Shades of grey

I've lost track of how many days of grey we've had. Fog, freezing fog, freezing rain, and now back to fog on ice. Even though it's been in the 30's the trees are still coated. Outside, the sound is similar to falling ice pellets but it's just the sound of the trees moving. The photo is of frozen fog, before the freezing rain. We had one blip of power, which the computer didn't like, but otherwise haven't had problems there.
I'm going to Chicago by train on Sunday, to spend a week.
With everything in the news I think the whole world is grey lately. :-(

New photos

I added some of George's Christmas photos (swiped while he was here) and some of Elizabeth's from Arizona. I seem to have made it snow in AZ with my slideshow!
Elizabeth arrived safely, if late, yesterday and is already back at school. She starts classes and work tomorrow.
We had ice fog yesterday and I hear we may have an ice storm on Wednesday. I think winter is far from over, but the slightly longer days are a help with brightening the mood as well. That's welcome....
I'll be trying to finish up some projects this week so that I can go happily off to Chicago this next weekend, planning to spend the week. I still don't know if I'll be going by train or if John C will agree to go up with Elizabeth and me via her car. That would allow me to take groceries and more of other people's presents for Eli's birthday. :-)
I've been following the earthquake news closely. It's hard to wrap your mind around the extent of the tragedy. I always wanted to adopt a child. It was something on my life list. If I had $ and age on my side I would do so.
We heard from Charles a couple of times this weekend. He seems to be doing well and I'm thankful for that! Elizabeth was able to see him briefly. Brent's Mom and Dawn's Mom will both be in AZ next month for the gem show and they'll be getting together at that time. That should be fun! Buy some beads for me! :-)
Brent has a great new job after a bump in the road and that's wonderful news!
I hadn't shared, yet, that John J is on the list with the IBEW in Kenosha. He passed the test and has had his interview. It may be many months before something opens up there, of course, but it's light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. He can use all the good news possible. He is still deciding on a new place to live and we hope to make whatever he finds homey for him and JT.

Brr!

Well, it's certainly been the way to start a new year!
BRR!! It isn't nice when it's double digits below straight temp. But, the sun is shining brightly and winds are pretty calm so that helps. Hmm! Maybe school will be delayed tomorrow. :-)
John put straw in the dog houses and I have tried to keep straw and hay in the bunny hutches (they eat it :-). The birds devour all that I put out within a few hours.
I've been cleaning up after Christmas. John got two new, wider boxes to store things in and I got rid of two slightly smaller boxes and two short boxes. Not as much of an improvement as I'd hoped. But, more things are in the boxes and less is loose on the floor so the closet looks much improved. EMPTY FLOOR SPACE!! I still have a wreath problem. Things were looking good until I realized that there were still four wreaths hanging up! :-)
I finished my alpaca/angora bunny mitts. I may make a couple more pairs of socks now. And I have some birthday things to work on for a special little someone with a first birthday coming uop!