We live in a part of the country where there is not a lot of snow. When we do get some it becomes quite a major challenge for a number of people who do not have much experience walking/driving/functioning in this strange environment. While we have had more than our share of experience of snow and ice from having lived in various parts of the country it has been wonderful, each year, passing some lovely, mild months that are more or less nominally ‘winter’ but are really just a cooler fall. This year has brought us a reminder of what it’s like to actually have to ‘dress up’ to go outside. If for no other reason – it is a wonderful change to highlight what we usually have. It lets us know – to a somewhat lesser degree – what others are going through...

When I was little my mom used to set aside one day a week to do her baking. Knowing what I know now, she really was an artist in that she turned out many wonderful loaves of bread, buns and cinnamon rolls, working without modern appliances and cooking with an oil stove. (Getting the right temperature for things was a little more difficult than it is for an electric stove.) Added to that, she would have a fantastic pot of homemade soup simmering and after school it was a slice of heaven to have a bowl of it with a fresh hot buttered bun. (I’m taking a moment here to savor the memory... pardon the drool..) I am not my mother. The soup is possible but the baking.....not so much. Besides – when you live close to a number of wonderful outlets that do all the slaving for you – why bother, huh? But still...there’s that moment when the aroma of a freshly baked loaf of bread hits you that just about buckles the knees. Sooooooo, we decided to take advantage of a sale on breadmakers. Heard a lot of good things about them. Even me mom tried one and wistfully chimed in about how wonderful it would have been to have one when we were growing up. Last night, hubby did the honors and inaugurated the machine. A lovely, sweet smelling, french style loaf. Yummmmmmmmm. Yes, I can get used to this. And so to the tune of “Matchmaker”.....here we go now...

The couch that had sat forlornly on our street for a couple of weeks...it’s owner having left it for others to deal with... slowly accumulated more furniture. Another arm chair. A bicycle. Even another couch. We wondered how high it would grow till it became an issue that merited attention. Apparently a few concerned citizens notified the city. But it wasn’t their concern that got action. Our street was on a parade route for a recent festival – so the city finally came by to take care of the eyesore. If not for that factor – I wonder how long the junk would have rested there? And how many more people would’ve decided to tack on their discarded gems? Another visual manifestation of the apathy below the surface...

We used to live in a part of the country where snow filled the landscape for anywhere from four to six months. Sometimes more. As they say in Quebec- “Eight months winter – four months poor sledding.” Now we live where the snow is rare. And while we are very happy with that, there is just one thing I miss about it...it’s that first quiet snowfall. Flakes large and soft, slowly drifting down through the night. Quieting the world for a brief moment in time...

Our local 24/7 shop has a clerk that is invariably pleasant. She recently suffered an injury to her foot that makes being on it for ten hour shifts – rather painful. But like many people she can’t afford the time off to let it heal properly. From brief conversations I have gleaned that she has two small children as well. The doctor says that they can’t do much about her foot but that it would be good if she could lose a bit of weight. So she’s thinking of joining the Y and she’s happy to find that they have a pool that she can bring her kids to. What impresses me is that while things may be hectic, painful, and difficult for her circumstances – she is always pleasant to her customers and she is obviously an involved and caring mother. Noticing the general trend in the service industry for clerks to be abrupt and even rude at times – she stands out. You’ve probably run across someone like her in your travels too. Let’s hope they’re appreciated...

We’ve all heard the phrase – “May you live in interesting times..” and as we have come to understand – it was not meant as a blessing. Well, we indeed do live in interesting times. Everyday the world seems to be twirling a bit more out of control and we are bombarded with negative information that is spun to inspire the greatest reaction of fear possible. There is no doubt that our times call for clear heads. We need to do our best thinking, focusing on what is important and applying our energies to what is positive and upbuilding. And tho’ things at times may appear a bit ‘too’ interesting it is good to bear in mind that we are not the first generation to experience outrageous circumstances. Where it will all lead is still unknown but I rather like the fact that it sounds so understated and British (dare I say) to describe them as ‘interesting’. Let’s not lose our senses folks – the best is yet to come...