Good Morning and thanks again to the Cold Miser for giving us winter!

The sound started from the kitchen around 6:30 last night. The first snowflakes weren't falling, but, when the music starts playing, we know what's next.
Coming through the sounds of was the crinkle of a bag, then the sound of a measuring cup clipping the side of a metal bowl.
Pretty soon, the singing got louder and the you could hear a spoon mixing flour, baking powder, baking soda and other secret things together.

The 'ding' of the oven when the temperature was just right meant we were only minutes away from the only good thing about winter: Cookies fresh from the oven.
No matter what's going on in the world. No matter how much snow was going to be dumped on us. It didn't even matter that we had to drive to work in the mess the next morning.
No, the baking was starting. The treats were on the way.
The last time, the master baker did her thing, then took half and walked to work so those in the office could feel a bit of the warmth.
Thanks, Kathleen, you make it all better.

Good Morning and welcome to the worst day of the year!

OK now, the holidays are done. The parties are over. The trees are coming down. The lights are going back into the box.
What do we have to look forward to except the cold, dark winter? That's what makes this Monday the worst day of the year.
It's back to work and to school full force. One day, you're running around with a jolly step, the next, bang, right back to the reality of the usual grind.
Then again, there is enough to be thankful for, so maybe the cold won't feel so bitter. Maybe the dark will have a bit of light.
Hey, yeah. Let's just continue the fun. Don't get bogged down in the mundane of every day.
Then again, that wind is pretty bad again out there this morning.

Good Morning and welcome to the next day in the long, drawn out winter!

Seriously, does anybody really like winter. Sure, it looks nice when the snow falls the first time. There are opportunities to build snowmen, have snowball fights and go sledding.
After about an hour, it's back inside to warm the toes. While children get hyped up when the snow starts coming down, what do they do the rest of the time.
The last few years, the snow has been light and the cold has been, well, cold. So, that means a lot of time spent in the house, in the car or in the mall.
Three big problems there when it comes to children.
1. After spending one day in the house, they want to spread out. The walls aren't going to keep them from going crazy. They jump into the walls. Jump off the couch and are only calm when watching television or sleeping.
2. In the car, the space is even more cramped. They touch, make faces, make noises and do whatever else they can to annoy each other. And that's the good times. Factor in winter coats and more traffic and there's a recipe for disaster.
3. When you get to the mall (or any store really), it's like a giant playground. They slide down the aisles. Knock off the clothes (as I've recently found out, most adults do this as well) and cause a headache. Then they want a new toy or a candy bar or something, anything. Just buy something.
So, the bottom line is we can have winter for about a month. Let's keep using our cars, spray cans and anything else so winter can be limited to mid-December until mid-January.
Then bring out the sun. The flowers. The beach chairs.
What? It's not even winter yet? That doesn't start until Dec. 21?
We're doomed.
Well, at least we can watch this to pass the time:


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY

Maybe it's me, but this winter is stretching on way too long. I know, there hasn't been any bad weather, but I need to feel some warm sun. I need to run around outside. I need to have longer days ...
Oh, well, we change the clocks this Sunday, so at least that's happening.

Spent an interesting day Sunday at the Strasburg Rail Road in Lancaster.
There is some kind of connection between children and trains.
Their eyes light up just at the sight of those big cars and engines.
For those who haven't taken the trip, there's a museum that's basically a giant train station. There are trains from all over the world from all over time.
It runs the gamut from early steam engines to new Conrail trains. There are opportunities to climb into the trains. Drive a train and jump all around the huge cars.
There is also a toy room that has every kind of toy train imaginable. Luckily, we walked through the museum before heading to the toy room. We never would have left it wasn't for hunger getting in the way.
So, for all you toy train lovers out there, I give you a treat:


If you have any cool links or photos, send them to onlinedelco@gmail.com