Gift of RA

Most of the country has been dealing with a lot of  snow lately.  We had (to us) really cold weather but nothing on the ground except some frost.  If it is snowy or icy here, we have so many hills to navigate – if I can’t get up and down the hospital hill, I won’t be going anywhere.  True, I don’t have all wheel drive as Eddie does in his Volvo, so I stay put until the roads out of here are passable for me.  Does put a crimp in things for me, but I would rather be inside and warm rather than trying to explain to Eddie why I am in a ditch somewhere and the has had its carriage work rearranged.

Call me chicken if you want, twice I have been stuck on a hill in the snow and had to be recued.  The first time I remember was on the hill of Myers Way – stuck in the middle and going sideways.  I was really scared, the cars were coming down the hill and I was across both lanes.  A guy in a Jeep came by and he and his friend pushed the car to the side and took me home.  Later, Dad drove me over to pick up the when the road was clear.

The second time I managed to get up the hospital hill from Ambaum but couldn’t get across the top.  Dad came out and rescued me.    Another time I had rented a car to visit here and couldn’t get up the hospital hill, so I parked in the parking lot on Ambaum and Bob Allen came down to get me.  Ever since then, I don’t drive in snow unless I get caught when I am out somewhere.

So thanks to my sister Ellen, I have some pictures of snow.  They from the first snowfall in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.

I think these are houses near the shore.

This is on the new boardwalk, the pavillion

This always amazes me, snow on the sand by the water.

Ellen isn’t the only one out very early in the morning.

The sun is beginning to come up and the sky is beautiful

I am quite happy to see snow this way, no desire to be in it.  One thing about working from home, I can still do things as long as the electricity stays on.  Once that’s gone, no computer, radio or anything – especially no lights.  We can at least light a fire in the fireplace and huddle in front of it.  I can also write with pen and paper and read, so I am not completely at a loss for something to do.  Of course, it is lovely to watch the snow fall and later the sparkly fresh snow crèches and is beautiful.  It is always interesting to see what tracks have been made – humans and creatures.

We are going to Toronto for christmas and I wouldn’t be surprised if they have snow.  it will probably be cold, so I am thinking wooleys, gloves and things to keep me warm.  Maybe we will not have to deal with it at all.  We had a several hour layover on our way to Jerusalem the last time – lovely sunny day, absolutely perfect.  Now we’ll see the opposite.  Our niece and her family are there and we are really looking forward to seeing them again after almost 14 years.

Eddie called his sister in Jerusalem yesterday morning, they were hit by the snow storm that covered a lot of the Middle East.  How her son made it up the hill to open the shop, I have no idea.  They don’t have central heating, usually kerosene heaters.  Since their apartment block is made of concrete, it can get cold and damp in the winter, so it isn’t easy for them to keep warm at the moment.

Snow is on the way for Ellen again, it will be interesting to see the photos from that.

Thank You Ellen for your lovely photos, I enjoy each one you send me.