Saturday Paint-By-Number Map

My Saturday by the numbers involved maps of Wisconsin and numbers associated with varying measurements of ice and snow in rainbow colors. Well, no, the snow was still white. Just the maps were colorful.

As much as I love purple, I didn't really want to be in the 6-10 inches band of snow. It changed plenty often though. Basically, I just decided this morning I might as well stay put. Make it a Hallmark Christmas movie day.

Good intentions, but I got busy. Had 1,000 pictures to go through from yesterday's three Cranberry Classic basketball games I went to. Then my Christmas cards arrived. So I addressed (well, adhered labels) to dozens of envelopes while watching one of my DVR'd movies. Somewhere in there Carter and I watched the Badgers-Gophers game.

And I had two rounds of shoveling. Already. First time was midafternoon getting the foundational layer of 2 inches of slush off the driveway. Then,  Carter and I just heave-hoed the wet snow that has accumulated already so Jim could come home to a clean driveway. He's been working the Cranberry Classic all day.

Now it's after 11 and I am in need of a shower after that shoveling. Probably don't need to set an alarm for 8 a.m. church since we are in the red blob for the winter storm to have "significant impact" on travel.

Hope you all are safe and making good choices about life outside your home in this weather!

Hooping It Up on Black Friday

My Black Friday looked more Royal Blue than Black this year.  No shopping for this girl. Nothing I needed, honest! So I spent much of the day and evening at the school for the annual Cranberry Classic holiday hoops tourney.

Our Lady Royals teams found success. Both JV and Varsity will be vying for championships on Saturday. Our boys teams both lost in close ones – the Varsity game went into overtime even! They'll play for third place in their brackets tomorrow.

I managed to get pictures at three of our games today. But opted to spend time with Mr. College in the late afternoon instead of going to all of the Assumption JV boys game.

Carter and I ended up visiting longtime babysitters Jon and Audrey, who run a tree farm and are selling their Christmas trees and wreaths right now.

He's outgrown his sitter!

We also did a little shopping at a shoe place but he couldn't find an exact replacement for his dying Nikes so neither of us got anything. We grabbed a yummy dinner at Jennings where we both had our favorite Pineapple Express burger. Yup, the tasty one with peanut butter and sriracha on it. So good!

I dropped Carter off at home so he could go out with friends and I went to the last basketball game of the evening.

Typically, I'd be getting up early tomorrow and hitting the road to the annual Cookie Bake and Exchange at my twin sister's. But due to yet another snowstorm on the horizon, I opted not to chance it and travel. Eventually, she had to cancel anyway because the forecast seems to pretty firm that's it's going to be  a winter storm.

So Black Friday is followed by White Saturday, I guess. Maybe I'll be stuck home and save even more money!

Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours

We all know Thanksgiving is the F-word holiday: family, friends, football, and feasting!

Also the word we say when we step on the scale – which is really why it's called Black Friday. To match out mood.

Hubby's sister hosted the Austin Thanksgiving this year. She told us she'd heard the average American will consume a hefty 3,000 calories on Thanksgiving – for dinner alone. Drinks, dessert and appetizers can bring the total calorie count to 4,500. "So who's ready to dig in?"

It was a great meal with the traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing and apple-Snicker salad (remember when the Pilgrims made that?). Plus, three choices of pie for dessert. Yum!

How come my tryptophan food coma doesn't look this cute on ME? No one can compete with a 1-month-old on her first Turkey Day, that's for sure.

Besides little Mya and her parents Colin and Amy, Carter, Clay and Becca, and Jim's parents all joined us. It was nice to get together for some family time. And football. And feasting, of course.

Feeling full of food and blessings. Hope you all can say the same. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful Eve

My day off started like this...

Then moved on to this when I got out of bed...

(Hubby called it the heaviest 2 inches of snow he's ever shoveled! Slush!)

Then ended with this...

The couch happily welcoming Mr. College home for the first time since August!

In between all that, I did have the day off from work but got some freelance projects done, housework done, several dozen cookies made, a Hallmark movie watched and dinner with my guys. Carter's ride from Platteville dropped him off at Ida's so we could have some Thankful Eve dinner – aka PIZZA!

Nice to have everyone in their places tonight!

Don't mind me. I'm just sitting here counting my blessings. Hope you have many reasons to do the same!

