SNOW!

Gosh, it's been a while since I posted to my blog, eh?

I just haven't felt inspired to write about anything lately. I've been making a conscious effort to spend more time reading, and an unconscious effort spending more time playing video games on the X-Box. I started to write more about what I've been reading and what I've been playing, but I decided to save that for another blog post.

The main reason I sat down to write today was to share some pictures from our first snow fall of the season.

The fact that it really, no-kidding snowed today really surprised me. The fact that the snow STUCK and we have about 3 inches on our back deck surprised me even more. Last winter the weather forecasters threatened snow on so many occasions and it never came. When the weathermen said it would snow today, I didn't believe them. I just figured they were crying wolf again.

Our Freaky-Tiki deck lights are growing white mohawks.

It amazes me how clumps of snow accumulate on narrow and bare tree branches.

This is a closeup of a branch just outside our family room window.

Chalk this one up as another "milestone" post. First, 8 year old ES wanted to mow the lawn back in the spring. Then, he wanted to rake the leaves in the fall. Now, low and behold...

...he's out shoveling the snow in the driveway.

We didn't even ask him to do it. He got all suited up to go play in the snow. I went to take a picture of him from the living room window and discovered him out there with the snow shovel making himself useful. Will wonders never cease?

Warning: Tangent Ahead.

I enjoyed New Holland Brewery's Ichabod (pumpkin ale) so much that I actually went back to buy more at Wegman's after my pumpkin ale blog post. On my most recent trip to Wegman's I noticed they had New Holland's winter brew called Cabin Fever, so I decided to give it a try.


Although the Cabin Fever bottle says "brown ale" on it, I would have guessed this to be a stout. It's a thick, heavy, dark brew with no detectable hops and a slightly sweet flavor. It goes along nicely with a cold winter night sitting by the fireplace.

End of Tangent. Resuming original line of thought.

I never would have guessed that the view outside my family room window would look so much like the artwork on the Cabin Fever bottle so early this season. I'm excited it happened on a Saturday for once so I can sit and enjoy the view from the comfort of home and not listen to my feet squelch and squirch their way through the cold slush from the bus stop to my office building.

Here in the toasty warm comfort of our home watching the snow fall outside is...

...bliss.