Buried alive!

Okay, it's not that bad, but as you can see by the handy dandy super double viper Doppler, there's a big white cloud sitting over our area. What's amazing to me about lake effect snow (that's when the wind blows across a relatively warm Lake Michigan, picking up all that moisture and converting it to snow) is that the bands can be so narrow. I've seen it dump a foot on New Carlisle, while South Bend stays fairly dry. (We're about 15 minutes apart.)

Ken took a picture this morning, and since I've been up, it's been snowing off and on. Looks like about 8 inches so far, and it's coming down again. I suspect we'll end up with about 10 inches, just like Aerosmith. (Those of you that get that reference get a gold star for the day.) When we went to bed a little after 11, there wasn't much out there, so I imagine that the morning commute was pretty awful. I'll turn on the noon news and see what they say about it.

I'm glad Ken was able to work from home today. He would have been fine in the truck, but it's always better to stay off the roads when it's like this. He's also been getting a lot of work done. He'll get out later and snowblow the driveway.

I promised Hollie a picture. Hollie, you can see Ken's picture at the link above, and here's a little video for you! I hope everyone is staying warm!

Lucky Seven

It's a special day here at Nutwood for me and Ken: it's our anniversary! Yep, 7 years and counting.

It really is hard to believe that 7 years have gone by so quickly--and without an itch! Hey, get it? Without a (h)itch? Seven year itch? HA!

Anyhoo, we got married at Tippecanoe Place, which is one of the nicer restaurants in town. But what is special about it is that it was the mansion built by one of the Studebaker brothers (Clement). It was his home, and after going through a couple of different incarnations, it ended up as a restaurant. We were married in George and Ada Studebaker's room. I like our Studebaker connection. It was a very small wedding, with just immediate family (and Cousin Shane, of course!) and a few good friends, like Bill and Mary Sue from Michigan.

It feels like we've accomplished a lot in 7 years, and I guess that's what happens when people work together, with a common goal. (Are you listening, Washington?) We've also had a lot of fun, and been to some really neat places, and that's what happens when people have common interests (such as traveling). And all without ever having a fight. I suppose there are some who find that hard to believe, but that tells me more about your modus operandi than anything else! If someone can't even begin to comprehend living in peace and quiet, or that there are some planets on which the native species discuss things in a rational manner, that's kind of pathetic and sad. Different things work for different people, and if you really get off on the histrionics and drama, hey, knock yourself out. Or knock each other out, as the case may be! Ken and I work quite well together, thank you very much, and our plan is to keep doing what we're doing. We'll see what the next 7 years bring our way. I'm sure there will be some interesting adventures in there somewhere!

My Dad said a nice thing to me last week. We were over at my niece's, and Dad and I were chatting. He stopped and said, "You know, you look really good, Honey!" He said I looked like I'd put on a little weight (I have, from quitting smoking), and that I didn't look so "gaunt." Ha ha! He and Mom were always trying to fatten me up, and thought I was too skinny. I said I'd probably had a net gain of about 5 pounds, and he said, "Well, you just look really good. I think the happiness shows!" I think he's probably right.

Nothing real special tonight. We're not the going out type (unless we're on vacation), and we had our dress-up night on Saturday. I thought I'd try new recipe, though. How about blackened tuna steaks with mango salsa? Probably some rice, and a nice white wine. Sounds kind of yummy, eh? I'll let you know how it turns out.

I was awakened this morning by a diffuse white light filling our bedroom with hateful intensity. I remembered that "look" from last year, and I wasn't mistaken: we got about 6 inches of snow here last night, and the morning sun was shining off of a white world. It's pretty and all, sticking to the trees, and one of my favorite things is to play pioneer woman and spot the different animal tracks in the snow. (This morning I saw deer tracks and some big cat tracks...if by "big" we're talking the average housecat.) But why do I not feel mentally prepared for winter this year? At least I don't have to drive to work in it this year, which I'm very pleased about. Ken took the truck this morning, so I knew he'd be safe. I suppose the spring and summer just flew by so quickly that winter kind of snuck up on me this year.

So it's our first good-sized snow of the season. They're really getting socked a little further west of here. Up to a foot in some areas. Urgh! It does feel nice to be cozy inside, with the cat curled up on my lap. He's been here for a while, though...I think my butt is going numb.