Almost Christmas

It looks like it is going to be another record-breaking year in terms of snow fall around here. We are off to an amazing start. The record for snow in December is 40 inches, and we are already over 34. Predictions are for 4-8 on Tuesday, and another 3-5 on Wednesday, with more on Friday. It just keeps coming down! Right now, I'm still enjoying it.

But I am beginning to wonder how I am going to feel in February if it continues in this manner . . . and where on earth we are going to put all the snow! It is hard to capture what it really means for those of you who do not and have never lived in the stuff, so the best I can do right now is just keep putting up pics. At least this way we'll have documentation of the process at the end, when we HAVE broken all the records!

I took some pictures during the day, but I thought these night pictures showed the hills and valleys much better. I was standing on the porch smoking this morning, and I realized that I don't remember what the street looks like without the snow already. What will it be like all flat and boring? With no big mounds to peer around when pulling out of the driveway?

And still it comes down . . .

Promised Snow Pics

Of course - this was before the 10-inches fell. Those are still on the camera. I had to include this self-portrait that I took with that feature on our camera, because it did such a weird thing to my nose. My nose doesn't really look like that, does it?

I'll try to get a better one of the wreath - I bought a plain one and some materials, and Jim decorated it up. Isn't it amazing?

I'm just in the middle of grading the last papers. Finals are Monday and Tuesday. So after that, I will slowly start becoming a human again. I hope to move back into the blogging world again - I miss communicating with all of you, too.

Will I Ever Say Anything Meaningful Again?

I really just wanted to post a couple of pictures up, and then I realized how long it had been since I've even been here. Too long to even try to catch up. There have been so many blogs I've written in my head . . . where is that nanotech-brain-to-screen interface already?





Let me at least put up the last of the construction pics before I crash. Tomorrow I will really try to add some snow snaps. You can see how beautifully the door came out (or went in, I mean). Doesn't it seem like it was always there? And this is my witchy friend Diane on Halloween.

Moving In and Renovating . . . Or at least knocking holes in walls

I have a huge stack of grading that has been giving me a hairy eyeball for a week, but I just had to post some snaps. We have been so busy and having so much fun with the house that I really wanted to share. So here you go:








Mike and Trina helped us move (Angels!) and Katie settled in with Indy the next morning - sort of. Katie was a big help all moving day; she unwrapped glasses very carefully, she put canned foods and jars in the cupboards, and most of all, she kept me company while I undertook the mega-disgusting task of scrubbing out the kitchen cabinets. I can't begin to tell you how gross they were. Truly. How do people live like that?

Jim's first big project was making an out-of-the-way place for the cat box. He fearlessly began chopping away at the space under the stairs, and created this beautiful little cubby. It gave us the opportunity to see the original construction materials, which was pretty cool.






Currently his Dad is here for a few days to help with the next round of major projects. The first on the list is cutting in a door from the dining room that will provide access to the fenced part of the back yard. Since we needed to document that, I went ahead and took a bunch of other pictures. So please excuse the mess; most of it is construction related (thought not all, I admit).

In addition to the construction (or destruction?) activities, we have also done some shopping. We've been in sore (literally and figuratively) need of a new bed for a long time, so we got one ordered last week. That won't be here for some time. I wish I could post pictures because it is so lovely, but that can wait. Jim also surprised me by ordering a gorgeous vanity at the same time.











But he also gave into my pleading for an (almost?) antique sofa that I have been yearning for ever since I saw it at our friend's consignment shop several months ago. She was asking $399, but took only $190 from us! And we also took the little book table (Jim's birthday present from me) and the brass lamp (only $2). So it was quite a weekend. I hope we are about done bleeding money. But aren't they beautiful things? It is nice, after so many years of doing without or going with just Salvation Army beat-up cast-offs.









The guest room may not look super attractive at the moment, with the empty bookshelves and whatnot, but by the time anyone can get here, it will have a real bed in it! Hurray! And Jim will have built shelves downstairs so we ought to have all the books unpacked and this room will be nice and cozy for you. Hint hint.

Our New Old House

I realize I owe you all a lot more than a brief note, but I wanted to post some photos of our newest money-pit. We are all moved in now, and have painted rooms, so it doesn't look like this anymore, exactly. But at least you can get the idea. I'll try to catch up soon on the other news. These snaps were taken on our very first trip, the day we fell in love. Our furniture looks much better than theirs did, of course! : ) And we like our paint better, too, though many would likely not agree, considering my little office is purple and orange. Yowza! Will provide evidence soon . . . These don't show you the size of the back yard, either, which is truly immense. And for those of you with small children (or who like to swing) the former owners DID leave one of their swing-sets and we have a wonderful sand pit. So be sure to bring your pails when you come.

Garden is growing . . .

If there was a corner for bad bloggers, I would be sent to it. I have been hearing from all sides about how long it has been since I've posted. I know, I know! I'm sorry. I have been busy preparing for a conference, attending the conference, and then starting a summer internet class. The latter has been sucking all my time and energy. I spend all day on-line reading discussions or preparing lectures, and just haven't had too much left for personal blogs at the end of the day.

So, here are a few more pics until I get some brain space back:

On the right, June 19, we had our first poppy just before I took off for Philly. When I came back, you see they had exploded!

Then Jim built these incredible shelves, and we reorganized everything on the 26th.

This gorgeous tomato plant sustained some major wind and hail damage, and lost about 1/5 of its foliage and some of its fruit several days after I took this picture. Boohoo. It was very sad. But everything else survived, and even this big one is doing pretty good. We do have seven other tomato plants, all of which now have some blooms on them, so I imagine we will have more than we know what to do with come August. We are already drowing in cilantro, savory and dill.

Aren't the new shelves snazzy? Stay tuned for pics of the lap-top desk he just finished for me . . .

May Garden

I don't have much to say today. Just wanted to share some pictures of one of my latest preoccupations. On the other hand, maybe there is nothing more profound than watching seeds grow into plants; plants that nourish our bodies and our souls. I know that after this winter-that-seemed-to-never-end, Jim and I have been watching over these little ones like expectant parents. We couldn't be more excited if we were first graders watching our very first seeds germinate. I'm sorry I'm not a better photographer or blog designer. I had trouble getting things to line up properly on the page, etc., so I hope you'll bear with me and just have fun looking at the transformation of the garden - that's for all you city folk who aren't knee-deep in weeding yourselves, of course.

May 10 (Left)

June 9 (Left)

May 10 Center

Our landlord decided in late May to plant three small spruce trees between each patio, and as you can see, it made a world of difference. Somehow, our space seems bigger and fuller now, more private and cozier. We love them. Plus we have several new pots, which is always nice. I kind of wish we had taken pictures the day we bought the pots that are now on the table (last pictures) and filled those and the long lettuce boxes with seeds. It was a cold and windy day, but we were so happy to finally have something to look at on our pation besides snow and ice! And now look! Since we have no children of our own, and our cats have done all the growing they are likely to ever do, I'm afraid you can look forward to more baby pictures of the garden as the summer progresses.

May 26 (Right)

June 9 (Right)

May 26 (Table)

June 9 (Table)

I just wish that we had the space for more vegetables! We have already eaten two salads from the lettuce, and have fruit on the big tomato plant. Lots of herbs, and we are going to get some strawberries going. I began with a color scheme for the flowers, but did not intend to plant very many. Then people began donating pansies – color unknown – and now I have this rainbow I wasn't expecting. Who can complain? The colors are so vibrant they brighten up the greyest days we have been having, and those yellow pansies are so sweet . . . But just wait for my lilies, cosmos, and poppies. The foxglove and columbine! All kinds of treasures in wait!