Weather Report: Soaked cat.

Here is Toby my orange tiger tom just before rescue this morning from the tree by the barn where he was stranded for 2-1/2 days…

The tree service is ArrowTreePA.com and Kris from there was a good voice to hear on the phone last night when he said, "If he's not down by morning, give me a call and I'll see what I can do". That sure was welcome news.

Toby was still in the upper branches this morning and still too scared to come down. Kris, true to his word, came in 15 minutes, took a good look, and said that it is too muddy in the tree area right now to get a "bucket truck" in. He went back to his near-by business and got some equipment. He reappeared with ropes, hard hat, and tree-climbing equipment. How lucky could I get that he has a couple of cats, too, and that he was so good at climbing up trees that he managed to coax Toby, who was desperately climbing farther out on ever smaller, higher branches, into my giant tote bag and lower him to safety.

Kris did all this as a good neighbor only asking we give a good word on their web site. I hope I have done him justice. He certainly warmed my heart.

________

I'll add some more later after I go after the family milk from R & J Farmer's Market. My sister Jeanenne came for a quick visit this weekend and already is on her way home. Here she is in front of Curtis School of Music where we walked past yesterday in the rain on our way from the train station to see the Nutcracker ballet in City Center…

May you find abundant Peace, Love and Joy in every day of your 2014.
And beyond.

Weather Report: Thaw

I was alone in the household while all other occupants made their last-minute shopping forays, and picked up Keoni from the train station, I finished mailing out what I know to mail for this holiday. All is as finished as I can make it. There followed a nap, a walk around the perimeter of the nine acres and a steamy shower. Everything was made right with the world.

The earth underfoot felt alive with the melting snow. Moisture was trickling everywhere. It oozed up around every footstep, gathered into rills that ran off the low end of the property where it gurgled in a stream disappearing into a strip of woods.

It surprised me again how quickly light changes. Everywhere I looked it changed so fast I couldn't tell if I captured what I thought. Another surprise happened later when I saw what moments were there in pixels.

And, Austin was surprised to see me. I became aware that, on balance, she assessed me more on the side of friend than foe.

She watched me for a half minute or more…

…then, went back to browsing the wet, snow-flattened grass.

I am glad I am in the world another day.

Yesterday morning Toby and my new auto cover were protecting my car…

Then I went on errands and shopping. This morning here is what my car looked like…

Driving home yesterday evening a deer jumped into my path. I didn't even see her coming. Just suddenly there in front being hit…by me. She landed along the side of the road; then, miraculously, jumped up on all fours and bounded away.

Sadness.

Insurance is taking care of my new car. I am driving a rental Jeep Cherokee. I am OK. Maybe the deer is, too.

The evening at home commenced with family time tree trimming. Wendy made some welcome hot cider.

Then, during the night the tree fell over. All are too tired tonight to keep up the momentum to redecorate. That is, except for Keoni who went with his friend Nathan and family to a dinner celebration. Nathan was accepted at University of Pennsylvania.

Time to contemplate some dust fuzzies.

There are no flowers to eat now, so the goats occasionally have the run of the new fenced area.

Yard goats.

With iPad restrictions in place, Aidan thinks up a way to overcome boredom…

Origami!

Leap frog...

Boing!!!

I love them all, but the frog is my favorite.

John and Wendy on Friday evening were with Aidan at orchestra practice and his Christmas party. Keoni needed a ride to the high school where a classmate was conducting a senior project and he played backup for her…

Afterward, we stopped in the Trattoria Milano for dessert. It was fun having a little one-on-one with this active teenager over tiramisu and a raspberry confection. Satisfying in every way.

Saturday, more snow began while I was loading up the milk supply at R & J Farm Market. The rest of the day the snow piled up. During the night it stopped and the temp rose a little while, then dropped…enough to freeze a sparkling, thick crust on top the new snow. This morning, I got a vigorous workout starting on the snow-shoveling; soon joined by the rest of the family. We freed the vehicles from their white encasements, too. Wendy calls the crusted snow creme brûlée.

I am well pleased with my sturdy Subaru as it rolled right up the drive over the slippery mess. When I got to church, it had been cancelled. I picked up Wendy and Aidan with his cello and drove into the north city to his lesson.

This late afternoon, just before dark I took a walk around the perimeter of the property and left my fresh  tracks in the crusted snow. Quite a lot of energy expended. But no matter, it was worth it to see the full moon come through the clouds.

My body is in a sort of happy tired state. Sleep beckons.

Weather Report: Definitely winter…

A week now of finding gloves, scarves, hats, dry shoes, boots, etc. Pulling on layers of outerwear. Washing loads heavy with long sleeves, pant legs, sweaters. Ice crunches under last night's inch of new snow. Sunlight sparkles on crunchy crystals of swept-away snow dispersing them through the air to dust hats and clothing. Ice cycles hang from bumpers. Windshield wipers frozen to glass.

How I wish I could protect my new car. Time to get on amazon and see what sort of cover can be found.

It's a snow day for the boys. No school today. Was so funny because last night the music program for Aidan's elementary school did a song…something about...Snow! No school tomorrow!

To back up a little to yesterday evening, Aidan's school concert was held at Keoni's high school. Afterward, the family all went for dessert at a local restaurant in a building that housed the Liberty Bell overnight on its way to Philly. Nice.

Aidan's program. He was first cello.

Earlier on Monday afternoon...

Sunday's snow had melted back a lot. Toby finally went off the porch to follow me around outside. He tried to stay in the footprints…

By this morning (Tuesday), he had a new take on it and went right out the screen door...

Toby tracks.

And came back pretty quickly…

He hasn't used his porch litter box in a very long time. So much for those fancy pine pellets. He is using underneath the steps and porch (and the yard) as his privy. 

Early morning view from the back porch.

We all enjoyed the snow this morning except for maybe John. He was the one facing the drive to Bala Cynwyd.

Aidan and Wendy before the snowballs flew.

Keoni snow shovelling the porch steps.

Going on the dog walk.

 The scenes draw my eye again and again.

Later in the afternoon, the sun broke through...

At the very end of the sunlight, Wendy was at the barn feeding the goats and Austin, and followed by the three dogs and Toby who at day's end is just fine in the snow. He thinks he is one of the dogs.

I've watched this clump of flowers by the driveway ever since I came this summer. I can't think of their name, but they are common plantings in the area. Every iteration of their life from buds until rusty, dry and brittle they have been beautiful, and so they are today.