After a Dark and Snowy Week…

On March 6, 2015 By AngeliaIn Beautiful Life28 Comments

The sun comes out ~~to blind me~~ to brighten our days. But the snow, and ice (which is still snow to Texans) was a fun and dramatic change from our sunny 60’s (sometimes 80’s!) winter.

The Dallas metroplex is one of those areas when the weatherman says, “Snow.”

We say, “Yeah, right!”

And when he still says, “SNOW!”

We say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Well, we believed! We believed last week and we believed this week. The magical ice and snow and allllll the blustery cold things happened. We broke out the gloves and scarves. We made chili (well, my sweet hubby made super, yummy, delicious chili). And most of the household had many wonderful snow days away from the office and school.

Except for me…because…I work for a travel agency. Even better, I supervise the EMERGENCY SERVICE Department of said travel agency. And what do you know? Snow storms and flight cancellations seem to top the #1 EMERGENCY of travelers. Huh.

But you know, with the skidding and sliding of planes off runways and such. Yeah, that. It’s kind of important that they CANCEL these precarious flights, lest you end up crashing into a ditch, screaming as you plunge down a blow-up slide while highly flammable jet fuel LEAKS nearby. So not the winter vacation you were hoping for. This is why I am happy to work snow days and keep you extra safe. You’re welcome.

But fingers crossed, someone has snuffed out that darn ground-hog and it WILL FORtheloveofGODplease be Spring real, real soon.

In the meantime, enjoy my lovely (and rare) SNOW photos. It happened. It really did.

This. This thing called snow.It is magical. I bet I’ll be eating snow balls later.

Maya kitty sees her first snow. She batted at the window like. WHAT? What is that??

I don’t understand this thing called snow. I need a nap.

It’s snow Maya. I tried to take her out to see it in person, but she FREAKED and clawed my shoulder. I think that meant – HELL NO into the snow I won’t GO!

My Anna dog runs through the snow/ice.

Anna dog and my old gal Salem have a snack of crunchy, tasty snow.

My Black Lab Salem. She is 12yrs old going on 13 this year. And she *still* loves the snow. Sweet girl.

This was the first wimpy snow. I didn’t get a pic of the bigger snow on my car.

FUN!

The girls play on the trampoline. Snowballs and jumping – what could be better?

Snowball fight!

The girls chunked ice/snow balls at Anna. I am really surprised it didn’t knock her out. She loves catching snowballs more than anything.

Anna the Snow ball catcher. Who needs a Frisbee?

This snow is swinging. Heh.

Hello Kitty in the snow.

The girls and the snow (ice).

Bridget in the snow.

Molly in the snow.

The snow melted. Some ice was left. The girls wished for more snow (they got it a week later).

But that didn’t stop them from trying to use the leftover ice/snow from the trampoline to build a ICE SLIDE.

This is what I call glorious busy work. LOVE.

Our gorgeous trees in the back.

Our nearby park as the snow was melting.

The ducks at the park. They don’t seem to mind the snow.

All the ducks in the pond took off flying as if their life depended on it. We looked up and saw this scene. Apparently, the ducks spotted this guy and knew it was feeding time. It was too funny!

Clover covered in snow. I call it my lucky heart clover.

Dec. 7, 2013 – A Walk To Remember

On December 7, 2013December 7, 2013 By AngeliaIn Angelia's Photography, Beautiful Life, In my heart forever & ever, Timeless Treasures33 Comments

Although today was my day off and I finally got to enjoy our wintry weather, I have worked very hard.

I have worked hard to make sure this day is exactly right. Perfect, if you will.

See, today is one of those days that you never forget. The moment the clock strikes midnight, it settles over your mind. This presence doesn’t just linger around, but it gets comfortable. It fluffs up the pillows, shakes out the covers, and leans back to witness every part of the next twenty-four hours. And although, I want to fast forward the day, because there are other days, I would rather remember…

I just can’t.

