Takin' Care of Business....

To say that I have been engaged and busy is kind of an understatement. Though, it mostly has been positive.

We had two nice warm and sunny days before the weather changed. I caught this under our Hickory tree when I sat in the grass with my canine pals.

I finally got in for my annual 'Medicare' checkup. It has been a year and a half since I've been to one.

I walked into the clinic and ran into a lady pushing a cart of treats and coffee for a meeting downstairs. I held the elevator door for her and  gasped at the treats she had.  I told her that I'd steal her tray and take it with me upstairs to munch on after my fasting lab. She laughed and offered me a cookie.

The lab gal and I go wayyyy back to when I did an internship at the clinic. We saw each other at 7:30am and had time to catch up. We agreed, getting a cookie was awesome for after the blood letting.

I know there are a lot of complaints about Medical care all over the place at this time. But I have to say kudos to the PA I've seen for 30 years. I got her as my doc when I moved to the area and she was fresh out of school. 

The nurse I saw first took her time in doing her part of the assessment. She was attentive, empathetic, and put me at ease. I took their survey and explained my 'stress related' answers. The Medicare questionnaire asks how often a person is stressed. 

Mine were related to the loss of Rich and of course the events that follow a spousal death.  Paige, was kind and not condescending. We went through my med list. She sat back and stared at me. 

"Tylenol as needed? That's is IT?"

Then she looked at my age and repeated her question. I said I took a multivitamin and that was it.

Anne was pleased to see me. She hadn't known about Rich, but it wasn't in my file either. She did comment that my *numbers* were good. In fact, my numbers were better than the past two years.

Anne must have notes in her file to remember to ask about photography, hiking, and my critters. Either that, or she knows me as the crazy lady.

The physical exam was fine and I had no issues other than 'grief insomnia'. Basically, it means I have trouble getting to sleep many nights because my brain is working on the next thing I need to get taken care of at our farm and of course missing my pal. Today marks 6 months.

When I got home I met up with Pat, an electrician who had done jobs here for us before. He has expanded to Excavating, pasture mowing, forest mulching, and other work. We walked around in the snowfall and I pointed out things I had hoped to accomplish. He made suggestions and he said he'd get his estimate worked up and emailed to me.

He stopped when we got by one of Rich's scrap piles. "I know a guy," he said. "A lot of what you have right now is pretty sought after with the war. I am pretty sure that my friend would be interested in dealing with you. You could make some money."

I had to chuckle out loud. I replied, "You know, I was always peeved when Rich brought home junk and piles of stuff. But he always said that when he died, I'd make money of from his junk piles." 

Pat laughed. "He wasn't far off. This stuff is worth money."

Funny, Rich's method of saving for the future with scrap and junk might have been crazy, but also might work for paying for all the work I have planned for our place.

Pat and I chatted in the falling snow and shook hands. I've always liked that about him. He doesn't talk down to me. Respectful. Plus he knows I'll pass out his cards and refer him to others.

I'll mark my calendar as a really good day.

And if you need a dose of cuteness, here you go.

Vrede

 Vrede: Dutch word for Peace, Tranquility.

I learn a lot from my Flickr photo Friends. Viewing Europe and other countries through the eyes of other people is always an incredible experience.

Finding peace and tranquility can be so hard during this time of the year for so many. I think folks need to slow up and catch their breath a bit. Easier for me to say now that I am not traveling each day to an office or other job.

More colors in December? How's this?

Red Dragon Sedum with melting snowflakes on it yesterday.

Snow caught in the Hen and Chicks plant next to the house.

Snowflake caught on a Hen and Chick next to the house. 

Christmas Eve Fog

Christmas Day Fog in our pasture ~ not colorful, but the fog did have a beauty to it!

And for some down time entertainment, I sort of made an attempt at a stop motion film. It is all of 5 seconds long. It did take me about a half hour to photograph and move the pieces carefully.

I did get out for a short walk with Charlie. We walked part of the neighbor's creek and I was able to check the fence. The mules can't get back there which is a good thing. I have a lot of repairs to do in the next couple of months.

