Snow Day

I’m a list maker. Most days my list of things to do in one day is rather long. It includes not just the "have to's", but the "want to's" and "ought to-do" items. Last night I added a bunch of errands I need to run to my already lengthy to-do list for today. For those of you who live where it snows, have you noticed how a “snow day” seems to make you think you have nothing pressing to get to, even though your list is still as long as ever and you’ve now added snow removal to that list?

Because my husband shoveled snow 4 times yesterday and I only once, I decided to take my turn early this morning. As I headed outdoors through the garage, this is what I found! 

A foot of snow had fallen during the night. The prediction was 1-3 inches.

Between my husband and I and our kind neighbors with a more powerful snow blower than ours, we got our driveway shoveled. My husband cancelled his appointments at the office and is home for the day. And even though we can now make it out of our driveway, I’ve decided my errands can wait. For some reason it just feels like a “free day” to do something different.

I hope you find a free day now and then. It rejuvenates the soul!!

I painted the reindeer in December and thought it sounded fun to post it. Nothing urgent, right?! Just something fun to do.

The sun is out - maybe I’ll step back outside. I think more snow has fallen, but an inch or two will be easier to shovel than 12!!

Happy winter.

A Cautionary Tale of Christmas Candy

Before our children were married, we spent most of our Christmas’s in California with my parents. In my parent’s home is a candy closet, full of many, many “favorites”.  It is known by the nickname of: “Grandma’s Candy Closet”. To pass time while driving to Sydney’s parents for Christmas, Nate (son) and Sydney (daughter-in-law) wrote this poem about Grandma’s Candy Closet:

A Cautionary Tale of Christmas Candy

‘Twas the night before Christmas

Grandma's Candy Closet - Trudy, December 2016
"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups:
candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup."
(quote by Buddy on "Elf")

And all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring,

Not even a mouse.

My parents in bed,

My siblings asleep.

On quiet tip toes,

To the closet I creep.

In daylight restricted,

At nighttime guard free.

I stuffed all my pockets,

More candy for me!

I turn to go back,

No time to delay.

What’s that out the window?

Did I see a sleigh?

My face flushes white,

I know what I’ve done!

If I’m caught red handed,

My Christmas won’t come!

I emptied my pockets,

And dashed for the hall.

Those sleigh bells I hear,

mean St. Nick’s come to call!

Could I be so careless, so thoughtless, so dumb?

Had I, as Icarus, flown too close to the sun?

The one night a year I’m to be extra mindful,

I’d gambled it all for a single sweet mouthful.

Down the chimney he’s coming,

I’m sure as can be.

My parents, Keith & Lucile Tibbitts and Del

There’s still time to fix this!

I’ll slip past the tree!

I made it to bed

And quickly feigned sleeping,

And hoped that St. Nick

Wouldn’t hear my hard breathing

My ruse overcame me,

I started to doze,

But swear to this day,

I heard three Ho, Ho, Ho’s

So to kids a reminder,

On this Christmas night,

Delay your adventures

And stay tucked in tight!

Del & Trudy, December 2016
Santa (my dad) bought 2 boxes, 2 pounds each, of Sees Chocolates!
Our favorite!!

You're Never Finished Until You Quit Admiring It

·       I was organizing my paintings the other day. I came across this darling face I painted for a book I illustrated for a friend. I had a hard time figuring out how I wanted the girl in the book to look, but I finally created this cute face and fell in love with her! Is it okay to fall in love with your own creation? I did! My husband is a good fix-it man. He fixes things until I don’t want it fixed again! We’re still using a toaster we got for a wedding gift because he’s been so good at fixing it. I told him I wanted a toaster wide enough to toast a bagel. He fixed the toaster so good last time (ten years ago) that I don’t think it will ever break. He believes in a penny saved is a penny earned, so why get rid of something that still works? I want a bagel toaster! But of course I could get one, so I must not want it bad enough -  but don’t tell him that!! Anyways, what I was leading up to is that when my husband fixes something or builds something he will go back and back to look at his good work. I smile about that. Today he drilled a hole in a cupboard so he could move our Bose Sound Touch to a more convenient spot in the house. He’s passed by it often today, pausing long enough to take a good look. Last week he installed a new facet in our main bathroom. A few months ago he installed a soft close toilet seat and thinks it’s one of the best inventions of the 21^st century! And a few years ago he built us a sun-room. The list could go on and on. The point is, each time he builds or fixes something, he looks and stares at it, not just for a few minutes, but for days. As he keeps returning to where he moved our speaker (above where I’m typing this) I told him that I’m no different. Each new painting becomes my favorite (not always, but often). Some get placed in my kitchen where I can look at it until a new one takes its place. Right now a snowman’s face has the coveted spot. Last year an Ostrich painting sat in the same spot. Before that, it was this girl’s face…. Hummmm…. Is this human nature or just something silly my husband and I do??