Snow Day?

So what's happening with this storm?
Hi guys! Weather Channel says one in four Americans will be affected by this storm, so I suppose it may hit you too. [Cathy? You okay?]. But what is really happening? Is this Armageddon, aka WS Jonas, or will we just have flurries as he heads on out to sea?

Have to prepare anyway, I guess.  My family will be away skiing so it'll just be me and Mo, braving the elements. I stocked up on puppy pads for Mo. Just. In. Case.

Of course got in lots of food. I am making a large roast beef which will last through the coming week; lasagna; potato leek soup. A new recipe of roasted sweet potatoes and sweet onions. I have lots of salads, some fruit, cold cuts, bread, all of which sounds like a lot but I'll be prepared when the kids return Sunday and I won't have to go shopping for a looong time. Probably too much food, but it will keep and better safe than sorry.

I have oatmeal cooky makings for tomorrow or Sunday. A reason to heat the oven during a storm, makes the house smell so nice.
The stores here are not crowded or empty shelved. (Though why people are buying bottled water is a mystery to me, as our water is sourced by pressure from a water tower and never stops.)

Look at these adorable sleds! I wanted one for Mo but my son convinced me Mo wouldn't ride in it. Too bad.

I've been picking up woodland-y pretties.

The birch trees have been shedding lovely white branches.

This is a whole birch limb I toted home. I may save it for an Easter egg tree, haven't done that in years.

I had a little disaster here last week during high winds: the driftwood star fell off the wall and toppled a very large very old and valuable platter which in turn toppled my best mercury glass candle jar, a lovely Staffordshire calicoware pitcher, and some of my best blue and white plates. What a clean up, shards everywhere. But I suppose it is one way to declutter.

On this shelf I use sticky wax to secure the plates, as they have been know to also fall from high winds' vibration. So let's be hopeful.

Flowers for my house in a snow storm are a must. I've been good about my resolve to buy less flowers but I definitely needed this pop of red tulips at only 4.99 a bunch.

This is the daff I rescued from the squirrel, so pretty!

And a new 1.99 hyacinth. Wonder what color it will be? No hint so far. I \hope it's pink.

Mo fell in love with my mittens. He carries them around then stows them carefully in his bowl of toys.

I have lots of handwork ready, all those January Dotties 365, and work to continue on Pokeberry. I saved some movies to the DVD thing, lol, nope I've never seen Magic Mike or Die Hard ....something.

Here is Mo in his best argyle fur lined vestie, from Puppia. It's the only garment he has never wiggled out of. I had to let it out, he has grown since last year. But I think he looks quite fine.

Oh and these are my new UGGs. Cozy! Too sweet for snow though, I'll wear my Merrell clogs or my hiking boots, both of which are black and impervious to wet and salt.

Hope all goes well! Wish us sunny skies and no power ''outages'' .

love 

lizzy 

gone to the beach....

Garden Peeping _ A January Walk

Hi! Despite the sudden cold, Mo and I go out every day for our long walks.

"Layers, that's the secret!" I assure poor Mo as he stands so sweetly, allowing me to dress him in his halter and leash, then a little parka, sweater or fleece. I think he must like the comfort of the warm garments, especially on very windy days, because he is so patient and docile about being dressed up three times a day.

As for me I wear my trusty REI wind pants over jeans---and I have new adorable UGGs I got for Christmas. Tee shirt, sweater or fleece, fleece vest, down jacket or parka. Hat or headband. Scarf. [I'm tired just listing it all!]. Chapstick. I don't wear gloves because I m afraid Mo will tear the leash from my hand if a crazy-doggy fit comes over him. He has a love / hate thing with the wind--it hurts his eyes and thrums his leash [bad], but it whirls around leaves and pine cones and sticks---maybe, maybe a Big Mac wrapper!?--- [good, so good].

And off we go, at least a mile, usually 1 1/2 or two. We like to peek into the silent empty gardens of our neighborhood.

I so admire gardeners who plan ahead and plant lovely shrubbery for winter beauty. I'm not too fond of basic evergreens, but I do love the berry plants, so prolific this year after our mild fall and winter.

A natural fairy garden, with tiny grasses and alpine moss.

The last rosebud in January, before Monday's deep freeze.

My dad always planted a good assortment of berry bushes in his yard and woods. Partly to harvest for Christmas ''holly and ivy'' decorating, and especially to attract wild birds to his yard and feeders. He loved holly, as do I, and each [very early] spring he and my mom would be so thrilled when the first migrating robins would descend in huge flocks, feasting on his holly berry bushes and trees after their long journeys home to the Cape..

I don't see many songbirds, of course. The oceanfront is too harsh for them. I have been seeing Mr Mockingbird! Once with a friend! Yay! And near the koi pond I see another pair of mocking birds.

The koi grew huge over the summer. And there are twelve of them. They now seem to have some sort of heater or aerator gizmo.

We also get these big flocks of starlings. Mo gazes at them in amazement as they wheel overhead, then alight on rooftops or the ugly locust tree.

Do you feed the birds in winter? Year round? Do you have songbirds or like me, a brown world of sparrows and starlings? All God's creatures...needing a bit of help in the dark cold days of winter.

PS What's a garden walk without a visit to the Goose family!? The parents have cute ski outfts but Baby is shivering and naked in the cold. Oh dear, oh my.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...