It was only two days ago that I was wandering around our property marveling at the new growth peeking up from the ground. Today - well, today is an entirely different story!
I took my hubby to work this morning (explanation later) and he diligently swept snow from our patio and off our van. That was about 5:30 this morning. Did ya catch that???? That's 5:30 in the morning!
Anyway, I came back home and did what any self respecting stay at home wife would do. I crawled back into bed and went back to sleep for an hour, piddled around the house for awhile, took a shower and headed back outside. I was not expecting to see this:
It had not only snowed more, it was still snowing. The windshield wipers were frozen in place and the wind was groaning, sounding like some large beast was dying.
Thing is, I have to have a TB test done (with negative results, of course) before I start my Remicade infusions next Thursday. (I think I've previously mentioned that I have rheumatoid arthritis. I currently give myself weekly injections of Enbrel, which isn't working for me as well as it used to, so I will now start a Remicade treatment. These are done by "infusions", which basically means that it is delivered into your body via your veins and is generally handled at a hospital. The infusions take about three hours.) I'll continue with my other RA meds, including Mobic, folic acid and Methetrexate.
I also had a package ready for OliveOyl64, who won last Friday's drawing. I had planned to mail it Monday but the transmission went out in hubby's truck and you can probably understand why, although I love being with him, I don't enjoy taking him to work. Not before the sun comes up.
Anyway, since I was already out in the 26° weather, I stopped at our local Kroger grocery store to pick up a few essentials. On the way out the door, I passed a familiar sight that I have really wanted to include in this blog but never had a camera with me to do so. BUT, for some reason that I can't recall, had it with me this morning:
I want to thank all of you once again for your prayers and good thoughts regarding my cardiac outcome. The cardiologist has scheduled several tests, including a nuclear medicine stress test, for this Friday. He's also sending me home with a Holter monitor, which will record my heart's activity for at least 24 hours. I continue to feel fine, just really tired a good part of the day.
This past drawing was a lot of fun for me. I've decided to have a similar drawing each month, with the same "rules" applying. The only difference will be that the monthly prizes won't be as elaborate as the one OliveOyl64 is about to receive. (I'll post a pic of what she received after I know she's received the package.)
The March contest starts NOW, with THIS post!
...PLUS...another one!!!...
PAY IT FORWARD -
Here's an idea I picked up from Deena: Someone will have a chance to get a surprise from me, on a surprise date, in the next 365 days.
Here are the rules:
1.~Leave a comment on my blog that says you want to play. First three folks to comment will get a gift from ME. (If I don't know it already, let me know how I can contact you, an e-mail is fine.)
2.~Do the same thing on your blog!The first three folks who leave a comment and commit to doing this on their blog, too, will get a surprise from YOU at a surprise time in the next 365 days!
If you've yet to meet her, treat yourself by visiting this extraordinary woman. Click here to read her story.
Thanks for stopping in. I appreciate your visits and love your comments!
...which is why I generally take a magazine to look through. Last week, I brought the Premier edition of Where Women Create.
It had been awhile since I read through the pages of this issue, so reading it again between zzzz's was a real treat.
A couple days later, we had a refreshing cold wave come through the area. I always look forward to Fall but each year when the leaves start to turn, I remember the Greek mythological story of Persephone. She was the young daughter of Demeter, who some know as "Mother Earth" or Mother Nature and Zeus, King of the Gods. Demeter is responsible for keeping the earth fresh and fertile, with lush crops and flowers. Zeus is responsible for, among other things, law and order, thunder and such. Persephone is a beautiful maiden and of course, everyone loves her. Hades, the King of the Underworld, is no exception and he kidnaps her one day, dragging her to the Underworld with him to make her his bride. Demeter is wrought with grief and can no longer perform her duties as Mother Earth. The 
world turns cold and Persephone's parents grieve and search for her. The earth is no longer fertile; fruit and trees fall from the trees, the skies are grey and the crops all die.
When her parents finally discover who has taken her and where she is, it is too late. She had eaten some of Hades' fruit (pomegranite seeds) and therefore must spend at least part of her life with him. The three (Demeter, Zeus and Hades) finally come to an agreement. Persephone will spend one third of the year with Hades and the other two thirds above ground.
There is much more to this rich story, but you get the picture. Fall is the time when Persephone must leave her above ground home and return to Hades. Thus, this is when the leaves begin to dry and the world starts to turn cold. Demeter, during this time misses her daughter so much that the world gradually turns to ice until Persephone comes "home" in the Spring.
Photos: Barn is next to our property; the picture was taken from our garden. Rolled hay (last photo) is on another neighbor's property. Olde windows were taken from a turn of the century house and are waiting for me to decide their destination. The Japanese Maple lends its beauty and color to the small flower garden that is immediately adjacent to our back patio and the washtubs and tools hang on our smokehouse. The picture appears to be black and white but was actually taken in color; the colors you see are "natural".
