A Sugar Coated World

I woke up to a sugar coated world this morning. 

The first snow of the season. 

When I opened the curtains I was so surprised!

Although, I should have known by the dramatic clouds
the night before! 

I love how the snow reflects the light

as it dances around the bedroom while I 

tidy up and prepare 

for the day. 

Dark clouds hover over the mountains 

as I bundle up to take my morning walk

and feed the birds.

Tiny footprints on the front step.

Champ finds a stick to play with.
He loves the snow and gallops
around like a pony!

Our cottage is snuggled into the snow covered trees. 

These windows look out from our bedroom

shown earlier. 

The rest of the house is hidden behind the trees. 

Lovely leaves of Oregon Grape. 

There was no newspaper this morning. 

Our mountain road is very steep and slick

when it snows and the carrier will not attempt it. 

We have 4 wheel drive and studded tires on

my little gray Ford Ranger for that very reason. 

Years ago, when my children were in school, 

I would have to drive them when it snowed, 

as the bus would not come up our steep mountain road. 

One unseasonably snowy day

before my 4 wheel drive,

 I drove the children to school in the old station wagon,

(4 children - 3 different schools),

but then couldn't drive back up the last 

 icy, steep hill to our home.

I had to park at the bottom and 'take a hike'. 

It was very still and bitterly cold. 

Back then there were no houses along the way

and it felt very isolated. 

I was halfway up the very slick road

when I heard a loud crashing in the woods

alongside me. 

There was nowhere to hide and with the road

so slick, I could not run. I braced myself

and kept walking, hoping that if it 

was a bear, I would be able to scare it off. 

As the crashing got closer, 

I said my prayers, heart thumping.....

and then I heard a mournful, 'Moo-ooooooooo'!

It was a lonely steer, thankfully

fenced off with barbed wire. 

I had no idea the fence was even there

or that there were cattle inside! 

I walked over and gave my new friend

 a pat on the head and he escorted

me up the hill from his side of the fence.

I wish I had a treat to give him :) 

Snow on Douglas Fir. 

 A lovely holly. 

Time to go in- 

Baby it's cold outside! 

Mt. Rainier peeks out from the clouds. 

My scrabble letters in the kitchen window. 

Ling Ling scurries to find a dry spot on the deck

after playing in the snow. 

My Mother's dancing verdigris frogs get a mouth full. 

My caged Angel stoically stands by. 

A frosted cabbage with frozen droplets. 

The end of a beautiful day. 

We don't get much snow here in Western Washington State, 

except in the higher elevations,

(but of course, now that I have said that, we will :)

and some years we get very little. 

When we do, it is a lovely surprise. 

xoxo

I hope that all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving, 

had a lovely day. 

Thank you all for your dear wishes. 

We had a wonderful day 

and I am happily exhausted. 

My Ramblin' Man and I have enjoyed

a quiet weekend in front of the fire, 

eating pie for breakfast

and leftovers for dinner. 

I am not ready to start decorating for 

Christmas quite yet, but I am thinking about it :) 

Wishing you a lovely, peaceful weekend, Dear Friends. 

xoxo