"...in the Grandiose Silence of the Snow..."

Look at these beautiful pictures taken by Margaret Archibald that she sent me of her neighborhood in Potomac, Maryland! I think they are so beautiful I just had to share. I know folks on the East Coast are getting very tired of this absolutely crazy winter and February has been unbelievable and very challenging for them (especially recent transplants from California and Texas). But I stand in awe at the magnificent artistry of Jack Frost and Mother Nature. These photographs remind me of those I used to stare at and dream about in the Ideals magazine from my childhood. Oh, the places my imagination can wander with these as my guide.

Door Bells and Sleigh Bells and Schnitzel with Noodles

With the bad economic climate and the bad weather climate going on all around us, with depressed stock prices and housing prices, with mudslides, and snowstorms, and unspeakable horrors of disaster from the Haiti earthquake, I'm posting a little photo montage of some of my favorite things from the past seven weeks: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Gallachers, sister, Sandy's, arranging for Christmas carols and skits at my parents assisted living facility, dinners with friends and family and new friends, a post Christmas celebration in Cancun for the Archibalds, a blessing day for my newest granddaughter, a visit to Minnesota including the Mall of America and Build-A-Bear, and a drop-in at Park City for snow, Smashburgers, and the birth of Hudson Doyle, my niece, Brittlyn, and her husband, Brandon's, new baby boy, and Marlene and Kelly's first grandchild. These are a few of my favorite things...

CHRISTMAS EVE 2009

Mackenna tending Sawyer, Brigham tending the fire, Eli grating onions & enjoying a See's sucker, the perfect Sour Klups (old German) meal, Marlene cooking up the feast, preparation for the short Christmas Eve program, Jammie time, opening "one" present the night before, Sawyer getting into the spirit of things

CHRISTMAS DAY 2009

Kelly beginning the beguine, Dad & Mom happy to be here, Chelsea & Sawyer with gift from Aunt Britty, Chelsea & Eli on his way to visit girlfriend's parents, Sawyer pleased with his Christmas, Holly & Masa came for Christmas Dinner, another evening of feasting (Marlene always cooks 2 20+lbs turkeys for all who gather 'round)

BRINGING CHEER TO SUNRISE ASST. LIVING 12/26/09

Two of Sandy's grandkiddies, Tyler & Boston, singing from "Annie", Sandy's daughter, Shauna, and husband, Matt, performing from "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" (we discovered where Marilyn Monroe is living), part of the peanut gallery, Dad & Mom enjoying the entertainment, we assuming our caroling could cheer up the residents, Brigham singing Jack Johnson, more assumptions on our part, Chelsea discovered The Duke lives there, too, and Eli, his dog, Belle, and his girlfriend, Carrie, joining us again that evening for a few minutes.

MEANWHILE, BACK IN CANCUN end of December/09

Annie, Jake, & Juliette happy to be warm, Brittany & Annie enjoying the swimming pool, Jake & Jordan enjoying the sand and surf, and baby Juliette ordering up another round on Grandpa Nolan's tab

JULIETTE JOYCE'S BLESSING DAY -Park City 1/2/2010

Several Archibald men gather to participate in the blessing, I'm so lucky I got to join them, the lovely Juliette in her great-grandpa's blessing gown, 2 grandmas, a mommy, and a baby, I'm in love and so is Brittany

JANUARY IN MINNESOTA IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

A 4-hour walkabout at Mall of America began with lunch, Juliette's just fine with the Sbarro's Pizza, exploring the wonderful world of Build-A-Bear with Annie & Jake, Annie chose Valentine Bear and Jake chose Peter Pan Monkey, in a few years Sawyer and Juliette get to make their favorites as it's pretty clear Sawyer's favorite is still his bottle, and bathtime

PARK CITY & PROVO, UTAH 2/6/10

Sawyer surveying the frozen tundra, Smashburgers with brother, Bill, and niece, Mackenna, and niece-and-new-mommy Brittlyn with brand new baby Hudson

SILVER WHITE WINTERS THAT MELT INTO SPRING--back home in CA 2/8/10

Sawyer at Capo Beach and the Dana Point Harbour, my two favorite walking places

Well, I guess these are more than a few of my favorite things. But just like diamonds, a girl can never have too many.