Just three days ago I was swinging in one of these hammocks and sitting poolside sipping the frosty “drink of the day.” The sun was shining, warm tropical breezes were gently blowing across my body, and the day was warm.

This morning I am standing by the side of my own pool here in New Jersey hugging a hot cup of coffee between my hands to keep them warm. I can’t sit down because the chairs are covered with snow. As for the pool ... well, I know it’s in there somewhere! The sun is shining, a frigid breeze passes by and my body shivers. It’s 8 degrees F. What’s wrong with this picture?

Reality bites sometimes.

We left in a snowstorm and we arrived back Tuesday night in a snowstorm. In-between I think they had a few nice days here. We were certain our flight was going to be delayed coming into Newark and our pilot even told us that we might be, but as we approached he made no mention of going into a holding pattern. He spoke about the frigid air we would encounter upon leaving the plane and that it was lightly snowing. We landed ahead of schedule, something almost unheard of at Newark Airport, especially with some weather. By the time we got to the car it was snowing heavily and we were glad we landed when we did.

As we got closer to home the snow was ending. Our wonderful neighbor had plowed our driveway of the three or four inches of snow that had fallen. I got out of the car, took three steps, hit an icy patch and went straight down on my butt. Welcome home, Lynne.

I’m not complaining. Really, I’m not. Okay, help me with my mantra here.

I love New Jersey winters.
I love New Jersey winters.
I love New Jersey winters.

The dogs did great in the kennel and Bella had no problems. She did however un-learn some manners (such as biting and jumping up), so we have to work on that. She also turned from a puppy into a somewhat gawky teenager while we were gone. Not quite sure how that happened. The kitties all did well and Luke did a great job taking care of them and the house. All in all, a really successful trip.

It’s good to be home but I am having a few issues. Where is the breakfast buffet? I have to make my own bed, cook my own meals and do the dishes. Can’t I just throw my bath towels on the floor for someone else to pick up? waaaaaaaahhhhhh.

It all seems a dream now, like we were never there. But we were and we had a great time. Now it’s time to pick up the threads of normal life again. Still, I hope you’ll bear with me over the next few days as I share some vacation photos with you and then I’ll get back to being a “new” Jersey girl again.

We are due to fly out to Mexico tomorrow. It figures. Weather predictions are not good at all—“significant” snow is said to be on the way for tonight and tomorrow. At its best, Newark Airport is always a mess. We can only hope the weather forecasters are still not able to get it right. We could be sitting in the airport all day waiting for our flight to leave. I don’t like flying that much anyway, so I don’t need the added stress.

But, once on our way we will be staying here. It looks lovely! The trip is part business (for Rick) and part pleasure. I know, I know. It looks like a tough place to conduct business, doesn’t it? Do you blame me for tagging along on a business trip? I will try to post a few times from our new digs but Rick will have the computer with him in meetings during the day so maybe I can sneak a few things & photos in here and there. I plan to do a lot of beach walking and shell seeking. We’ll have a few days to ourselves and we’re not sure yet what is possible to explore. We are signed up for a horseback ride through the jungle and on the beach, so that will be fun. I would love to visit a Mayan ruin that we didn’t see last year, Cobá, but unless the hotel offers a tour there we won’t be going since we are not renting a car this time. We’ll just go with the ebb and flow of the Caribbean lifestyle and let things happen as they may.

Once we get out of New Jersey, that is!

It will be Bella’s first time in the kennel and I hope she does well. This time of year the kennel is not busy so they’ve assured me she will get lots of special attention. My baby girl. I will miss her.

Until I post again, stay cozy and by all means keep your feet warm!

Sunday morning we woke up to more new snow. The predicted “coating to a an inch” turned into three inches. It coated the trees and branches perfectly with its fluffy whiteness. Such a pretty snow!

Anyone up for an al fresco meal by the pool?

Okay, so maybe we didn’t have our usual poolside Sunday lunch. We took the dogs for a walk since it’s really been too cold to take them this past week. Bella preferred the snow to the road.

When we got back she was still a bundle of energy, so I took them in the back yard for a proper snow romp.

Snow really sticks to soft, downy puppy coats!

Heck, this kind of snow sticks to most anything!

And now for a few more serious shots.

Here is Alex, deep in thought.

And Hailey with snow nose.

And Bella.

Who you can’t expect to be serious for very long.

But I need to buckle down and get serious. I have five interview questions from Reya to answer which I have been giving much thought to over the past few days. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little taste of winter!

The Snow Queen must have been jealous because yesterday morning she swept through, covering up the work of the Ice Queen with a fresh coating of fluffy white new snow. So there, she said. I can cover up all your work just like that. Of course, the Ice Queen’s work is still there, lying treacherously only an inch below. Some of the tree branches still carry their icy coating and our driveway shows no improvement. Our local stores are all sold out of ice melt. Me thinks the Ice Queen still rules.

Bella likes it when the Snow Queen comes. She likes to try and catch snowflakes in her mouth just like any other little kid.

There is something very sad about Christmas decorations after Christmas is over with. Just look at these reindeer in my neighbor’s yard down the street. They’ve keeled over from the stress of it all, while the one left standing looks on forlornly. I’m afraid there is no rescue for these poor little reindeer if last year is any indication. (Last year they left them up until Easter.) Take them down, put them away, and get on with life after Christmas folks!

We certainly did. On Sunday the tree and all the trimmings came down and got packed up and put away. The living room looks naked without the bedecked tree but we’ll get used to it. It’s nice to have the house back to normal again. A fresh, clean house to start the new year with.

As for the weather, it bounces back and forth. We had a bit of snow on New Year’s Eve which is still around in spotty bits, but right now it’s raining. At least I think it is but it’s too dark outside to really tell. I think it’s freezing rain. That is something I can’t quite get used to. Here it is 31 degrees F and it’s raining instead of snowing. I can see icicles and a good coating of ice on the deck’s railings. Yuck. When it gets lighter I will try and get some photos if it’s worthwhile. But by the time it’s bright enough outside to take photos the ice will probably be melting. We’ll see.

I think canoeing is out of the question, don’t you? Green Turtle Pond now belongs to the ice fishermen.

As for me, I am feeling pretty much back to normal thank goodness. Still coughing some but it’s a dry cough instead of the one I did have.

How is Bella doing, you might ask. She’s doing just great. Growing like a weed in rich soil. She weighs in at 50 pounds now at 4 months of age. I think she’s going to be a big girl. I can’t even write about her misadventures much anymore because she’s turned into a little angel. She’s really a very good puppy. Well, most of the time. She still has her moments. Like when I just now tried to take her photo and she started barking at me.

Poor thing. I just let her out to pee and it’s so icy out there her legs went in every direction trying to squat. I can see now that everything is coated with ice. Lovely.

Did I tell you that I saved a bird’s life the other day? We came home from running errands and saw Sam staring intently at a female downy woodpecker just sitting in the snow on the other side of the glass door. I knew just what to do as I’ve done it many times before when we’ve had birds stunned from flying into the glass. I put my gloves on and went out and picked her up. At first she tried to fly, but couldn’t. She soon settled down in my cupped hands, turning her head this way and that looking at me. I stroked her feathers every so lightly, trying to warm her up. After a while I opened my hands and she still just sat there. I was hoping she wasn’t hurt internally when all of a sudden she took flight. Hurray!

With the nasty weather outside I’ve decided not to go anywhere today. I am going to make this Irish stew this afternoon, complete with cheddar scones. Just the meal for a day like today, don’t you agree?