I bought these Cougar Storm boots online from DSW about three years ago when I spotted them on sale.  We haven't had any worthwhile snow in many years.  Snow showers that melt hours later is not snow.  I craved a measurable amount of soft white snow, the kind that brings a hush to the mountains, a calm peaceful feel when you open the door and there's silence..........  When the Chattanooga weather reports predicted three to six inches consistently I dug out the boots from the back of the closet and they set by the kitchen door in anticipation of finally being worn.  

I couldn't roll snowballs so I built my snowman.  It's wearing my homemade gardening hat, a fresh carrot that didn't go into the beef stew, two grape eyes and two fallen oak branch arms. By this point the snow had quickly changed to sleet/rain mixture and I went inside.  Boots are wonderfully warm and comfortable, good to forty below, but I'll find that out. Yesterday was twenty-five.  Last night stayed low thirties throughout the night and humidity mid-thirties.  Big difference in my skin and joints.  Not going anywhere again today. Tomorrow is supposed to be mostly sunny and melting will happen.  

This past week I updated the shower drain and fixtures.  The house is twenty years old and the old shower plumbing needed updating before it began leaking.  Also had the kitchen sink drain and some PVC updated because I found water dripping inside the cabinet.  

Birds are happily pecking at the hanging suet blocks and their feeders.  This morning had a black-headed grosbeak on the ground and a puffed up downy woodpecker at the birdbath.  Seeing woodpeckers at the birdbath is unusual.  I walked around the yard earlier looking for bear or wildcat prints.  None spotted, not even deer.  The only tracks I saw were raccoon prints.  

Yesterday's leftover beef stew is my lunch today and a good afternoon to bake an almond cake and heat up the kitchen.

Hopefully Monday I can get my new TV set up.