Day 59: Goodbye, Snow!

Weather in the sixties today meant that our six inches of snow is melting rapidly. So as the sun disappears in the west, we bid farewell to the patchy snow around our front yard, only our second snowfall of the winter.

Day 58: First Icicles

In our ten winters here in this small mountain town east of San Diego, we've never seen icicles...until now, the day after the storm. Icicles may be common place for you Back Easters, but this is Southern California!!! Icicles are big news!!! :)

Day 57: Out the Bathroom Window

I took this out the bathroom window while the storm raged. Snow is a rare thing in Southern California, especially in San Diego County, and receiving six inches of the white stuff makes this storm the second biggest snowfall in our ten winters here.

Day 56: Battening Down the Hatches

We have the coldest storm in twenty-thirty years bearing down on San Diego County tonight. So the boys stacked firewood all over the hearth and all over the porch so that when we receive the expected 6-12 inches overnight in our town. There's even a chance of snow flurries in the inland valleys where I grew up--that's happened only twice in my lifetime.

So we're ready for the deluge and prepared to be snowed in for a few days....

Day 55: Signs o' Spring

As I walked home from having tea with a friend, I stopped by my lilac bushes to check, and--lo and behold! Buds!!!

So despite the coldest storm in the last thirty years bearing down upon Southern California this weekend (snow down to 1000 feet, and possible snow flurries in the eastern valleys for the first time since my childhood), my garden is showing signs of the coming spring.

Day 54: Storm Coming....

As I walked out our gate on this frigid day (well, frigid for Southern California--it was in the high thirties and windchill in the high twenties when I took my stroll), I stopped to capture the incoming clouds while on my way to our town's little coffee shop to meet with my dear friend Judith, poet extraordinaire. :)

Day 53: The Book of Common Prayer 2011

Early thisd week, Father Acker received a preview copy of the Book Of Common Prayer 2011 that he revised and his wife and I edited over the last nine months or so. We spotted a few areas that needed work, and the printing company accepted all our changes. This is the exterior of the book....

...and here is a quick peep at the interior. My hands were shaking so much with excitement that I could barely focus the camera! I only took two photos--I was too busy woo-hoo'ing!!!

We hope to have the prayer books available by mid-March. :)

Day 52: Snow Play

It was cold enough on Sunday that the vast majority of the snow stayed with us through Monday. B couldn't resist making a snowman on Sunday....

...which he promptly destroyed on Monday.

Boys....

Day 51: A Snowy Drive

We had snow last night, and on our drive home from church, the surrounding mountains were white, right at the offramp to our town.

Day 50: Evening Snowfall

After dark we received our first snowfall of the season, a rather rare event in Southern California. Some years we get none; other years we can get 8-10 snowfalls, usually just a half-inch or so. Tonight we received about a half inch, and we hope for more tomorrow. I took this looking out our back door.

Day 49: Wise Words

J rearranged the Magnetic Poetry words on our refrigerator lately, and I rather liked what I read tonight....

Day 48: A Colorful Child

J enjoyed some of his "fun dip" Valentine candy...with rather colorful results.

What We Magnify Through Our Lenses

My favorite blog is A Holy Experience. Ann Voskamp's beautiful writing and evocative photography feed my soul in inexpressible ways.

Today she posted this snippet from her new book, A Thousand Gifts, and I thought it expresses so well why I joined the 365 Photo Project once again, despite my too-busy schedule:

What Is Your Life Really Magnifying?

Enjoy!!!

--Susanne :)

Day 47: Stained Glass Plan

This is the plan for a 32" by 48" commissioned stained glass window that Keith is working on for some acquaintances of the Ademas, the family for whom Keith has made two windows in the past few years. This couple wanted something very simple and at first didn't even want the flourishes, but we'll see what they think. Keith will e-mailing this plan to them for approval before he starts buying glass and starting work.

Day 46: Repairing the Clock

Keith has spent several hours attempting to clean and repair my mother's Sessions mantel clock that belonged to her grandmother. He even added new leather to the chime hammers to create a richer, deeper tone. We took the clock back to my parents, hoping that it will run better after the special care Keith took with it.

Day 45: A Valentine's Day Table

My parents always have the kids over for a special celebration for Saint Valentine's Day. Elizabeth helped my mom to set the table and decorate the dining room for their wonderful dinner. It's become a family tradition that even Elizabeth, as a college student, still enjoys--even making Valentine cards after their dinner. :)

So my parents watch the kids while Keith and I get to go out for a date. After an early dinner at Outback, Keith took me to see The King's Speech (my review is here).

Day 44: Keith's Plan

One of Keith's artsy projects this week is to start filling in this plan for a tile mosaic of Diamond Head in Hawaii for the floor of my parents' home elevator. He found a photo online that he's using as a guide, making changes along the way to create a very cool image that will be reminiscent of the view from my parents' condo in Waikiki.

He'll be installing it while they're in Hawaii this spring as my mom uses the elevator far too much to be without it, even for a day. I'll keep you posted on his progress--I love taking photos of Keith at work. :)

Day 43: February or June?

Usually February in our mountain town means snow, highs in the 30s and 40s, and lows in the low 20s. But this week has been quite unusual. I sat on the front porch to write in my journal and found myself dripping perspiration down my face and onto my writing--so I scurried back in.

After taking this photo of the temperature at 2:30 in the afternoon, that is.

Day 42: Out for a Stroll

I'm not sure why I did this, but I just suddenly felt like taking a shot of my cane on the dirt path that winds through the meadow on the way to our house. I often walk this path either to the post office, the coffee shop, or the park and library. I loved the shadow the cane cast, too. Just wish I didn't have to use it so much...I definitely needed it today.

Day 41: Afternoon Shadows

We got home around 4:00PM from being in the city all day, and the shadows were long as we drove through the meadow on our way to our home. I love our little mountain valley and the meadow that our house looks out upon.

Day 40: Little House in the Mountains

On my way walking home from the post office--taking a grading break--I snapped our house as it nestles against the 6000 feet of Mount Laguna in the distance....

Day 39: Parking Place

My parking place next to the post office where we pick up our mail daily. Our town is too small for house delivery, so the post office is the place to run into neighbors galore....

Day 38: More Recommendations....

I wrote and mailed two student recommendations for colleges today. I really don't mind writing them out, but doing so for so many students is a little time-consuming. One went to Point Loma, and the other to Harvey Mudd....

Day 37: Worship

As I went inside on Sunday evening, I noticed the cool shadows the porch light was making on this wooden cross (a gift from my friend Noko) that hangs next to our front door. It seems a fitting photo for a Sunday.... :)

Day 36: Saturday's Task

Every Saturday is laundry day around here....

Day 35: Warming Up

With overnight temperatures in the high teens and low twenties (which is very cold, even for our little mountain village here in Southern California), we've had to use the woodburning stove almost around the clock to keep the house warm. This is our only source of heat as we can't afford propane for the heater, but it makes life rather homey. Although the boys are a little tired of hauling wood....

Day 34: Frosted II

I captured this weed in our lawn, beautified by frost.

Day 33: Frosted I

This week we've had frost, frost, and more frost--not the usual thing in Southern California. So this is Keith's windshield on a frosty morning....

Day 32: Home, Disheveled Home

I love our home, but with the economy the way it is, we haven't been able to invest in upkeep much. Despite the peeling paint, it's still a lovely place to live. At least the roof doesn't leak (much). ;)