Make a Smilebox slideshow

When we contemplated where we might be sent on our mission, I was hoping for Florida or Arizona--anywhere warm. Where did we end up? The winter capital of the world! However, I can honestly proclaim that it hasn't been as bad--yet--as I anticipated. Of course, my dear companion is very loving and kind to me. Every morning he goes out and starts the car and clears the deck if necessary. If the parking lot is really bad, he parks right by the stairwell for me. However, at the Archives it's another story. He gives me something to carry like our lunch cooler and says "You're on your own, Grandma." I have learned to dress for the occasion except I haven't worked up the nerve to wear a hat yet.
Vermont is a state of snowplows! Every other pickup has a snowplow. The cities have mini-snowplows for sidewalks and parking lots. From the first snowflake, the snowplows and road clearing equipment are at work. The salt-covered cars are a sight to behold! We wash the car every Saturday. You don't have to be embarrassed when your car is dirty because every car is caked with salt. We haven't encountered too many bad roads. We do avoid the many side roads, however. My weather icon says -8 right now. The wind chill last night in Vermont was -35. The sun is shining, but it isn't warm.
We're saving money with winter. It's too cold to want to do much. We justify not running errands because of the cold. We're snug in our cosy little apartment so we'll make it. We learned recently that the worst storm they've had occured one year on Valentine's Day.
We love our work. We're getting better at it. We were inspired this week by a meeting that showcased the wonderful changes that are taking place in the immediate future in Family and Church history. The refrain from Mary Poppins which the mother sings: "Our daughters' daughters will adore us and they'll sing in grateful chorus: Well done sister suffragettes." has been running through my head as I step into the fray. Our work will be only the smallest, smallest part of a very big effort, but it is at the heart of what is happening.
Stay warm. Drive safely and carefully. Please write to us. We do get lonesome. We're so grateful for each other and for each of you.

Snow and Salt

One of my worries before we received our mission call was winter. Since a very small accident several years ago when I did a 360 in the middle of Highway 17 on a snowy, snowy winter road and a few years later when I slipped on the ice and cracked my head a good one, I've hated winter. I was so ecstatic when we received our call that I didn't realize until later that we're in the Winter Capital of the World in New England. In my defense, I did bring a good, warm coat and two pairs of gloves. Neither of us, however, was really prepared for Winter! I realize, of course, that the brunt of winter has yet to arrive.


Winter, in my definition, didn't begin until Thanksgiving weekend when the first snowfall finally came. That next Saturday we ventured north to Burlington to visit the nearest Home Depot and I was amazed at the extent of a heavy frost. I discovered, however, that it wasn't frost, but Salt! This SUV is covered with salt. It is everywhere! We have been totally amazed that the salt has actually made the roads bare and, relatively, dry most of the time. However, Vermonters seem to have forgotten that salt is a corrosive. Near Burlington they are replacing a 40 year old bridge because of corrosion. Salt has also created mud everywhere. We've tried to keep our car clean, but it's an impossible task. You can see how it looks most mornings in the picture above.

I thought you might enjoy this picture from Christmas. My kids can just imagine what their Dad is telling Christofer! I think his first words were: "Don't shoot anybody!"

I've included this Vermont Teddy Bear which has received the unfortunate moniker of "Wifebeater Bear" simply because he has on what my kids call a wifebeater shirt. He was Garth's Christmas present. I had fun because I totally skunked him with this surprise. Although you can't read it, the shirt says "Kiss Me".
Have a good winter. We're going to do some picture taking this weekend with Garth's new camera and lens so I'll share another winter blog soon.