My Very Photogenic Nieces

We had so much fun at the family Christmas party last night! We so enjoyed the beautiful spirit that was present. And the wonderful hats! Jeni and Kyndi really joined into the spirit of the festivities, aren't they beautiful?

Markie Potter

Doesn't my nephew Mark look like Harry Potter Jr.? We went to Auntie Beth's house for a Christmas party, where we all received hats from Auntie Beth (another talent of hers - making cool hats!). He loved his hat so much he didn't take it off all evening.

Hero

I made Dad cry this morning.

I had found an interesting article about WWII and put it into a larger format for him to read. He was so overcome by emotion that he couldn't speak for a while ... Please read this article then continue with this blog. I tried to link the site, but couldn't make it work.

http:/www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/23/slave.camp.honor

Dad was a paratrooper during WWII, and was brought into the Battle of the Bulge toward the end. He was captured by the Nazis, and put into the POW camp mentioned in the article in Bad Orb, Germany (an interesting side note, when I was in Germany I attempted to find this camp, and was repeatedly told by people of Bad Orb that "it does not exist" and "never did" -- before they became silent and uncommunicative. I never did find it or anyone willing to talk about it).

Gibson is a very English name ... which is probably why Dad was spared the Berga slave camp. He was forced to endure torture, starvation, dysentery, and a "death march" through days and miles of snow that was 2-1/2 feet deep. Most of the soldiers who started the march didn't make it to the end. Bodies were piled up in frozen mounds along the way.

He has written down his memories of those times, but never speaks of them. I think that maybe now is the time for me to read them ... to ask questions ... to make sure no one ever forgets ... to thank him for his service to his country. After all, if he hadn't made it, I wouldn't be here. None of us would have the lives we lead. Thank you all Veterans for your service to your country ... your families ... to me.

My Disney Christmas

It all started several days before Christmas, when we were snowed in. Victoria got sick, and things weren't getting any better. On Christmas Eve I called the doctor's office, and after much back and forth, Dr. Martin (one of my Christmas angels) called in a prescription to our local pharmacy. It was about 3:30 PM. Five minutes later I headed out the door, determined to walk to town to pick it up.

The snow was a foot deep here still, and walking was tough. In town, I watched as traffic snarled again and again, though most people still had chains. One lady came driving by and all of the snow on the top of her car came crashing down onto her windshield, blocking her view. She pulled over right in front of me, and we laughingly removed all of the ice and snow, til she was able to see and continue her trek.

I caught the cross-town shuttle, only to find out it was the last one of the day. I would have to walk all the way home. The driver was talkative, and it was at that time, telling my story, that I realized the Disney quality of my trip. I don't know if the driver believed me or not, but he went out of his way to drop me off at the door of the pharmacy. Several minutes later I was back out on the street, walking home. Every time my energy started to flag, or frustration rose (one inconsiderate driver deliberately drove off the road into the slush, just to splash me!), I remembered Disney's Balto in his desperate flight through a blizzard to get medicine to save the town's children. Just comparing my little walk to the trek of a DOG made me laugh. I must have looked crazy walking through freezing rain, snow drifts, ice packs and melted snow up to my ankles, giggling like a maniac. My feet got wet, my hair got wet, but I didn't get cold.

I made it home around 6:30, though the last half mile was the hardest (breaking ground through drifts about a foot high), but the fire was going and dinner was ready.

Victoria is much better now, and the trip through the snow is but a memory. My boots are finally dried out, and Christmas Day was warm and peaceful. The snow is finally melting, and hopefully the mailman will bring the packages that were expected a week ago.

I don't know if I will ever watch "Balto" again (except as comic relief?) ... and I sure won't be dreaming of a "White Christmas" in the near future. Once was enough.

Forget-Me-Knot

I do "Knot" like the cold.

I can "Knot" wait for spring.

I do "Knot" like my freezing toes.

Old Man Winter Takes a Break

After a busy week of spreading snow and hanging icycles, I caught Old Man Winter, wrapped in his blanket of snow, taking a much needed rest.

Winter Apple

In the midst of an awesome winter storm that has painted the world in muted browns, greens and white -- a splash of color! Fall is not that far gone, and spring will be here soon.

Winter Bubbles

We are in the midst of what the weather experts are calling an "arctic blast". Temps in the teens here are just not normal! I decided to blow some bubbles in the cold ... they were beautiful floating in the breeze. At first they were opaque (from my warm breath?), but quickly transformed into sparkling balls of light and color. Unfortunately they didn't last long once they froze. I did manage to capture a few after they landed.

Cool old tractor

I just love this old tractor I found at the Gleaners site, which is on an old farm. It has so much character!

Dow's Bicycles

My brother Dow loved bicycles. He took bits and pieces of old bikes and put them together into brand new ones. He was never happier than when he was able to fix up and give each and every bicycle to someone who needed one.

After he died, we couldn't bring ourselves to dispose of those pieces, so they sit in random piles around the property, memories of Dow at every turn. Old bicycles, tires, wheels, seats, frames. Piles of trash to some ... sweet memories and treasure to his family. I miss him so much.

Misty hello

The lady of the mist visited here, see her fingerprints?

Mushroom nestled in moss

Found this mushroom this morning and couldn't resist the picture it made.