After the really lovely holidays, we—BW and I, Jason, Kat, Griffin and our friends Bill and Nicole—spent a week at Nemocolin. We book one of the houses for the January trip, and it’s nice to hang out together, have lots of room in the snowy outdoors for Griffin.
BW and I top off the gas tank before getting on the interstate, and with me at the wheel, we we’re on our way. Maybe 40 minutes later, I think, and say: This road’s really bumpy!
BW agrees.
Then I realize—as he does—it’s not the road. It’s the car. Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot!
I keep expecting it to stop. I don’t know why, just do. It doesn’t. It feels like a wheel’s out of alignment. Maybe.
Off the highway, pull into a parking lot. BW thinks maybe a chunk of snow—we’d gotten plenty—got stuck behind a wheel. But no dice.
Drive on, speculating. Maybe bad gas—water in the gas. Maybe the transmission—especially when the engine light comes on. Carburetor?
I start counting down the miles until we’re off 68. I’ll add the wind gets fierce and it starts spitting snow.
Off 68–yay—and into another parking lot as BW wants to drive from there, get the feel of how it’s handling.
We plan to get there we’re going, then find out where we can have the car looked over.
He thinks again, the gas.
Because we’re checking into a house, we go to the brand, spanking new Welcome Center. Out of the car in the wind, blowing snow, and into the warm, pretty new space.
And when we get back into the car, it’s fine. Engine light’s off, it drives smooth as butter.
So the gas was likely the culprit, and turning it off probably rebooted everything. Whatever. Huge relief!
I’m happy to say the week went beautifully from there.
It gets cold—seriously cold—and snows a few times. It’s so pretty when you’re inside!
Kat and Griffin go out to build a snowman, and about half way through the build, Griffin tackles it.
I have a little space there I can work, so spend some time with my current work-in-progress. I have a nice workout space, too, so start my day there. Griffin gets interested, and after watching awhile, joins in.
He also brings out his impressive collection of Pikmin stuffed figures, giving me bios of each one as I workout. He lines them up so they can watch, does some more exercises with me.
Shortly, he tells me he needs a water break.
Since we have a kitchen I make Griffin bacon every other day—the extent of my cooking for a week!
Kat, Nicole and I do not one, but two puzzles! Both a challenge, but we were up for it! And we do an oil painting session with the wonderful Claire Hardy, which made us all happy.
We hold our winter foundation meeting, play with the boy, hang out, have treatments, teach Bill and Nicole how to play Hearts—and have a lot of laughs.
The week serves as a huge recharge for me—fun, relaxing and productive—and a lovely way to spend real time with family and friends.
Departure day starts snowy, which is worrisome. But at load-up time, it stops. Jason, bless him, does most of the heavy lifting, then we’re off.
The car behaves perfectly on the drive home, thank God, and the weather holds off until we turn in our lane. Lucky. Happy, happy dogs to greet us.
And it’s back to reality. Frigid reality as the temps drop hard. One day last week it was minus three when I woke. Holy crap! More snow, highs in the teens. Those are the days that have me deliriously thankful I work at home.
My January purge is essentially done. Very satisfying. Spent a lot of time in the kitchen yesterday—Rosemary garlic roasted pork loin, roasted potatoes and carrots, at BW request. And fresh sour dough bread to go with it. My guy really loves that first slice of fresh, homemade bread.
Pretty much done with everything today. BW will settle in with football, and since I don’t enjoy football, I’ll do some counter-programming or snug into the library with a book.
Back to more reality and work tomorrow, then bang, it’ll be February.
Since I’m already done with winter, I appreciate February’s only 28 days.
Stay warm, or if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, stay cool. We’re half way through the season.
Nora
Love to hear about your family times. Always the best times are with family. Keep writing. 💕💕💕
Pitchers & Catchers report for spring training on 2/12–one of those sure signs of spring! Sunset is getting closer & closer to 6:00 PM (here on the western edge of Ohio) and hallelujah, that snow that fell so heavily way back on Jan. 5th & 6th is actually melting in some places! Normally, it doesn’t hang around this long in this area. I’m enjoying hearing water trickling in the downspouts!
Never have I looked for signs of spring so ardently before! I really am tired of winter already!
