The Ice Chain and this and that

In case you are missing it (because you live in sunny AZ or parts of Texas), here is winter!

Our rain chain has been frozen for most of the month!
Some drips from it today, however.

Fresh snow during the night

Blue skies peeking out
Finally a relief from some of the haze of the inversion.....

Scott and Chantel have (or did have) even more amazing sight at the townhouse.

Major icicles!! There was even ice
along their brick.  They have their
guests go through the garage.

solid ice patch on their walkway

It appears to be caused by the angle of their rook and the direction their house faces.  They get snow melt on top but the bottom remains in  the shadows except for the early morning times.

One more outside shot:

 

This owl was on a tree outside of the bowling alley on Saturday.

I have heard people talk about seeing owls in Syracuse, but this is the first time

I have seen one.  He was very content for me to take several pictures of him so

he must be used to people somewhat.  I believe that this is the

first time I have seen an owl in the wild (unless any of my siblings recall a time from our childhood.)

Family up-date for the end of the month:

Jessica still working and helping raise their new beagle pup, Zeva.  There are good times and annoying times "She's a puppy".  No fun to take her out during our recent snow and ice storms.

Scott and Chantel are hanging in there.  Scott started his 300 hour internship at a fairly new assisted living center in Layton.  He started in the janitor department and has "moved up" to the kitchen.  He will spend 40-80 hours in every department they have.  I think it is a good idea but Scott didn't find 16 hours of detailing chairs to be very useful or educational.  He is a very busy guy with 30 hours there and about 25 hours at Red Lobster.  Chantel is studying to take a state licensing test which she hopes to take next month.  She celebrated her birthday a week or so ago and we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel where Tosha served us.

Ben still remains at the CRU in Layton.  Still trying to find some thing to relieve all of his symptoms.  It is very hard.

Tosha is busy working and not loving the snow.  She is loving her keyboard and plays it often at her apartment.

Jena is a busy girl with play practices, ski lessons, work, school and bowling with Special Olympics.  They had their tournament on Saturday.

Jena receiving her towel with some of her team mates.
This wasn't an official tournament so no metals.
Everyone was very happy with the towels.

Jena and Kaitlyn at the Area Special Olympic Dance in Ogden

Jena had a busy weekend with a party on Friday night at her good friend, Meggan and then a tournament in the morning, then she worked at the bowling alley for the afternoon part of the tournament and then she had a dance that night.  She is really a high school kid now.  She is going to her first Clearfield High Basketball game with the Laurels on Friday night so she is excited about that as well.

Unfortunately today both she and Gary are sick with bad colds.  It has been a long time since anyone has had colds around here so I guess we were due.  Still no fun for them.  Gary got sick on Saturday but still went and spoke in another ward in our Stake on Sunday morning before heading for the bed.  He also continues to snow plow out in this cold.  Jena hates to miss school but you can't send someone to school with cough, runny nose and yucky eyes.  Besides I don't want her to catch something else while she is sick.  I am heading off to her play practice to get the music and things for her.  I may take her as she is doing better this afternoon.  We will just keep away from everyone.  She can't sing much I would guess, but at least she could hear the music.

I did get to spend the day with my dad working on more of our family history things.  My sister Valerie called while I was there so we put her on speakers and all talked together about things.  Todd responded to questions by email.  It would be so awesome to be together and talk and share about these things.  I am learning more about my dad and his growing up years.  It is so awesome.