Saturday, January 31

This last day of January dawned sunny. By afternoon, we enjoyed promise-of-spring temps in the 50s...such a relief after a long week of winter-ice woes. I started the day with a treadmill session and resistance exercises.

While I was cooling down after the session, the cable guy came, bringing a new box to replace the one in the bedroom that got fried in the power outage on Tuesday.

Once I was ready for the day, we took the ceramic village off the mantel. Taking the village down is almost as much work as putting it up. So that was our major project for the morning.

After lunch, we decided to tour the town to see how much damage the ice storm left behind. We know that some individuals suffered damages, like the lady at water aerobics whose house has a hole in the roof from a tree falling on it, and the lady from Master Gardeners, who said she and her husband lost five trees in their yard. But we saw no real damage during our tour, beyond the college, where pine trees and limbs are down all over campus.

So we stopped by the other store that has a sale every weekend to check out their advertised clearance sale. This store is just one across the state that is closing. We didn't see any real deals at the store, though I did find a cute denim jacket at a reasonable price, and Hubbie found two pairs of khaki slacks. Mother didn't find anything she could use.

We went to the WDCS after that to shop for groceries for next week's menu. It was about 3;30 p.m. by the time we got back home. Mother had simmered a pan of canned pinto beans with turkey bacon, onions, banana peppers, garlic, pepper and spices during the morning. I made a batch of corn muffins to go with the beans, and we had these along with baked potatoes and turnip greens for supper. It was a delicious comfort food meal.

I'd recorded our favorite basketball team in SEC play this afternoon, and we watched the game after supper. Our team lost once again, but after falling far behind in the first half, they rallied in the second half and got within five points, proving that our young team has spunk and spirit and great potential for the coming years.

Friday, January 30

Only twelve of us showed up for water aerobics this morning, which wasn't surprising, since so many folks are still without power today. The college campus was strewn with downed pine trees and branches, though debris had been cleared and piled alongside the sidewalks. The water in the pool was cool, but it felt good to get a workout.

One of the ladies said a large pine tree fell on the roof of her house, leaving a hole in the roof. Most of us, though, escaped relatively unscathed.

I didn't accomplish much for the rest of the morning after I got back home. For lunch, Hubbie and I had chef's salad, served with banana muffins, and bowls of fresh fruit. After lunch, we ran a few errands. First we took the gallon of 11-bean soup, in four Styrofoam containers, to the church where they, along with several other varieties of donated soup, will be sold at the arts council Soup Saturday fundraiser.

From there, we stopped by a grocery store to pick up on-sale fresh strawberries and grapes. Then we went to a farm supply store to pick up birdseed.

Back home, I did a report of income and expenses of my 2008 artist-in-education and freelance photography activities for Hubbie to add to other income tax info.

After that, it was close to supper time. Tonight, we had turkey burgers on wheat buns for Mother and me, and beef hamburger for Hubbie. These were accompanied by sauteed potatoes and corn on the cob.

This evening, we went to the college to attend a concert by an a capella ensemble, comprised of five singers from Holland...three women and two men. These extraordinary singers performed sacred music tonight, but there repertoire ranges from Renaissance to music of our era.

We arrived at the college, as did several others, at 7 p.m., which was the time that was stated in both the regional and local newspapers. But it turned out the concert wasn't scheduled to start until 7:30 p.m. So we were invited to gather in the chapel to hear a short talk about and demonstration of the huge pipe organ. It was an interesting prelude to a wonderful concert.

At the concert, a lady who is both a member of water aerobics and Master Gardeners said that she and her husband lost five trees in their yard to the ice storm. We hated to hear this, though we're thankful that they were not hurt and their home was not damaged.

Thursday, January 29

We slept late this morning, as we have been doing lately, and arose to a sunshiny day. The trees were sparkly silver against a blue sky, so I grabbed my camera to snap a few photos before I did a session on the treadmill. I wasn't dressed to go outside, so I just snapped what I saw from the upstairs windows and balconies.

