Winter wonderland

Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a big fan of the snow. I'm still recovering from 'Snowpocalypse'. Yes, I know it was three years ago and I really should get over it but seriously people. That was nuts. I am pretty sure it's scarred me for life. However, this child of mine loves the snow so I'm happy we had a teensy bit this year for him to play in. 

Flashback to the biggest snow storm the DC area had seen in 100 years. 

Snowpocalypse 2010. There was approximately four feet of snow in our backyard for a long time. You see that fence? It's five feet high. We were trapped in our sub division for about a week. Joe was trapped at work for four days and nights. When I tried to shovel the driveway, I cried. It took me two hours to do about two square feet. And then it just got covered over again. I paid one of my neighbors $20 to plow our driveway with his tractor. 
I would have paid way more. But I had no way of getting out to get the cash from the bank. 
When I first came to the States I was so excited for snow. 
Now,  I'm good with just a dusting every other year or so. Easy on the dusting. 

My accidental wedding

I hate it when I get married by accident. I find it is always much better to be at least a little prepared ahead of time for your impending nuptials. So. Joe and I unexpectedly got married again. To each other I should probably point out. We thought the priest was simply going to say a few solemn words 'convalidating' our existing marriage in the eyes of the Catholic Church (turns out these folk are not big on Australian beach weddings presided over by civil celebrants named Jill. Who knew?!) 

And, since Sister Patricia had strongly advised me that there should be no frippery, fanfare or flower girls strewing rose petals, I didn't sweat it too much, especially since later that evening I was making my first Holy Communion in front of the entire congregation of St Joseph Church. 

One major event for the day was all I really had room for on my 'things to stress out about' schedule. 

However, Father Eric did not get that particular memo and proceeded to bless our marriage with a lovely homily and a full exchange of vows right down to the 'do you take this woman' part. 

I found it very difficult to hold back the tears. One, because it was so beautiful. And two, because I couldn't stop wishing I hadn't worn a black dress, that I'd invited a few more people to share the occasion and that I'd made sure someone - anyone - was there in control of the camera situation*. Also, I totally missed a perfect opportunity to finally score my 2 carat Tiffany solitaire. Dang.    

* Many thanks to Ben and Rebecca for snapping the pics
 that do exist of our special day.
 Anyone who knows me knows I am control
freak when it comes to photos that include me.
I vetted photographers all over
 Sydney for our first wedding. The second one,
not so much! So with that in mind, here's a pic or two
from March 2003. 

Wordless Wednesday

From my one true love...

Bats in the belfry

(Not the real grandma). 

You can learn a lot hanging around with first graders.

Today I volunteered at school helping William's teacher from last year take her new recruits to the public library. It's a short walk from the school but you'd be crazy to attempt to wrangle 22 of them alone across several busy roads. 

On the way there I had this conversation with a little guy who was telling me all about his family.

Little guy: "I only have one grandma left now. My other grandma just passed away and both my granddads are dead and my great grandma is dead. They live in A Better Place now."

Me: "I'm so sorry to hear that but it sounds like you have some special angels looking over you. And it's wonderful that you still have one grandmother, right? Does she live close to you?"

LG: "Uh, yeah, too close. She lives in the BASEMENT of my house. And she is TOTALLY PSYCHO!"

Me: "I'm not sure that's a very nice thing to say about your grandma..."

LG: "My mom said I always have to tell the truth. And That. Is. The. Truth."

I later mentioned our exchange to a friend who happened, coincidentally, to know this family. "Oh yeah," she said, "He's right. That woman is completely psycho".

Ohhkaaaay then...

Coincidence?

My question is, have these four allegedly completely different musicians ever been seen together in the same room at the same time? No, thought not. I have no idea what's going on here. All I know is I hear the music, I like the music and then eventually, sooner or later, I see the people making the music. How is it possible that all the music I like is performed by men who look, 

for all intents and purposes, identical? 

We have here, from left to right, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Church, Lee Brice and Kip Moore. Wait, I mean Kip Moore, Lee Brice and Eric Church. Oh heck, I have no clue. 

I realise Bruce doesn't exactly fit the country rocker mold but I am certain he was the 

original prototype upon which these newer ones were fashioned. There's a factory churning them out somewhere in the deep south I guess. 

(Oh, just as a by-the-by, Kip Moore's debut record (yes, I said record), Up All Night, is a-may-zing. As  Molly* would say, 'do yourself a favour and check it out...' ) 

Of course, whether or not I can admit to being a huge fan of country music and still retain my rock chick credentials is a discussion for another day. 

(* Molly, aka Ian Meldrum, iconic Australian music critic.) 

  

Flowers Unlimited

I've been living in Martinsburg for a number of years and almost every day I drive down the main street of the old town as I ferry William to and from school. Evidently I have been driving around with my eyes and heart closed to the many treasures this place has to offer. 

I took these pics last week in a store called Flowers Unlimited on North Queen Street. It's a florist that doubles as a gift store selling everything from jewelry, scarves, hats, candles and lotions and potions, to seasonal decorations, knick knacks and ornaments. I can't wait to see what they do for spring if their Christmas offering is anything to go by. I love that I stumbled upon something so unexpectedly beautiful right here on my doorstep.