Snow started at 5pm yesterday and when I went to bed at 11 it was less than an inch. Woke up to maybe 7 inches. I shoveled a path to the backyard for dog and there was slush under all that snow. It was still snowing heavily in the morning and was supposed to continue all day, but that seems to have fizzled out. But the winds have picked up to 40-50mph gusts. My neighbor has already snowblowed my driveway and the temp is warm enough for the driveway to be wet. But it will drop down near zero once this passes....but back up to 40s by end of the week. I hate March.

Got a lot of walking in yesterday before the storm. I had a birthday card to mail, so dog and I walked the 1.5 miles to the post office, taking the side roads there and then I took a paved trail on the way back that I'd never been on before. I learned a few things too.

1. The people who live in their small RVs move their vehicles from the county park on the lake in the summer to a street behind the strip mall in winter. Two RVs and that small black sedan are all recognizable vehicles that people live in. I feel most bad for the guy in the sedan.
2. The paved trail is lovely and follows a small trickling stream that made a most delightful sound. Unfortunately, there is a lot of litter and evidence that some unsheltered live there, with suitcases of clothing and an abandoned bicycle along the trail. Which is fine that they live there, because they hang out at the county park too and don't bother anyone (well, except for the one who asked if I would be his girlfriend). But I had been on the northern end of the trail for the first time last summer and had turned back because adult people were huddled under the bridge in the middle of the day, doing I don't know what. I didn't feel safe in any event and had turned back because I don’t want to be anywhere near drug users or drunks. I felt safe yesterday though, because it was early Saturday morning. And it is winter after all. And dog looks mean, even though there isn't a mean bone in his body unless you are a small critter.

Then later in the day, dog and I walked the mile to drop off food scraps. So 5 miles total yesterday and at a nice brisk pace. I felt so good yesterday, having had a good sleep and a good walk. Funny thing is, I told honey I didn't hear him come to bed Friday night and he was surprised because he said we had a conversation! My sister used to tell me she would have conversations with me at night too when we shared a bedroom, but I'd have no recollection of it. And not just jibber jabber either, but real conversations. Asleep but always alert I guess.

The lily-of-the-valley essential oil arrived yesterday so I made some homemade poo-pourri for the bathroom. I love the scent and it doesn't trigger my perfume sensitivity like the 'real' poo-pourri brand does.

I've narrowed down my vacation to Ontonagon, Michigan. I want to be on the east side of the lake so I can watch sunsets. Found a few cabin resorts with beach access to Lake Superior. I know Superior is never warm enough for me to swim like Lake Michigan is, but I do like looking out and seeing only water, like at the ocean. And I'm not comfortable in a bathing suit anymore anyways. The UP is a lot cheaper than an ocean vacation. And cheaper than the Apostle Islands and Duluth sides too. A vacation in the UP is not for foodies or people who need to be entertained or want to shop. It is the place for water and nature and hiking. So next up is to see if the kids want to join us.