I’m So Cold and Momma is Sooo Warm, by Beverly Hicks Burch

I’m So Cold and Momma is Sooo Warm

By Beverly Hicks Burch

One trip to the very cold North (almost to the Canadian border) and one unsuspected snowy Alabama evening and morning equal one little Popsicle Schnauzer. Watson’s been trying to warm up all day especially every time he goes for a potty run outside.

This afternoon he very subtly burrowed under an afghan I had thrown over myself as I was sitting on the bed working on the computer. He then proceeded to attach himself to my leg and use it as a cushy pillow. Presto, he was warming up in a hurry!

After a while he took a peek from under the covers to make sure everything was right with the world…and of course I took pictures…

Napping close to Mom…

Did You Wake Me Up?!

My eyes adored you…

© 2009 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.

Yes, Virginia…it Snows in Alabama…Even in December, by Beverly Hicks Burch

Yes, Virginia…it Snows in Alabama…Even in December

By Beverly Hicks Burch

Overnight we had a weather event here in Alabama…in other words it SNOWED!! Yes folks it does snow in Alabama, sometimes even in December. Most of our snow tends to hit after the first of the year and we’ve had big snows (4-8 inches) as late as March or April. And, snow can make people do the “funniest” things…

One year back in the 1980s a late spring snow came through while I had an apple tree in bloom. The weight of the heavy snow uprooted the tree…and caused a rather humorous incident later that summer… In an effort to save the said apple tree, Gomez got the Eureka idea to tie the tree up with the garden hose.

Unfortunately whenever the sun came out and warmed up the hose it would stretch out and the tree would start to lean again…and he would have to go out and retie the hose. So, that hose stayed tied to the tree for a long time. How could you forget that, right…a big ol’ garden hose stretched across your back yard…?

Well, Gomez did! He was out in the back yard one afternoon (I should say the far end of the back yard) and the phone rang. Hoping to catch the phone, Gomez took off running toward the house, and you guessed it. He ran smack into the garden hose “guy wire” and clothes-lined himself, knocked his feet out from under him and landed smack on his back and bum.

Down here snow makes people irrational at times. We develop the undeniable urge to run to the grocery store and buy lots and lots of bread and milk and stand in hours long checkout lines for the privilege. I’ve never quite understood why we do that. I try to avoid that compulsion…if I get wind of the “S” word a few days in advance, I head to the store before everyone else and do my “bread and milk” buying… I tried to explain this phenomenon to Tall & Handsome yesterday when he needed to run to the store for us just because we were out of stuff. I advised him to get to the store early and he saw why as he was leaving…there was a major rush of bread and milk buyers!

Momma called me at 7:30 AM and said, “Look outside! It’s a winter wonderland!” Of course up on her little mountain I’m sure the snow was a little deeper than down here in suburbia. I felt bad when I told her we had a head start on awareness. T & H had to let Watson out at 2 AM and when they came back to the bedroom he told me the deck was covered in snow and Watson had left little paw prints in the freshly fallen snow. Need to know info at 2 AM!

As I was talking to Mom I grabbed my camera and began taking pictures. I thought I’d show you what snow in December in Alabama looks like…and I’ve given you a 360° view…from all sides of the house.

Hope you enjoy the closest thing to a White Christmas these parts will see!

Looking out the Front door from the front porch…

I left the “frozen” North with no snow and come home to this?

Are they Crazy?!

Looking out back…

The deck…a long, cold walk for Watson…

Warm fire sounds good to me…

Winter Beauty

Hopeful Holdout…

Snow Sculptures

I’m ready for hot chocolate…

© 2009 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.

Lake Superior, by Beverly Hicks Burch

Lake Superior

By Beverly Hicks Burch

Lake Superior is a formidable body of water. When you stand before it you can’t help but think you are standing in front of an ocean or sea…it’s that vast and powerful. And, as beautiful as it is it can be just as treacherous.

The weather on the Lake is changeable and can be very dangerous. The giant ore freighters that traversed the Lake were often in peril from gale force winds from storms that blew up on the Lake. Some of the storms were epic in strength…and created shipwrecks that created heroic maritime lore. You might have heard of one of these wrecks…the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald…made famous by Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot.