Tip Off

Our Lady Royals had their home opener tonight. What I love about this picture is that you can't tell who won the game. Complete sportsmanship and prayer at the conclusion. No hard feelings no matter how many fouls.

And there were a lot.

Mostly on Assumption. Still, it was a close game, which made for excitement. But Edgar edged Assumption by 3 points to win. No worries. Still a whole season ahead!

What I also love about this photo is that it was taken with my phone. Did not bring my "good" camera tonight. It's been a long week already. Ha. Between the hacking cough – which took a hiatus during the game – and a long, busy day at work, I just wanted and needed the night off.

It was nice to relax and visit with people I usually only see during sports seasons! Plus "kids" home from college. Our boy won't be home until Wednesday night. Hopefully this sleet and snow that's pelting our windows will melt by then.

But don't get me started on Ol' Man Winter. Not feeling the Thanksgiving week gratitude toward him one bit.

It May be Monday...

I love this saying. It's right on the money. Any time you can end a week – or day even – with pie and shopping, you're winning.

Work-wise, I'm thankful for a short week. As in tomorrow is my Friday. Health-wise, though, it's already been a long week.

I have nagging, dry cough that's been keeping me up at night. And hubby, too, by default. Last night, I got out of bed at 11 p.m. so I could give him some peace. Figured I try to sleep in the recliner. Maybe sitting up a little would ease the cough. It kind of did, but I couldn't fall asleep. Who knew the teeny tiny ticking of the kitchen clock could echo through the living room like the Vikings' gjallarhorn! Finally, at 1:22 a.m. (because I was counting sheep and minutes), I went back to bed. Slept with a cough drop in my mouth and that helped. I know. Not smart.

Tonight I am armed with some nighttime anti sniffling, sneezy, coughing, so you can rest medicine. That'll kick in shortly so I can get some sleep (hubby too).

And try to fit four days of work into one tomorrow. Who's with me?! We got this!

Think pie and shopping. Pie and shopping.

Happy Unique Talent Day

You know what's great about coming home from a sleep-deprived but productive scrapbooking weekend? Having a column done in today's church bulletin so I don't have to use any of those three brain cells I have left to blog...

Got Talent? Let’s Celebrate It

It’s New Year’s Eve! Sort of. If you’re following the church calendar, it wraps up this week before Advent kicks off a new year! And we don’t even have to stay up until midnight. Unless you’re up late preparing for Thanksgiving, which falls on that “other” calendar. I can’t help you there. Just don’t wait until Wednesday to start thawing the bird!

With so many calendars these days, it is hard to keep track of all the church celebrations and national holidays, let alone those quirky, less-established observances. Did you know today is Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day? It has to be a real thing. I saw it on the internet!

How do we celebrate it?

It’s pretty simple really. Whether you sing, dance, juggle, look like a celebrity, or can do headstands for an hour while singing the national anthem and balancing a basketball on your feet, do everything in your power to let the world know about your unique talent!

Or start small and just share it with your family here at First English Lutheran Church.

We need and appreciate talent in all shapes and sizes and skill level. Could you help decorate the church for Christmas? Could you share your faith with the Sunday School kids? Can you sew? Can you sing? Can you read? Can you write?  (That’s right. I don’t own this space. I’m just visiting. Anyone can pop in and nudge me over. Please do. I know for a fact I’m not the only one who likes to talk, er write.)

Our unique talents should be celebrated. Not just today but every day. They are some of the things that make us who we are and, in many cases, define our personalities and our outlook to life.

This Thanksgiving as you thank God for your gifts and talents, consider sharing them with your brothers and sisters in Christ. We’re a pretty supportive audience.

Camp Scrap-A-Way

We're just two small town girls scrapbooking in an even smaller town this weekend!

Both Julie and I arrived at Waypost Camp late this morning. It's located on Mission Lake between the bustling communities of Hatley and Bevent. Never heard of them?  Check closely on your map in the Wausau / Mosinee / Wittenberg area!

We're trapped here all weekend since none of us have blaze orange to venture far!  That's good. I need to be productive.  I did finish up the tail end of my 2013 album tonight and have started in on 2014.

Took a break for dinner and a gorgeous sunset...

Not a bad place to be trapped,  eh? 

I better get to bed because there'll be gunshots at sunrise,  based on the number of deer on roads around here.

Good luck, hunters! Hope we both have a great weekend!

