ICE AND NO SNOW

Well, the storm came just like they said it would.  At 2:34pm Sunday I saw my first snow flakes. Unfortunately, that was just about all the snow I got to see.  Within 10 minutes it started sleeting pellets the size of BB's and a couple of hours later freezing rain.  And that is all we have had.  I had rather have snow, atleast it is pretty.  So far no power outages for us. I have only heard 2 rescue units go by. We live about a 1000 feet from a major highway with mostly pasture and forest between us and the road. It means we can hear everything that goes up and down the road, according to ALDOT about 8,000 to 9,000 cars and trucks and rescue units a day.  That's pretty good for 1/8 to 1/4 inch of ice out there.  The temp is sitting right around freezing right now with no sunshine in sight before Tues or Wed.  So I guess the ice will stay for a while.  As long as we keep the power I will be happy.  If we don't, I will endure.  Hope you all have a happy day and God bless all of us.

From iceland, Alabama
Mary

SOUTHERN CUSS WORDS

Well, the weathermen (and women) are using those 4 letter cuss words that start with 's' and end with 'w' and have had the nerve to add a new one with 3 letters that starts with 'i' and ends with 'e'.  If there is ever a single word that can strike fear in a southerner's heart it is 'ice'.  Ice in the south means people getting hurt, power outages, falling tree limbs on cars and houses (and sometimes even people). I can deal with snow. At my age I just stay inside and look out the windows and take pictures from the front door and the back sliding door.  I don't go out.  Ah, but 'ice' ain't no fun in the South. People keep on thinking they can treat it like rain and get out on it in cars and trucks. Just 'cuz you think you can go ANYWHERE in a 4 wheel drive DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN ON ICE ! ! ! Now our power lines are underground in our little community, the main power lines out on the highway are on wooden poles that break when that 4W SUV hits them.  And there goes the power. This is the first major storm since I switched from a propane stove to all electric.  I wish I still had my propane.  If you can keep hot food going even if you don't have heat, and you will survive.  I just could not afford all the set up costs for propane when I moved the doublewide. It also means my gas fireplace does not do anything but look pretty any more.  So I will make sure all the jogging sweats are clean, and the heavy socks.  I have plenty of battery lanterns, candles to heat the fondu pots of soup and pre-made coffee that I will set on my useless electric stove. Battery radios will keep us connected to the outside world.  
I had to stop writting and go with Don to the store (Walmart) and do my best to keep him from buying  Coleman stove (I explained we didn't have a covered deck to cook on, therefore, the deck would be covered with ICE and we couldn't go out to cook, hence no need for cook stove). We have a gas grill sitting  out there already that we won't be able to get to for cooking because of UNCOVERED deck. LOL This is his first experience with ice in Alabama. Where he is from snow and ice are common everyday occurance and he just doesn't see why I get stessed out over it. That is why I have bread, peanut butter, Pringles, KFC chicken, Vienna sausages, cookies, deli turkey breast, etc.etc. and will make a couple of pots of coffee that we will only have to heat.
 This AM when I started typing this blog they were predicting 4-6 inches of snow/ice. Now at 6PM they are saying 6-10 inches of snow/ice and maybe more ice than snow. Experience says that they will either be VERY right or it won't do anything.  We had that once. They kept saying we were going to get inches of snow and NOTHING happened here but further south (Montgomery and south) they got 8 inches of snow.  In Alabama you NEVER put money on the weather forecast. 
Now to all you sweet folks that prayed for my Aunt Mary, I have an update.  I finally was able to go see her Thursday. I had talked to her every day but this was the first time to see her.  She has a fantastic shiner and a few stitches where she lost the fight with the door handle to the pantry when she fell. She getting up and walking in physical therapy (aided, NOT alone yet). I took a pic of her so you all can see her. She will kill me if she ever finds out I posted it on the internet, she didn't have her teeth in or any makeup on.  She had just gotten her hair fixed and her nails look great, so she was partially happy. 

 I think considering surgery and stitches and her age, she looks great. She is ready to go and doesn't slow down talking. She seemed in good spirits. So far so good.  She likes to be around people and has never met a stranger so in that respect she seems happy.  I hope so.  She said the pain pills have made her sleep good and she was happy with that.  I printed off your comments and took them to her and read them.  She was thrilled that folks from New England and other parts of the states and one lady from Singapore took the time to pray for her and write a note to someone they had never met.  It made her day. I thank each and everyone of you for your time and prayers. They mean a lot to her and to me.
I will keep you posted on her journey and the weather.
  I did not realize until I got home that I never took a picture of the vest that I made her for Christmas.  I hope Sheryl will take a pic with her phone so you can see it.  It came rather nice even if I did the work and design on it.  If Sheryl takes a pic I will post here.
May God shed His Blessing and Peace on each of you.
Mary

MORE LAST MINUTE

Well the vest is coming along. Today I laid out the red roses (her favorite color and flower) and started the background ribbon and embroidery.