I first became acquainted with Lake Superior back in 1987 when I lived for a short time in the Duluth area. Down on Duluth’s waterfront is or I should say was when I was there a Maritime Museum and one of the exhibits was dedicated to the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald.

I thought of the Fitzgerald recently when Tall & Handsome and I took a trip up to Minnesota’s North Shore. You see, November is known as the “month of storms” on the Great Lakes” and I could certainly see that…and feel that as the cold and wind cut through this Southern gal’s clothing. Clouds hung low over the Lake the day we were there and although snow was late this year, I could feel the promise of it in the frigid air.

The Fitzgerald hit one of the worst storms to hit the Great Lakes on November 10, 1975. The storm eventually sank the mighty freight near Whitefish Point and took all 29 souls with it. The area is called “The Graveyard of the Great Lakes”. Legend tells us that Lake Superior very seldom gives up her dead. This is mostly because the water is so cold year round and the dead sink to the depths of the Lake, never to rise to the top again. (Scientist would explain that is because the water is too cold to cause the bacteria growth need for the dead to rise back to the surface.)

Lake Superior is also known as a giant rock tumbler. Rocks along the shore are smooth and shiny…just like they were dumped out of a child’s rock tumbler. Use to be you could find a lot of polished agate along the shores, but I’m not sure about nowadays.

The Great Lakes are the largest bodies of freshwater on Earth…once I heard they held something like 75% of the fresh water on Earth. Keeping that in mind, just remember that Lake Superior is the largest of all the Great Lakes. The year round temp of the Lake is about 40° F and the deepest point is 733 ft. Waves can reach 30 feet high. Because of its size, the retention time, or the mean time water spends in the Lake is 191 years.

Standing before this giant is a beautifully sobering event. Many, many emotions, feelings and thoughts rush through your mind at the same time not the least of which is the beauty and power the Lake bears and the privilege for experiencing the moment. I’ve always thought that as Americans we lived in one of the most beautiful and geographically diverse countries in the world and places like Lake Superior just confirm that…

Is There Snow in the Air?

 

Cold, Windy Day Looking Across Lake Superior

© 2009 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.

Where We Goeth…Well, So Does He…, by Beverly Hicks Burch

Where We Goeth…Well, So Does He…

By Beverly Hicks Burch

Since adding a Miniature Schnauzer to the family we’ve learned it’s a whole lot like adding a small child to the family. I’ve often described Watson as a little boy zipped up in a dog suit. After spending time with his canine “cousins”, T & H’s sister’s dogs we realize just how much like a baby he is to us. He knows us as “Momma” and “Poppa”, not our first names…I mean after all, when you adopt a dog you’re becoming parents, right?!

The older he gets Watson is becoming more like a Velcro dog…not less like one. A Velcro dog is one of those dogs that sticks to you all the time…you are their person and they aim to be with you ALL the time!

Watson made extra sure of that during a recent (cold) trip we took. He was not satisfied (or happy I might add) to ride in the back. He had to ride up front the majority of the time…in Mom’s lap.

The other day I couldn’t resist grabbing my cell phone and snapping a few pics as he laid there catching Zs…he was so cute I could have gobbled him up with a spoon. For those observant souls amongst you, you might also notice his bling…all I can say is ROLL TIDE!

Traveling in Style

Oh, yeah! (See my bling…?)

© 2000 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.

Room with a View, by Beverly Hicks Burch

Room with a View

By Beverly Hicks Burch

Recently we traveled to Rochester, MN to help mark Tall & Handsome’s mother’s 90^th birthday. Yes, I said 90^th! We also spent Thanksgiving with his family up there, which includes three huge, loveable, gentle giants…AKA three Golden Retrievers.

When we left to go home we first traveled a little further north…up into the arrowhead of Minnesota up along the North Shore. I had spent some time there myself back in 1987 but, T & H had never visited the area.

We both had revelations on the journey. His related to the general discovery and beauty of the place…mine was that it’s as cold as a witch’s patootie up there this time of the year, but has an almost haunting beauty! Since I was there in `87 there has been some growth in the area and several “resorts” have been built. Little Two Harbor, MN also seems to have seen a growth spurt.