Once I was ready for the day, Hubbie and I ran errands. The temperature was on the rise, helping melt the ice. As Mother said, it rained ice cubes today. As we traveled to town, though, the ice-covered trees on the hills shimmered in the sunlight. It was just lovely, and though we couldn't help but appreciate the beauty, we also couldn't help thinking about all those who are suffering the adverse effects of it. So often with nature, the same things that are beautiful are also the most treaturous.

Our errands took us first to the newspaper office to pick up yesterday's edition, since ours was not delivered. Then we went to the greeting card shop for Valentines. We spent enough that I was able to use a $2 discount coupon.

From there, we stopped by the bank, which was useless, because Hubbie had forgotten to bring his checkbook. So we went to the pharmacy, but Hubbie realized he'd also forgotten to bring along a prescription discount coupon.

Then we went by another bank to pick up more calendars that feature two of my photographs. I'll give these to family members who want them when we visit them in February. Then we stopped by the cable TV company to schedule a repairman to come and replace the cable box upstairs that was working before the power outage, but did not work once power was restored.

From there, we went to the WDCS for groceries. The store was packed with folks buying ready-to-eat foods and water to tide them over until their electricity is restored. By the time we got back home, it was about 12:30 p.m., so we didn't have lunch until 1 p.m.

This morning, Hubbie got a call from Daughter, asking to borrow our generator, because their power is still off and they need to get electricity to the freezer. Grandson came about 2:30 and picked up the generator and a chainsaw. He reported that damage in his part of the state is massive, with thousands still without power, live power lines and tree limbs blocking streets, the tops of trees broken, pine trees snapped in half, and hundreds of telephone poles broken. While he was here, he took advantage of a hot shower, after several days of bird baths.

While Grandson was here, a young man from a local college stopped by to pick up four ladder back chairs to use in a play being produced cooperatively between the college and the community theater. Members of the community theater board got e-mails yesterday asking for this type of chair, and I happened to have what they need, which will be about all I'll contribute to the effort beyond attending the performance.

Mother came over during the afternoon, and at 5 p.m., we went to weigh in at Weight Watchers. We skipped last month, so we had to pay a fee. Mother had gained a pound since we last weighed, and I gained a half pound. So it's back to basics for us, after over-indulging during the holidays. We were given lots of new literature tonight to help us get back on track.

Mother went home after the meeting, and I fixed freezer-bag omelets, sauteed potatoes from leftover baked potatoes, turkey bacon, and wheat bagels for Hubbie's and my supper.

Afterwards, we watched "Wuthering Heights," a public channel movie offering based on the 1847 Emily Bronte novel of obsessive passion between Heathcliff and Cathy...a story that was so scandelous in the writer's time that there was a call to ban the book. But it is a book that has never been out of print since that time.

Later, we watched our favorite college basketball team play to a win after losing their first four games in SEC competition. It's such a shame that so many fans are without electricity tonight and couldn't watch this game.

More Ice Storm Photos

These are some more snapshots of ice covered trees and plants in our yard. The ice is a beautiful, but unwelcome guest, causing misery all over our state. Thousands are still without power, including members of our family. Hubbie's daughter and son-in-law, his sister, his son, and his grandson and family, who live two and three hours east of us, are all without power.

Daughter at least has gas heat in her basement apartment, so her home is now haven to several family members, as well as neighbors.

Many folks in our community are also without power. We are among the lucky ones who suffered a power outage for only a little over three hours yesterday. We were also fortunate to be able to stay in our camper during the power outage.

Today, Mother chose to stay home. I spent time at my office computer, submitting the story and photo of the novelist to the regional newspaper editor, uploading ice storm snapshots and sending them to a photo center to be printed, and answering e-mails. I also called our beauty shop to make appointments for Mother and me next Tuesday. I wondered if the shop would be open, since the roadways were icy today.

Later, for supper, Hubbie grilled a large t-bone steak, which was enough for us to share. I sauteed onions and mushrooms to smother the steak. Baked potatoes, salad, and glasses of red wine completed the meal.

Ice Sculptures

We slept late again this morning, and after a hot cereal breakfast, I opted out of a treadmill session in favor of getting out into the yard early to snap the photos above. Predictions were that the temp would rise by noon and melt the ice. But in fact, the day stayed cold enough that the wintry stuff stayed around. I was particularly intrigued by the leaf shapes, with no leaves under them. I guess the leaves froze and dropped off, leaving nothing but their frozen ice shapes behind.

