CHILL OUT

Well... I made it in for a half day as the weather this morning made the roads very slick with a heavy wet snowfall. I was more than happy to not have to rush around as we weren't opening till noon. It gave me some time to go out and clean the walk and driveway and get a few snaps of the picturesque winterscape. The opening picture was the first capture at 4:30 am... then I went back to bed for another 2 hours. I was beyond tickled when I got back up and it was heavier covered in a world of white!!!  I always think the trees look the prettiest. The birds were out too. It is the Robins I felt for...just returned and been fooled by Mother Nature...as this snow hit. 

A pair of Cedar Waxwings.

A lone junco. They have the prettiest songs when they are all chirping together.

The gardening shed.

Robins and starlings up high in the tree tops.

This garden is where in the spring and summer months all the roses, columbine, Sweet William and dahlia grow.

The ham! Just look at the attitude from this dove.

It was a good day...a late day, fastnachts and snow!!!! I think Dean Martin had the perfect song for today me thinks.....

FASTNACHT DAY!!!

 
I will brave wearing tight pants today, and brave eating three fastnacht's!!!!

Today is Fastnacht Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent when people traditionally eat up whatever sugar, eggs, butter, flour and lard is in their larders they have on hand before the season of fasting starts. Not that I fast mind you, like I have the will power. Fastnacht Day is an annual Pennsylvania Dutch celebration and the word Fastnacht translates to "Fast Night" in English. The tradition is to eat the very best foods, which are part of the German tradition, and lots to eat before the Lenten fast. Fastnacht's are essentially doughnuts, without the hole, and squarish, and are generally just plain or lightly powdered, also made with yeast, not baking powder. All are crispy on the outside and fluffy air inside and also not as sweet as regular doughnuts. Having grown up in an area of Pennsylvania Dutch and later in Bucks County, it's popular business and one that celebrates Fastnacht Day, I have witnessed the throng of people that come out early Tuesday morning to ensure they're able to get their mitts on a box of them or just a few. I can recall my late grandmother and her church lady friends making them by the thousands back in the day...and they'd be sold out by noon. I got two dozen lightly powdered to take into work today, from Oak Grove Farm which make them pretty close to how they are supposed to be made and look.

of course, we were also treated to another powdered morning...taken at 6:05am from my boudoir windows.

Now getting to work may be another story. No denying it is soooo beautiful! I'll take some snaps and share later today. Now go get a Fastnacht!!!

MOOD BOARD

My goodness kids, could it really have been a month I went to rest a spell on the chaise??? It was not all rest. After I found out about my trip to Boston to help open two showrooms, (none of which I was happy with, as I had to cancel meeting several bloggers... and all men I may add) on the way home a started catching a bug. I went downhill on the train ride back quick, but luckily started nursing myself, tea with honey and gin, Vicks'ed up, steamy showers and got plenty of sleep and knocked it out right quick. First time I had any cold or flu since 2017. Thanks heaven I come from strong stock, or again, is it the gin? Work had also gotten busy with a project for me, but the online break was a good one, to clear the mind, unplug from the news and chatter and get caught up on reading and tube viewing. Caught an excellent new show on PBS called Funny Lady and it was brilliantly and entertainingly done well. Of course, when I left for Boston, while there, and on the return, I encountered snow the whole time. Since then, it has been very mildly unseasonable...even saw my first robin yesterday...and today? Bitterly cold and guess what? Snow predicated overnight into tomorrow...1-3" Thats nothing to me, lol! In my mind I'm like yay!!!! So let's combine snow and the upcoming day of love shall we?

 

THIS HIBERNATION...

 ...I've been keeping it mostly casual!

Grid your loins...I'll be back next week!