursday. I think I have at least 10 inches on the porch right now & it's still snowing. Mike was here with a bag of groceries on Sunday & dug a path down my ramp, around my car & behind to the road so I could get out if I wanted. But we've got more snow on top of the old snow which should warn people who drag oxygen tanks behind them to stay home. So I shall do so. Even the feral cat prefers to stay inside. It's so quiet out there .  .  . 

As long as I have power, I have lots to cook & tea to drink. I don't have candy, cookies, cake or turkey but I do have Triscuts, cheese, canned meat & fish to party with. I can download a couple of Audiobooks - Murders? Mystery? Sex?? or SciFi? or curl up with a couple of new e-books.

Knitting - yes! I've started a new winter cardi for myself!! Just a plain top-down so far with a little fanciness around the raglan increases. Haven't decided if I want a little more of it up the fronts & around the cuffs. Too soon to decide. But, I'm on my way.

New books - Saltwater Classics & Saltwater Gifts by C Legrow & S Scott. I'm a real sucker for books with patterns & stories about the patterns. I think I enjoyed the history & stories of Newfoundland even more than the patterns! Good books. I recommend them both.

A Foggy Night

It was a dark & foggy night when my cat howled at the door. I didn't want to get out of my nice, warm nest to let her in, but I did anyway because she was making a horrible noise. And went back to bed. Her dish was full of crunchies & I was still tired. Must've gone back to sleep but it was still dark when there was a hellova lot of noise in the back of the kitchen! I heard actual squeeks. No way was I getting in the middle of that! And pulled the blankie over my head & went back to sleep .  .  .  .

This morning I found TWO mice laying by the back door. Fat, grey mice, too. They should be since they've been living off my Gourmet Popcorn which came in a heavy duty, ziplocked, plastic bag - one more crappy use of plastic!! The new Gourmet Popcorn lives in a glass canning jar. And that's why I get out of bed for the feral cat.

Another Appointment

 Two medical appointments down & one to go. Had an early Dental one this A.M. Not happy about the time! 11:00 is a bit early for me in the winter & it takes longer to get up & out. Today was a mess from the beginning .  .  .  too cold for light sweater, too warm for heavy sweatshirt. Couldn't get my socks on - the right knee wouldn't cooperate so I had to go in my slide-on slippers after trying to get shoes on the same foot without socks. I forgot to comb my hair. Decided at the last minute I needed to change the O2 cylinder to make sure I had enough air if the appointment ran over. The inside of my windows AND the outsides were frosted. And the Dentist's office called just one more time to see if I was coming. I yelled. By the time I left, my breathing was not good & I was mad as hell. I almost went back home. But, I went the back roads & pulled up just 3 minutes before my appointment. And I survived the session, came away with a new temporary molar & apologized for my bad behavior. Got myself a lovely hot chicken Caesar salad on the way home as a reward for the struggle.

Sat outside in the sunshine for a half hour before picking up my brunch & enjoyed it. I don't get out into sunshine much these days & that's a pity. Must do it more often. 

So after my awful morning, I managed to get out of the car, up the ramp, into the house with my lunch & into my recliner with a huge glass of cold cold water - we have the best water in the world here in the burbs - & promptly fell asleep. I had exhausted myself with my trip out - again. I don't have a lot of stamina after spending the last couple of years at home. So, now, I'm just a blob of goo. But I intend to go out as much as I can until I can't anymore. Maybe I'll try for a coffee tomorrow .  .  . 

I'll take a Snow Day

Vancouver & the Lower Mainland had the first snow of the season this past week. What a Zoo!! We don't get snow often enough to give most people much experience with the stuff - especially our immigrant population. Living in the Canadian Riviera doesn't give the native gang much experience either, but at least we know enough to prepare for the worst! I've been caught in it when I had to commute & it was a bugger back in the days before cell phones. I remember fighting my way across town to get home & finding the last bridge closed. I could almost see my home across the river but I was stuck in line on the other side .  .  .  .  

Now, of course, I can't go out when it snows. I'm too wobbly & my oxygen equipment doesn't come with Tundra Tires. I just stay in, make soup or mac & cheese & listen to an audiobook with the Burning Log on the TV. That log is wonderful! I swear I can just get a whiff of wood smoke every now & then but I wish it gave off a little heat as well. Too bad we can't just get a lovely evening of snowflakes like that log, snow that sticks to grass & trees but not roads. 

Needless to say, I haven't been out since the snow started & I wasn't out much before that - too much rain for me. My buddies brought coffee to me! So, the two weeks before Christmas should be fun. I now have three medical appointments & a Dentist just before. The Clinic Doc insisted I come in before Christmas & they're now so busy I can't get in till the 23rd! At least they're not in a mall .  .  .  .

Knitting - I miss my grubby old purple cardi that got tossed to the cat a couple of years ago! I'm still winding good old Briggs & Little into balls. I bought two boxes of the singles yarn at a big sale but the stuff sticks to itself & doesn't wind easily. It DOES wear like iron & if not moth proof it doesn't run & make big holes if something takes a bite. I have my pattern & my yarn. I just wanted the lighter version . . .