Sooooo, How Deep Is It?

The snow storm on January 12, 2011 reminded me of ones we use to get in Utah when I was a kid.  Mind you, I was a lot smaller so the snow piles could have just seemed large but this storm was incredible -- at any age!

The day after we bundled up to venture out.  Guess how much snow we got in one storm?  Twenty-one inches! This photo was taken just outside our front door.

Our usual MDC reservoir path was closed due to "Hazardous Conditions" so we journeyed to Elizabeth Park.  Walking in the paths reminded me of playing fox and geese.

Doc's wearing his anniversary trappers hat.  I think he looks pretty cute in it.  The fur makes him look like he's got Elvis hair.

Amid the deep snow is this adorable glass greenhouse.  The outside temps are between 10-20 degrees but inside the plants are warm and cozy.  Don't you like the shape of the greenhouse too?

Dressed in Winter White

The song goes, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."  That's just what it did on January 12, 2011!  We were warned Nor'easter Winter Storm Benedict was scheduled to hit around midnight. We awoke to a winter wonderland.  This is exactly what I pictured snow storms to be in the Northeast. 

The snow just kept on falling throughout the day.  The news tells us it's a record setting snowfall for one day.  West Hartford recorded 22 inches.  Bradley International Airport had 22.5 inches. Most flights were canceled, which is kind of sad since four missionaries were scheduled to fly out this morning.

The picture above is Doc standing just outside of our front door.  The snow reaches mid-thigh!

Here's me (Nanook of the North) bundled up for a walk in the snow.

Look how beautiful this stream looks dressed in winter white.

Yup, you guessed it.  Those mounds are really cars buried in snow.  We heard on the news that young men have been going around digging people out and charging anywhere between $30 to $50 a car.

The first time the maintenance crew used this track hoe to move snow, I could tell Doc had that look in his eye that he'd love to commandeer the equipment.  This is what they use to clean the sidewalks most of the time. Today they used a snowblower too.

Here's a picture of the road just outside of our apartment complex.  It's one of the main thoroughfares but not today! People have been asked to stay off the roads, if at all possible.  Many roads have closed and have stranded motorists. 

Anyone for a barbecue?

Even the antenna ball looked pretty cute.

You know Doc. He'll finds a way to be of service.  When we walked by the first time, a family were trying to get to their car.  Doc walked to the maintenance shed and borrowed a shovel.  He even wore the snow boots I bought him last year specifically to shovel snow in.

This just looked too picturesque with the ducks, bridge and frozen stream.

I guess you could say we survived a true New England Nor'easter and are grateful for the experience.

It is so beautiful!

Connecticut Christmas Memories

Oh my, Christmas 2010 in Connecticut is now a golden memory!

The above picture is of our scrumptious Christmas Eve dinner at the mission home with President and Sister Pehrson and the Assistants to the President missionaries along with the missionaries assigned to the office.  The meal was out of this world delicious.  President Pehrson grilled steaks and Sister Pehrson did the rest of the trimmings.  I made spinach salad and Kathy's eclair dessert along with chips and shrimp chip dip.  What would Christmas be without shrimp chip dip--right?

The table was so festive and we enjoyed visiting with all of the missionaries after dinner.

Christmas morning came at little, hmmm, well maybe a lot early.  I woke Doc up at 5:30 a.m.  Mind you most of the time he's up around 5 a.m. but not this day.  Santa even found his way to our apartment in Connecticut.  He left Doc an ipad shuffle, a remote control helicopter, How to Train Your Dragon DVD and lots of other surprises. He also filled my stocking with toiletries and even brought my favorite candlesticks that I had seen in Ellington, CT.

We so enjoyed all the presents from loved ones. We are so blessed -- we were distant but not forgotten.

The Pehrson's invited us to their open house on Christmas Day.  She baked the most tender roast along with cheesy potatoes.  Don't we look festive--I in my new red jacket and Doc in his Christmas tie!

President and Sister Pehrson made us feel so welcome.

Doc couldn't wait to wear his vest and put together the puzzle the Fairbanks gave him.  He worked on it most of an afternoon and enjoyed every bit of it.  P.S. Notice my candlesticks and wooden swan in the left side of the photo.

One of the favorite parts of Christmas for us is receiving cards from family and friends.  I got our cards mailed kind of late and thought most of our friends wouldn't know our address so we were surprised at how many cards actually arrived.  I started out by making a circular wreath but then more and more cards came so it expanded to cover the door. We are so fortunate.   (I'm also excited I remembered how to set the timer on the camera to take the photo-- not bad, huh!)

The day after Christmas we got the true first snow of the season.  Oh how beautiful is was to watch it from our second floor, warm apartment as it drifted down. The pictures are taken from our front room window.  Some areas got up to 30" of snow but we only got 7". Our poor neighbors like New York were snowed in for days.  They even called it the "Blizzard of 2010."

This Christmas was enjoyable with receiving packages and cards from home. We know each one was packed with extra love.  We felt the Christmas spirit as we delivered homemade fudge and cookies to our neighbors and apartment complex workers along with sending a small gift to the mission presidents and their wives; but, we missed our family and traditions that are dear to us during the holidays. We feel blessed and we know our family is also being blessed by the sacrifices.  Skyping with family Christmas evening was probably my most favorite part this Christmas.  How the grandchildren have grown?!?

Christmas is all about love.  Doc and I felt the love of the Savior as we serve Him here.  We felt the love of family and friends.  We know our time here is short and look forward to making more holiday memories in years to come.  I believe Dicken's character Tiny Tim said it best, "God bless us, everyone."