Hello book friends! Stopping by to share a few pictures of our snowy Texas Sunday yesterday. The weather people said it had been over 15 years since we had gotten as much as fell yesterday - 2004 I believe. I know many of you get a whole season of snow, but we here in Central Texas get very little. There are occasions though. It kept snowing for several more hours after I took these pictures, but it's melting this morning and the sun is out. It won't stay around long and the best part is that it was almost exclusively a snow event and not an ice or sleet event (which is more likely for our part of the world). It was beautiful and peaceful to see those big, big flakes falling. Just wonderful. I am grateful for peaceful snow.
After all the turmoil, sorrow, stress and upset of the last few months and especially more recently, I decided that 2021 will be the year that I focus on 'peaceful reading'. Not completely sure what that will mean for me. I have made a point of getting back to some devotional time for myself. And I've recently read a book or two that I had read many years ago and that reminded me of aspects of the faith that I hold dear to my heart and that I try to live by. I don't talk about that much on this blog, but I am a person of lifelong faith in God.
I was made very, very sad this last week hearing of a dear friend who is quite ill in the hospital (not with COVID). She had been diagnosed with dementia a couple of years ago and that condition was progressing very slowly. She is still at home with her husband, but this last year has been quite hard on both of them. Her hospital time now is much worse because he can't be with her and she's often confused about where she is and where he is. All I can do right now is pray for both of them. So I am. And trying to turn my mind to 'peaceful' things. Take care, please, all of you and I pray for peaceful thoughts and actions to help all of us and our world.
Beautiful photos, Kay, I didn't think you ever got snow so this is news to me! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your friend, life is so very hard at the moment. We're just staying at home as we have been since last March, and keeping as safe as possible. Thank goodness for wonderful books. You take care.
Kay, I am so sad for your friend and her husband. My father and my mother both had dementia (not at the same time). My mother cared for my father for many years so he never had to suffer the confusion of being left alone but my mother was not as lucky, although my sister did handle that situation as soon as she could. My sister and my mother are heroes to me for the care they gave to others in our family.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of snow in Texas, but it is a big state. We did occasionally have snow in Alabama when I was there. Those photos are beautiful.
Your photos are beautiful, Kay. It's been just over a year since I've seen snow. Haven't admitted it to my family back in NY, but I sometimes miss the peacefulness of a snow day.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your friend's illness. The pandemic has made so many difficult situations like this even worse. I will keep them in my prayers.
Beautiful pics Kay, a treasure for you I'm sure. I love how I feel when it snows.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry your friend is ill, given COVID I can only imagine how difficult it is for the couple, friends and family. I'll be thinking of you.
A little more peace is definitely what we could all use right now!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures! I love watching the snow fall, but it's also nice when it all melts within a day or two!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your friend; what a difficult situation.
I'll bet you loved watching the snow fall! It's always so pretty, but I'm glad we don't see it too often (or too much of it when it does happen). I love the stillness of the neighborhoods when it snows. Gorgeous photos, Kay!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry about your friend. It's heartbreaking. Sending you virtual hugs, my friend.
I am so sorry about your friend. It is always hard on the family, and extra so during the Covid season. Sending my thoughts and prayers your way (and to your friend).
ReplyDeleteA peaceful year of reading is definitely a great plan! Hope you get to spend lots of time on reading.
Snow! Such lovely photos, Kay.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry about your friend and will keep her and her family in my prayers.
I love your pics, Kay! They're beautiful! I know I'll be excited to see some snow, given that ours is always summer. (Lately it rains so much that some areas are flooded.) :(
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your friend's condition. So sad and heartbreaking. I hope she'll get better as the time goes.
Newly fallen snow is always so beautiful. I'm sorry to hear about your friend. It's so hard to see especially in days of covid lockdown. I'm dealing with the same with my mom. She's in memory care and I haven't been able to see her in the same room for months. She's in a ground floor room so I can stand outside her closed window. Weather and fear of the virus prevents the window being opened. I'm hoping she receives the vaccine soon but we haven't been told when that might happen. She's 87.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe what I was seeing in our backyard! It was exciting to see some snow and best part was not having to drive in it :) It was a lovely day especially after all that's been happening. I love your idea of a peaceful reading year and I look forward to hearing what you discover. I'm so sorry to hear about your friends and wish them a lot of strength as they deal with this. Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your friend. The snow was all fun and games until the power went out and was out for 11 hours. Got pretty chilly in the house. I still haven't thawed out and I was raised "up north". lol
ReplyDeleteI love the pics! That does look like a peaceful snowy scene. We get dustings of snow occasionally, but it doesn't happen very often.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your friend. Dementia is such a cruel disease. My uncle has been in and out of the hospital lately with heart issues and my aunt is so distressed at not being able to be there with him. It makes an already difficult situation so much worse :(
I'll be interested to see what you pick for your peaceful reading this year. I definitely need to do more scripture/devotional reading. It's good for the soul!
What lovely snow you got up in Central Texas! We did not get any here, so I greatly appreciate you sharing these photos.
ReplyDeletePeaceful reading. Yes. I'm tired of blowing with the winds (mostly from savage hurricanes) of what's going on in the larger world. I'm retreating into reading, too.
How pretty! Even though we live in snow country here in Vermont I still find it magical...until we're four months in, then it's more of an annoyance! Sorry to hear about your friend--it must be very hard for her and her family and you as well.
ReplyDeleteI love your focus on peaceful reading. I think we could all use more peace right about now. :)
I am terribly sorry about your friend. So very sad.
ReplyDeleteOur friend in Austin posted snow pictures all day on igram. She just loved it.
My reading is always peaceful, as you know. If something upsets me, I just give it up. There is so very much out there that one never has to be less than happy with a book. Reading blogs is a bit of a refuge these days.
I love the pretty snow pictures. As much as we northerners sometimes complain of snow, we too appreciate the peaceful feeling it brings. Peaceful reading sounds like a good idea. I'm still struggling to bring down the temperature, personally of these last few months and the stress they have caused and are still causing. I've been reading Good Citizens by Thich Nhat Hanh in the mornings and it helps. I alternate with devotional books (Christian, Hanh, other Spirituals), and Thich Nhat Hanh brings peaceful feelings so I'm thankful for those few minutes every morning.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your friend ... it is tough these days. I like the sound of your "peaceful reading." I need some too. Those snow pictures are nice & peaceful and pretty. Enjoy your reading.
ReplyDeletePeaceful reading sounds perfect — Though it had a very rocky start, I remain hopeful for 2021. ♥
ReplyDeleteKay, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. Comfort and healing to her and her husband. I hope she becomes well enough to go home. It's so hard to to be separated from your loved ones, especially when they are struggling so.
ReplyDeleteThe kids and I loved playing in the snow. We spent hours making snowmen and having snowball fights. It was such a welcomed surprise.
Thank you everyone who commented here for your kind thoughts for my friend who had been hospitalized. I appreciate it very, very much. I think the day I wrote this I was just so sad. In any case, my friend is now out of the hospital and hopefully will be on the road to recovery as time passes. It will be a while before her physical condition is anywhere back to where she was, but she is improving. She and her husband have some home help now and that is a good thing. He is trying to see what might come next for them, but it seems they will be able to manage for a time. Again, my thanks for your good wishes and prayers.
ReplyDeleteMy peaceful reading is going well. And peaceful reading for me includes The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths, which our mystery group will be discussing in February. You know that I love a 'nice' murder puzzle. Ha!