It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. . .

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!  I have been outside taking it all in and getting satisfaction from making "first tracks" in the fresh snow, an ongoing contest between myself and the deer.  Usually the deer win but I suspect they have chosen the warmth of their thickets rather than to forage for food in the below-freezing temperatures.  Although outdoors is awesome and invigorating, I took the safety precaution of staying out only long enough to retrieve yesterday's mail, clean the exhaust pipe to the pellet stove, and to do a little shoveling.  The rest of the snow removal can wait for J.D.  (I haven't ever used the snow blower and I am very content to keep it that way.)  To add an extra layer over my gloves, I slipped a pair of wool boot-socks over them.  The warmth was nice but I kept dropping my shovel and without thumbs, picking it back up was difficult.

This is the first I've used the pellet stove this season since the basement hasn't felt all that chilly to me, so far.  I always breathe a sigh of relief when I start it up and it does what it's supposed to do. 

through the window screen...

through the window screen...

This morning I got up before daylight and flung my bedroom window open to press my face to the screen and breathe in the freshness of the new snowy world outside.  I went from window to window to marvel at how the landscape had changed from the night before.  (I don't know why, after all these years, it still leaves me breathless...but it does.)  It's my goal to one day capture that magic in a picture but I've come to the conclusion that it's not quite possible.  I think the reason is because it's really more what I 'feel' rather than what I 'see.'  I'll keep trying, anyway.

That was all prior to coffee, believe it or not!  Once the coffee was brewing, a nice hot breakfast seemed appealing.  With my taste buds all set for bacon and eggs, to my dismay, I realized I was out of propane!  Dang!  What's up with this?!  This *never* happens!  I'm on automatic delivery!  So I had a toasted bagel instead.  By then, it was after eight o'clock so I called "Propane People."  First, I tried their 800 number.  A recording told me to check the number and try again.  So I did.  Same recording.  I tried their other number.  No answer.  I found a "home office" number online and tried that.  I spoke with someone on Long Island who tried to get through but with the same outcome as mine.  She said she would e-mail the dispatcher in my area and have him call me.  I assumed it would be today but the afternoon is winding down and so far, no phone call.  Oh well, at least I have heat.

I do love these snowy days with their soothing serenity. They remind us to pause and reflect and to be thankful for even that which we cannot see.

 I need my sunglasses on, inside!