Snow Falls!

Nineteen inches of snow fell from Christmas Eve (Thursday) through Saturday. US Interstates 29 and 90 were closed, shutting the state down border to border for most of that time. Snowplows ran around the clock keeping emergency routes open and finally opened up side streets yesterday. After that, neighborhoods were busy with snow blowers and shovelers. See pictures here.

Today, the people we saw were cheery and thankful--thankful that we didn't lose power, thankful that it wasn't so cold, thankful it wasn't too windy, thankful that people we loved were safe if not with us for Christmas. Some people saw more fun than work in the snow, enjoying sledding and snow angels. See pictures here.

This event brings to mind three wonderful books about snow. They are aimed at children, but if you are a child at heart, take a look and experience the wonder all over again.

If I Had a Snowplow by Jean Patrick. This rhyming picture book tells how a little boy would use construction equipment to do something nice for his mom. Jean lives in Mitchell, SD, so she knows snow!

In The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats , a classic Caldecott Award winner, a boy named Peter discovers the wonder and fun of snow. Keats' collage and watercolors give this book a special flavor.

Another Caldecott Award winner, Snowflake Bentley, written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and illustrated by Mary Azarian, tells the true story of Wilson Bentley, a Vermont farm boy who devoted his life to snowflakes. Bentley's fascination led him to photograph and study snowflakes. Many of his photographs are still in use today.

Sledding is fine, but for me, there's nothing better than a good book on a snowy day! What books would you recommend?

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing you and yours the best Christmas ever! Please view the link below and enjoy the magic.

Christmas card

Shop Local Because....

Local store owners have always admonished us to shop local. We shop local quite a bit because we realize it's good for the local economy. What we didn't know was just how good. Now a "shop local" movement is afoot, containing facts and figures that make shopping local look even better. You may not be able to get every item on your wish list at a locally-owned store, but dollars spent there go farther to boost the economy in your neighborhood. Here's the flyer:



Do those statistics startle you as they did me? Click here for more information about this movement. Now about those last-minute Christmas gifts....