extreme weather, bethlehem edition

I have walked very little this week. The beginning of the week was fraught with ice and snow and arctic temperatures. Mid week was the end of the term. The end of the week was cluttered with Christmas activities and unseasonably warm temperatures.

I walked Thursday with Bonnie, and Friday with Bonnie and Betsy. On Thursday we walked in Bonnie's neighborhood. We encountered these two snow people. I'm sure they are gone today. It was nearly 70 degrees. Almost all the snow is gone.

Saturday instead of walking we baked cookies at Bonnie's. Even split 4-ways there was a lot of cookies. We make six different kinds—kiffles, choco chip, ginger, a cookie that reminded me of the Tunesian ones I've seen, peanut butter, and press cookies. But they were rolled out, and cut out. Two cookie presses and neither would work. All in all, I think my student from Tunisa had fun. At lunch time we planed a tubing adventure for winter break.

When we arrived back at my house, I walked Adonis. Does that count as exercise? Just as I returned home with the dog, all heck broke lose—a cop car, two fire engines, and a volunteer blue light car. Was there a fire? No. It was Santa and Mrs. Claus delivering Christmas gifts to the grandchildren across the street.

Today, in the fog we tried to get a tree. I picked up one student at Lafayette, and the other at NCC. All the other host students went home for winter break. (I think I have 6. Or is it 7?)

I have to tell you finding a tree is an easy task in November, but not the Sunday before Christmas. Why, I have no idea. It defies logic. (Sadly, fake ones are probably not easy to get either.) Both farms we tried were closed. Hopefully for the fog that laid over the valley like a scene from Brigadoon. Then we went to the little league lot on Easton Avenue, and all that was left was the port-o-potty. WTH? We finally got one five blocks from home—at the fire department sale at the Ft. Hill pool.

I think the girls looked at nearly every tree.

The firefighter tied it on top of the car, and home we headed. The girls carried it into the house, and Lydia was waiting for us. Getting it to stand up straight was tough. Clearly I cut the end crooked. Plus the floor is not straight. There are three magazines under the one leg of the stand.

The girls put on the lights and ornaments. They kept asking for instructions. I kept telling them to do it how they wanted it. I think they had fun.

This week, it's back to eating well and walking more.