Last night I let Sunshine out for one last pee, and it was snowing! And she came back in covered with snow and bounding about. When we went over to our little apartment, it was still snowing, and when I woke up this morning, there was more. It continues to snow, but lightly. The birds at the feeders are all jockeying around trying to get to the seed. The bigger feeder was taken over for a while by the quail. One decided he was just going to gorge himself, and tucked himself up under the roof and ate until satiated! The little finches and sparrows were having a fit. I saw my first flicker out there too. Haven't seen a flicker since Sudbury, where they would be in the yard, finding the ant hill, and putting their beaks down and sucking up ants, honey to them!

I made a big pot of vegetable beef soup yesterday, raiding the frig and pantry for whatever I could find. We had some leftover beef, so I cubed that up, red potatoes, frozen corn and beans, carrots from Colleen's garden, onion, garlic, celery, barley, wild rice, vegetable and beef broth, and herbs and spices. The only thing I could not find, although I went through every shelf and drawer in the kitchen and pantry, were bay leaves and whole cloves. Those are standard for me when it comes to any kind of soup. But I had to do without. Ground mixed pepper corns into the soup, and through in some sea salt. It was pretty good, if I do say so myself. Could use more salt, but I didn't put it in there. The Hawley's don't use much salt, so anyone needing more can add it.

Sunshine and I made a run into Ellensburg, and this time found THE bakery, after going up and down University Avenue several times. And did that bakery smell good! I got a loaf of their whole grain bread, probably the best I have ever tasted. Ezekiels, of course is my standard, and is wheat free. However, this whole grain is fantastic, and better yet, it was still warm and couldn't be sliced. I got Sunshine a bakery made dog bone, and as I paid for them, I told the gal at the cash register, that I would be in trouble getting Sunshine a dog bone, but after all, I am the grandmother, and grandmothers always spoil their grandchildren! I left with my good smelling package and got back into the car, where Sunshine was waiting, with her brown eyes dancing, somehow knowing I had gotten her a treat!

Getting back home, I took the bread, and immediately slice off one of the heels. I remember when my mother baked bread, and when it came out of the oven, I was right there begging for the heel. There is nothing better in this world than fresh baked bread with real butter slathered over it, and melting into the warm bread! As I right this I can smell mother's bread! And my mouth is watering.

Tonight Colleen and Rick come back, and I am hoping that they won't have any problems driving over the pass on I 90. I know that Kat hit a blizzard in Colorado. Anyway, today I am doing wash, going to vacuum the house, and bake some cornbread for the soup. I have been researching an uncle, the brother of my grandfather, who died in WW I, in Belgium. Bronson Hawley. That has been fun. I haven't done much more on my work with my Civil War uncle, William Hawley. I have a bunch of names, places and words to put in order, as well as tracking the battles and the marches he took back and forth through Northern Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia. Anyway I have been putting a lot of stuff on Ancestry regarding my family, and that is always fun. I never can believe how much time has passed when I am doing that.

Life is good!
Adieu, Adios, Mahalo,
I love you all,
Sally