Breakfast in bed...one of our live's little pleasures that we stick by on Saturday mornings. It's a favored tradition in our home. (blueberries, clementine, oj, tea, bagel, scrambled eggs, canadian bacon, hash browns...and vitamins, of course)





This morning I wanted to get a photo of us while we were freshly dressed for church and this is the only shot we got....I told him his eyes were closed. He insisted he had his eyes open. Guess he'll see this proof.


After this first attempt, Kevin had an eyelash that was interfering with his contacts and by the time he returned it was time to leave for church. Oh well, maybe next Sunday.


Paper whites....



Dr Judy gave me a paper white bulb for Christmas. Isn't it beautiful?

On the snowy trail....


After Kevin finished shoveling the snow off our roof this afternoon, we went hoofing through the snow at one of the trails down by the river. We love being outdoors.




By the trees that hang over the bank of the river





Yes, I let him use my camera...as long as it's within my sight





Wonderful photo ops....as we were approaching the trestle, a train was coming across overhead.





Looking up








Walking back


And this is for the grandkids. Two trains at once

Kevin working demolition.....

Thought the grandkids might enjoy watching Grandpa knocking the accumulating icicles off the gutters.

After this last big snow finished blowing through today, Kevin and I went out to shovel the driveway and walks. The snow was too wet and heavy to use the snowblower. This picture gives you an idea of how deep the snow is.
(Am currently using a new server engine as we were having problems w/ I.Ex. Haven't quite figured out how to work all the blogging details. Can't get some videos to download and can't get to the top of the page for a headliner...help, Kari! I'll be emailing you)

Valentine's Day celebrated at elementary school...



Since Thursday is my day off during the week
and Valentine's Day fell on my day off this year, I decided to make Kevin one of his favorite dishes (homemade spaghetti) and took the complete dinner along with place settings plus molasses cookies for dessert...and headed out to his school...where we had our very public Valentine's Day dinner in the staff lounge. (He knew I was coming, just didn't know what I was bringing)



However, I did give him his card in private.



Had to finish cleaning up his classroom before we could go eat lunch. It was a fun time for both of us. (Then I went and got my hair cut in the afternoon. Nothing drastic...just a trim to clean it up.)

Scenic drive to the folks....


It started out fairly warm for an Iowa winter day...around 30 degrees. But the day became colder, accompanied by a biting wind. As we met this horse and buggy on our way to the cheese factory, as romantic as this picture was, I was thankful for cars which have glorious heaters. (Hey, Britt...I believe I've found a potential market for your warmer bags!)



This was taken in the morning while it was still "warmish". It became foggy the farther south we drove. In fact, at this point one could not discern the horizon. The sky and the snow-covered ground blended into one as they were the same shade of grayish gloom. The row of evergreens on the left is the only visible mark of horizon.



I like the "feel" of this scene in the fog.



Mom and Maynard are sprucing up their house with splashes of color in their dining area and bathroom. Maynard is the official painter. A nice touch of Merlot on the east wall.



Kevin installed new flooring in the bath.

(Sorry family...no flattering picture of Mom to post. Will be more purposeful with that next time we see each other.)

With only 1.5 days of school this past week, Kevin took a golden opportunity to go X Country skiing after a big snow. He took me along to take photos in the beauty that follows a big snow storm.


Small fungi growing on a tree trunk



Fencing at the entrance to a maze of skiing/hiking trails



Fascinating lines of contrast under sumac bushes



This photo makes me think of Narnia



Evergreen needles



The groomed ski trail



Happy skier returning to the car



Looking over snow that's about 15" deep



The first trail, not groomed. Look at the depth of his skis in the snow



Loves his new skis





In his element....

Everything is shut down...
Kevin drove me to work in his Forester this morning because it has 4 wheel drive, plus he didn't have school again due to snow accumulation. Even my office closed at 1:00 today. I left work after being there one hour as our boss opted to reduce staff to a skeleton crew. It has been her unwritten policy that she will close the office if there is ever a 12 inch snow accumulation at one time. She laughed when she said that, confident that would never happen. Well...she chose to close down at the 11" mark, and it's still coming down.



This is our front railing. It's supporting a lot of snow, considering it's only about an inch wide.



Took this photo looking out our front window...the bush, mailbox, again the railing...all with snow continuing to pile on higher.



The bush in front



Soooo....what does one do when snow-bound? Taxes, of course! My dear husband started them this morning and just finished them. It's 2:45 and now he's out blowing out the snow in the driveway for the 2nd time today. It's a fantastically beautiful snow, but snow emergency is declared in all towns in this area.


I didn't help with the taxes, other than signing my name at time of completion. However, I did finally go through the piles of papers (important ones as well as junk or expired papers) and reorganized our filing cabinet so that it now truly serves as a filing cabinet, it's actual purpose of intent at time of manufacturing. Ahhh...little pleasures.

Surprise visitor joins us for farewell lunch...
Jesse and Julie and Renae are leaving for 2 months of training, then will return for a couple of weeks to say their final farewells to family before leaving for Europe for 2-3 years. They came Wed night to drop off some of their belongings and for a brief visit. Mom and Maynard joined us for dinner (lunch to you, Trey), roast beef, potatoes, green bean casserole, strawberry shortcake.




Our surpise visitor was Grandpa! He had to work that day, but came home for 17 minutes...all he could spare...to share dinner with all of us and to say goodbye to Jesse and Julie and Little Peanut.



A very tired little one



...and a tired big one



While Mommy and Daddy relaxed downstairs, Grandma entertained Renae. She's exploring shiny glass balls in a dish on the table, a new texture sensation for Renae.



Great Gma rocking and singing to Renae. Looks like GGma is taking in all the sweetness she can get before they have to leave.






"Ouch, Chahlie! That huhts!"



Great Grandpa Maynard and Renae (ah, the family trait shows forth in Renae...the furrowed brow). He had to drive bus, so they left early. But we were delighted they could come and join us for part of the day.