January Winter 2014 - Snow Birds - Knitting - Chocolate Raspberry Sherbet and The Grammys

January Winter 2014
For The Record

We have had two significant snow falls this month. Well, significant for this area I mean.  The first one was on the third.  The TV news made us crazy.  There were constant updates on the potential blizzard.  Of course, there were repetitive explanations of what conditions were necessary for a storm to be called a blizzard.


By the end of the storm about 8 inches of snow had accumulated.  But, the next day was warm, and the day after that it rained, so the snow didn’t stay around very long.

There was another storm on the twenty-second.   I don’t remember as much hysteria over that one, probably because we didn’t turn on our TV much.  This second storm also left about eight inches.  Since that storm it’s been bitterly cold.  Again bitterly cold for this area, I mean.  The temperatures for the past four days have been lows of under the teens and highs under only thirty.

Yesterday, Saturday, in the late afternoon, it started to snow again.   It was pretty,  lasted a couple of hours and only left a bit of a dusting.

I haven’t left my cocoon very often this month.  I’ve been out of the house less than a dozen times.  And when I did the leave the house, I didn’t stay out for very long. The fireplace, my cozy corner, my knitting and marathon TV binging have kept me warm and occupied.

This morning’s sky is brilliant.  When I went out into our sun room, which is only a sunny room until about noon time, I could hear birds chirping.  I looked up into the tree branches, crouched down to peek under the pines

 and squinted to eye the neighbor’s feeder, but I didn’t see a flutter of a wing or a tip of a beak.  I wondered where they were hanging out.

I thought that perhaps they were huddled out in the wooded area across the street from our house. As I looked out the front door I spotted bouncing boughs.  I watched closely and sure enough, small finches were flitting in and out and landing on branches for the briefest of minutes.

I pulled on a hat, slipped into my clogs, bundled myself into my 10 year old black Land’s End Insulated Squall Parka (over my PJ’s I might add) and grabbed my camera.

I stood in our driveway and 35X optically zoomed in HD with my powerful Canon Power Shot SX40HS .  That’s when I noticed a group of them, hopping around under a large cedar.  Except for patches of bright yellow, they almost nearly blended in perfectly with the nest of old brown fallen needles.

From across the way with my zoom, I was getting some good shots.  But I couldn’t tell what it was that they were so intently and urgently pecking in the snow for.

I quietly inched my way closer and closer until I was only a few feet from them.  I thought at some point the appointed “watcher out for danger” would notify the others of this approaching stranger.
Apparently, though, the flock was very hungry or the berries too intoxicating, because they just kept going about their business, completely ignoring me.











In between the periods of unpleasant weather, when we did go out, I managed to get some great shots.  One day we took a ride to Tuckerton Bay.

This day I was surprised to see a robin who decided, I guess, to hang out here instead of flying off to a warmer climate.

And then there was this guy prettying up our bare front yard tree.

Today Ross, Dolores and I did go out for lunch at the new restaurant in town called Element.  Next time we go I am going to skip the meal and go straight for the thick dark chocolate coated raspberry sherbet.

Then we went back to Dolores’ and I tried to recruit another knitter.

I think I hooked her :).

Tonight is the night of the Grammy’s.  This is when I find out who and what everyone else is listening to.

Until The Next Time I See His Smile

I slip into my slippers, the red suede ones with the furry insides, and sleepily scuffle around my side of of the bed, slowly making my way towards the bathroom.  It’s still dark in our room.  Actually, it’s never really bright in our room.  The golden girl only briefly flirts with us on that side of the house.  She twinkles and winks at us until we wake up.  She then quickly slips off to bestow her favors down on those who live on the more desirable side of the street.
Sometimes, during the day, when I go into our room,  I find the darkness of the room strangely seductive.  It makes me want to crawl back in and under.
Our bathroom has a chandelier.  Nothing fancy.  It was the stock hanging lamp that the builder put in the foyers of all of the 1200 homes in our community. You know the one, brass with faux candles.  We changed ours out for something more substantial and “expensive looking.”  But, we decided to hang the old one in the bathroom.   We have a dimmer light switch on it and I like to keep it on low.
Through the faint light,  I see his smile.  He is holding Domani and Anne is next to him. She is wearing his pork pie hat.  It was the perfect hat for him. It’s been said that the pork pie hat is the mark of the determined hipster, the kind of cat you might see hanging around a jazz club or pool hall.  And you know, he was cool, so Joe cool.
I look at them, but it’s only a glance, really, that’s all I can manage. I whimper.  It hurts.   It feels like a splash of icy cold water thrown on my face.  I gasp.
It’s the same, in the dusk of every morning, it is always the same.   I  long to hear his voice. I yearn to be able to touch him. The pain is beyond my ability to express in words.
I start my day with a shake of my head not understanding why.
As I walk out of our room, I begin my ritual, my routine.  I flip the switch to turn on the overhead  fluorescent kitchen light.  You know the one.  The bare bones, long white, plastic one with two bulbs.  Another builder special.  That one we never changed. The brightness and glare from the light makes my eyes hurt and I squint.   I fill the kettle.  I open my lap top and browse around waiting for the whistle.  Soon my thoughts turn to the ones who are here.  I think about plans we might have for the day and I am temporarily distracted.
Like the faux candles in my bathroom chandelier, I suppose I have learned to keep my feelings on a dimmer switch, turned down low, until the next time I see his smile.

