Yesterday the Ice Queen paid us a visit. She captured everything in her icy grip. Bare branches, pine needles, and buds awaiting the spring were all trapped in their icy prisons like flies in amber.

She left ice sculptures behind.

She made a crystalline carpet out of the grass that crunched underfoot and sounded like glass breaking when walked upon.

Thankfully she didn’t do any damage. We may have lost a few small branches but nothing big. It could have been much worse.

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?

The photo above is kind of like I’ve felt for the past week. A wavy and wobbly shadow of myself. I don’t get sick very often (once every 3 or 4 years) but when I do I really get sick. I think I’ve turned the corner for good now although it’s been a slow process. If I try to do too much during the day it sets me back a little. Easy does it—that’s the key to recovery. I did a lot of just lying about, taking naps and staring out the window. I never lay on the small wicker couch in the sun room, but when I did I this outline in the tree branches jumped out at me. Look closely and see if you can see what I saw from my reposing vantage point. (I’ll show you at the end of this post what I saw.)

Our snow is mostly gone now except for the patches were it was plowed and piled. I mourn its loss all the more since I only managed to get out in it that one time. The pool could be used for a skating rink if only I weren’t afraid of ripping the cover.

Sunday was my birthday (Happy Birthday to Me!) The weather was strange—in the 50’s! The sunset that night was stupendous though. The light outside was really odd and when Rick pointed the sunset out to me I had to go out and take a few photos. Doesn’t it look as if there is a forest fire behind this tree?

I took this sunset as an omen that I was on the mend. I’m still not 100%, but yesterday was a good day. At least my head wasn’t spinning and I could read and knit again.

I’m still working on Rick’s second mitten (remember the one that Bella ate?) and also on this scarf for myself. The lace pattern is both fun and beautiful at the same time but it does require some concentration.

And, I was able to make a start on this Christmas present.

Last year on our trip to Mexico I felt so stupid that I didn’t know the language. I probably won’t know much by our trip at the end of January but at least I’ll have a head start.

So, in the photo above—what did you see? I saw this Cardinal. The bunch of leaves made up its eye.

Hopefully I’ll be starting the new year with better health than I’ve had for the past two weeks or so! Onward to the flip side of sick!

Firstly, thank you all for your get well wishes and concerns. I hope that I am finally on the road to recovery. I had a severe reaction to the medication yesterday and ended up with my head hung over the toilet bowl for most of the afternoon. Not fun. So that put me back a day in getting some drugs into my system as the doctor didn’t want me to start a new regime yesterday, but to wait until today to give my stomach a break. Trust me, it needs it. ugh.  At least the nasty drugs knocked back my sore throat some, so that’s good news at least.

Bad news is that I don’t think I am going to be able to eat and fully enjoy the sumptuous feast my dear husband had planned for tomorrow. My very favorite food of all time, foie gras, and duck breasts in orange sauce. Plus a delicious vegetable terrine and yummy mushroom tartlets were also on the menu. Not to mention the bottle of Tignanello wine from 1983 that we’ve been dying to find a reason to finally drink. Not happening tomorrow. So sad. I’m so bummed. I can’t fully taste and my stomach is a bit on the iffy side. Hopefully in a few more days we’ll be able to do our Christmas Feast. You can follow more about our Christmas food on Rick’s site where he is documenting the process and the recipes.

I am able to sit up for periods of time without getting too dizzy and woozy, so here I am. I am sharing some photos I managed to snap of the dogs on Saturday after the snowfall on Friday. We did have another snowfall on Sunday morning but I didn’t get out in and haven’t been out of the house since except to go to the doctor! We got an additional 3 to 4 inches, but now it’s raining and melting it all into a slushy mess. Too bad.

and here I caught Alex in midair with all four feet off the ground and he pounced on Hailey!

Well, that’s enough upright stuff for now. Back to the couch with my snuggle bunny Bella. She’s very good company for a sick patient!

Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday no matter how you choose to spend it!

I’m not sure exactly how much snow ended up falling yesterday. My best guess is 7 to 8 inches. I haven’t been out in the yard yet. I figured with the nasty cold (or whatever it is that I have) I shouldn’t be out doing too much, getting wet, etc. Especially with guests coming tomorrow night for eggnog and cookies. Wouldn’t do to get any sicker! I’ll get a better idea later in the day. It was just nice to be able to sit inside by the fire and watch the snow fly. Rick worked from home so no worries about him making the long drive on bad roads.

We are expecting more snow overnight and tomorrow. Predictions are for another 4-6 inches. Another storm enters on Christmas Eve, but right now they are saying that one will be in the form of rain and not snow. Hopefully it won’t melt all our lovely snow. Looks like we’re having a White Christmas after all!

More photos later!