snowy month

We have been spared the worst winter can bring, so far, but that appears to be changing.  We have four new inches of the white stuff that Mara and I wade through when I take her out.  IT's really going to get cold, so I've moved my kitchen window orchids into the little solarium in the Dining room.  They will have warmth away from the window and I can close the blinds to help with the heat.  Not much else I can do to help keep a warm house, but it's been a mild winter for heating fuel so far.  I"m making lots of warming stews and such for food.

February snow, 2016

We had a little snow yesterday, about 6 inches, I guess and today is nice and sunny.  Mara and i walked out in snow and she did her usual rolls in the snow.  Tom suggests we put soap on her so when she rolls, she can bathe.  That's a no no, but she would smell better.  We look forward to a bigger snow storm on Tuesday, so it will be back to snow shoes.  I can walk in the snow now with my boots, but not when it accumulates to a foot or more.

LATVIA

Some of our European trips include the following We walked the shores of the baltic looking for Amber while on a missionary trip passing out 50,000 Bibles in Latvia. This was a life changing experience as we mingled with the Latvian people and saw that fear was still in their eyes as the liberation had only been the year before.  Most walked with downcast eyes and it was rewarding to see their faces light up when they realized we were offering them a gift.  No one refused the free Biblio.We visited a children's orphanage and were blessed by their attention to our stories an songs.  We also visited Lithuania and traveled through forests where we could imagine the voices of the jews calling out in fear.  All in all, it was a great trip.    
While in London, we toured the British museum, walked into Churchhills bunker, saw the tower bridge and Buckingham palace.  We enjoyed  high tea in Herrods and saw a performance of Oliver at the   .
We traveled by car through Holland, viewing fields of tulips, marveled at the beauty in Kuenkenoff gardens and the flower mart.  We walked through Anne Franks house and felt her families's fears from the Germans.  I stood in the closet where Carrie Tenn Boom hid some jews.  We toured all the museums in Amsterdam and spent two full days in the Rike museum.. We took a canal trip through the Red light district, not getting off the boat. We walked into Anne Frank's bedroom where she hid from the Germans with her family.  We visited the Corey Tenn boom museum and stood inside the closet where she hid so many Jews over the years.  Another unforgettable  experience.

Valentine Day is fast approaching.  I remember a big box of chocolates and a valentine when I was seventeen years old from the love of my life.  Once he was going to be in the hospital of just coming home, so he hired a barbershop quartet to come to the house here in Sumner and sing to me since he couldn't take me out.  Now that folks, was romantic.  After 60 plus years, I will not expect any kind of show, but I bet I get a box of chocolates.