We Endured Our Second Winter

    One of the local weather reporters called last week a "Second Winter." Our first winter was the snowstorm in early January. The snow was on the ground for several weeks. After that storm, the weather systems bypassed us either to the north or south. Last week, we had two snowfalls and below-freezing temperatures daily during our Second Winter. We've had more snow this year than the previous two years combined. 

Wednesday morning. Our trash is at the curb near
the mailbox and a crow is looking for a handout.

    We endured the harsh temperatures while attending appointments and playing pickleball three times. Ray had a follow-up Doctor's appointment on Tuesday, and the next day, we both visited the dentist for our semi-annual checkup. One afternoon, we attended a Dementia Caregivers Support Group meeting, and the next day, we played Bridge at the Senior Center. On Saturday morning, we played in an Euchre tournament. The entry fee was a package of diapers to support the Johnson County Right to Life. There were either six or seven tables of players.

     The sun was shining today, and the temperature was already in the high 30s when we drove home from church. We survived our "Second Winter, " and now we are looking forward to average temperatures.

    We have more daylight hours, and seeing the shadows on a sunny day is enjoyable. Since sunrise is earlier, I can walk into the kitchen in the morning without turning on the light. At certain times of the year, the sun casts shadows through the blinds in our sunroom. 

On Tuesday morning, the bright sun cast shadows
across our front door.  This morning, the sun's angle
cast a shadow elsewhere in our kitchen.

    We watched some of the Indiana vs Purdue basketball game this afternoon. Purdue is on an unusual losing streak. Did you know that this is the 40th anniversary of Bobby Knight's famously throwing his chair during the same match-up? I found this story online written by someone who saw the event in person 40 years ago. 

    I'm looking forward to March Madness because right now, there are few sports to watch unless you enjoy hockey or major league spring training games.

Blast of Winter

     When I walked into the kitchen this morning, I almost screamed when I saw the snow! We had about two inches overnight. Yesterday afternoon, I baked several items to contribute to Sunday morning's fellowship time, and my first thought was that I couldn't stay home because of the weather. We left a few minutes earlier than usual and had no trouble on our mushy streets. When we arrived at church, I noticed the handicapped parking spaces were empty. All the people using these spots stayed home.

    The morning's service was unusual because we had a unique visitor. Our congregation has been without a pastor since August 2023. Since then, we have called two men to be our pastor, but both have declined. Earlier this year, a third call was sent, and this man and his family came to visit this weekend. On Saturday, he met with congregational leaders. He, his wife, and four young children attended our worship service today. During the fellowship time after the service, he answered questions and told us about his family. He plans to visit another congregation that has also called him and will make a decision by March 2. Many people made the service this morning despite the treacherous driving conditions. (The casserole, bread, and fruit I brought were all consumed.)

    I don't have any photos to share, but I missed several opportunities. The snow-covered trees were like a fairytale this morning, but I was too busy driving to take a picture. I regretted not taking a photo last Thursday when we played bridge. Three people brought cookies and other treats to celebrate Valentine's Day the next day, and the table filled with them was a perfect photo opportunity. The treats were spontaneous, and I enjoyed sampling all of them (some more than once). 

    On Friday, we decided to go out for a Valentine's dinner. Since I suspected they might be busy, I checked their availability. The only times available were 3 or 10 p.m. Since it was 2:30 p.m., we quickly decided to make the 3 p.m. reservation. One advantage of an early reservation is that we were home before dark and still had an entire evening to watch a few shows.

    The winter blast should last all week. We expect single-digit temperatures every morning, and highs will be below freezing until next Sunday. Brrr!

    I hope it's warm where you are and that you have an abundance of sunshine.

Signs of February

    I've been hearing the native Indiana Canada geese flying overhead. Their honking sound is hard to miss. Geese mate in February, and I'll have to be careful when jogging because they might try to chase me away if I get too close.  One came close to hitting me a year or two ago. We also saw some sandhill cranes flying on their migration to northern climes.

    These two events reminded me of the years we tapped our maple trees to make maple syrup. That also happened in February. Ray was in charge of boiling the sap, and we enjoyed maple syrup for several months afterward. Are the new owners tapping the trees?

Promise of a Sunny Day (taken through blinds)

    Last Friday evening, Ray and I picked up a church friend who doesn't drive at night. We enjoyed BBQ and salad for a light meal and then played Euchre. Some were playing dominoes and another game that I didn't know. Several small children made for a lively evening. 

    I took a break from writing, and we had supper and watched the first half of the Super Bowl. Now that the halftime show is over, we wonder how this game will end. Before the game, I picked the Chiefs, and Ray is backing the Eagles. One of us will be a winner!

Welcome February!

    With the moderating weather, I plan to jog outdoors this week for the first time this year. I've been going to the Greenwood Fieldhouse and using their indoor track since the snowy sidewalks were impassable and the temperatures were below average. 

    Did you know that 58 years ago, on January 16, the first Superbowl was played, and the Green Bay Packers won? The next day, we went to the hospital where Bart was born. 

This is a photo of Bart as a 3-1/2 year old

    We stayed up and watched the IU vs Purdue basketball game last Friday evening. Purdue was the winner, and even though IU lost, they played an excellent game for an exciting finish to a back-and-forth game.

     Above are a few photos from our snowy January. Since you may have trouble reading the journaling, here's what I wrote: 
    January was about the snowfall on the first Sunday of the month. It was the most snowfall in four years and the coldest January in nearly a dozen years. After waiting for two days, a crew cleared our driveway and sidewalk. Our street was snow-covered for half the month. 
    On Saturday mornings, I often make a big batch of pancakes, and we have enough for another breakfast a few days later.