Forced Hibernation

I'm a writer not a mathematician. So 7.2 inches of snow last night + 10-18 more tonight = Sh!t Show, right? Yeah. That's what I thought.

Enough about the weather. I am starting to not like the color purple, by the way!

The 5K I was going to photograph this morning was canceled. Not only was the race route not going to get plowed in time – other priorities in town – but there also was a layer of thick ice under all that white stuff.

So I went back to bed and remained in forced hibernation all day. I did get out of bed and showered so I get points for that. Then, I really took advantage of being home. I cleaned out my underwear and sock drawers, did a bunch of freelance design work, and finished up a digital scrapbook from our New England trip... back in 2012.

Better late than never! Plus, Shutterfly has unlimited "free pages" until midnight Sunday – coincidentally when the winter storm warning ends – so I might as well take advantage of it. You might want to, too, since you'll be stuck home tomorrow as well. Even our church services have been canceled.

No joking. Wisconsin really is closed the next 24 hours at least!

Tomorrow, I hope to be a little more productive. I mean if I could knock another 2 or 3 Hallmark Christmas movies off the DVR, that would be a major accomplishment. Hubby would be happy with the extra space. Everybody wins.

How's that for a silver lining in those crazy, snow-filled clouds?

Be safe out there. Better yet, stay home, hibernate and be safe IN there.

Orange Friday

While many people (maybe me) are already getting excited for Black Friday and all of its Spend To Save possibilities, in Wisconsin, that excitement is surpassed by the preceding Friday -- that's Orange Friday for those unfamiliar with the annual gun-deer hunt!

And it's TODAY.

My hubby does not hunt. And I do not come from a family who hunted. But as someone traveling a hundred miles a day on a country road or two, I fully support their efforts!

Funny thing is, we see so many deer on our commute, I am always stumped when I hear how challenging hunting is. But now I get it. All week we've seen dozens of deer eating in the fields by the road on our way home. Tonight, not a single one. Zip. Zilch. Zero.

They are onto us.

I guess if they start seeing blaze orange in stores and hear about Hunter's Widow events, they know something is up. And they scatter.

I do hope that you hunters have a safe and successful 9 days. And please do your part to keep the roads clear!!

Deer don't pay attention to "Deer Crossing" signs anymore than we do. I tell you, though, when we were in New England, they take that very seriously. Among the "Moose Crossing" signs were a few strongly advising drivers to pay attention in order to save their lives.

I guess banging into this big fella would smart a bit!

 

This is our friend we saw along the Ausable River in upstate New York on the last full day of our trip.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, we were continually warned to be on the lookout. And as the passenger, I kept my camera handy and kept looking!

On that particular day, we were taking pictures of the river and learned of a moose upriver. So we drove up and stopped with all the other motorists to take pictures. He seems far away. But he really wasn't once we moved up the road a bit.

See? He's just across the stream!!

 

...Eating his lunch!

When I zoomed in closer, I see he's got a battle wound... maybe from a hunter (they have a gun season like we do for deer), maybe from a car or maybe from Rocky or Bullwinkle.

Either way, if I saw something this big when I was out hunting, I'd probably just shoot it. With a camera, that is. And move on.

To see what's at the next crossing.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Even in our darkest hours -- which these days happens to be on our commute to work in the morning -- we can still find light at the end of the tunnel.

I realize it is only Tuesday, but is has a been a stressful week! Personally, I've had a few surprises to deal with and I've also had loved ones coping with some pretty serious challenges. When all seems dark, we wonder if there is a light at the end of the tunnel and, if so, how long is this tunnel.

It reminds me of some of the covered bridges we saw out East. They are single lane. So not only are you going through it in the dark, you know that between you and that light at the end, you run the risk of hitting something head-on. A very low risk, but nonetheless, it takes some guts and some faith.

When we focus on the light -- sometimes a happy outcome, the support of family and friends or new direction in life -- the journey is not so scary.

We get through it, turn around and look back and think, "Wow, that wasn't as bad as I thought." Or "Look what I just survived! I made it through OK!"

Our journey doesn't always have to be in darkness.

 Sometimes there are windows to shed a little light... a respite from the fear, pain or sadness.

That relief can come in the form of people who love us and support us...