It's a Royal Blue Thing

There seems to be some good luck about the color Royal Blue – when it comes to basketball anyway.

One of our former Lady Royals is attending the University of Dubuque and it turns out the Spartans sport some Royal Blue like Assumption. So when we heard Elle was playing hoops in Wisconsin Dells, we donned some Royal apparel and headed down there to cheer her on. We picked up her boyfriend's baby sister on the way so she could enjoy the game, too.

The Spartans were playing Northland College from up by Ashland, I think. So the Dells was a sort of halfway point between them. Or at least a place with a decent fieldhouse.

This was only the third game of the season and, as a freshman, Elle hadn't had much playing time at all. But last night she not only played a lot more minutes, we got to see her score her first college bucket and two more in the form of free throws. Sweet! They won 95-75 so that was fun to see, too.

She was all smiles after the game and grateful for the surprise appearance. Her parents and grandfather were there, too, so that made for a decent-sized fan club anyway. She appreciated it.

And yes, you're correct, we don't stay home much. But if we have a free night and can bring a smile to someone's face, why not do so? Plus, as you can see, she's got a super beautiful smile that we have missed so that alone made the trip worth it.

Go Nuts

Since the calendar still says it's fall despite snow on the ground, the squirrels believe they have plenty of time to gather food and fatten up for the winter. This scrawny backyard visitor might want to hustle a little bit.

I know I personally am well on my way to storing food (Christmas cookies in freezer) and fattening up for winter. I might be a procrastinator for a lot of things, but not that.

To my credit, I did bring workout clothes to work today. Was planning to hit the fitness center over lunch, but then I heard they were serving a "Thanksgiving Dinner" up in the cafeteria. I can pass on the mashed potatoes and stuffing, but pumpkin pie? No way. I've only had it in coffee form so far this season. To my dismay, though, there was only one piece left when my friend and I got through line. Thankfully she's super awesomely nice and shared it with me.

The month of gratitude continues!

Since my upcoming scrapbooking weekend is part hibernation and part fueling winter fat cells, I'm taking treats with me, of course. I mixed up some pumpkin spice cookie dough tonight between work and my church council meeting. Now I'm baking them since I'll be gone the next two evenings. I'll have to store them someplace safe so I don't eat them before the weekend.

Think Mr. Squirrel knows of some good hiding places. There's no nuts in these so he'll leave them along. I, on the other hand...

A Case of the Mondays, Tuesdays, et al

I don't necessarily have a case of the Mondays. Maybe Tuesdays. Riddle me this...

So if you sleep in on Sunday like it's Saturday and do your Saturday chores on Monday and tomorrow is your Wednesday because Thursday is your Friday and you're packed for the real Friday, then what day is it really?

Now you know why I'm out of sorts!

I skipped weekend chores in lieu of getting set for scrapbooking weekend. Yes, it starts Friday morning and I am set to go! I still had time to watch the Vikings' amazing comeback victory yesterday. And tonight, since it's a free night other than The Voice, I got my dusting, vacuuming, and sweeping done.

Not bad for a Monday.

But now I'm tired and wish tomorrow was Saturday so I wouldn't have to set an alarm. But I don't always remember to do so anyway.

My head hurts. How 'bout you?

Don’t Mind Me and My Little Panic Attack

Did you know the sound of a cat puking doubles as an alarm? Thanks, Princess Pukes-a-Lot for the timely hairball at 7:30 so I could jump out of bed and make it to 8 a.m. church! So fitting that my column for the church bulletin today was a little about panic attacks...

Don’t Mind Me and My Little Panic Attack

Ever exit the shopping mall out a different door than you entered and wonder “Where’s my car?!” Your heart races and your temperature rises as the little panic cells race through your body at lightning speed. Even when you realize you’re supposed to be in Lot A, not Lot B, it still takes awhile for your body to come down from that adrenaline high.

That happened to me last Sunday. I walked into the sanctuary and said, “Where’s my pew?!” Thanks to the construction of a platform for the new sound system, the two back pews on the right (including MY pew) were removed to make room. No one asked me! Now where am I supposed to sit?

I literally calmed myself down by walking back out to the gathering area and re-entering with some deep breathing exercises and a new mindset. And sat down… in the back on the left side. There’s always a solution if we open our eyes, right?

