Snowflakes are kisses from heaven.

Author Unknown

Remember when I was excited about this dusting of snow over the weekend?

Well, it went from a dusting to, um, a lot of snow! I started on Monday night and then through Tuesday it never stopped. It's not just me being a Floridian in St. Louis, our landlord who lived here his whole life said it was a lot of snow.

Although Wednesday was a nice day, Nick couldn't even get his car back up the driveway. I think he actually got it out of the driveway with a lot of luck and momentum (he says it was skill).



Our driveway is rather long so I thought we were going to have to shovel the whole thing. Thank goodness our landlord showed up with his tractor with a plow - yippee!
We still had to shovel the walkways, front porch and clean up the sides of the driveway. I took the following photo to 1. show my first time in our big St. Louis snow and 2. to prove that I really did shovel it!

Random: lacking any definite plan or order or purpose

• Nick has the day off of work today because of the nasty weather and lots 'o snow!
• I'm throughly enjoying watching 27 Dresses on HBO with Bella. Nick has given up and is watching ESPN in the den.
• I purchased Rachael Ray's 365: No Repeats for $4 yesterday at a used book store. I can't wait to try out my first selection, Chicken Tortilla Soup with Lime.
• We bought a new mirror to hang over the mantle. Until we put it up it is now leaning against the wall. Unfortunately Bella keeps seeing her reflection and thinks we have a new cat.
• Thanks to Jen for my Honest Scrap award (one that "you find brilliant in content or design" - woohoo!).

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake.

The great affair is to move.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Nick and I are trying to get out at least once a week and do something a little touristy or at least hit a "must see" spot in St. Louis. Recently, we've done the Missouri History Mueseum, St. Louis Zoo and then this past Saturday headed out to Alton, Illinois to see the eagles. Alton is about a half hour drive and just over the Mississippi from St. Louis.

Bridge from Missouri to Illinois

In case you were wondering, Nick is in Alton

Alton's claim to fame is that is it the winter nesting location for nearly 1,000 American Bald Eagles each January as they head from the north. We started at the visitor's center to pick up maps and were greeted by an eagle hanging out behind the desk (smart eagle, inside with the heat!).

Eagle at the visitor's center

We then visted the National Great Rivers Museum next to the Lock & Dam. No eagles to be seen but neat to see the locks at work with the barges on the Mississippi.

At the locks and dam

Then we went north and spotted about 10 eagles perched on the trees near Great Rivers Park. I find it so unusal to see them in the wild so it was neat to see a whole group of them just hanging out!

Eagle in the tree along the Mississippi

According to our St. Louis friends, a trip to Alton is not complete without a stop at Fast Eddie's Bon Air. With 99 cent hamburgers and free popcorn to munch on while your order is prepared it was worth the wait!

The place was packed and we were informed by the local couple in front of us that we had to try a bit of everything. We split a hamburger, bratwurst, french fries and an "Big Elwood on a Stick" steak kabob for just over $6.

Outside Fast Eddie's

So even though it was really cold and we didn't see as many eagles as I had hoped it was a nice little Saturday and something to check off of our "St. Louis To Do List!"

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• Rachael Ray's Cashew! God Bless You Chicken recipe
• reading the continually updated Facebook status of my insanely conservative high school friend who lives in Washington DC
• watching Dog Whisperer reruns with Nick
• old-fashioned oatmeal with a bit of Splenda and milk
• my first new member meeting this week for Junior League

The quickest way to know a woman is to go shopping with her.

Marcelene Cox

Monogram Chick is hosting a great giveaway for her new travel mug patter, Aqua Polka. I entered and you can too by visiting her site.

Let her know that Randall at Happy for this Moment sent you over because if you win, so do I!

There are few things in life more heart warming than to be welcomed by a cat.

Tay Hohoff

He may not admit it, but I know Nick secretly loves Bella. I came home the other night from a Junior League new member event and they were asleep on the couch snuggled next to each other. Whenever we sit on the couch Bella will start by sitting in between us and by the end of the night she is on Nick's lap.

I think it may be because I'm constantly petting her, moving her and talking to her. I probably annoy her. Nick sort of leaves her alone, therefore she seems to like him better. Of course.

They calm each other.

Beauty comes as much from the mind as from the eye.

Grey Livingston

My darling blog-makeover was created by Ashley at Hippo Scraps.

She was excellent to work with and does such great work. It was such an easy implementation with a fabulous result. I just gave her a few things I was looking for and, voila, she created exactly what I was looking for.

Please stop over and see all of the other blogs she has worked on and see what she could do for you!

I feel pretty, Oh, so pretty

I feel pretty and witty and bright!

West Side Story

Well, I went and got myself a makeover.

What do think?

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.

John Ruskin

Nick jumped on the bed this morning, waking up Bella with a shake and whispered, "Princess, look outside the window."


SNOW!


Not just a little flurry but real honest to goodness snow falling and collecting on the trees and porch. It didn't last long and really wasn't that much snow but was a nice start to a cold day!

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.

G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• Big fat snowflakes falling outside my living room window
• Homemade toasted ravioli
• Finally getting an interview in my job search
• Orange-scented Pledge
• White hydrangia in a vase on my kitchen window ledge

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.

Edith Sitwell

With a high of about 12 degrees on Thursday and a powder covering of snow yesterday, it is more than chilly. We're down right cold! Of course a warm fire does make a cold day more bearable. Even better if you add in a blanket, beef stew in the Crockpot, a good book and handsome husband who had the day off!

Bella snuggled with us a little bit but spent most of her day next to the heat register. What can I say, I raised a smart kitty.

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.
Eudora Welty

I realized the other day that I never shared any professional photos from my November wedding (taken by Valerie Joy Photography). So here's a collection of my favorites - there are a lot but I just couldn't narrow it down. Enjoy!