Tuesday, January 27

Since predictions were for an ice storm this morning, we slept late and awoke to ice laden trees and power lines. Right after a breakfast of hot Cream of Wheat, I hopped on the treadmill.

Hubbie helped Mother come over, though her porch and the yard weren't slick. We didn't accomplish much this morning. We watched weather reports, while Mother completed a birthday card she started yesterday, and I browsed through a new scrapbook magazine.

After lunch, Mother and I, in no mood to start a project, decided to watch the musical movie, "Annie," starring Carol Burnett and Albert Finney, that I bought in another town last Saturday. We got about half way through the movie when the power went off. It was 2:30 p.m.

Hubbie called the power company, and after an hour passed and there was still no electricity, he went out to the shed to get the kerosene heater. But when he tried to light it, he found that it was inoperable. So he went out to the camper to turn the heat on, but found that the 12-volt batteries were dead.

Since the roads were clear, Hubbie went around town searching for another kerosene heater. None to be found anywhere. At one store, he was told they had received about 300 calls for heaters today.

So he stopped by an auto parts store to purchase two new batteries. The store owner came by and helped Hubbie change out the batteries. Finally, around 4:30 p.m., we had heat and lights in the camper. I gathered our supper, a battery-operated radio, and card games, and then we helped Mother and Shih Tzu get to the camper.

The corn chowder that I'd had the foresight to cook last night tasted good, served with the banana muffins Mother had made. For dessert, we had canned pear halves, topped with cottage cheese and marichino cherries.

Around 6 p.m., the power came back on. But we stayed in the camper and played a couple of games of Skipbo while we waited for ours and Mother's houses to warm up after three and a half hours without power. I made a batch of trail mix (Cheerios, walnuts, Craisins, stick pretzles, and chocolate chips) for us to snack on as we played. I won both games, and then Mother was ready to go to her house.

The steps on the camper were very slick, and while Mother had no problem going up them, her feet slid on the way down, and I had to grab her under her arms to steady her. She was afraid I'd injure my back helping her, but I squatted down and used only my legs and arms to hold her. It's times like this that I'm glad I stick with my treadmill schedule to strengthen my legs, and use weights and an elastic band to strengthen my arms.

However, we should have bought boxes of ice cream salt to de-ice steps. That'll definitly be on my next shopping list. It seems as though no matter how prepared we try to be, we are never prepared enough...for ice storms, or for tornado weather.

Tomorrow is predicted to be even worse than today, with more ice forming overnight, along with the possibility of snow. Snow we don't mind nearly as much as ice, because ice breaks the trees and downs power lines. Today, we could hear the shotgun sounds of limbs cracking and falling. A few small limbs fell on the roof. What we fear, though, are large limbs crashing on top of the house, possibly causing damage.

I didn't take my camera outside today, though I might in the morning.

Monday, January 26

Only thirteen of us showed up for water aerobics this morning. I'm not sure why so many wimped out today. The morning was cold, but there was no wind, so going and coming from the gym wasn't intolerable. I wanted to go this morning, because predictions are that we'll have ice storms the next couple of days, and the pool will probably be closed Wednesday.

Story from the pool: when I remarked that our neighbor across the street had been robbed Saturday night, one of the ladies said that a few years ago, while she and her husband were out of town for 24 hours, someone broke into their home and stole their silverware, plus family heirloom antique furniture, lamps, etc. She was philosophical about it, though, saying, "it was only stuff." She was grateful they were not at home to possibly be harmed by the thieves.

Another lady relayed a cute story: she mentioned that she is currently working on a 1,000- piece jigsaw puzzle that is very difficult, and reminded her of another 1,000-piece puzzle completed a few years ago. She said the puzzle had been an anniversary gift to her some 20 years before, but she had displayed it, unopened on a shelf, until one day she decided to try to put it together.

The picture was of a black cat on a floral background, and it was frustrating to work. For a year, she and others who visited her home worked on the puzzle. Finally, it was completed, but was missing one black piece.