We stayed at a placed called Superior Shores Resort. Keep in mind that at this time of the year (and because the area was lacking the normal snowfall they receive for skiers) the rates were astoundingly affordable! Our room had a gas fireplace, and jetted tub…and a view! The accommodations were not super plush, but were comfortable and clean and more along the lines of cabin rustic…appropriate for the area. It was pet friendly…something we needed since we had Scoot…also know as Watson the Wonder Dog. The only glitch was we were quoted one priced and after we looked at the room we were told it would be $20 more because of the pet…even though they already knew we were looking for pet friendly accommodations.

There’s a restaurant on the grounds called Kamloops. It was very tasty and wasn’t what we were expecting to find in the middle of nowhere on the North Shore. T & H had Smoke Duck Fettuccini and I had Smoked Pork Chops topped with apple butter and grilled sliced apples. My only complaint was the meal didn’t arrive with the promised bread. We divided a scrumptious slice of White Chocolate Cheesecake with a raspberry coulis that was…unforgettable!

So, I thought I’d share some picture form the Resort and our “room with a view”.

Pond in front of the Resort – yes, there’s ice on that pond!

Room with a View – Shore of Lake Superior

More View – you can kind of see the window screen of the window I took the picture through…

Along the North Shore – from Superior Shores Resort

© 2009 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.

Gateway to the West, by Beverly Hicks Burch

Gateway to the West – St. Louis, MO

I couldn’t believe I took this the other day with my cell phone as we were driving through St. Louis. The Arch never ceases to amaze me ever time I see it. We tend to think the Arch represents the pioneer spirit of the hardy stock of folk that used St. Louie as their jumping off point during days gone by. So. it may surprise you to know the Arch was completed in the mid 1960s. It’s a pretty awesome piece of engineering. If you ever get a chance to visit it, I would recommend a trip to the Arch and the Mississippi Riverfront of St. Louis.

© 2009 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.

Gender Divorce Gap After Illness Strikes

Gender Divorce Gap After Illness Strikes.

I read this article on WebMD this morning and found it interesting, highly pertintent and unfortunately from personal experience sadly true.

You see I am a two time NON-smoking lung cancer survivor. In addition I have multiple chronic health problems including several autoimmune disorders. In 2001 my spouse of 27 years, Gomez the unremarkable, walked out on me for a wealthy co-worker of his. My case goes to prove that the length of a marriage doesn’t innoculate you from this sad happenstance of life. One thing Gomez said when he left me…besides he had been used up by our son, my family and the church…was the fact he was tired of taking care of me. The thing he mentioned was bringing me (an occasional) glass of tea.

Not too long after Gomez abandoned me I read a statistic that 97% of men with ill spouse walk out on them but 97% of women with ill spouses stay with their spouses.

What this says about devotion and vows is sad to see…

Please take the time eto read the article especially if you are a woman…

Diary Quilt Delivered at Around the Block with the BamaSteelMagnolia

If you’d like to see the delivery of my friend Shari’s diary quilt I’ve been writing about, click over to Around the Block to see Shari and her Dad with the finished quilt.

Easy, Peasy, Yummy Brownies on the menu at The BamaSteelMagnolia(TM) Bistro, by Beverly Hicks Burch

Today over at the Bistro is a recipe for brownies that is so yummy and so good it ought to be against the law. I made a pan this weekend and they’re already gone…thanks in a large part to Tall & Handsome. They were his Turkish Delight for a couple of days…

Hope you enjoy Easy, Peasy, Yummy Brownies…

Mission Completed at Around the Block with the BamaSteelMagnolia(TM)

Today I just blogged about a great new quilt project a friend of mine just completed. It’s her second ever quilt. She was inspired to create her own diary quilt when she saw me working on my own, The BamaSteelMagnolia(TM) Diaries that I have been writing about here and at Around the Block…

Be sure and click over and see her finished project, Quilted Memories of Daddy’s Life for a great little quilt and some inspiration.

© 2009 Beverly Hicks Burch All Rights Reserved.