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.

This is the weather we encountered on our road trip to see Jesse and Julie....drifting, blowing snow, and frigid temperatures.




Ah...then the chilling sunset behind your typical Iowa farm.

Before the rapture comes....
thought I'd better blog. Haven't had my camera out a lot lately. Too busy; lots going on. Last weekend we went to see Jesse and Julie and little Renae. They're preparing to leave for a couple (a few?) years and we wanted to help them with some packing...(plus, we wanted to just see them again. Always fun to see some of our family)



Jesse wrapped Renae's blanket around her head. She appears to enjoy it.



I think Jesse looks so much like my dad here. What do the rest of my family members think?



Gpa J holding "Little Peanut", as he calls her.



Jesse, Renae, Julie



Just up from her nap (Renae, not Julie)