Seriously, it’s no fun when something or someone messes with our routine. Depends how rigid we are with life (including seating arrangements at church), they can really throw us for a loop.

But nothing compared to what Mary experienced.

Imagine going to bed after chilling out with your middle school friends one night and by morning, you’ve been visited by an angel and told you were about to personally deliver the son of God. Uhm… what?! Pretty sure teen pregnancy was not glorified with popular reality TV shows back then. Also pretty sure she was beyond scared. And definitely felt all those panic cells racing through her veins at warp speed – or top camel speed.

I confess I haven’t thought of Mary enough when it comes to observing Advent amidst the holiday hustle and bustle. But Mary is a huge part of the story. God handpicked this girl – probably only a 6th or 7th grader – to facilitate His transformation to human form. And I don’t think for a minute, it was easy.

If you get a chance this season, listen to the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” and put yourself in her shoes. Think of the sheer magnitude of the task before her. You might realize some things aren’t worth pressing the panic button over.

I’ll just sit here in my new spot and ponder that.

Glass Half Empty and Dipped in Sugar

I was on a mission today. Well, a list of missions. And I accomplished quite a few.

Since I'm going to be gone scrapping next weekend, I figured I better wrap up my Christmas baking for our family's annual Cookie Bake and Exchange on Thanksgiving weekend. I made my mint chocolate ones last weekend and today I got my almond shortbread cookies done. But first, I had to find a glass...

I had this idea I wanted to roll the dough in balls and flatten the ball with something pretty – like those fancy cut glass designs you'd find on the bottom of a nice vases or glasses, which I had neither of. So I thought, let me try Goodwill. They have a bit of everything.

And thanks to the whiskey drinker who donated his Crown Royal tumbler, they had just what needed!

Does my vision make sense now?

But wait, not done. They have to be Christmas-y somehow. So I melted some chocolate and...

Dipped and added sprinkles. Mission accomplished!

I also got in a trip to the library, a stop at the 8th-grade basketball tournament to shoot photos, and got a great start on organizing my pictures for next weekend. (That will be my primary mission on Sunday.) I also got a Hallmark movie out of my system. But haven't quite reached 5,000 steps on my FitBit.

When you're dealing with a glass all the way empty, something had to give.

TGIF Night

Yes, we are home by 10 p.m. on a Friday night, but we are NOT these people! We really had a nice evening out.

Went over to Layla's Pub on the west end of town for some Cajun fish. Glad it was good since it took an hour for a table to open up. That worked out OK. We ran into one of Carter's classmates and his family so got to catch up with them. Then visited with an old softball buddy of Jim's.

After dinner, we headed downtown to B's Tap House to listen to my former co-worker and fellow Polk County resident Cassie in her due called Harps and Heels.

If you wonder why she's the "Heels" part, look no further than those 7-inch beauties she was sporting tonight. Seven-inch heels? Yes, they're a thing.

And no, I reminded hubby, I couldn't walk in them without breaking an ankle or my nose when I fall flat on my face. Oh but that would be awesome to be 5'9" once! Still... not happening.

She and her partner did an amazing job and it was great to see her. I also got to spend some quality time with my friend and former co-worker Nicki. We had a lot of catching up to do! I don't miss my former job but I sure miss some people!

Glad we could go out on a date and unexpectedly share the evening with friends.

Thank goodness it's Friday. And thank God for friends!

It's in my DNA

One sure way to distract hubby and me is offering free access to a genealogy website. It's one of those hobbies you can ignore for months at a time, then suddenly you get back into it for a night. And 3 hours later wonder what where the evening went.

If you do family tree work, the site is https://www.americanancestors.org/. Free access until Nov. 19. However, it is a site hosted by some New England group, so this Midwest girl hasn't had any luck with matching searches. Even immigration records. So...

Here I am with nothing to show for it. After 3 hours. EXCEPT I also got an email from Ancestry.com, who I did my DNA test through a few years back, and they said my DNA results are updated. I was a bit suspicious since I hadn't sent in a new spit sample. Turns out their methods for interpreting results have improved and so my results have an updated interpretation.

No real changes other than that small 6% or 11% or whatever that was "possibly other European" is now gone. I am 100% Scandinavian! Which, based on my family tree work is a fact.

Interesting that the new interpretation has me more Norwegian than Swede, but in real life I am 75% Swede and 25% Norwegian. Also... the new possibility that I am 7% Finnish will have my dad rolling in his grave.

