Interesting viewer

The side panel of my blog indicates the past 10 or so locations from which someone has logged on. Tonight there were a couple of hits from a location I had never heard about: Olecko, Suwalki left "News from DD4's Cottage: April 2008" via bp2.blogger.com. I decided to Google "Olecko, Suwalki." There was a spot to click marked "translate," which I did. It was from Poland.

Yes, we have *snow * !

For the past few days the weather forecast has been for 5 - 8 inches of new snow today. It was supposed to start around 9 am. By 10:45 we were still waiting for it. But at 11 am, it started. For about 15 minutes it was light, but then the heavens broke open and oh boy, did it snow, and snow and snow. About half of the people in our office went home early - around 2 pm. Since I live so close, I don't have the excuse to get out early. So, I stuck around. It tapered down to nothing by 4:30. I decided then to keep my dinner plans with a friend of mine.

After a lovely dinner with Dr. Joanie, we walked to our cars, only to discover it was snowing and blowing. I cautiously drove home, staying in the paths made by the cars before me. What a shock it was to get to my garage to discover no plows have been here all day. I opened the garage door with my remote and gunned the engine, heading straight for the narrow opening. Part way up the apron, my car hung up on the more than 10 inches of new snow. What to do? I got out of the car, trudged through the snow to the shovel I keep in my garage and began shoveling, and shoveling. Peder was right - it's heart attack snow - very heavy, and still coming down. When I thought I had cleared enough of the white stuff, I trudged back to my car, put it in gear, and gunned it straight into the garage. Thank You, Lord, for helping me manage the narrow door without hitting anything. I walked back to the street to make my way to my door. The snow had drifted over 15 inches on the sidewalk. Where on earth is our snow removal service?

I just read the snow removal guidelines for my association: sidewalks are cleared within 12 daylight hours once the snow has stopped. This is ridiculous! How do they expect residents to navigate?

I've been in the house an hour and my cheeks are still cold. Winter! I'm so ready for Spring!

Blue Star Mother

After saying good-bye to him today, I rehung my Blue Star Mother flag in my window and another one on the outside of my office cubicle. My son is being deployed. If you think about it, please say a prayer for him and his family. Please pray for his safety and speedy return.

One of My Favorite Artists

I have a darling book that I bought some years ago. It is illustrated by one of my favorite artists, Bessie Pease Gutmann. After looking at this book during my lunch hour today, I decided to google her to see what is available from her. Here is what I found. Aren't her paintings adorable?!

Happy Birthday, George and Abraham!

Display in my office today. I made the porcelain busts in 1973.

Aurelia's Date with Grandma, Volume 2

Taking time to smell the roses

Isn't she precious?

Studying hard

Aurelia at the tea

Gemma and Aunt Liz

This last Friday night, Aurelia came over to spend the night and all day Saturday with me. This time when she came in the door, she walked right to Peppi's cage. She is so adorable - - she "signs" the motion for "bird," but as Sarah says, she does it in reverse. I think it's marvelous that along with the spoken language, Aurelia is learning sign language. Brilliant idea! Why didn't we think of that?!

Aurelia, just as she did last time, was so well behaved. She only got a sad look on her face when it was time to go to bed. She had her bear in her arm and walked to my front door. After cuddling with her a little longer, while watching The Fiddler on the Roof which was playing on TV, she fell sound asleep in my lap. I put her to bed, and she slept 12 hours! I could hardly believe it. Even the phone ringing in our room didn't wake her.

Our plans for Saturday included driving to Rochester for an afternoon tea given by the Sweet Adeline's, of which my sister is a member. My arrangements were to rendezvous with my Aunt Liz and Pat, and our friend, Gemma. Here's the hitch: we had to transfer Aurelia's car seat from my car (Sarah installed it, but gave me a thorough lesson on Friday night) to Aunt Liz's van. Well, it's not as easy as young people make it sound, let me tell you. Both Pat and I struggled and struggled to get it secured to the back seat of the van, but without success. Eventually I walked into the McDonald's (our permanent meeting place), then into the large play room that was FILLED with about 20 parents and 40 or more kids. I proceeded to a table and told a mom my predicament and asked if she could help me. She told me her husband would come out in a minute and help us. Bless his heart. In less than 60 seconds he had that seat so secure that I don't think a hurricane could have moved it (well, it was definitely secure)! And we were on our way.

