News update from the Bay City Times

Check this link out!!
My USA-adapted version of Mother's nutmeat balls is famous!!!

Train pics for Cooper's Poppa and Aunty Rebecca

We have a new train layout (the other one was partially dismantled whilst I was in the shower one morning). I thought you both might like to see the 3 different circular parts and the new level crossing! I assume you saw the YouTube video I sent you of the train action too? Here is a link to the pictures.... V. x

Lost Luggage

For all those who have been to visit us and had their luggage not arrive - we now know this is a common occurrence - seems to happen about 50% of the time here in the USA; here is a news article from NZ . It seems that losing luggage is so rare there that it makes news headlines!!

Snow, snow, snow....

As I write this we are having a snowstorm. We are expecting about 6-8 inches and it is supposed to fall at the rate of 2 inches per hour!! Amazing. I am trying to get a series of photos out the front window every 15 minutes which I will post (if it works out ok). I have been meaning to put a few pics up from the last big snowstorm in early January but havent got to it so here they are.... You can see how deep the snow was and the other one a snowblower action-man shot of Jamie clearing all the footpaths (sidewalks) and driveway etc.

Between then and now we had a bit here and there, but as of yesterday it had all completely melted, so today's will sort us out for a few more weeks of Winter I daresay!

Bob the Builder

Most days I seem to call Cooper "Bob" more that I call him by his real name. The tools are ever-present which can be a bit of a pain in a house the size of ours on so many levels as we have to take them with us wherever we go. His old training walker has been resurrected to become a trailer which makes the moving somewhat easier, but when the trailer, toolbox and wagon full of bricks all need to come up a couple of flights of stairs, it is quite a mission. Here are some pics from the last few weeks. Here is the link...

In Cooper's pocket

Cooper is definitely Jamie's son. On Friday he managed to fit 3 cameras into his sweatshirt pocket (I have seen Jamie with 2 real cameras in one pocket!). The next day we were going to a concert at church (for those who know 'Singing Bob' , 'Grandpa Bob' and 'Mr Benny' as Cooper calls them, they sing in a Christian-country-honky-tonk manner with Cooper being particularly impressed with their guitar-playing skills) in the evening. Cooper wouldn't let me empty his pocket (one pocket, mind you - the other was empty for his hand) before we left and various things kept coming out as we were listening to the music. He carried the pot from his red kitchen under his arm (not sure if there was some connection from the cooking school that we had at church the previous week to do with the pot), but when we got home and he was in bed, I emptied out the one pocket and this is what I found!!

Valentine's Day

Here are Jamie's contrasting Valentine's Day treats - sugar-free jelly and a dark chocolate!!

It's a little early (and cold0 for outdoor tulips, so I have been buying inside ones growing in pots!