We have had a taste of your winter weather and while fun for a day or so I am reminded why I live in the South! I have no idea how you handle snow on a regular basis!!! Give me my Louisiana Swamp anyday!
Glad y’all had fun on your trip. Stay safe and warm!
It’s great that y’all were able to have mid winter getaway like that. The bread looks yummy. Love those puzzles.
Stay warm maybe spring will hurry up and come back soon. Here in Texas we’ve had two deep freezes and that’s more than enough. Y’all can keep the snow and the cold while you’re at it. 🙂
Although I love fall and winter, dreary days and rain, and I don’t much care for summer, today, even I am looking forward to a little warmer weather. However, I never look forward to spring…love the thunderstorms, but can do without the tornado’s. The one in 2015 ate my house. Fortunately I wasn’t home, but then didn’t get to return for another 11 months. So happy you got home safe and sound, and had a lovely time while away.
I have All the In Death books [in paperback only] and have preordered Passions. In fact, I have read most of the books you have written. Working on All. Thank you for writing them and hoping you will continue for the rest of my life.
Except for the car issue it sounds like a great time. Every time I read what you’re cooking in the kitchen I’m starving! The pork roast is especially delicious sounding. I’m glad your quick trip was refreshing. BTW, the photo of your forest was exceptional!
Sounds like you had a really lovely time!
Sounds like you had a wonderful and unexpected adventure. So glad that you were able to recharge. Really wish that you had kept the cold temps up north though. 🥰 looking forward to your next books when they are released.
Sorry, but I had to laugh when you mentioned the possible cause of the engine issue as being in the carburetor. I feel pretty confident that you don’t drive a vehicle old enough to have a carburetor instead of a fuel-injected engine.
It may have been an issue with trash in the fuel line, especially if you let the gas tank get below an eighth of a tank before filling up. I am glad the engine issue resolved itself, though, and y’all had a great trip.
I hope the new year is treating y’all well. As for those of us down south, we’ll we got our own surprise snowstorm, marking five inches where I live on the coast of SE Texas. Normally, if we get any snow, it barely covers the ground and melts off the next day. I have adult nieces and nephews who had never really seen snow before. They, their children, and the entire area had a blast playing in it. Me, I stayed in, admired the beauty of the snow, and read.
Herschnerr’s offers a large selection of puzzles along with all their other crafts, and I spent a long time talking myself out of getting two that I really loved the look of. Now, darn it, I need to go back and peruse them again, because I really wanted them – lol. Glad that your vehicle is okay.
February is gonna be an exciting time. Forget it’s a sign of spring around the corner here in Northeast Ohio where it’s currently 14°. We finally get along anticipated bonded in death.
Sounds like a great time. So jealous. That would be a blast. I’m glad that you got to relax and recharge.
Thanks for these glimpses into your life and I’m especially grateful for all the books that you keep giving us.
Keep it up. Maybe one of these days you’ll make it to the Big Sky Country here in Montana.
I’ve been to Montana several times—only once, years and years ago for work. The other visits were for fun, and we had lots of it!
I’ve lived here all my life and wouldn’t change it for anything. There is always fun to be had here. Just wish I could make it down to your neck of the woods would love to check out the Inn and bookstore. One of these years when my husband and I aren’t caretakers for his father and uncle.
You are my escape and have helped me keep my sanity with everything. I can’t thank you enough. I’ve read all of your books at least three times. Thank God for Kindle or we wouldn’t have room to live. Keep up the great work.
I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself while you were here.
Great paintings! That bread looks AMAZING!!! Glad your car held up and that you all had a fabulous trip!
Boy, I wish we would get snow like what you’ve pictured – Utah is, after all, the land of the Greatest Snow on Earth. But alas, no snow yet for the valleys this year, but the mountains are getting enough to keep the skiers and resorts happy, I guess. I just wish it would get really cold so we could go ice fishing. It’s raining and 40 degrees right now!
Glad you had fun with your family and friends. They really are the bread of life, aren’t they? And speaking of bread – seeing yours makes me want to make some. However, I leave the cooking and baking to my WB – he’s much better at it than I am.
Happy February to you! Looking forward to the next read.