The list goes on...

And I'm having a true snow day. (Not quite as fun, Debbie, as those you have!) I am stranded in NW Iowa due to weather conditions. We were suppose to fly out this evening from Minneapolis, but getting there is a bit of a problem. This is what I'm afraid of. And my rental is, of course, white.

Things you don't see in Houston: Part Deaux

Pretty sure both of these pieces of equipment would be special order at Lowe's or Home Depot. Both the heavy duty and mini versions.

Put this on the list of things you won't see in Houston

This is my BIL scooping snow off the roof of the house. I took both shots through the window. I don't need to be out there. I'd just be in the way.

Roofs up here can collapse from the weight of the snow. Hurricane? Snow weight? Things that make you go HHHHHMMMMMM?

Winter Wonderland....really???

No new picts, but one great tough old bird

This is my stepmom, Darlene. I didn't call her my stepmom. I called her Darlene. She married my dad one month before I married Cuddle Buns. Because we moved way south and Dad and Darlene continued to live in the midwest, I didn't know Darlene very well until these last few years. I am so glad I got to know her. She was great for my dad, had a wonderful sense of humor, and fought her health problems with fierceness. ("Tough old bird" was mentioned more than once by everyone, including her doctor.) She also took care of my dad, maybe too well, even when she should have been resting with her feet up.  She went to bed before the sun went down, and was up way before the chickens. When she was up early in the morning, she was talking to Jesus. She always asked about my mom. She loved Rudy and still mourned the loss of their dog, Jamie. She taught me that not all is as it seems. And when it is, it is, and you may not be able to do anything about it.  I have come to love her dearly. 

She passed early this morning. Her lungs just weren't equipped to keep up with her heart. We miss her.

Think I missed a day

And this is why:

From our hotel window. Spent the night after meeting up with my niece in Minneapolis. Soon to be on our way to NW Iowa, where, I'm told, there is even more snow than this. Once again, I got a white rental car. Hope we can find it this morning.

Last Day of January....no perfected photography lessons yet

I realized last night very close to bedtime that I hadn't taken my photo for the day. Decided I should try a very delicate photo technique: taking a shot from across the room of Rudy sprawled across Cuddle Buns WITHOUT getting any of Cuddle Bun's Sunday "mess" on the coffee table. (Supper, remotes, cookies, gun-from the Wii, etc, etc.) I took a great shot with only the yellow cap of the little cute plastic cookie "cup" showing. Quite the photographer, huh? From my chair, I had to hold the camera really high and STILL. I am learning great things from this challenge.

But then I finished a silk shawl I've been working on since December 14. (I remember the date because I started it on the plane on my way to Frankfurt.)  The pattern is the Icarus Shawl and the yarn is a luscious silk blend in the colorway called Smog. (I bought the hand dyed yarn on Etsy.) It isn't blocked yet, but I love it.

Of course, my photography reverted back to it's normal point-and-shoot-no-matter-what, so the color isn't great. I suppose the fact that this beautiful smokey purple silk is on the red chair didn't do much for the composition. Oh well. I am thrilled with the shawl.

Oh....and I can't resist. Here's the pict with the real skill involved:

Think a dog's mouth is clean? Check out that filthy bone.