Why Does Snow Have To Be So Cold?

Since moving to California I have discovered just how much our life experiences mold the perspectives we have.  Everything is truly relative, even something so black and white as the outside temperature.  Living in California now and having grown up in the Wisconsin gives me a entirely different perspective than many.  First a little disclaimer: I know that there are people out there that truly love winter and the cold, so Koodos to those people but I happen to not be one.   I can't even tolerate a temperature below freezing and struggle with it when the temperatures dip below 70 degrees.

Although I dislike feeling cold, I had to laugh when I saw my fellow Californians running around in scarves, knit hats, puffer coats and Ug boots as soon as our "cold" weather started this month, a chilly (get this) 65 degrees.  I once thought that their choice in winter apparel was merely for fashion but as I have become more acclimated to this climate I realized that, yes, they are that cold.  


These cute little dolly sized boots and hat was found on ETSY shop PennyStitches at
 http://www.etsy.com/shop/pennysstitches?ref=seller_info

But more amusing to me is that these same people will tell me that they would love to live in the snow.  They go on to tell me how it is so beautiful and they like the cold weather and hate the heat, Really!?  At this point I wish for a teleporter so that for a brief 5 minutes I could zap them into downtown La Crosse Wisconsin to do some window shopping while it snows at 15 degrees F (an above average temperature for some months there.) 

I do think that the snow is beautiful to look at.  But as soon as I had to scrape off my car and shovel the driveway for a half hour just so I could get to work, the beauty wore a bit thin.  The funny thing is that when people, who never experienced the true cold, see a lovely winter wonderland on TV they think that it would be a Christmas miracle to have it snow here in Fresno.  Warm and toasty in their California homes they do not have any means to gauge just how chilly it has to get before the heavens can make those beautiful little crystals.

This beautiful photograph can be purchased from ETSY Shop TierraSky at http://www.etsy.com/shop/TierraSky?ref=seller_info

Alas, I will let them keep that dream and they can think that I am just over exaggerating about how cold it feels back home.  Because, I know that maybe someday they will be standing in a place like Chicago mid December and it will be picture perfect... snow gently cascades down upon their knit cap, a breeze stirs the freshly fallen blanket at their Ug covered feet... a winter as seen on TV ...

Then suddenly, they realize that their hands are freezing mercilessly through their gloves, the winds are picking up to bite at their red chapped nose, and it is at that point they will remember what I told them and think "what the #%@*!!! am I doing here?" Then they will run back to good ole Cali like we do every year after our Holiday visit.

This wonderful vintage newspaper insert was found on ETSY Shop FineOldThings at http://www.etsy.com/shop/fineoldthings?ref=seller_info

Happy snow to all and to all a frost bite, LOL ;)

July 17 Listings

I have officially branched out into the photography world by listing a few of my favorite photos.  Two are 10 x 8 and the rest 5 x 7 or 7 x 5's.  I am really excited about my new features since this has been something I wanted to start for years; my favorite are of course the squirrels and the blossoms.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77942341/california-blossoms-8-x-10-photograph

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77942790/forgotten-8-x-10-photograph

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77943005/forgotten-5-x-7-photograph

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77943279/invasion-of-mount-shasta-5-x-7

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77943422/clouds-over-mount-shasta-5-x-7

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77943518/shasta-lake-5-x-7-photograph

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77943665/forest-friends-the-squirrel-5-x-7

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77943725/my-forest-friends-the-squirrel-5-x-7

A Love Story - The Squirrel, A Cat, and Me

I am not sure where my delusion all began but I am in love with squirrels.  Their cute little pudgy body is just screaming to me "Hug Me."  It doesn't start here but it definitely was a pivotal point in my crazy squirrel affair. 

Sweet little squirrels found in ETSY Shop Val World at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/valworld?ref=seller_info

On my last trip to the Midwest we spent time in a remote hilly forest that was actually a tough course of disc golf.  While waiting for my son to finish a hole I kept hearing a strange sound.  It sounded almost like someone plucking a rubber band but more scratchy.  I investigated and found the noise to be coming from a tree.  I looked closer and became excited when I discovered the sound came from the plumpest little squirrel chewing on a nut.  He was in the branch slightly above my reach he was so intent on his project that he didn’t seem to notice me; at first.  With camera in hand I approached slowly.  His head lifted slightly to watch me while continuing to chew on his nut.

I inched closer taking a picture and closer taking another.  I was thinking all the while about how sweet he looked and how I would love to scoop him up and cuddle him.  But having been raised in the country I knew not to, but oh how tempting...  I continued to inch forward, the squirrel stopped and then continued to gnaw at the nut keeping a good eye on me.  At this point I had convinced myself that maybe I could get closer even yet, right below the branch.  He is so sweet... so cute...until…

He sprung up squeaking, nut still in his mouth, tiny little hands stretched out in anger for my disturbing his peace.  Of course that didn't stop me yet.  I continued to take pictures up close and personal like a deranged paparazzi.  I’m snapping photos faster and faster as the squirrel is becoming angrier and angrier.  Then he jumped to the main trunk of the tree and stuck his upper body out as if to lunge.

At this point the temptation faded and images of cuddling a squirrel left, replaced by images from Chevy Case's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  I envisioned the squirrel leaping from the tree to my chest in one swift motion and I decided to back off.  I left, his angry squeaks echoing through the forest behind me. 

I have learned, my friends, that I should stick to cats.  They are just as pudgy and soft and they don't bite...Usually.