Dear Kenny and Tyler The Magical Italian/Hungarian Flag Color Headband/Ear-warmer Story

Kenny and Tyler’s
The New Year’s Day Visit
2014


Dear Kenny and Tyler,
Do you remember…January 1, 2014

You seemed so comfortable here, at Grandma & Pop-pop’s house.  Why, it was if you had been here just the other day.
One of my favorite things is to peek out of my side window and see little faces expectantly looking up at the front door.
I’m sure you heard Rico’s bark as soon as you rang the bell.
After you were hugged and kissed by me and Pop-pop and then sniffed and licked by Rico, you stood there for a second with quizzical looks on your faces.
Even though it had been a while since you visited, I could tell that you were wondering if the toys were still here.
Well, when you were here the last time, the toys were in a chest out in the sun room.  But I moved all of the goodies into the spare room closet.
I asked,  “Do you guys remember the toys?”  You both nodded yes.
I’m not sure what there is about toys at grandma’s house.  Oh sure, there usually is a new toy to be discovered.   Many of the toys, though,  have been here since Bella was a baby.  That would be over nine years ago.  But,  you seem to be drawn to the old standbys.
Perhaps, since there have been so many changes in your young lives, it is the familiarity and consistency of the toys in grandma’s closet that is comforting for you.
The first thing you grabbed was the Mr. Potato Head set.  Kenny, you especially, always loved to play with this set.  It was called Spud Buds.  Included in the set was a Mr. Potato Head,  Rootie Carrot, and Pop Corn.

While Kenny was busy studying which parts go with what character, Ty, you wanted to play with the Three Little Pigs story play set by iPlay.  Remember how the doors would always fall off and then you would have to ask me to fix them.  But, I guess that was part of the play.

You and the toys slowly made their way into the living room.   Pop-pop taught you how to play checkers.  It was the both of you versus Pop-pop.  I’m pretty sure you won.

After a while, we decided to go out for lunch.  We went to a place on LBI called Kubels.  It’s a restaurant across from the bay on LBI in Barnegat Light.

We sat by the fireplace.  You shared a gigantic cheese burger and fries, with chocolate milk to drink.  While we were waiting for our food, Pop-pop did the “dancing forks” routine.  I don’t know why but that always makes kids giggle.  You thought it was pretty funny.  You kept asking Pop-pop to do it over and over again. 

After lunch we went to the public beach in LoveLadies. 

  It was cold, but you didn’t seem to mind.  Remember the dog? 

Kenny you were so excited when you found that sea shell.

Kenny you wanted to ride in our car for the trip back home.

That’s what the fresh cold beach air will do.

It wasn’t too long after we got home that it was time for a shower, pajamas and bed.   Ty, you wanted to take a bath in the big tub, bubbles and all.

Before you went into bed, I asked you if you wanted to hear a story.  Ty, you said yes right away.  Kenny you said no.  Ty, you came over to me.  Kenny you wouldn’t, but you made sure you were within hearing distance.  I kind of figured you really did want to hear the story.
During the two days you were here, I knitted head band ear warmers for each of you.  They were just like the one I made for your dad, with the Italian/Hungarian flag colors, remember?

The story I told you was about these two little boys who wore magical head bands. Whenever the little boys would put the head bands on, they could close their eyes and wish themselves anywhere in the world that they wanted to go.   Here and there, at times while I was telling the story,  I would ask a question.  Kenny,  I would hear your little voice from the other side of the room pipe in and answer.   It was so cute.
At the end of my story you magically wished yourself back home, to be with your Dad.

You, and Daddy slept in my spare room.  Kenny you slept on the futon with your Dad.  Tyler you had the other bed all to yourself.

One of the sweetest moment is first thing in the morning, when little sleepy people wander out of their room, still warm and cuddly.


I want you both to know that these days were the best way in a long time that I have started off a new year.

I will always treasure this visit, because it truly was magical.

Love,
Grandma