Snow Day Projects

With a little unexpected time off, I mostly just relaxed and hung out.  But, I did manage to complete a couple of small projects.  

Project #1 - I've been working on my One Little Word project and trying to find ways to not only complete the prompts, but to make improvements related to my word (HOME).  This month's prompt was to create a vision board utilizing pictures, quotes and phrases.  I cleaned out a stack of magazines, snipping meaningful pictures and words as I went and used a piece of patterned scrapbook paper as the base.  Instead of making something to hang on the wall, I made the vision board 8.5" x 11" so that it would easily fit into a page protector in my album.

Project #2 - Monday afternoon, after Ron got home from work a little early, we drove down to the duck pond to take a look around.  The sleet was bouncing off the hood as we parked and I suddenly realized that I needed some sort of rain-proof covering for my camera.   I found a plastic bag in Ron's truck that I was able to wrap around the body of the camera, but I really needed something more substantial.  (I've been meaning to make something for a while).  So, yesterday, I did a bit of measuring and drawing and cutting and sewing and came up with a "camera rain jacket" using some laminated cotton and gray minky that I had on hand.

I made an opening on the bottom to accommodate my camera strap . . .

I decided to make a velcro cover on the "lens end" to allow photos to be taken without taking the camera out of the jacket.  It is sewn onto the jacket on the top so that I won't lose it---I'm notorious for losing my lens covers!

Yesterday evening, I took it out for a trial run and it worked great!  (please disregard the mess in the bedroom)

Back to Reality

Well, it's back to school today after three days at home due to inclement weather.  I loved every minute of it, letting me know that when retirement comes in a couple of years, I will be ready!
Yesterday, our mostly melted sleet gave way to 3-4 inches of beautiful snow.   It began mid-morning and continued snowing with the biggest flakes I've ever seen for a couple of hours.  It was a dream for a wanna-be photographer--most of these photos are unedited.

I can't even remember the last time we had this kind of snow.  We sometimes get a flurry or two on top of a layer of sleet, but this was big, fluffy white snow falling from the sky.

It was beautiful!  I bundled up and sat outside on the deck for a while watching the flakes fall from the sky.

And catching a few.

Once again, Joy was in her element.  When she wasn't running through the snow, she was inside the house watching it from the window.

Emmi tolerated the cold stuff while I was outdoors, but then was anxious to come back inside.

It wasn't long until almost every surface was blanketed in snow.  I measured four inches at my house.

Birds and squirrels were everywhere---on the feeders, in the trees, on the power lines.  The brilliant red cardinals provided a stark contrast to the silvery white.  Can you spot one below?

I was lucky enough to not have to go to work, I never lost power and had a fire in the fireplace all day long.  It was a perfect day, as far as I was concerned. 

Dogs and Snow

Emmi has a love/hate relationship with the weather.  She likes to be outside watching birds and chasing squirrels, but when the weather is very wet or very cold, she would prefer being indoors.  

Joy, on the other hand, loves being outdoors in the cold temperatures.  Of course, she has a natural fur coat on at all times, so she most likely doesn't even feel it.  She runs through the yard, chasing birds, squirrels and her favorite target---- Emmi.  

It generally starts out innocently enough--trotting along behind Emmi as she makes her trek around the flowerbed borders.

But, then, her puppy spirit takes over and she wants nothing more than to play with Emmi.

 Soon, she is leaping through the air . . .

 And taunting Emmi to chase and play.

And, while these photos look like they are romping together, it most likely is a case of Emmi running as fast as she can to get back inside where it is warm . . .

 . . . where she can watch the squirrels and birds from the comfort of a warm room and wonder why the squirrels have been allowed to get on the ground.

Snow Day 2015

I know that if you live in the mountains, you are used to this sort of thing.  And, by the Northeast's standards, it really doesn't even count.  But, if you are from Louisiana, an inch of sleet on the ground is a BIG deal.  Everything stops.  We aren't accustomed to driving or even walking on this stuff, so safety becomes an issue.  I know some people don't care for snow or sleet since they have to get out in it to go to work.  But, since I usually get a day off from teaching (and this time, two days!), I LOVE it!!  I am perfectly content to stay home catch up on a little cleaning, watch a little TV, do a little sewing, watch the bird feeders and take lots of pictures!