SNOW, ICE AND COLD ! OH MY !

Yes, the weather is being typical for March around here. Last week one day that reached about 65* and then by the weekend another Nor-east er!
We didn't get as much as eastern NY, western New England and the Catskill mountains, thank goodness !
That would have been too much on top of the three + feet we got about a month ago in one storm ! Yup...love that lake effect snow.
Not really complaining..just hard to get home last night. It adds one and 1/2 hours on to an already very long commute. I'm just glad it was Friday night.

I was also glad we were not snowed in. because we wanted to get to a Jo-Ann's fabric store to take advantage of their 50% off coupons. I have been on the mailing list for a long time and use coupons to buy " big ticket items".
Because there were so many of them this week ( plus one of my kids had some as well ) I was able to buy:

A fabric Calculator for quilting ( A big help, as I was never good at math ! )
The largest Olfa deluxe rotary cutter, plus a pack of five blades
The Sculpey oven, pasta machine and bead rack ( kids will "play" with this stuff for jewelry making ) ;-)

No I don't indulge this way very often, but these were things I have been needing/wanting for a while. I usually spend my coupons on reference craft books, but they didn't have any decent books this time. Ah well................

We also went to the best ( in my opinion) library in the area ( about a 45 min. drive) as we do once every couple of months. We usually get many books out and then slowly return them to our small "local" library. The larger branch will come and do a pick up each week. Our system is great and we can renew online and now have access to an audio books program online as well. This is a wonderful resource and I always vote yes to any library requests in our school budget votes. This may seem "old hat" to some of you city mice, but for all of the country mice it is a treasure !

Reading: Barbara Kingsolver , Jodie Picoult ( she came and gave a talk and signed books for
a fundraiser at our wonderful library)

I usually take out craft books although it is hard to find any library in my area with what I consider an adequate collection. I probably have a larger collection of some craft books than any library around here has.

The hardest visit today was to visit the former owner of the painting shop where I learned how to paint quite a few years back. She had to finally sell the shop due to her cancer diagnosis. She asked her most frequent/enthusiastic, customer/friends to her home to see her new studio. She "signed us up" to come and paint with her during the week. As she said, she wants company, it will inspire her to paint and it will take her mind off of her illness.
We do not know what the future brings for her or how long she will with us, but we want to make sure we share some time with her. She is a very strong special person.


tugging on my left ear,
LRW