City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon from New York.

As some of you will already know, we have had a second snowfall.  This one also included sleet and freezing rain and resulted in icy sidewalks.  Again, I was very fortunate to have the post-icing days off from work.  Sidewalks were a bit treacherous, even when they had been meticulously cleared, because the sleet and rain applied a thin glaze to the sidewalk surfaces.

Sidewalks that had not been cleared were also dangerous because of the ice.  People who had to venture outside were very cautious in their gaits.

The snow and ice that clung to tree branches did create some pretty lacy effects.  Snow plows did again make their rounds, but left slushy lanes behind that re-froze.

It was a good time to stay indoors and finish the scarf I have been knitting for several weeks.  

The scarf is now in my Foakley Arts etsy.com shop, just in time for consideration as a Valentine's Day gift.

Although the temperature remains well below freezing, the sun did return this morning along with a bright blue sky.  I ventured out to fetch some coffee, vegetables, and chicken.  Guided by advice from several cookbooks and my own intuition, I have made lots of chicken soup this afternoon.  Much of the resulting chicken broth is now in my fridge's freezer.  There will be another snow storm, perhaps within a week's time.

I've also begun another knitting project, a quick pair of cosy wool socks, using "Fruitarian" yarn from Gnome Acres, a source introduced to me by Celia Hart.

It's fun to be playing around with various bright colors indoors, while admiring the subtle winter colors of the city views just outside my windows.

Drilling update.  The weeks of sub-freezing, snowy weather have prevented the drillers and masons from completing their massive project.  They were very close the finish line.  Although much of their activities were noisy and dusty, I am sorry that they have not been working, because I imagine that they are not getting any paychecks during the deep freeze.

Thank you all for your visits and kind comments.  Isn't it encouraging to notice the increase in daylight hours?