I honest to god (or Valhalla), heard him talk about "those goofy Finlanders" once when I was growing up. Ha. My dad had opinions.

I guess that's in my DNA, too! No need for some expensive DNA kit to tell you that.

God Bless Designated Drivers

When you have to go to Milwaukee and back on the same day, it's so nice when you don't have to be in the driver's seat – especially when the morning commute looked something like this for the first half hour.

Blowing snow. Big time. Not a fan at all! God bless our three designated drivers who got our group of 11 down and back safely. It was mostly clear for 2 hours of the drive down. Then mid- to late afternoon there were slippery moments, lights flashing, cars spun out... but we got back to Stevens Point just fine.

The client we were visiting has a great view out their window. I'm sure in the summer, it's gorgeous seeing Lake Michigan just beyond those buildings.  Even driving past Miller Park, we still couldn't envision anything but winter. Yuck.

Got back in town to join my Girls' Night Out group for dinner. They meet monthly and I usually can join them maybe 2 or 3 times a year. Since my scrap sister and girlfriend Jenny (above) just had a birthday, I didn't want to miss the chance to celebrate a bit. And by celebrate, we mean drinking ice water and eating chicken strips. These are what wild girls' nights are like these days.

Plus, I didn't need a designated driver to get home. Though it would have been nice for some of those slushy spots.

Is it too soon to say I hate winter?

The Cat-O Diet

I learned something new today based on kitty's annual checkup. First of all, she's 15 years old – a geriatric in cat years – so I shouldn't really call her "kitty." Even though the vet says she's so healthy there's no way she could be 15!

The second thing I realized is that all this time I thought the new diet faze was the Keto Diet, when it's actually the Cat-O Diet. Here's proof...

Wouldn't you love it if in the past 8 years you only gained one pound?! That's insane. Actually jealous of the princess.

Apparently, I need to try a steady diet of boring dry food and no treats. Absolutely no treats. It works for her! Probably would work for me, too. But it doesn't sound like a lot of fun, does it?

No shame in being a little fluffy. That also works for her!

Purple Reign, Purple Pain

Win or lose, every incredibly tense Sunday football game should be followed by a Monday massage. Don't ya think?

That's how I roll anyway.

Much like the tense final moments of the Packers game in the afternoon, the Sunday night game was stressful for us Vikings fans – to the very last second. No such thing as a comfortable lead any time after the first quarter. Therefore, no such thing as this old lady getting to bed at a decent hour. Though 10:30 p.m. is so decent for you young folks!

Thank the Norse gods we came up with a win to make it worth it!

It just happened I had my monthly appointment for some deep-tissue therapy today. Typically, I blame my back and neck aches on my desk job and extended time on computers everywhere. This time, I think there may have been a few extra knots courtesy of poor throws, dropped passes, and an inadequate secondary.

Glad I'm actively eliminating my part of the pain. Now what are YOU going to do, Vikings?

Winging It

Today's column for the church bulletin, based on our Gospel reading from Luke 20:27: 2

Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

Calling all angels

My first thought after reading today’s Gospel passage is thank goodness we don’t live in Biblical times. That story about that widow who outlived those seven brothers? What if it was the other way around and the man was the widow who had to remarry and remarry and so on and so on? I can’t imagine my husband would follow the law if he was forced to marry the seven sisters in my family. Uhm, no.

I used to tell him how lucky he was that he got the “normal” one. That argument doesn’t carry as much weight anymore. Not sure why. He says I’m an angel – always up in the air, harping about something.

Full disclosure: He’s a wonderful man. I just don’t always get his sense of humor!

Thankfully, we can find comfort in knowing that God isn’t going to judge us as a married versus non-married person. Or as a harping wife versus a loving wife. Those who have gone before us “are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.”

Last Sunday, when we lit candles for the loved ones we’ve lost this past year, we considered them saints. Maybe they didn’t live perfect lives. Maybe they were far from perfect individuals. But we know in our hearts that they are saints. They are loved children of God. And they are in the arms of the angels.

We still cry when we think of them because we miss them. We miss the light they brought in our lives. A light that could outshine those little candles a hundredfold.

Thanks, God, for keep their light. For holding them in Your tender care until we see them again.

Thanks, too, for being my wing man when this angel’s harp gets a little out of tune.