I find myself not running away or speeding through it, but settling down too. Fluffing my pillows, kicking my feet up, and just enjoying my time with it.

So, I can remember.

And remember well, as I celebrate my wonderful treasures, and uplift them with great honor.

I thought of a million ways to get this right, but in the end. I made a video.

I hope you enjoy my day, and my walk. I hope you see the beauty in how it is lived and presented.

Click here to watch the video online.

My Dad died while I was blogging and it means the world to me that this blog holds what was in my heart that day (and continues to). I don’t ever want to forget them and I am so grateful to WordPress for this means to journal and share – the good stuff and the tough stuff.

God Bless you all for watching.

We are having a bit of winter here in Texas…..more on that later.

YouTube Cover Photo

The Cold of Winter

On January 16, 2013January 16, 2013 By AngeliaIn Angelia's Photography41 Comments

Don’t knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation if it didn’t change once in a while. ~Kin Hubbard

Yes, it’s still winter.

It will be still be winter tomorrow, and the next day. No matter how many sunny and 70-degree days happen to ~~tease us~~ come our way…..

It’s still winter.

And it’s still cold.

A blast of ice and snow hit the metroplex yesterday morning. It surprised me awake at 6am when my husband says those magical words we don’t often hear in Texas, “It’s snowing outside.”

Which means….I jerk awake, and jump out of bed, because I don’t want to miss it before it is gone. Plus, I might get some more snow pictures for my collection.

And I will admit, the snowfall itself is pretty weak, but the sleet…..THE ICE…..it is fierce. Thankfully, it doesn’t last too long. AND, it is not below freezing. Right at freezing, but not below.

Still…..I feel pretty bad for all the commuters. Iced overpasses are a real nightmare. And not many can drive across them, they more or less, skate and crash. Or go super slow and get stuck. It is quite the dance on sleety mornings. Trust me, I have done my time. Almost twenty years of commuting across the city. It is not pretty.

But the white crystals are pretty, at least, I like to admire them when I don’t have to commute. I have a new appreciation for the freezing rain and I view it through my lens.

I took photos in the ice and snow….before it melted away by noon.

And it DID melt, but not before I got my Project 52 photo. It’s a mini-snowfall for the mini-theme this week (and look there are mini-berries too). Lots of great entries this week on Flickr Ellenburg Photography Group for Project 52. Stop by or join in on the fun any time.

That is our week so far.

How is yours?

Christmas in a Snow Globe

On December 27, 2012December 27, 2012 By AngeliaIn Angels among Us35 Comments

It happened……again!

I can’t say it is the first time the Dallas/Fort Worth area experienced snow on Christmas, because guess what? A few years ago, snow gently tumbled into Cowtown just in time for the big day. It made Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning so beautiful……I was moved to write a poem about my Christmas Dream it inspired.

That year marked my very first white Christmas that I can remember since moving to Texas – twenty, or so years ago. You might say….I have been deprived. And perhaps, that is why Old Man Winter granted me another – a mere three years later. And this time, I have my camera with me. And honestly, I am perfectly content to watch the kids stomp in, and out of the house. Eyes bright, and cheeks red as they warm their hands in front of the portable heater only to beg, and plead, to return outside – five minutes later.

I look through the window at the falling snowflakes – tumbling, swirling, and drifting. Mom, husbands, and sister-in-laws chatter about life while glancing out the windows in time to see a child’s back dash from a flying snowball. Shrieks and giggles ensue.

I am heavy, and stuffed from turkey, ham, and the best sweet potato casserole in the whole universe. I enjoy this relaxed view, observing, rather than partaking in any fun outside with no coat or gloves. Did I mention it wasn’t snowing or super cold when we left for Grandma’s house?

Well….

As I was saying…toasty and happy, I have no problem keeping my feet dry inside the house while waiting to dive into the wondrous desserts of CHOCOLATE PIE (my fave!), and many other goods – iced sugar cookies from scratch, cheesecake, pumpkin pie.

Utterly and totally satisfied……..until I saw her……