The snow melted yesterday as the temps rose and it will melt more on Friday as the temps are supposed to be nearly 40 degrees!

Hubby has made some slight improvements. He is cranky and bossy now, so I say...he will recover.

I think I will go search for some Vrede.

Meanwhile

I keep enjoying the weather. It is cold, and earlier this week it was wicked. The Winds were blowing hard and this light and beautiful snow was falling.

I decided to take an early morning walk with Charlie. We hadn't been out in the woods for over a week and my feet were getting 'itchy' to wander.

The winds were so brutal in the open areas that I wore a balaclava and a pair of over the glasses goggles to keep my eyes protected from the cold winds. We made it to the Creek and enjoyed our time just wandering about and enjoying the fresh air out of the fierce winds.

There we are in our safety vests. I'd made some adjustments to Charlie's vest and now it doesn't impede his running or jumping. He and I are ready for winter hiking.

I took some of my characters with me. Big Foot wanted to find a nice tree for the village so he took one of the Polar Bears along. It looks like they found one!

Hobby, the photographer went along too. Gosh, it looks like her hair is getting grey just like mine! She always has her camera. [I painted her hair...]

[Hubby says she is me. She always has a camera in hand and is searching for something little to take photos of.]

I'd promised to make chocolate chip cookies for us [ewwww...baking!] so after shooting snowflakes on moss sporophytes, I headed towards home.

When I started putting together the cookies, I decided to see if my Lego folks could help. I discovered that I'd left Hobby in the forest! 

I was sort of elated that it would give me a second chance to head back out.

I know. I am crazy.

It was amazing that I found her exactly where I left her.

It seems someone needs to keep an eye on the Lego Village....

Uh oh, no one is watching the 
bears!

Looks like everyone is

gathering candy cane

decorations.

Snow Warrior and

a snowperson watch

And so it goes. Hope you are all having a good weekend.

Snow Words

How is the snow?

Sposhy? 

Or did you just get a skift of snow?

Sposhy is defined by being sloshy and splashy. Skift is just a tiny bit of snow, a light dusting.

I like Sposhy. We get that a lot in the spring. I like Snud too as a descriptive term. Snud is one we made up when I lived in the flat lands. Snow would drift across the flat croplands and then the winds would blow hard and the top soil would turn the snow black and brown. Snow - Mud. 

Snirt, may have been a better descriptive. Snow-Dirt.

No matter. We have had three days of snow and overcast skies. Yesterday, the snow on the grass melted by the time I did evening chores. 

The NOAA now has added Snow Squall to their terminology and warnings. A Snow Squall is an extremely intense and heavy snow fall [event] that lasts 30-60 minutes. I recall getting several alerts on that last winter. It was a term we used often as a general description, but when the weather service issued it the first time, so many people were confused.

When I lived near Kenosha and Racine, we often got Lake Effect snow. Thunder Snow was not something I experienced until I lived here in the boonies. Thunder Snow is truly spectacular if you've never experienced it. Thunder, lightening, and heavy snow all at once!

My husband often says that Snow is a 4 letter word. Yep, he is meaning it is a cuss word.

Though, I don't think I would want to live in an area where we never had snow. I like the changes of the seasons and the fun terms we have for the weather we get.

Quite a few years ago, I was out riding my mule, Badger, and I had to seek shelter from a sudden thunder, lightening, and heavy rain fall. The neighbor waved me into her large shed where she'd pulled her hay wagon in.

She informed me that we'd just had a Chicken Squall. When I looked confused she informed me that a Chicken Squall was a quick heavy downpour with sometimes lightening and thunder. It usually was enough of a rain to make Chicken mad and run for cover. Thus, the name Chicken Squall.

We are on our third day of dreary skies and snowfall though it hasn't amounted to a lot as the ground is still warm in places.

Thankfully, I got a verbal agreement for a fellow neighbor who plows to do our driveway this winter as our hill drive is rather intimidating during a heavy snow fall.

Last year's photo during a heavy snowfall:

Enjoy the weather if you can. 

One of the things I've learned is that if you have nothing else to talk about...weather is always a sure bet.