A Cold Walk Spoiled

They say "Golf is a good walk spoiled." It can also be a "Cold walk spoiled" when the conditions look like this!

Although SentryWorld has been closed to golf for several weeks now (thank you, Mother Nature), they had the official Close the Course run (or walk) this morning.

My friend Marigene and I represented the neighborhood and did our part – along with some 400 other people!

The temperature actually hit the freezing mark (in a warm way) plus, as always, they have these fire pits on the clubhouse patio area. So nice.

Had a great crowd. You could choose either the 5-mile course or the 2.5-mile course and you could choose to run it or walk it. We chose to walk the short one. Well, I can say we walk/ran it since we did jog around some people to pass them at one point!

It so different seeing the course in "winter." After golfing in league all summer, I was very familiar with the course and could point tee boxes even if they were buried under snow right now.

It was nice to walk it so we could enjoy the winter beauty – even if we are in no way ready for it or supporting it at this time! Sunny and no wind. We were spoiled.

Didn't hang around long since we both had things to do. Hubby was down at the Badger game so I had a free afternoon. Well, long list of things to do and did get some done. Got pictures ordered for scrap weekend. Did a little grocery shopping and managed to knock two Hallmark Christmas movies off the DVR while simultaneously jump starting my holiday baking.

And taste testing, of course. As if I was unsure if I like the flavors of mint and chocolate paired together! Ha. Best to be safe.

Jim's not home yet from the Bucky victory so I might have time one more – Hallmark movie, not cookie.

Birthday Treat

If I had to guess, I'd say going out to eat with his son and daughter (and their spouses) wasn't the real birthday treat for my father-in-law. Probably not the carrot cake either. More like this little cupcake...

Yup, Grandpa Johnny – make that GREAT-grandpa Johnny got to meet and hold little Mya tonight! His first granddaughter! We went back to Sherry's house after our fish fry and our nephew Colin and wife Amy met us there for cake.

She's only 12 days old but she's already changing so much!

Of course, the birthday boy is turning 82 tomorrow and he hasn't changed a bit!

It was nice to get together and visit and, yes, hold the baby. And a girl at that! After 4 grandsons – all adorably cute brown-eyed bandits – I think great-grandpa (and grandma, too) are tickled pink about our new family addition!

I know I am. Even more than carrot cake and ice cream. And that's saying something!

Thanks for treating all of us.

Getting the Cold Shoulder

At least two of us are not happy in this house. Princess Pouts-a-Lot is pretty miffed that we won't open the front door for her for her nightly blast of fresh air. She's not quite grasping that the screen can't protect her from the windchill – no matter how much fur she has.

I am the second disgruntled one. Woke up to this today. Do you see that "real feel" is one stinkin' degree?! Finally had to break down and wear a coat. Like all true Wisconsinites, if it's above freezing, usually that means no jacket required.

And if we go 3 for 3, I'd say Mr. Austin isn't thrilled about this forecast either. The game day forecast for the Badgers Saturday isn't pretty. He'll have to bundle up. I'll be facing the elements doing the Close the Course walk/run up at SentryWorld. Maybe record time to get done? Ha. No. We'll take our time and get our money's worth.

On the plus side – #gratitudemonth and all that – at least we know our snowblower works.

Snow-vember

If you ask me – and I'm glad you did – the middle of autumn is much too early for commuters to have to pay close attention to weather forecasts.

Of course, that is why many of us got our winter wakeup call enroute to work today. What's a little snow? Well, if you go your normal, perhaps fast speed, a little snow is a big deal.

I was careful per my usual winter standards, driving like a church lady with a full crockpot on the front seat and went slowly. I slowed down even more – it was possible, yes – when I saw numerous cars in the ditches, a few trucks pulled off to the side, and at least one accident.

Hello, winter. You arrived much too early to the party to pass for proper social etiquette.

The only time it looked pretty was when my car was parked safely in the ramp and I could view it from the warm side of the windows.

Ignore my phone reflection in the glass.

Our courtyard in the center of our office building was close to pretty.

I was grateful (#gratitudemonth) that main roads were clear on my commute home. Side roads a bit slick, still, and our road not plowed at all. Tomorrow is the one day this week it could get above freezing so maybe it will melt.

Any more snow days like this and I'm going to pass Go, collect my Pumpkin Spice Latte, and jump right into Christmas decorating. Blame Mother Nature. She started it!