February...

We are now in my least favorite month of the year.  The one good thing about the month is that it is shorter than average.  By this time, I'm feeling a little less excited about snow storms and staying inside.  I am ready for some greenery and flowers and birds and outside aromas.  But I do live far enough north that snowstorms in March are not unusual (and I have learned never to plant before May, except perhaps the sturdiest of kale).

I took the above photo Sunday when walking out to the rural mailboxes to get the paper.  Of course, the camera had to come with me.  This is what the world looked like before the heavy snow arrived!  We were fortunate, Chicago had blizzard conditions.

Speaking of blizzards, my son-in-law's company sent him to a conference at Oxford so Stephanie went along with him.  Just try to keep her at home... Oxford!!?  Especially Oxford when her friend Sarah (Clarkson) was there!

They were suppose to fly out on a Tuesday but that was when the blizzard hit Boston and surrounding areas.  Instead they scrambled at the last minute and were able to change all reservations and get the kids taken care of to be able to fly out Sunday. 

Once they arrived, it was good to have a couple extra days.  Stephanie was able to spend more time than originally expected with Sarah and visited places I've longed to go in Oxford.  I lived vicariously through her photos and descriptions.  They also made a quick (very quick) jaunt over to Paris.  I know, sigh... Paris at night.

They had a wonderful time and arrived back to the Boston airport just before the next snowstorm hit.  Although the last I heard, jet lag is still a bit of an issue.  ;)

So we are all a little tired of the snow.  I am glad there was no place we had to go during this time.  I'm almost caught up with review books.  One book is read and will be reviewed this week.  Another is ready to read and review next week.  Perhaps there will be time to read the mystery started weeks ago before the next review books arrive.

You most likely have noticed I'm now reviewing more books for young adults and children.  I used to not accept them but as I hear how difficult it can be to find good books for those ages, I decided it would be a good thing to add a few here and there. 

Sherry at Semicolon does a lot more reviewing of those age groups than I do, and a very good job at that.  Her archives are amazing.  Sherry also hosts the Saturday Review of Books each... you guessed it... Saturday.  Which I use to take part in all the time but now with limited computer access... have not quite made it back!

Once the days get longer and warmer and lighter, I will cut back on accepting books to review.  This bookshelf is beckoning, calling my name when I walk past it a hundred or so times a day.

It is the little bookshelf in the dining area where I keep all my Elizabeth Goudge and D. E. Stevenson books.  I was just reading (somewhere online, I can't recall) about how important it is to reread our old friends over and over.  I think they were quoting C. S. Lewis.  I can't recall.  But whoever it was, I definitely agree.