just around the corner... right?

I crave sunshine around this time of year. It is February and spring should theoretically be just around the corner. But, this year, I'm living in the frozen tundra of the north and I still have a good two months left of winter. Sunshine around here tends to be a cruel joke. It's usually colder when the sun is out and the sun always comes out after a heavy snowfall. I can't take much more of the well below mornings and afternoons even though the sun makes me feel alive. With the sun, I don't think about hibernating as much. I think about spring and flowers and short sleeves and sandals.

Today, the temperature topped out above 40, which was a far cry from the -18 we had earlier in the week. I could finally take a walk around the neighborhood without worrying about frostbite. It was grand. 

 The snow piles are still there, but the warmer temperatures do give me home that spring is just around the corner. (I'm ignoring everyone who tells me that it's just a temporary thaw).

 

When the snow melts...

 The street in front of my house is turning into a river. It's going to be a mess when everything starts to melt. I don't know what they are going to do with all the snow. In the Twin Cities, they are trucking out some snow. Too much for up here.

Naming of squirrels and birds

When I was little, my cousin Sarah and I gathered and Gram and Papa's house most weekends for sleep-overs to get away from our pesky little brothers. Gram would pamper us and Papa would sneak us an extra bowl of breyers' vanilla bean ice cream. We'd sit in the kitchen overlooking that opened up to this porch and make up stories about Sam the Squirrel. Sam the Squirrel always made it to the porch first for the nuts Gram set out. We also created a place at the table for him - a chair with books stacked high so he could reach the table. Unfortunately, he never made it inside despite the fact that I often opened the door for him.

{l}

Like Sam the Squirrel, Lester the Flying Crow was another friend that hung out on Gram and Papa's porch. He often stole the nuts Gram put out for Sam and his friends. Lester had his own song, which went:

Lester the flying crow

Who he is

We don't know

He swoops down into our yard

Maybe he's meeting friends or playing cards.

Gram, I always thought, was much more partial to Lester than she was to Sam. I loved Sam because I was convinced that he read books like I did. He always wore awesome Ben Franklin spectacles. Lester played cards and the only games I liked as a kid were Old Maid, Go Fish, and Crazy Eights. 

I still sing about Lester when I see a crow flying about. Last week there was one outside my bedroom window. I wonder if Lester (or Lester's ancestor) made a trip up north to check in on me.

travels home

A few highlights from my Christmas trip back home. It went by entirely too fast and I find myself missing the comfort of Ohio while I'm here. In 6 months I'll be back.

Celebrating Christmas at St. Pat's with this Charlie Brown tree.

cousins on Christmas discussing the merits of something or another.

guy cousins sporting snazzy jackets from Gram.

scrabble games (that I won)

because we're awesome

New Year's Eve lunch with these lovely ladies.

brother and his dog, buddy.

Why can't I ever be in a mall when things like this happen?

Christmas wishes

Merry Christmas!



The Digital Story of the Nativity

We are saying Thank You

A much belated Thanksgiving update. Thanksgiving is the holiday in my family. Everyone gathers at Gram and Papa's to celebrate the day. This year was different without Papa, but we managed to have fun. I told the people up here that it was more important for me to go home for Thanksgiving that it was for Christmas.

This year I am thankful for:

Time with the brother.

meeting up with part of the alphabet.

Southwest airlines.

Gram and this little guy (Colin Daniel, my baby cousin)

these lovely ladies

Gram and Papa. <3