CHRIS ARVIDSON

And the sun came out and sparkled through the trees this morning. It was so outstanding I put on my coat and boots over my pajamas this morning to take the photos at right.

I'm up this morning waiting for the dawn to break over Mt. Jefferson, but it's only going to be a brightening, rather than a dawn. Snow is falling heavily; my eyes are peeled for the flakes to turn into icy blobs, but it hasn't happened yet. (more…)

Back in the early 90s, the region was struck with a once-every-100-year snowstorm. Its intensity and strength were unexpected. Elizabeth, who was about 10 at the time, Henry and I headed out of Charlotte on a Friday afternoon for a weekend getaway in Blowing Rock, a resort town a couple of hours away from Charlotte. While we expected to see a few flakes of snow, and that's why we went up there, it was March and no one, I mean no one, predicted the couple feet of snow that fell. (more…)

It's January. It's raining and in the 40s - my very least favorite winter weather of all. Give me snow any time.

The pipes broke at the cabin. When Henry opened the garage door, water poured out. The garage and part of the basement are wet and soggy. Fortunately, there wasn't much damage to (more…)

The crap cold of the century culminated in a whopper of a sinus infection, so this past week has gone by in a haze of tissues and worthless over-the-counter meds. Yesterday's visit to the doctor got me the good stuff and so I am feeling almost human today. Thank god for Henry who made chicken soup (twice!) and took such good care of me.

I learned two very important things to pass along, though. First off, the person who thought up putting lotion in tissues is GOD - GOD I tell you! (more…)

A bunch of us women who used to work together at Habitat for Humanity Charlotte got together for a Christmas lunch at Mary Nell's house. What fun! We got caught up on each other and our families, shared info on those who couldn't be with us, and made plans, too. First off, we're going to be sure and do a lunch at least once a year, AND, all of us who can are going to go with the Habitat Charlotte crew to El Salvador in February 2011. (Fair warning to Ana Maria, Kendal, Patty, etc. in El Salvador!) Several of us went in 2007 and it was a great trip we want to share with more great Habitat Charlotte women. (see Photo Essays tab on this site for pictures from that trip)

Broke out Michigan winter clothes this morning - even gaiters. I found Henry's snow boots in the bag with the snow shoes and poles. A hike around town, while it was snowing this morning, was Christmassy to the maximum. In fact, I think they should change the name of this town to Christmastown or (more…)

My Henry made his way to Beckley, WV, yesterday morning. He and Ben and Carol from National Committee for the New River went to close on the largest ever conservation easement (1400 acres!) for NCNR, and our first in West Virginia. They made it back to beat the main part of the snowstorm, although they (more…)

What ho. Or maybe what "ho ho ho." We're looking at major snows, starting tomorrow, and running right up through Christmas Eve day.

I know, I should be worried about that fundraiser tomorrow night, the press releases, the maybe last-minute trip to WV for work, the family coming into town (probably not now). But (more…)

I'm not usually up at this hour. It's after midnight and normally I'd have been wracked out for a few hours by now. A crap cold and a medicinal paradox effect seem to be at work.

You'd think I could find a cheesy Christmas movie on cable this time of year/night, but I (more…)