Snow, Gardening, Angels and a Challenge!

Boy oh boy...I know there is someone out there who loves shoveling snow, but in this house right now, no one is jumping for joy LOL!

So far we a little more than 26.5 inches and the snow doesn't show any signs of letting up! Unlike the last couple of snows which were light and airy, this one is full of moisture and HEAVY!!! The winds don't help any and when we were going to go out this morning at 8:30 am to start a little path for the dogs to get out, the snow had drifted up against the storm door and we really had to push it hard just to eek out and start to clear the snow from in front of the door just to open it.

Here is a pic so you can see how things looked a few hours ago after we cleared a little bit....I just went out to take a quick peek and everything we cleared is now covered again so we're just going to wait for it to finish tomorrow before really working on clearing it.

We were able to finally clear a small area for the dogs and they had a lot of fun in the snow running around. I thought they were going to really take advantage of all of the room (since they were not leashed) to go crazy but they were only interested in running up and down the area we had cleared .

Guinness of course not wanting to be left inside started his barking (ok it sounded like mewling but remember...he is a DOG in my hubby's mind) and so we took him out to the back patio and set him down in a little area that had been excavated out there for just for him...he started playing with the snowflakes and actually digging a hole in the snow to create a little tunnel...what a silly cat um err I mean DOG! He keeps wanting to go out and play so we give him like the other dogs a little time outside.

My mom called me to say that she had excitement at her house this morning. She lives along side a creek and the street is only 2 cars wide (enough for cars parked along the curb and traffic). So she is watching the plow who is working on pushing through 2 feet of snow and he gets stuck. Instead of just backing out he starts to rock the truck back and forth and then she sees flames coming out from under the hood.

The rest got very jumbled in the telling but this is what I know:

• My son who lives with her and helps her out has been shoveling to keep the walk clear since early morning was sent to get the fire extinguisher
• She calls a neighbor to bring their extinguisher out as well
• She calls the fire department (who she says wants the story of her life when all she wants is someone to come put out the fire)
• The firemen come walking because they can't get the truck down
• A man comes in walking with a BIG fire extinguisher
• The flames (which have now engulfed the cab of the truck) are now extinguished
• They hear a big crack from this huge tree in front of the house which comes towards Nick and the next thing she knows she no longer sees my son but instead a huge snowman who just missed being beaned in the head by the branch.
• She speaks to my nephew who upon hearing the news about his cousin asks his Grandmother if she was able to get a picture of "Snowman Nick"
• My son says to my mom in the background...I hear a buzzing....then they both hear a crack...and then my Mom says to me..."honey I have to go we just lost power."

I'll give her a call a little later, but I know that it may be awhile before she gets electricity back based on the news of all of the power outages but she did say she had prepared for the eventuality. Ok...am I done whining about the snow yet....mmmmm......maybe for a little LOL!

On to my next topic...Gardening! Remember last time I told you I had started my aerogarden around the 10th of January?? Well here is a pick so you can see how it looked a week later on the 17th and one of how it looks today (21 days later!)

I'm impressed! What you see in the front from left to right is: Cilantro, Tomato & Epazote (it's a Mexican spice). In the back from left to right is: Tomato, Thai Basil, that unknown herb from Colombia & another Tomato. The stalks on the plant are really sturdy and it's actually time to start to prune so it doesn't start to flower right away...I'll keep you all up to date as it goes...I love seeing green growing in the cold of winter...don't you?!

Now what did I want to talk to you about next....oh Yes! Angels! I know we always have them around us lifting us and giving us their Love...so I thought that would make a cute little accent for either a Sweet Card or Layout of a special event. I created it so you could use it in a variety of ways depending on whether you want to use a mat and if you do, which one!

It has been uploaded to the store and available in all of the formats: .AI, .GSD, .KNK, .WPC and .SVG. Just click on the picture at the top left corner of my blog and it will take you right to the store.

Well I guess that leaves just one subject to talk about .....a Challenge! I hear you all starting to get excited!

Here is a sketch I created specifically for you Paperthreads Special Customers for "Customer Appreciation Day" which falls on February 15th!

Make sure you come back here on February 10th to download the file and create your Masterpiece!

Change it up however you like...use an accent of your choosing...color outside the lines...just have fun!

You will have until 15 February to complete your layout and upload it to a special section which will be created in the gallery. A winner will be selected and prize awarded

OK....my fingers are a bit tired after ALL this catching up and there is SNOW piling up against the storm door again!

Take care and Keep Warm!

Eddita