Day Eighty 2013

35 degrees at lunch time today. Welcome, first full day of Spring!

I’m trying some new recipes. Made Black Bean Soup in the Crockpot after lunch. I got to use things like lime and cilantro and cumin and ground cloves and balsamic vinegar, all in the same dish, a departure for me, especially the cumin. I made this unholy mess in my kitchen and for all my effort was rewarded with a most pleasing aroma wafting through my house.

This Black Bean Soup was great for a cold night, especially since it set our taste buds on fire. Didn’t expect it to be inferno hot, but Neil and I both agreed it was the most unusual tasting soup we’d ever experienced and it was quite good. Some sour cream on top helped take the bite off, and Fritos were good with it, too. And since there were leftovers, we’ll most likely be having it for lunch tomorrow.

Ah, Spring! It’s 36 degrees which called for a fire in the wood stove. There’s snow in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Like I said, ‘Mother Nature’ doesn’t care what the calendar says where the weather is concerned. Not one bit.

Day Seventy Two 2013

Housework is always open ended. I feel a bit like Cinderella when I sweep the hearth with this worn out fireplace broom. [I always think of her as Cinderelly, like the Disney movie mice called her.]

Neil had the day off and was back out in the yard, getting it ready to put down some mulch. I didn’t envy him that, as it was a cold windy cloudy winter day ~ not much sun here. When I snapped this picture, there was a brief moment of snow flurries. Thought I was seeing things because at that moment the sun was out. They were here and gone in a blink.

We treated ourselves to a frozen cookies and cream drink at Poet’s coffee house this afternoon. Crazy thing to do on this cold day. It was delicious, but, living up to its name, froze us half to death.

Neil built a fire when we got back home. Took the chill off for sure. So much for Cinderelly’s hard work sweeping that dirty hearth.

Day Four 2013

Signs Of Winter

Neighbor kitty Lily hunkering down in the sunshine this frosty morning

Dirty Snowman wishing for snow

A blazing fire in our wood stove keeping us toasty on this cold night
Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day Three 2012

Close by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit

~Robert Louis Stevenson, Winter Time

Santa Claus brought me a new camera for Christmas--a Canon PowerShot SX230 HS, something small that I can carry around with me in a pocket or a purse. Among other neat things, it has a setting where you can choose one color to accent and the rest of the picture is black and white. It's new to me, so I've been experimenting with it and took this picture of the fire in my wood stove on this freezing winter's day, accenting the red/orange in the flames. I think it made for an interesting picture. And I think I'm going to have some fun with this little camera.

Day Sixty Five 2011

I guess it was naive to think that the warmer temperatures were here to stay. I don't think it got out of the 30's today. Neil got a fire going in the wood stove, and that's where Buddy Cat parked himself for the rest of the day. During his recent trip to the vet, he was shaved to remove these big clumps of fur that had got all knotted up on his backside, so needless to say, the warmth from the fire felt pretty good on his naked skin. Only two more (official) weeks of winter. Good riddance, I say.

Day Three Hundred Thirty Five 2010

Buddy Cat was in hog heaven this morning, sprawled out in front of the fire in the wood stove. He's been there all day, which is a good place to be on a December first, when even the sun is cold.

Day Three

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Cozy up to the wood stove and try to be warm in 13 degree weather. Our forecast low tonight: 6 degrees.

Day Three Hundred Fifty Three

Holiday This And That

Hope everyone who got snow is snug and warm tonight.