Happy holidays! Let it snow!

I only said "Let it snow!" because there is no choice. The sun's shining now on the 20+ inches that fell Friday night, all day yesterday, and last night. Here is a sunrise photo into my back yard, with Glenna's tracks. I'm glad I didn't have to make tracks like that to relieve myself.

My good neighbors did some snow shovelling for me yesterday morning, but that filled in by the time I paid them a visit in the afternoon, shovelling my way to their door. They've also promised to help clear my driveway so the dogsitter can park when she comes to take care of Glenna. Do you think they would like Iowa State caps or t-shirts as thank you tokens?

I'm due to catch Amtrak's Capitol Limited at 4:05 pm for my holiday visit with my sisters and their families in Iowa (Ames.) I haven't heard how the storm is effecting Amtrak service. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get to the station by taxi anyway. I have plenty of needlework ready to work on during the trip, so we'll just flow with any delays.

And, here's a picture of my front yard after the sun is up. Consider it a holiday card wishing you the happiest season and a great new year.

Back From Carolina Beach

I visited my son Joe and his wife Danielle for Thanksgiving. We went to their beach house at Carolina Beach and had turkey with all the trimmings. My nose ran the whole time because their are new little ones in their family. There are feral cats living in a wooded vacant lot near their beach house. One of the females is somewhat approachable, especially approachable when they feed her. She had kittens and two of them were found wounded, sick and starving. Well, Joe and Danielle took them to the vet, got them treated, and adopted them. Their big master cat, Riley, had to get used to little pests, but he seems to like them now. They're very kitteny, bouncing around playing and adorable. The female is Roscoe and the male Brutis. I love cats despite my allergy.

I didn't take so many photos while I was there. We walked around the town pond and I tried to identify the black ducks there. I think they are scoters.

We attended the Carolina Beach tree lighting and drove out on beach to watch the fireworks at the Wrightsville Beach flotilla festivities. It was a very nice holiday.

I've been working on a couple of gift needlework projects so I can't show you or tell you. One is a crochet project that I nearly finished. I'll show that after it's gifted. Crochet is a good activity to do while riding the train. The other is an ornament for exchange at my crazy quilt group holiday party, but it turns out no one else got their's finished either. We've cancelled the exchange, so you'll have to wait a year to see that one.

Now, I'm busy getting ready for my trip to visit my sisters and their families in Ames, Iowa, December 20-30. I'm going there by train, too, so need to make myself some needlework kits to work on. More on that later.