New plates for Stanley. Hopefully it will be warm enough one day this week to put them on after work.

We saw these 2 ladies in a thrift store today, and another younger lady walked in and exclaimed how she loved their outfits. I guess my complete lack of understanding means that I’ve got behind the fashion of today and can now be regarded as dowdy. Hmmm.

We went to Blandy Arboretum this morning for a seed swap event, which was really a give away seed event. We came home with packets of vegetable and flower seeds, many of which we can plant directly into the ground, and a few which we will start early under grow lights. A cold, windy and snowy day which didn’t thwart the crowds, and everyone came away with a future harvest in their hands.

Feather light but dense flurries of snow as I get closer to home, sticking to everything but the roads. So far.

Rosie Liscious Lee all wrapped up on my lap and fully aware that she is a princess.

I came across this on the way home, and it made me chuckle. Hopefully it gave the culprit a laugh too, and made him think twice about littering. And drink driving…

A wonderful Burns Night celebration with Elliott and Bill. Haggis with mashed swede and parsnips, covered with melted cheddar, and roast potatoes, and a jug of gravy. We toasted the haggis with the English version of Address to the Haggis and a shot of Glenfiddich. Homemade shortbread followed. A fun evening!

There’s still plenty of snow in Front Royal. Barely any in neighboring towns and villages, but we’re hanging on to ours. This is coming off Rte 66 to head into town.

I managed to zoom in and get a close up of a planet with my phone. Don’t believe me? Good job, because really, this is the bottom of a saucepan. Much better images, that haven’t been processed on a phone, are here: https://petapixel.com/2011/02/23/frying-pans-that-look-like-alien-planets/

I got some local coffee from Sperryville. The beans were roasted yesterday and ground today. And while I waited for my coffee to be bagged I admired a very impressive icicle hanging from their roof.

These 3 old cars are parked out the back of our work. I really hope they get restored, they’ve been sitting there for months.

Saw this embroidery on the back of a guy while in line for my coffee this morning. The subject interested me as did the superb quality of the embroidery, being in my field of work. It must have cost a few hundred dollars to get the art digitized and embroidered. And his accent was English when he spoke at the counter. Would have loved to chat and find out the story behind his jacket, but he was in an obvious hurry.

The gorgeous view of the mountains from the hospital in FroRo where Elliott had his gall bladder removed today. A successful surgery, and praying we will both be healthy from now on. We want to hike those mountains, not just look at them!

After the ice storm, the snow now has a silken sheen, like smooth water or icing on a cake. It’s beautiful. This was the sun setting in the cemetery, puddles of gold glinting on the crusted ice.

The town left up the Christmas decorations for the snow, including this dear little tree on the edge of the town center car park.

As the snow began falling it seemed a great idea to warm up with a big mug of drinking chocolate, and celebrate that I won’t be driving to work tomorrow, so I can get up later Yay!

Elliott just installed a new faucet with a sprayer in the kitchen sink. First proper plumbing project and a first class result. A++!

I spend a lot of time sitting at lights near work with this view down Rte 29 and I66 passing overhead. The lighting from the traffic lights enhances the scene, and I was early enough that there weren’t many cars passing by.

I loved this silhouetted church window that I passed on my walk around FroRo this evening.

My teeth cleaning session about to start. The dentist said afterwards that my choppers are strong and pristine. Great news!

Fun effects at the car wash today.

I saw this in FroRo today and got excited, thinking it was a helicopter on a truck. It got closer, and obviously wasn’t. Boo.

We had 3 young deers on the garden today, who walked forward, surveyed their surroundings, and then turned around to go back into the cemetery. Good move. I always like seeing them go in there, where they’re safe from traffic.

A fun evening at Bill & Jen’s Epiphany Party. Elliott lighting his sparkler from the fire.

A day after a night of snow, with the temperature below freezing and gusty winds, caused these glorious icicles to hang from the roof. I wish they could hang freely and tinkle in the wind to accompany our wind chimes.

A touching scene in our cemetery, colorful Christmas decorations over a family grave.

Packing away the Christmas decorations this evening, and sad to see my Elves on the Shelf looking sorry to go. I got these in an antique store for $6 and have never seen any other like them. Made of china and likely from the 60’s. 

I pass this farm every day, and yes that tree is growing up through the old truck.

The heavy, wet snow weighed down some cables that spanned from our house to the other side of the road. The local electrical company cut one down as it was an old land line, and the one in the photo hanging across the road was cut down for us by GloFiber, even though it was an old Century Link cable. So the snow actually did us a favor; it got rid of old cables and we only now have the electricity cable running to the house. 

Elliott and I went for a 3.5 mile walk along the river and around town. Here, a resident squirrel was hoping for a treat from Elliott. No luck from us, but we know other residents carry nuts with them.

The Omnivore pizza, at the Winchester Alamo theater, a regular choice for both Elliott and me.