Saturday, January 31, 2026

It Almost Snowed!


Could a picture better illustrate a winter day in North Florida? I think not. Gibson and Maggie were outside, hoping to see some of the snow flurries being reported all over social media and also, via personal sightings by both Rachel and Lauren. Snow! Snow in Florida! Again! 
But look how Maggie's dressed- suitable for snow with mittens and a hooded jacket while Gibson is in shorts and a t-shirt. I'm not sure if they got to see any of the tiny flakes or not but I bet you anything Gibson went back in the house to add more clothing if he spent much more time out there. For us, it is bitterly cold. 


If it feels like 18° at 34°, what's it going to feel like tomorrow morning when it's 19° or 20°? 

I haven't even stepped out of the door today. The compost can begin its decomposition in the kitchen. There is nothing in the garden I want badly enough to go out and pick. Mr. Moon stayed inside today too, mostly doing online shopping for flooring for the downstairs of the cabin and a glass shower door. Also, quite possibly a truck because his has reached the point of not being worth repairing and the man has to have a truck. He is already calling this new one- the one he hasn't bought yet- his last truck. And it won't be a new, new one. Trust me. I'm not sure Glen's ever bought a new vehicle in his life. 
Oh wait! I remember he did once. He sold it almost immediately. 

But now, he's gone to town. There's a basketball game and he offered to take Levon and August but it was decided that only August would go so that he could have some one-on-one time with his Boppy. 
I love that. 
So I'm home alone which is fine. I think I'll make myself some tofu which I haven't done for awhile. I shall once again use the pre-boiling method of preparing it because I think that really does make a nice texture if I press it after it comes out of the water. It may be that I really only want some good dipping sauce with something crunchy to transport said sauce to my mouth and tofu is a fine answer to that. 

I've done very little today. Some laundry because of course I did laundry. And I watered all of my plants in the house. I patched a bit on a pair of corduroy overalls I've been working on for eons now. Before long, the entire garment will be made of patches but that's fine with me. 




It could actually be said that perhaps in my case, visible mending is not the best idea but, oh, whatever. Those patches are strong and they are colorful. My goal has been accomplished. 

While I sewed, I watched an Agatha Christie thing on Netflix, or at least a few episodes of it. "Seven Dials," I think is the name. My biggest take-away from it so far is the verification of my belief that Helena Bonham Carter is one of the most beautiful women in the world. She is older now, of course, 59 years old, but to my eyes, she is every bit as gorgeous as she was and truth be told, her face is even more interesting. I will say that she is a quite youthful 59 year old but not in a way that makes one thinks of fillers and procedures. If she has had work done, it's good work.

Speaking of good work on an entirely different level, the anti-ICE protests across the nation have been astounding today. I watched footage from one in Salt Lake City which looked to be huge and let me just say- Salt Lake is hardly a bastion of left-wing liberals. 
This is all heartening. 

I've been wanting to share this picture of Hank when he was a baby. I remember when it was taken quite vividly. We had just recently moved into the house I spoke of a few days ago, the one without running water and with gaps in the walls and floors. Our friend Chloe took it and gave me this copy. 


In so many ways he looks just the same. My first baby, my precious child. It was winter and cold then too, but he looks pretty happy. He was, in fact, a happy baby and a happy child, too. I love that picture and it lives on the hallway altar. 




That's a picture I took last night of the moon behind the twisted, bare branches of a pecan tree. I love the clouds and also the light from my back porch. We were outside, checking out the new camper Jessie and Vergil had just bought. 
Looks cold, doesn't it? 

It was. But not as cold as it is tonight. 

Be warm. 

Love...Ms. Moon


28 comments:

  1. I absolutely love baby pictures! And babies. Their fat little feet always melt my heart. I agree about Helena Bonham Carter. Her skin is gorgeous!

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    1. The toesies! Oh my god. I just love babies.
      You're right about HBC's skin. She is lovely.

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  2. Gibson in shorts and T-shirt reminds me of the time my oldest daughter and son-in-law took ther kids to Tasmania and they drove up a mountain that I can't remember the name of to see the snow. Grandson S was getting out of the car and daughter T reminded him to put on his jacket. "I'll be okay" says S, took one step from the car and dashed back in for his jacket and added a beanie and gloves.
    We are having a cooler day today, a much needed respite from the heat, a top of 25C (77F) and I have the house opened up and two fans running to clear the air. Tomorrow will only be 29C (84F) so still comfortable but then the heat will be back after that.

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    1. I hear you! I know what a break from the heat 77°F can be.
      I can just see that grandson looked like running back for his jacket and whatever else he could find to put on.

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  3. Hank was a cutie. It's 4 degrees on the patio tonight with subzero temps predicted. I think the wind chill is like 20 below...and it feels every bit of that! It's been horrid and I'm a native Ohioan. These temps are getting wearisome and worrisome.
    I'll have to check out the Agatha Christie on Netflix. I would recommend (if you like British mysteries) 'Fool me Once' by Harlan Coban. A really good series with LOTS of twist and turns.
    Stay safe. Stay warm. Tis a bit of a challenge in this neck of the woods!
    Paranormal John

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    1. And Hank's hair was as red as a new penny. It's STILL red.
      I could not imagine existing in that sort of cold. Bless you, John!
      Thanks for the suggestion- I see it streams on Netflix so I'll give it a go.

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  4. Dear baby Hank! Such an earnest expression. I love how Maggie's completely dressed the part, just in case.

