The snow and ice are gone but the temperature is in the teens. What an odd year we have had weather wise and the coming year appears to be setting up to be unusual, as well. Record breaking heat, record breaking cold, snow storms..... Riku, those are very interesting photo's. It's hard for me to see the fracture, I'm not sure what I am looking at but the implications are frightening. Ann, I wish you had my weather :-) Patricia, you got snow? Wow. My pansies that usually bloom all winter here have fallen over, frozen solid. Bet and Pandy, it's hard to know what to expect anymore! Florence, thank you dear. I was very careful. I just take it slow and hope no one runs into me :-) I agree it is pretty but I'm glad it is gone. Kayla, now that is a snow storm! Stay warm and stay safe. Hope your son shows up before spring :-) Carol

James, what neat pictures, I never seen this before, the snow on the beautiful fig leaves, very nice, you could take these pictures, print them and hang on your wall in a nice frame, they are really pretty. Very Good. Martin, i love that song, it is so pretty and you sure know the words, Keep singing this. I find myself humming songs alot during the day, My dogs, Nigel and Clovelly and Julie want to run away when I sing. I love Dino and especially Tony Bennett. My mother never missed Dean Martins show. He was alot of fun. I wonder what he died from? I wonder how old. I know they really enjoyed their figs. My husband bought me a DVD titled, " The Italian Americans" it was interesting 3 dvd's and all the It.American stars talked about their childhoods growing up like we do. They mentioned a few things about the fig trees and figs in their back yards. Like to get a hold of one of Dean Martins fig and see what type it is. His family, i Believe his grandparents came from the same Region in Italy I come from. We'll have to see. Maggie

Hi- I don't often post on this forum (mostly on kitchen and bath), but I too am building a home.. I noticed your post and felt compelled to comment. I live in New England, south of Boston. We sold our house in March, closed in May with the expectation that our new build would have begun in April. They did not even start clearing land until August, and we are still in an apartment with our 4 and 6 year old daughters and 8 yr. old yellow lab. B/c you said you were moving to a rental. My only suggestion to you is to think about how wonderful it will be in the end when your beautiful new home is finished. We are due to close (fingers crossed) in the next two weeks- so I guess it is a little easier to say that now.. but.. it will be worth it in the end!

I like snow, too, for all its inconveniences, and it's good for the land here. "Sotto la neve, pane." Under the snow, bread. My Teas have continued trying to bloom after the couple of inches of snow they got a week ago. We're forecast to get great quantities of freezing rain on Sunday and Monday, which should put an end to all attempts to flower for the rest of the winter, not to mention smashing everything. It hasn't happened yet, though. I'm waiting with interest to see what will take place.