Brain Freeze

Sleeping in is a luxury we truly miss around our house. Ever since we adopted Belle, our black lab-mix (secretly we call her Devil Dog, Hell's Belle, The Black Menace - among other things) she has done all she can to wake us up, usually before the sun rises. Today was even more urgent in her mind, as there was a beautiful dusting of snow on the ground. As soon as she saw it, she scratched, whined, and nudged the belles I have hung at the back door to signal she wanted out. Naturally, Mark and I are snuggled in the warm bed, each silently hoping the other will get up and let her out. As Belle paces around the bed, she senses that we are really awake, and she becomes more insitent by bumping the bed and shaking her collar to make it jingle. Finally, Mark (Yes, I am triumphant in playing possum!) lets her out and she is sniffing, licking, getting a brain freeze, I'm sure, running and sliding in it for over 20 minutes..... giving us enough time for, well, more snuggling.

And as Erica wakes up and looks outside, she cries out "Awesome!" I have to admit that the snow on the trees and grass is really beautiful, and it, being the first "real" snow of the season, puts the feeling of Christmas in my heart. As the sun was coming up, the clouds turned a shade of salmon pink that was amazing. As the clouds passed over above, the blue sky showed through in smudges, and the sun shining on the snow-covered tree branches was a brilliant white. Erica says it's like a picture in a coloring book, just waiting for someone to color it in. I couldn't say it better!

Now, a few hours later, the snow is already falling off the branches, the sky is more gray and the day is just another winter's day. A good day to prepare my own turkey dinner for tomorrow. I'm making a pumpkin pie, but not the crust - who has the desire when Pillsbury makes it so easy? My dinner is mostly a combo between my mom's and mom-in-law's.... but hands down the stuffing is Martha's! But I'm making mom's fruit salad, and her pumpkin pie - straight off the Libby's Pumpkin can label. I've invited my cousin Diana, and friends Sophia and Les, (plus the neighbors - that was a last minute thing), a big group, but that's the point, isn't it? Good thing I got the 13 pound turkey out to thaw!