Susan Says . . .

GRAVETTE — Temperatures climbed a little higher last week with lows hovering right around the freezing mark each night. Most folks I know are getting mighty tired of winter and indeed it seems we’ve almost had two winters in one. But there is hope. Green blades of foliage from the daffodils have been evident on the south side of the house and the old storage building for a few weeks. Now they are sporting fat buds and it appears they are just waiting for a few days of sunshine and warm weather to bring us a show of spring beauty.

Snow was falling as we slept last Sunday night and we awoke Monday morning to a fresh carpet of fluffy white. It was a beautiful wet snow, stacking up three or four inches deep on tree limbs and fences and providing a picture postcard view as we drove to work. A few snowflakes fell throughout the day but fortunately the ground was warm enough that they melted and didn’t interfere with travel. School was in session all week, with parent/teacher conferences on Tuesday.

Sister Nancy stayed with Mama while I went to work Tuesday morning. I stopped by the dollar store on my way home to purchase soft drinks for our evening get-together. I baked cheesy chicken breasts on rice for supper and took them from the oven just before leaving for our library commission meeting. We had a little valentine party to honor our new library manager and enjoyed a productive meeting, which included electing officers for the remainder of the year.

Niece Laura came in Wednesday morning and visited with us briefly before being joined by her mother. They stayed with Mama while Jim and I drove over to Aunt Leta’s for about an hour. Jim finished repairs on the dining room ceiling while Leta and I had a good visit. Back at home that evening we watched the Hogs win a close game with LSU and I wrote a letter to my inlaws up innorthern Missouri who’ve been having even colder weather than ours.

We enjoyed a quiet Thursday at home, reading and doing a few chores around the house. I moved the living room rugs around so Mama wouldn’t have to cross the big braided one with her walker and then vacuumed them all in their new location. I enjoyed a bowl of clam chowder for lunch and prepared ramen noodles for Jim before writing a letter to a friend west of town. I made a brief visit to a friend while Jim attended an evening meeting.

Brother Richard called me at work Friday morning to confirm his visit that evening and a former classmate dropped by with homemade cupcakes. The mail carrier brought valentines from a friend in Tulsa and one in Florida. Mama scored too with a valentine from her brother and gifts of candy and a rose with her lunch. A friend surprised us with a visit, gifts of her homemade elderberry peach and strawberry jelly and a lovely beaded heart box filled with candy. When Richard arrived that evening Jim took me out for a delicious buffet meal. We visited with him when we returned and watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympic games.

We watched the Razorback basketball game Saturday afternoon and we were disappointed when Alabama broke the Arkansas winning streak. Jim cooked a big pot of lentils and smoked sausage for supper and we enjoyed watching coverage of more Olympic events.

We made a trip to Southwest City Sunday morning and visited the grandkids when we returned. Clouds hovered overhead and a cold blustery wind blew all day but we were warm inside.We had our choice of televised sports so we alternated between golf, the Daytona 500 and the Olympic competition.

-Susan Holland

Susan Holland, who works for The News Herald, is a lifelong Gravette resident.