GRAVETTE — Our frigid weather continues so most of our snow cover is still on the ground. Temperatures have dropped to zero and even below so it’s been mighty hard to keep our big old house warm. We have a few blooms on the Christmas cactus and Mama’s gift poinsettia is blooming nicely. The little evergreen her brother sent provides a welcome note of green, a nice contrast to the expanse of white outside. Finally, on Sunday, we had sunshine and temperatures above freezing so we’re able to see a little more of the ground.

School has been out all week but the teachers drove in on Monday for an in-service day. One dropped by the office to start a subscription that afternoon and told us classes were canceled for Tuesday. I dropped by the bank to make a payment on my lunch hour so I could head straight home after work. Jim had made a pot of potato soup and it was waiting on the stove when I arrived. Sipping the warm broth was a good way to keep warm as we watched the Fiesta Bowl that evening.

I worked at the office a few hours Tuesday morning and when I came home sister Nancy had arrived.Mama wasn’t feeling well so we called the clinic for an appointment. The mail carrier brought a card and note from a former neighbor now living in the Chicago area. She had recently celebrated her 90th birthday. In early afternoon Jim carried Mama to the car and we took her to the clinic. After examination the doctor decided to admit her to the hospital. Nancy had to go get some bottles filled with propane but I stayed until they got Mama settled in a room. Jim and I watched the Orange Bowl that evening.

Niece Laura and her son Austin came by Wednesday morning and Nancy joined them after she’d tended to her chickens. They had planned a shopping trip before more nasty weather moved in. I decided that was a good idea so I visited the grocery store that afternoon myself and stocked up on supplies before driving to the hospital to visit Mama. I was happy to learn she was feeling much better and eating more.

Temperatures were down in the single digits Thursday and Friday. I wentto visit Mama a couple of times Thursday but otherwise didn’t venture outside. Jim received word his evening meeting was canceled since the heating system wasn’t working so we stayed in and watched the national championship game between Texas and Alabama. I worked a couple of hours Friday morning and visited Mama and Aunt Leta that afternoon, then dropped by the Christian Church to place an Angel Food order. The doctor felt Mama was ready for release but we agreed to leave her in the warm hospital one more night.

I went to the grocery store for milk Saturday morning and Jim and I visited the library to check out some more books. I went to the hospital and brought Mama home about lunchtime, then visited the pharmacy to pick up a newprescription. Nancy called that evening and said one of their pipes had frozen and broke. I fixed spaghetti and baked garlic bread for supper, then we watched the Cowboys defeat the Eagles in the evening’s playoff game.

A neighbor dropped by Sunday morning to bring Jim a new coffee mug, then Nancy came and stayed with Mama while Jim and I went to Southwest City. When we returned I fixed a late breakfast before writing a letter to my aunt and uncle. We watched pro football playoff games while I wrote my column and clipped the week’s coupons. A plateful of chicken fried rice provided a good supper to polish off the weekend.

I didn’t make any formal New Year’s resolutions but at the beginning of each year I always hope to make a bigger dent in my stacks of newspapers and magazines. Getting organized is a popular focus in January. This month’s Better Homes and Gardens offers “50+ ways to pare down, cut clutter and store more” and a Woman’s Day cover story promises “Clean and clutter-free get-organized tips”. But Gayle Butler, BH&G editor, reminds us that no matter how much we sort, swap, donate, clean, stack, rack and label, living organized is something else entirely. For that you need persistence and good habits, she says. At least she gives me something to shoot for.

-Susan Holland

Opinion, Pages 4 on 01/13/2010