A brutal winter but I'm still here.

     I have taken a blogging break that I really hadn't planned on.   However this has been one brutal winter and I feel like the past month all I have done is try to keep warm.  I mean literally that is what we have done.

     

     On one sub zero Sunday afternoon my husband Dan offered to give me a taste of summer.  Here he is taking some steaks off of the grill.  What a guy huh?

When we woke on Monday of this week it was 30 below zero and school was running late again do to wind chill warnings.  I can't even begin to remember how many times this has happened this winter.

We have tried to get out of the house whenever possible.  We took little Addison to a local children's museum one day.  She loved it and it was fun for us as well. We've gone to several movies and spent a weekend in Minneapolis.  All of this helps but still....

Whenever it would warm up just a wee bit it would snow some more.  Here is my car buried at the end of our driveway.  I have spent more time helping to dig out my car this winter than ever before.  I have fallen on the ice more than once this year as well.  And I have literally been chilled to the bone.

Finally today we were in the 30's which is still below normal but with the sun shining it almost felt warmish.  That is just how bad it's been.  And I know I am not alone, much of the country has been through the same thing.  

 And even though we have several feet of snow outside.   And it will probably take until May to melt all that white stuff.  I am going to try to think spring,  when the outside of my house will look like this. 

And summertime when I can pick wildflowers and make a simple arrangement.

Because even though I have begun to believe we now live in a state of perpetual winter, I still know deep down, that spring will come.

 Cindy

Now off to visit all of you, I hope you haven't forgotten me yet!

Valentine Party at Laurie's

I am joining Laurie for her Valentine party!  And of course I am late, but I have a good excuse.
My Mom and I arrived back from Phoenix around midnight on Saturday.  When we left Phoenix it was 68 degrees.  When we arrived in Minneapolis it was minus 1.  My Mom has Parkinson's and getting her through the airport wasn't an easy task.  She tires easily and walking long distances is very hard for her.  

After getting someone to help us through the airport and up to the parking garage to find our car it was probably about 1:00 a.m.  Oh and I forgot to mention I left my winter coat in son's car back in Phoenix.  So I borrowed my Mom's coat and headed out to start the car and brush off any snow  Well the car battery was as dead as a door nail.  It seems in my haste to get my Mom and I off to our flight I had left the GPS plugged in.  I called airport security and told them my dilemma. They said I would have to call a towing company.

Long story short.  After getting my car battery jumped and my Mom loaded in we drove to our motel.  By then we could have just drove home because we were both so wide awake.  I got my Mom and her luggage settled in our room and then I collapsed in bed.  I woke up the next morning to find my poor Mom was stuck in the bathtub. After all that had happened, helping my Mom out of the bathtub was no big deal.

We finally made it home and I have babysat my little grand-daughter the past 4 days.  So my energy level has hit an all time low.  So I hope you don't mind Laurie, but I am sharing some previous valentine photos.

Because it is taking me a few days to get caught up on my energy.

Other than my trip home, my trip to Phoenix was wonderful!  I got to spend some quality time with my little grand-daughter Calista and my son and his wife.  I also got to have lunch with some of my wonderful blogger buddies/ friends.
More on that later..I need to visit some you!
Have a lovely weekend,
Cindy