Aurelia loved the concert. She sat perfectly still, and even applauded for the group. She was an angel the whole weekend long.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Annika!

To: Annika

These happy birthday wishes

Come to let you see

That you are all the lovely things

A granddaughter could be...

Here's wishing you a day

When all your dreams come true

So happy, happy birthday

To a very special you!

Always be a very special Granddaughter

Who's fun and lovely too.

And that's why all your dreams

Are waiting just for you.

So may the happy birthday spirit

Inspire you with its touch

And bring you all the happiness

That you deserve so much!

Dear sweet Annika, I sure wish I could be with you to celebrate your special day. I will be thinking about you. Have fun! I love you very much! Grandma D

Happy Valentine's Day

To all of my family and friends, and especially to my grand children, Happy Valentine's Day!

I love all of you.

This is the perfect day to tell you.

Was It Fate? God's Will?

Tonight I had plans of coming straight home after a quick after work meeting. I thought I would make a nice dinner and get my house ready for my granddaughter's arrival tomorrow night. But then I remembered I needed to buy a Valentine at the store. And then on my way to the store, I realized I needed to buy some food for Aurelia's visit. Good, I'll take care of my shopping and then go home and make a good dinner.

Coming home, I was almost to my garage, when I decided to stop, back up to the mail boxes and pick up my mail. I put my flashers on, got out of my car, and got my mail, and turned back to my car when I heard a voice in the distance. "Can you help me?" I replied, "I don't see you. Where are you?" "Over here by the trash cans (lined up for garbage pick-up tomorrow morning)." I walked over and there on the ground lay my upstairs neighbor - an 85 year old man, recently widowed. I asked him how long he had been lying there and he told me about ten minutes. I threw down my mail and tried with all my strength to help him get up, but he was too heavy, and my lower back was really hurting. I went to his other side again and lifted and lifted, while he tried to grab onto a recycling bin for support, but his weak knees made it impossible. Next I suggested he crawl on his knees to the nearby tree - only 20 inches or so away, and then we could try again, hoping his leaning on the tree would help him to stand while I lifted. No luck.

At last I told him I needed to get someone to help. "Can you lie here a minute longer?" "Yes, I think I can." I spotted a boyfriend's car in one of my neighbor's drive, so I hurried to her door, rang the bell, and waited for someone to come. No answer. I rang the bell again. This time I heard rumblings. Sue opened the door. I told her why I needed help. She yelled up to her boyfriend. These dear neighbors came running outside, stocking footed, in 26 degree weather. They each took an underarm and gently lifted him up and walked him to our building and up his flight of stairs to his unit.

I hate to think of what may have happened to Jim had I not stopped for the mail tonight. Most of my neighbors were all "buttoned in" for the night. It was dark and cold outside. I don't know if it was fate, or if God was putting me in the right place at the right time, but I'm very relieved that things worked out for my upstairs neighbor.

. . . and I can't get it out of my head.

Do you ever hear a song and can't get it out of your head? I have just come from the play, Man of La Mancha. It is a musical chronicling the story of Don Quixote. The whole story takes place in the dungeon in Seville, Spain. Before today, I didn't know what the story was about. But I was well aware of the theme song that runs throughout, The Impossible Dream. There are many wonderful songs, but this one is unforgettable.

"The Impossible Dream"

To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear with unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go To right the unrightable wrong To love pure and chaste from afar To try when your arms are too weary To reach the unreachable star This is my quest To follow that star No matter how hopeless No matter how far To fight for the right Without question or pause To be willing to march into Hell For a heavenly cause And I know if I'll only be true To this glorious quest That my heart will lie peaceful and calm When I'm laid to my rest And the world will be better for this That one man, scorned and covered with scars Still strove with his last ounce of courage To reach the unreachable star

Making Progress

Thanks to the orthotics I've been faithfully wearing, my feet are much improved. This morning, for the first time since October 8, I walked 8 minutes on the treadmill at the club! I'm sure I could have gone longer, but I had to get to work. There are some moments in the evening when I know I have been on my feet a little too much, but for the most part (as long as I keep wearing my shoes ALL THE TIME EXCEPT FOR IN THE SHOWER AND IN BED), I feel as they are back to normal. Yahoo!