New cats

Since losing my "Misty" a few months ago I have been keeping these two half siblings of Misty well fed this winter. Fortunately, with our extremely mild winter it hasn't been hard to feed them. They both were seen awhile back in December actually eating a fish from the lake as the lake wasn't frozen at that time. The snow you see in these pictures that were taken earlier this week has already completely melted. My deck is totally snow-free today (1-28-12) and may even be warm enough later next week for me to sit outside. My deck faces a southerly direction which means on a sunny day it is nice and warm most all day long.

Different winters!

Besides the difference in cars notice the difference in amount of SNOW!!

The big snow was from a year ago and the lesser snow shows the small amount we got last week - and it being the end of January 2012!! The lack of snow this year has caused the cancellation of not only the snowmobile drag races but the "kids' sledding party" at the log cabin! The popular Arctic Open golf event is still scheduled for a shallow area of the lake but I hear that should a golfer break through the ice he/she may find themself in knee deep MUD!

First Newborn Recipient!

Five week old Katelyn

was the first recipient of a free book from the library this week.

This is a new service the library is starting. Thanks to the Friends of the Library
and the library, a new book will be given to all families in our local area when they are blessed with the arrival a newborn babe! The parents get to choose which book they want (board books are being offered at this time) and the lucky book chosen by our first parents was one entitled "Sweet Dreams, Little Bunny" by Maribeth Boelts. Another family with a newborn son wasn't able to come in for this first-time event but will be receiving their new book at a later date. We look forward to seeing more of the these precious recipients in the future!

Beginning of Game Fun

Started our first "after school hour" board game fun despite the fact there wasn't any school (due to the MLK holiday). When there isn't school we don't usually get as many children as on school days. That is ok though as those who do come still enjoy the popcorn and dring along with whatever activity is planned for the day.

Seen here are children playing two of the many games that were made available. I even prepared a special "hot chocolate" marshmellow treat and then forgot to read the story that went with it because we were all having so much fun playing games that the time got away from us!!

"Piggy Bank" Window Display

The "theme" of this month's library window display is to make a new year resolution to "save money" - thus these interesting banks belonging to a collection by board president Judy Kramer and her grandchildren. However, the little small one between the yellow and blue bank on the top left shelf is actually a 75 year old bank belonging to her husband. May we all have a more prosperous 2012!

Warm January day-2012

Unbelievable!! I was literally outside this a.m. SHOVELING leaves with my snow shovel! I filled 4 bags of leaves that didn't get bagged earlier this year. As you can see that both the back and front area of my lakeside home look more like an autumn day rather than a winter day in January!! Had a call from my daughter in Miami saying that she was "freezing" down there! Of course, Floridians think they are "freezing" if the temps gets lower than 70 degrees!!

Snowy New Mexico -2011

Just returned from my trip to Carlsbad, N.M. where they had the snow we usually have here in Iowa!! I was meant to take this trip as the weather for this time of year was most cooperative with sunshine the entire trip and no road issues (except all the wind on my return trip). These pictures just show a few of the snowy scenes I saw which include snow in Carlsbad AND up at Ski Apache at Ruidoso, N.M. One of my friends is sitting next to a snowman (slightly smaller than its original size) that she built over the Christmas weekend. Unfortunately for the snowman he was melted away by midweek as was most of all the other snow. Even up at Ruidoso, the 60 degree weather didn't leave much snow in the town itself but fortunately for skiers there was enough snow up on the mountains for them.