Or from a brief bout of self courage. Faith in our own abilities.

Sometimes we just need to stop, take a look out that window and remember all the blessings God has bestowed upon us.

What I've learned in the last 24 hours is that most things have a way of working out. I've received some positive news about a cancer operation, a missing child and word that McDonald's already has their eggnog shakes and Holiday Mint McFlurries.

Yes, God gives us what we need, alright. And if we don't know what that is, He'll find a way to lead us in the right direction.

That's so much easier than doing it on our own, isn't it?

Weekend in New England

It felt like our "weekend in New England" was accomplished in one day as we left Newport, close to the Canadian border, made our way south across the state of Vermont and part of New Hampshire and into Massachusetts and the Atlantic Ocean. Our final stop: Boston.

Well, technically, Cambridge, Mass.. More on that in a bit.

Our morning started late as we slept in past 8. Ha. We did the lakefront water walk and checked out the pretty scenery in Newport. Even got my picture with a  lighthouse. Sort of. A small one, built just for me, I believe.

From Newport, we headed southeast and crossed through the little state of Vermont and across part of the equally small state of New Hampshire. That was my first time there. Of course, I miss the welcome sign but I know the state motto is "Live Free or Die." Saw that on every license plate!

The one thing that surprised us about New Hampshire is that the White Mountains were even more impressive than Vermont's Green Mountain chain. Really cool. Took lots of pictures out the car window, traveling 65 mph on the interstate. I think some turned out. It only took me 10 tries to get a Moose Crossing sign in focus. I need more practice!

We also went by the New Hampshire speedway in Concord and realized the NASCAR race is there this Sunday. Our plans may have to change! You never know!

Jim's cousin was unable to get together with us today so we headed straight into Boston. We're actually staying on the north side in Cambridge, home of Harvard. Saw what we believe were the Harvard "kids" out practicing their sailing on the Charles River (which makes its way into Boston Harbor) outside our hotel window. I braved the balcony on the 12 floor and took some pictures. I just looked out, not down!

After we got settled in, we took a cab over to downtown Boston. After driving 4-lanes-wide into town, we weren't in the mood to even attempt it any further. So we cabbed it over to the north side and walked a tour of historic sites -- everything from Paul Revere's house and the Old North Church (where they hung the lanterns) to the Massachusetts State House and Cheers bar.

C'mon, that has to count!

We had dinner at the Bull & Finch, which was the inspiration for the television program, then shopped in the gift shop. I got a shirt and earlier, we already found Carter his gifts (hint: Boston Celtics). We still need to find something for Jim (besides cemetery pictures).

We cabbed it back to hotel and now we're just chilling out, enjoying the view of the cityline lights on the water. Gorgeous day all around. We got lucky.

Hope it continues!

Coming Together Nicely

I figured I better blog quick since this may be the only time this football season I can say the Vikings have a better record than the Packers! Tonight's showdown between the Pack and da Bears might already be under way. I won't have time to watch it, so I'll assume I can still keep an ounce of Purple Pride in me for a few hours yet.

Not much to report anyway. Just that our New England vacation plans are coming together nicely.

New England? Yes, we have officially expanded our scope.

Now we'll be in Vermont and Canada the first few days, then boogie down to Boston(only 3 hours away) to catch a Red Sox game at the famous Fenway Park, then head up to New York, through Vermont and the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory, then cross the ferry back over to Vermont and the airport.

Somewhere in there I'll get to meet some really neat people, find some dead people (well, tombstones in our family tree research) and see some really pretty sights. Hope the weather holds but really, even if it's cold and rainy, we'll be able to do everything we planned. I just won't get a thousand pictures. Maybe I'll be reduced to 800.

Maybe we should do some side bets on just how many I will take. Ha.

After these unexpected Boston plans fell into place today, both hubby and I had a hard time concentrating on work. Now we just want to GO!

Lots going on between now and our departure, though. We've got football/pep band tomorrow, cross country Saturday and packing/planning on Sunday. Then work our butts off 2 days so we can leave guilt-free.

Mostly guilt-free. I still hate to miss Carter's first homecoming dinner/dance, but I am really looking forward to our weekend in New England (as Barry Manilow would say!).

Yup, it's all coming together nicely.