Rain, Rain, Rain...Mud, Mud, Mud...

This is why we can't drive down our drive ways, trench for water pipes or have gravel delivered. RAIN equals MUD! and lots of it. It's very unusual that it has rained so much this winter, up here. Spring is when we are suppose to get our rain. Oh great! huh? ...lol. Spring will be right around the corner ..Sounds like this isn't ever going to end. I just keep telling myself, it has too one day. I would rather be up here dealing with the rain, mud, no running water, no toilet and walking from the neighbors with groceries and laundry than being in Florida, trying to sell a house. I wouldn't wish "selling a house" on anyone. Sure glad that part of my life is over. :-)..

Alabama snowmen

I got busy one morning and whipped up some " royal icing" and set out to decorate some white chocolate dipped Oreo's that we had bought at Walmart at Christmas time. I was very pleased on how they turned out. I was able to do it without making a big mess which is a "BIG THING" when you don't have running water to clean up with.

The Forest in the Winter.

Right after our last " cold spell" we went to town for something and when we were done, Chuck decided we should take a drive through the forest. We didn't have our usual hiking gear with us so we couldn't go very far from the road. ( we decided to always keep a back pack and some of our gear in the explorer now) It was just beautiful as always but even more so with all the frozen ice hanging from the rocks. We are so lucky to live up here and have this wonderful forest in our back yard....well, just down the road any ways. Winter isn't over by all means so I'm sure we will have more fun times seeing it in all it's glory, in the next couple of months.

The Birthday Hats!

" Happy Birthday" to Chuck! Chuck wore many different hats today to celebrate his 60th birthday. After breakfast, he opened his presents and the one from Shell contained two hats that she has knitted him. A bright orange one to wear in the forest during " hunting season" and a camo one to wear around the land to keep his head and ears warm.

The BNOE took us to dinner at their friends Mexican Restaurant. Lots of really good food....so much of it, we brought half of it home with us. They surprised Chuck with a sombrero
to wear while they sang " Happy Birthday" in Spanish and he ate " fried ice cream". Of course everyone had to have their picture taken in the sombrero afterwards. The BNOE even had a nice birthday present for him when we got home and had coffee. What a nice Birthday, Chuck had.

It's Official!

We are now "official Alabamians!". We both have Alabama driver licences and the explorer has a " Sweet Home Alabama" licence tag. It took us four trips to the courthouse to get it all done but we had some laughs out of it all. We also became friends with the little old man guard in the lobby of the courthouse. There is an X ray machine at the front door, along with a sign on the door saying you can't bring knives or guns into the courthouse. The first time we went, Chuck went back to the car to put his knives that he carries in his pockets away. Well, no one ever checked his pockets nor, did I ever have to put my purse through the machine. By fourth trip, the little old man guard wasn't even in the lobby to greet us. When I got my drivers licence, the patrolman was not very ....should I say " friendly". In fact, he was down right grumpy. When I came out of the room, I told Chuck that I had met my first " mean Alabamian. Now, that's still pretty good, with all the people we have met or talked too up here, there has only been one grumpy one. Now, people will stop saying " man! that is your driver licence number?.....that LONG number?. Alabama numbers are only 7 numbers long.

Fixed the steps....

Chuck kept telling me to be careful when I went down the steps because of the ice. Well, one morning, he came in and said he slipped and slid all the way down to the ground. The next day, we went to Home Depot and bought sand tape to put on the steps. The snow today, was the test.....they passed...no more slippery steps.

more snow

Our little Christmas tree got a good dusting of snow. Now, we have to prepare for the really " cold " weather......6 degrees on Sat night. It was only 14 degrees last night. Sad news to report...when Chuck and I went down to the barn this morning, all of the plants that we brought from Florida, were brown mush! It got below freezing inside the barn. I think the stag horns will come back but it will take years. Chuck made a tent out of plastic around the plants and hung a light bulb in the middle of it for warmth. I wish we had done that last night. I think it's too late for the rest of the plants. ...yes, I cried when I saw all my pretty plants....brown and drooping.