The company who produced the puzzle guaranteed that if a puzzle piece was missing, it would be replaced. So she wrote the company, but got her letter back telling her the company had gone out of business.

So she decided to make a piece for the puzzle. She cut out a piece of cardboard to fit the shape needed, and then diligently searched through slick magazines to find just the right shiny black hue to glue onto the piece. She matched it nearly perfectly, framed the puzzle, and hung it.

After another year had passed, she decided to get rid of the futon in the den where the puzzle had been completed. When she moved it, out fell the puzzle piece. Now she wanted to replace the homemade black piece with the real one, but it was tricky, because she'd done such a good job making a piece that she had trouble locating it in the puzzle.

But she did finally find the homemade piece, remove it, and put the real one in. She was so excited that she called her sister. Her sister was not home, so she left a message that she should call back, because, "I have wonderful news." When her sister called back, her disappointed response was, "That's the wonderful news??"

I told the lady that this is the best jigsaw puzzle story I've ever heard, and I couldn't wait to tell Mother, who is an avid jigsaw puzzle fan.

Later, after I got ready for the day, Hubbie and I went to the WDCS to get the requisite bread, milk, and other essentials for winter-storm weather, when we might not be able to get to a grocery store for a whole day or two.

While we were gone, Mother started two pots of 11-bean soup simmering. After lunch, Mother made greeting cards, while I finished the article about the lady who got a novel published, and Hubbie did paperwork.

For supper, we had braised pork chops, baked potatoes, and leftover shrimp pasta...a rather peculiar combination, but it was good.

After supper, I decided I should make corn chowder for tomorrow night's supper. Mother insisted on chopping potatoes, onions, and celery for it before she went home. I wanted to get the chowder cooked tonight, in case the ice storm knocks out the electricity tomorrow. We can heat food on the gas stove in the camper, but I don't want to do full-fledged cooking out there.

Mother baked a batch of banana muffins today, using a new recipe I found in a magazine. We'll have those with the soup tomorrow night.

Hubbie spent today making sure the propane tanks for the camper were filled, and that there is ample water drawn (we have well water, and the well pump won't work without electricity). He also loaded the fireplace with wood, and made sure there are batteries in the radio.

So if the winter storm knocks out the power, we are as prepared as we can be.

For the rest of evening, Hubbie and I relaxed in front of TV.

Sunday, January 25

We slept late, and I skipped my exercises again this morning. As I was getting ready for the day, I noticed that it was sleeting. Predictions were that we could have wintry weather, including sleet and ice, but I thought it wouldn't come until late Monday evening orTuesday morning. So I was surprised to hear the sleet on the roof. It stopped later, but the day remained uncomfortably cold.

Mother came over mid-morning, and while I started a load of laundry, and made a menu for this week, she sorted beans for two recipes of 11-bean soup, which we'll cook tomorrow.

Then she read the Sunday paper, while I programmed the DVR for this week's favorite TV shows and movies. Hubbie took care of his usual morning chores...walking Shih Tzu, and feeding the cats and birds.

For lunch, we settled for leftover shrimp pasta and green beans. After lunch, Mother and I watched "Cyrano de Bergerac," a 2008, two-and-a-half-hour stage play starring Kevin Kline, that I recorded on DVR from the public television channel. We enjoyed this classic swashbuckling romantic tale about a poet with a long nose who not only writes, but speaks, in rhyme. He loves his cousin, Roxane, but agrees to pen poetic love letters to her for a rival, whom Roxane fancies.

While we were watching the movie, our neighbor came over and asked to speak with Hubbie, who was on the computer upstairs. He came down and went out onto the porch to talk with the man. The neighbor wanted to know if we'd seen anyone around his house last night about 7 p.m.

We'd been home from the other town only a few minutes at that time, and noticed no one at our neighbor's house. The man said while he was gone from home for a little while, someone broke down the back door, entered his house, and stole some rifles and a good amount of cash, which was his rent money. The police are investigating, but it's disturbing to think a thief is in the neighborhood. Chances are, though, the culprit is probably someone this man (who lives alone) knows...someone who has been in his house and knew about the guns, if not the cash.