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    1. Hank was absolutely focused in and curious about everything from birth. When he was very young, I can't remember exactly how young but we lived in that house, he would point his little finger at everything and ask, "Dat?" He wanted to know the names of all the things he saw.
      Yep. Maggie's got her gear on. And I know she was more comfortable than Gibson.

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  5. The Moon photo is stunning! Whatever is going on in the corner, the soft blending of light and color is amazing.
    Hank looks the same!

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    1. That may have been the light from someone's flashlight. I am not sure. It's an interesting effect, isn't it?
      Hank does look remarkably the same as he did almost fifty years ago.

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  6. I love that last photo, very moody.
    I like Helena Bonham Carter, she always looks like she just got out of bed and threw things together. I suppose it helps when you're already beautiful, but she always looks good.
    We're enjoying the warm weather, although it's probably about the same temp as your weather:) It rained last night and put a sheet of ice over everything, which then melted fairly quickly.

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    1. Ms. Carter always does look good, even when they post those photos of her out getting coffee or whatever. She has her own style.
      So many people don't have water today due to pipes busting. We just do not know how to deal with such temperatures.

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  7. Is that a paper maiche head , a ventriloquist head or ? Love the baby pic ..and the contrasting shades. As for your pic…wow…copyright it !

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    1. That is part of the carving I got in Cozumel, Mexico of the Virgin of Guadalupe. That is the head of Juan Diego, who, according to the story, was the one the Virgin appeared to. She performed several miracles to prove who she was and Juan Diego is now a saint.

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  8. 34 and feels like 18? That IS cold. And in Florida yet. I agree with you about Helena Bonham Carter, beautiful, and I love her as an actress. She’s also a joy to see as a guest on the Graham Norton Show. I love your patches. That is similar to a shirt I bought at Desigual some years ago, pre-patched. The baby picture is a treasure and it’s amazing how I can see Hank as he is now (from the photos I’ve seen). Even the head tilt.

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    1. Tonight it's 39 and feels like 33 so we're back in the balmy range. Haha!
      I need to watch more of the Graham Norton Show. I only get little bits of it online but it always looks so interesting.
      Send me your holey clothes and I will patch them!
      Yep. That is our Hank as he was then and ever will be.

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  9. I think Helena Bonham Carter is stunningly beautiful too AND she has a really cooky style which I love (but could never pull off myself)!

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    1. I ADORE her style. I just love everything about her. Well, the parts of her I know and can see.

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  10. What fun patches, colorful! You're onto something there, and can make just anything have that personalized look! Keep warm y'all!

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    1. There's a whole visible mending movement with books on the subject and everything! I think when it starts getting that sophisticated, it's sort of defeating the purpose but I'm probably just saying that because I'm jealous of some of the beautiful work I've seen.
      We're staying warm. You too.

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  11. I've long liked Helena Bonham Carter, even though Patsy uses her name as an insult in "Absolutely Fabulous." Both Helena and Julian Sands made such an impression on me when I saw "A Room With a View" in the cinema many moons ago.

    I can't believe Gibson is standing around in shorts and a t-shirt in freezing weather! That's such a Florida thing to do, though. Maggie looks like she's about to go skiing.

    I like your pic of the moon behind the tree.

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    1. I think Patsy using a name has an insult should be considered a compliment. Carter has a sort of undefinable beauty, doesn't she? She's not the typical ideal version of what our society thinks of as beautiful and yet, she truly is.
      Aren't Maggie and Gibson a hoot? Yes. We saw people in Costco on Friday wearing shorts. Well, they were all men. I was like, WHY? Glen said it's to prove they are men.
      Sigh.

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  12. We can't wait to get up to 34° - it's been so much colder here. But I know what you mean as we should be used to it and you are not!
    Hank's baby photo is so sweet. I love seeing the photos of my first born as it was such a love-filled time - (although I didn't always know what the heck I was doing!).

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    1. You people who live in such cold areas of the world are hardy souls, far stronger than I'll ever be.
      It's funny. I felt as if I knew pretty much what to do when Hank was born. Having been taking care of my brothers since I was twelve when the first one was born, I did have a lot of experience. And there were so many lovely, hippie mamas about who just mothered with common sense and intuition and I learned a lot from them.

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  13. I have to say Hank looks like the boy he is in that picture. We had our coldest night maybe for the rest of winter I hope last night, mid 20s, currently still in the 30s. I didn't leave the house yesterday until I had to go across the street and feed the cats. If Glen is going with laminate flooring I hope he picks a color. Blue would be nice. I looked, you can get blue laminate flooring.

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    1. Hank has always been Hank. You are right.
      I feel like a complete waste of space, not doing anything out of the house. I suppose I could do something like...clean? But no. I'm becoming a slug though.
      Glen claims he can't find blue laminate but I just sent him a link from Lowe's. He probably wouldn't like it. He's talking tile again. I know he's so eager to get it done.

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  14. Sweet Maggie knows how to dress for cold and snow. She'd love the snow in MA and possibly the cross-country skiing. 15 inches of fluffy snow with bright sunshine makes a pretty landscape. 20 degrees F demands dressing like Maggie.
    Good progress on the cabin. Flooring will make a big accomplishment.

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    1. I don't know how much Maggie would like cross-country skiing. She's not big on physical exertion. She might, though! We'll probably never know.
      Once the flooring's in...that'll be about the time to call it mostly done.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.