Tuesday, January 13, 2009

First off, I have to tell one more thing about the baby shower...after we were done with the shower, Sarah wanted Jeremy to come out front with her. Then they called his mom and me to stand up there with them. Since the baby will be the first grandchild for his mom and me both, they had gotten us a necklace with the birthstone of the baby! This does not do it justice...I tried to take one last night, and then this one is from today...and neither turned out very good, but you can see what it looks like. It did catch us both off guard.Now for today. We were supposed to wake up to nasty, icy roads and maybe get an inch or so of snow. Did not happen. I am fine with the no icy roads, but sure would have liked a little accumulation of snow. We have had snow flurries off and on this entire day.We took a drive over into Illinois...I was hoping by going west that we might get into some real snow, but all we did was go in and out of snow flurries.We would go for a few miles of it snowing so hard that you couldn't see much of anything in the distance, then they would give way to almost sunny skies. It was just a strange sort of day.I thought today I would post these showing how hard it was snowing. And later on I will post some with no snow.

I have always liked reading journals and diaries, fiction and non-fiction books about the pioneers that came before us. And for some reason, when I get over into Illinois, I always think about them more. I think how excited they must have been to find all that rich, fertile, flat land. And then on days such as today, when the wind cuts right through you, I think what hardships they must have endured and I really wondered how they survived. I really wonder if I would have had what it took to build something from nothing.

It gets cold and the wind howls here in Indiana, but over there the land is even flatter, so it hits even harder. I told Roger that soon as you get into Illinois, the farms are much more spread out. I really want to get my tripod back in the Rav and take some photos and stitch them together for a panoramic view of some of the land over there. I don't know if I can do it justice or not...but I do want to try.

We have been home a couple of hours, and I am still not warm through...so imagine what it would be like trying to keep a fire going and trying to stay warm in the primitive conditions of even a hundred years ago! I was just in and out of the car to take pictures...never out for more than 10 minutes at any one time.

It makes me so thankful to come home to a home that has water and warmth--just by turning a dial or handle.

12 comments:

  1. Hope the baby is born in February. Our grandson was due last year on Feb 19, he was born Jan 26. I was hoping he would wait until we returned from vacation before being born. Surprised us all and he was born before we left on vacation.

    By the way I have this necklace. My husband gave it to me last year for our wedding anniversary. Also, has earrings to match.

    Photography By Leedra

    Leedra’s Photos For Fun

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  2. Well, maybe the snow wasn't quite enough to your liking, but you got some wonderful soft shots of the what there was. Would you call it a "dusting"? Very dreamy, anyway!

    (And how sweet - the necklace - it's just beautiful!)

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  3. Beautiful necklace, Rose. The first grandchild is SO special. My first grand was a GIRL--and after raising three sons, I was thrilled to finally have a little girl in my life. When she was 8 months old, they moved.. I thought I would die when she left.. Now she's 15 yrs old!!! Time flies!!!

    We had snow flying around in the air all day long--but nothing more. DARN!!! Did you ever get any??? How far are you from Illinois? Glad you did get out and see some snow today..

    Stay WARM.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  4. What a beautiful necklace you got.
    I suspect you will get more snow before the winter is over.

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  5. Wonderful pictures Rose, the snow flying by is truly great! I LOVE your necklace, what a very special gift! I always felt that God truly is presenting and rewarding us with a gift and we get to be grandparents!

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  6. I can't wait for it to snow here so I can take some pictures! hehehe

    That's a pretty necklace & so thoughtful

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  7. Such a beautiful necklace!

    Stay warm - you must be below 0 right now. We're getting your weather starting late tonight into tomorrow morning. Where's my down parka???

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  8. What a lovely necklace! That was so very thoughtful.
    I'm like you - still wishing for that snow accumulation. We had flurries all day too and a dusting then nothing. We have the bitter cold though.
    I've been so cold and when I read what you said about the conditions of the pioneer people it really made me stop and think and be thankful as well.

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  9. Not to worry, Rose. The snow is on its way south to your place. And even more cold. Brrrr.

    Yes, running water is a blessing. ;-)

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  10. Oh, and I forgot to say how lovely the necklace is. What a thoughtful gift!

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  11. Very beautiful and what a thoughtful daughter you have! That snowy drive looks like enough for me. You would be a good pioneer woman and I would not. But I do llke reading journals and diaries and such. I think memoirs of just common people are so much more interesting than the famous celebs.

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  12. Gorgeous necklace! What a sweet gift! And, I am loving your snowy photos! But, yes that icy wind is hard on us now....can't imagine what the settlers went through traveling on wagons! They were tough people. I don't think I could do what they did!

    Marie

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