Visitor

We are getting our blizzard tonight! Nothing so serious as the conditions in Massachusetts, but wild looking nevertheless. The winds are gusting to 68 km/h, which is whipping the snow past the windows. I will be shovelling snow again tomorrow!

My birthday has come and gone. I was a bit leery about spending my birthday by myself, but my misgivings were unfounded. I had a grand day indeed. After chatting with Attila in the morning, over a cup of coffee, I read for a while, and puttered about the house. Then I put on my winter glad rags and headed off to one of the local grocery stores, the one that is a little more “up market”. I had a few things on my list, but mostly I was determined to find something special for my birthday. And that I did. I bought myself two potted plants, a red kalanchoe, and a pink and white cyclamen. Then I decided to treat myself to “junk” food for my birthday. I bought two beautiful avocados, and a bag of organic corn chips. I also splurged on a pint of fresh blueberries. I spent the rest of the day reading, watching movies, and snacking on guacamole and corn chips, and eating fresh blueberries. What decadence. I received birthday greetings from my sisters, my Mom, and friends. Terra and Lares dropped by for bit, with a chocolate bar for me, and a candle for me to blow out. Luna took a video of the Grandbabies singing Happy Birthday to me, and it was grand! I called Luna and we chatted for quite a while. Unfortunately the Grandbabies and Janus had already left to go skiing for the day, so I missed talking to them. And then of course, my day ended with a lovely FaceTime chat with Attila. It was a grand birthday!

And I made a discovery as a result of my culinary indulgences. I found out that blueberries are marvellous when sprinkled on a toast with peanut butter.

My Visitor: Diesel

Yesterday Terra and Lares arrived with Diesel, one of their three cats. Diesel is about seven or eight years old, and he is extremely affectionate and good natured. He does not like dogs, and so was staying hidden in upper floor of Terra’s house, where the dogs were not allowed to go. He was a bit lonely up there though, so Terra though that he might benefit from having some time as an “only cat”. Of course the benefits will be mutual, I will gain some much appreciated company. He took to the house immediately, exploring every nook and cranny. It is a little house, so that did not take long. Then he hid when Lares brother and brother’s girlfriend arrived to pick them up. Diesel stayed in hiding for about a half an hour, then emerged to ask for some attention. We sat on the couch, me petting, him purring. Last night he slept with me, at the foot of the bed.

Terra will miss Diesel; she loves her pets. He is only visiting, and will go home when I return to the country house in the spring or early summer.

Worldly Distractions

Weather

The Little House in the City

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT IN EFFECT – snow and high winds
-2°C
Date: 4:12 PM EST Thursday 29 January 2015
Condition: Light Snowshower
Pressure: 101.1 kPa
Tendency: falling
Visibility: 2 km
Temperature: -1.6°C
Dewpoint: -5.5°C
Humidity: 75%
Wind: S 47 gust 68 km/h
Wind Chill: -10

The Country House

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT IN EFFECT – freezing drizzle
-5°C
Date: 5:48 PM EST Thursday 29 January 2015
Condition: Light Snow
Pressure: 100.7 kPa
Visibility: 5 km
Temperature: -5.2°C
Dewpoint: -5.7°C
Humidity: 96%
Wind: calm

Quote

“Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.”
G. K. Chesterton
1874 – 1936