My life is in fast forward.

Last Sunday, I woke up in Chincoteague-

we went on a tour of the Naval Academy in Anapolis-

and drove home in frigid temperatures through the hoar frost in Pennsylvania.

(AND I got to say hoar frost one more time! )

The week whizzed by-  Dr.’s appointment Monday- then on to Columbus!

Three Aidan-filled days – then a quick trip to Grandpa’s Cheese Barn and home.

A funeral on Friday-

Dinner at a young couple’s home last night

(Thanks again Adriel and Belen)

And here it is Sunday, again!

The Naval Academy was worth a second mention- I got some great pictures of Meredith, Cynthia and Blythe- and I love the pictures from the Chapel in the Academy.

Here’s a picture you won’t see again- Meredith at the Naval Academy.

And LOOK- she’s smiling!

Here they are by the statue of  Tecumseh.

And in front of the Chapel-

Which is really quite beautiful inside.

And here is a great shot outside-

Of  Blythe and Meredith in front of a huge anchor.

It is mid January!  I have to kick everything into high gear just to catch up.

And, right now, my gears are grinding pretty slow.

While in Columbus this last week, Willow and Aidan and I went to the Franklin Conservatory and enjoyed a stroll through the gardens.

It was really beautiful- the gardens are FULL of orchids- there were orchids everywhere!

And Chihuly art festooned all over the gardens!  Flowering from the greenspaces,

Overhead in cave-like spaces,

In boats, and floating like big easter eggs in the greenery-

And then there was a lot of child interactive fun- -AND-

The train village set up in the entrance-

where we spent a lot of time looking and ooh-ing and ah-ing as the trains went toot-tooting by! 

We spent the entire morning enjoying the gardens and art- and Aidan  played and   looked at the ponds and trees and structures and we ALMOST forgot that Winter was still holding a firm grip outside.

I have the shivers.  I’m trembling and feeling like an old lady who needs a shawl to keep the drafts away, and I keep shifting from hot to cold.

I’m sick, again, sick still, just sick, and tired of it!

Driving home through Pennsylvania on Sunday, the temps were in the low teens and the trees were covered with hoar frost. ( I love saying hoar frost- it comes out sounding as cold as it really is outside!)

Right now I feel like I’m covered with hoar frost inside and out.

A lingering cold was joined by a new one and now my throat is tight and sore, my cough even deeper in my chest, and I keep shivering with the cold.

Add to that the cold I felt at my brother’s graveside and I am talking sub-zero temperatures.  A cold service in the winter’s cold and feeling like a stranger among strangers- I’m so glad my oldest brother and some of his family was there.

There are some frozen territories that cannot be crossed alone.  Someone has to meet you at least part of the way.  My brother tried at the end to include us, but it was too little, too late.

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

That is how I feel- cold and bereft and unforgiven for offences unknown.

This is a time for grief.

A time of sorrow.

A time for memories.

I’m looking forward to healthier times, more forgiving climates, and the surcease of sorrow.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

Achoo.  I mean Amen!

My brother, Gary, died today.

He is the third of my siblings to die. 

He has been sick for such a long time.

His death did not come as a surprise.

I am feeling the loss.  Sad because we were not as close as I would have liked, sorry for my part of the distance, and wondering why it isn’t easier to have relationships with people you love.

I’m thankful that he said that he had made peace with God.  I’m not really sure what that meant – he never did speak much about spiritual matters to me. ( I was his “little” sister and there was always those years between us.)

I just wanted to say goodbye in a tangible way.  To somehow offer out a statement of memorial for a man who mattered to me.  I was never sure how much I mattered in his life, but in many ways his life helped to shape mine.

Please pray for his wife, sons and grandchildren- he loved them very tangibly and their loss will be great.

I am wondering what happened.

Was it all a dream?  The last three weeks were like a Celtic moment-

Time out of time.

Christmas happened and New Year’s-

Meredith came and approved of the house-

we cleaned and cooked and ate and talked.

I came home.

Went to the doctor.

Came to Columbus.

That’s the story.

I also went to the Fractured Prune for some donuts.

YUMM!!!

They are so very good- and fresh- the last picture is of my french toast donut- Maple syrup and cinnamon sugar coating on a fresh fried (translation-still HOT).

If you have a chance to try them- go get you a donut!

This was the last picture we took in Chincoteague.

Meredith is a home owner.  And this is her home.

It was a real privilege spending time with her there.

This is my last week here this month.  I’ve been here since December 21st and  Sunday I’m going home for one night.  And then off to Columbus for a little while.

I’ve been VERY busy cleaning and cooking and helping set up a gourmet kitchen and stage pictures so that a room can be seen to its best advantage.  And I’ve had a lot of children to play with and run after and enjoy.  Plus, I got to spend some very special time with my family- AND show Meredith her new home- AND make a wonderful tea for some new friends.

The tea was called winter tea at The Sailors Rest.

I will share our menu here and later perhaps some recipes!

– goat cheese truffles

-pickled grapes

-three berry trifle

-rum balls

-stuffed figs ( with pistachio cheese and wrapped in prosciutto)

-Scotch eggs

-bee sting bars

-mini carmelized onion and sundried tomato quiches

-finger sandwiches- ham and cranberry sauce on tiny sourdough buns, cucumber and avocado with sprouts on whole wheat heart bread, and salmon and mock boursin cheese on white hearts.

-and finally, apricot and pecan scones

Here’s an overhead view of Meredith and I putting the finger sandwiches together and Cynthia stuffing figs in the background.  Most of the good pictures I have are because Allyson took pictures of some of the activity with my camera.  Thank you, Ally!

We went onto Assateague today- saw some ponies and walked along the beach.

It was cold but not too windy so the ocean was calm and the walk on the beach was very cold but not bone crackingly so.

My favorite pictures are of the ducks on Swans Cove pool.  It was frozen- back in the estuary and the ducks were swimming in a smaller and smaller pond.  Except for a couple adventurous and hardy ducks that were waddling on the ice.  So cute!

I love it here in the winter!  No crowds- no traffic- lots of wildlife and friendly people.  ( And NO SNOW, FRANK!)

Well- that’s all I have to say for right now.  Sorry I haven’t been posting lately- I’m just so tired by the end of the day that I can’t find time to put up anything.

I will leave you with a recipe for the hit item of our winter tea.

Pickled Grapes

1 bunch of red or green seedless grapes

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup sugar

1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces

10-15 peppercorns

Wash and dry the grapes, take them off the bunch and set aside.

Put all other ingredients in a saucepan and heat until sugar has melted and the syrup is infused with the spicey flavor.  Cool.

Pour syrup over grapes and place in fridge over night.

These are really yummy!