The two temperatures of February!

On Friday afternoon Kathy and I headed up I-79 for a February visit.  Seldom do we make that trip in ANY winter months without the threat or even the reality of snow.  But we left Greensburg in sunny, 75* weather and had a great drive up!  No jackets, no boots, no clouds – a nice day!

We enjoyed our evening visit, and even planted a few tulips!  Fun to watch them glow in the dark.  Then we watched a few episodes of MAYBERRY – There just aren’t characters like Barney Fife anymore!  I had a pretty good nights’ sleep, other than hearing the scratch of some little critter in the attic.  I was ok with it up there, as long as it stayed up there.  No clue what it was.

Early Saturday morning we went for our walk is a bit of a drizzle and much cooler temps.  The usual February snow had been replaced by rain, and the streams were overflowing.  After showers and breakfast, we stood and watched the squirrels eating out of the birdfeeders.  Momma squirrel jumped (yes, actually leaped from the ground to land on the feeder!) and hung off the roof to reach the birdseed.  Junior squirrel sat underneath as momma picked the seeds with her teeth and dropped them to the ground for her baby.  They had it all worked out.

When the sun came out – just for a bit! – Mom walked with us outside, and we looked for snowdrops and crocuses in the matted leaves.  The front yard was literally a blanket of violet, purple, white and yellow crocuses poking up in groups and bunches.  It had cooled down so much that they weren’t opened up very far, but they were a spring delight nonetheless! 

Pictures with mom – when we say our ‘little’ mother, we really mean it!  Love you, Mom!!!

John’s nephew and his friend had set up their hunting tent, somewhere to get warm and dry on their adventures.  Kathy took my picture, with the intent of telling Ron that mom had set the tent up for him when he came up for a visit.  Ron is leaving next week to walk the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine – more info on that topic in another post! You won’t catch ME sleeping in that tent!  We changed the porch flag from the Christmas angel to the screen door cat – we need to find a winter one for them!

After a yummy lunch, John sat down and sorted out the mail.  They had five (yes, count them!) notices from contests (like Publishers Clearinghouse) that informed them they had won millions!  John read the little notes and disclaimers ou loud, and it’s amazing how creative they can get while still telling them they hadn’t won a penny.  Sigh.

We packed up to leave at 4pm in a squall of snow and 34* temperatures.  It’s always hard to leave and head home, and we always spend the first part of the trip reliving our visit.  So glad we have the opportunity and the privilege of visiting our dear parents as often as we do, considering the distance.  We already have the next trip on the calendar!  🙂 Blessings abound!