I tried the roses with no extra colors and with yellow and blue flowers. I think I will stick with the red roses and other red flowers and will add some blue beading with the green and red beading. 

















I have done the background embroidery and used straight pins to hold the bulky flowers in place. I will not sew them on until I sew the vest together. I am pretty good at hiding the stitches and not going thru to the lining, so I don't worry about that.

I am holding down the ribbon with green seed beads and using a varigated green embroidery floss and my favorite stitch - the feather stitch to spread out beaded flowers and buds.

I have a collection of embroidery hoops. Some of them my mother and grand mother used 80 years ago.  They are the best, made with strong wood and brass screws.  They may never fall apart, atleast in my life time.  They  weigh more than the newer cheap hoops that fall apart and the rivets fall out that hold the screws.  They (the newer ones) are just chinese garbage. My older ones were made in England and the US back when people made things to last and were proud of their products.  I guess I need to get off of my soap box and get back to work.


Tonight we went to church. We had our Christmas service and communion. It was done in candle light and was so pretty.  It was just a simple service of carols and special music. John Tidwell played his guitar and sang some lovely carols. He has such a beautiful baritone voice and plays classical guitar style. He is a local disc jockey at 97.7 The Peach in Chilton county (our neighbor county).  Chilton is renowned for their peach crops and rival Georgia in production.  He did the music at our wedding last year and brought tears to my eyes when he sang "Annie's Song" by John Denver.  That is such a beautiful love song. Anyway, he always provides beautiful music at our little church. 
After the sevice we gathered in the kitchen and OD'ed on sweets and lots of out of this world food.  We have one lady that has a catering business and she always brings such scrumptious food.  All of the ladies are really good cooks and of course being Baptist we all try to out do each other in a friendly rivalry. As Don says: 'It makes for some fantastic food.' He never wants to miss a meal at church.  I guess this is all for today. I am going to get up in the morning and finish the vest.
PS they are using that 4 letter 'cuss word' that starts with s and ends with a 'w' for Christmas day.  That would really be something.  I have only seen one White Christmas in my life and I had to fly 5000 miles to Alaska for it. 
Merry Christmas to all and don't forget the real reason for the season. Our Lord and Savior's Birth.
Mary

SNOW AND GIVEAWAYS

Today we have snow flurries falling in Alabama.  Now I know all you folks that live in REAL snow country (including my brother in Wasilla, Alaska) are rolling on the floor laughing at some one getting excited about snow flurries . OK go ahead and laugh. I laugh too.  My husband (who was raised in snow country and has lived most of his life in snow country) is not laughing.  In fact if I utter THAT 4 letter word he gets upset and threatens to move us to Florida. I have tried to explain to him that Miami Fla has had snow before and not so many years ago. He just gets madder and said we would go to Arizona and I explained how the pilot of a Delta plane I was on pointed out all the snow on the ground as we flew over Arizona one time and showed him a calendar picture of snow in Arizona.  I think maybe I am not the only person in this 2 person household that has red roots in their hair. He does have a red headed temper when this red head points out things he does NOT want to hear LOL LOL.  Oh well I also went on to point out that the weatherman is predicting freezing rain and/or sleet for Tuesday nite and the last time we had freezing rain here was 1993 when we had 17 (that's right I said SEVENTEEN) INCHES OF SNOW on top of several inches of ice (freezing rain) and the power was out at our place for 12 DAYS.  We are so OVERDUE for snow and ice here in Alabama.  It actually frightens me with what we COULD have since we are so overdue.  Usually we don't go but a couple of years without a snow that sticks to the ground.  It really isn't much fun in Alabama when it snows or ices up.  Folks down here don't know how to respect snow and ice. And they sure don't know how to stay at home and OFF the roads.  We don't have that many sanders and salt trucks and NO SNOWPLOWS!!!!  The only people that get around even marginally safe are folks with 4 wheel drive and they don't really know how to get around on the ice that is usually under it all.
When we lose our power it is usually because some fool hit a light pole on the road.  I guess I should go and try to calm down my hubby and try not to upset him too much with the gleam of snow in my eyes every time I look out the window. And NO, none of the flakes have stuck but if you look real close in this picture you can see a few flakes flying by. LOL

NOO, those white dots on the picture are NOT lint on the lense of the camera!!   And stop laughing so hard.  I have enough to put up with listening to my husband !!! LOL LOL
On a better note I also wish to remind every one that Lynn at Teacupstitches is having one last giveaway this year on Christmas eve.  So click on her link and get your name in the pot.  She has some pretties to give away and what a Christmas present to your self if you win. 
So for now I need to go get the shovel out and shovel up the THREE big snow flakes that fell LOL.
May God bless each of you.
Mary