Fun Birthday Gifts

Let's talk gifts — birthdays, holidays or special occasions.

The holidays have passed and, as many readers of this blog already know, my birthday came around (again) last week. 

Gift giving becomes more problematic for several reasons when we reach a certain age, despite being still young at heart (isn't everyone?) 

There's a few reasons and those include that gifts are not needed or others find it hard to shop for one gift since (a) they don't know what someone wants or needs and (b) he/she may not need anything..

Typical American mah jongg set with tiles, racks, and bag

Admittedly, I fall into both of those categories, just ask my husband who, for years, has tried to surprise me with a gift. This year, he thought he had it figured in giving me an American mah jongg set similar to the one shown above as he knows I enjoy playing the game.

Was I surprised? 

Yes, but within 24 hours I asked if it could be returned not because his thoughtfulness wasn't appreciated, it was, but that's not why the request was made.

I've been playing American mah jongg for over a year, initially at the local library and also at the senior center where we're members. Both facilities have multiple game sets, that are free to use for playing. There's no need to own a set, although some people own  their own game  as they play regularly with family or friends when away from either facility. 

That's not true in my case. Patrick has no interest in learning or playing this form of mah jongg. Unfortunately, there's no one I know who lives in our apartment building and plays what is a multi-player game. So my gifted game set would have gone unused, essentially collecting dust. This version of mah jongg (unlike Chinese mah jongg) requires the purchase of an annual game card from the American Mah Jongg League, currently $15.

Instead of the game (which was successfully returned) I told my loving spouse that our road trip and meet up with friends in N Conway would be a great gift. He agreed and my birthday was spent candlepin bowling at Saco Valley Sports Center in Fryeburg ME, later dining on delicious Haddock fish tacos for Taco Tuesday. What made the day special was spending it with Patrick and our friends, Jill and Art.

Us with Friends Jill & Art at candlepin bowling, fish tacos and onion rings

Candlepin bowling dates is a New England-based variation of tenpin bowling that dates to 1880. The 10 bowling pins are narrow (15 3/4-inch tall) and the bowling ball is small and under 3 pounds without finger holes. Unlike regular bowling, players get three balls per frame (not 2), and fallen pins (deadwood) remain on the lane. 

Candlepin bowling lane with 10 pins and ball

The highest sanctioned game score is 245, which was set in1984 and 2011. A perfect 300 game is considered very difficult.

Computerized scoreboard with our names and scores (sigh)

The sports center features 16 candlepin lanes with modern amenities like computerized scoring. As the score sheet above shows, none of us came close to breaking any record.

My birthday outing doesn't mean that no gifts were received. Family and friends gifted me when we returned home to Nashua.

Oriental Lillies and carnation arrangement gifted by a neighbor

A neighbor had delivered this beautiful floral arrangement a couple of days before we left. The Oriental Lillies had not yet opened then, but did when we were gone. A week later, the lillies have all opened and I'm enjoying their wonderful fragrance.

Beware when people know you like something. You will received theme gifts. Some of you may recall the penguin puzzle received as a 2025 Christmas gift from family members. They gleefully continued that theme on my birthday and sent these gifts.

My birthday penguin

This birthday penguin stands less just under 3 inches. However, I didn't take the advice to have any birthday cake and opted for onion rings instead.

Penguin heat-changing mug goes from b&w to colorful outfits

How about a heat-transforming penguin mug to enjoy my tea in daily. When cold, the penguins stand around "chilling" and sport black-and-white formal wear. Pour in a warm beverage and see them change into very colorful outfits. The mug comes with instructions to hand wash only with warm water and soap, no soaking or scouring. It's microwave save, but keep out of the dishwasher. (If you're looking for an unusual gift, the sellers of this mug, The Unemployed Philosophers Guild has other heat-changing mugs and many other items.)

My personal supply of penguin pens

I will never run out of a pen especially one with a penguin design. All thanks to my PA granddaughter, who personally selected this gift according to her mom.

Penguin parking sign will be staying in our apt

If only there was someplace to mount this personal parking sign in the underground parking garage at the mill apartments. Sadly, there isn't so this gift will be parked in our apartment.

Cards for special occasions & holidays are always put on the bookcase

Last, but certainly not least, there were cards from family and friends, including one that traveled across the pond from the UK, thanks Kath and Andrew.

So, everyone, that was how I spent my 2026 birthday and surprises received — of course, none were "necessary." That said, ALL were appreciated and fun because who doesn't need more of that in our lives ?

Bloomin' in Nashua

It took quite a long time for spring to arrive in Nashua, NH, and it wasn't until late May and early June that flowers were seen in outdoor areas of Clocktower Place (CTP), our mill apartment residence.

This display is at the main entry as people drive into the apartment parking area. The mill apartment has two main entrances referred to as CTP 1 and CTP 1

This is the large flower pot that leads up to CTP1, which is our entry.

There isn't an entry ramp at CTP2. These flowers are placed in pots close to the main door.

These flower pots of colorful blooms are also at two of the side entrances.

Downtown Nashua has a lot of colorful blooms, like these at pedestrian crossings on Main Street. Most of the Main Street restaurants that offer outdoor dining have various floral arrangements.

Martha's Exchange is a popular restaurant and brewery serving lunch and dinner daily.

Surf Restaurant is a few doors down from Martha's, and specializes in seafood dining. It has been regularly named as the Best Seafood in New Hampshire. This restaurant also benefits from its location adjacent to the Nashua Center for the Arts and on show nights, there's usually a lengthy wait time to be seated.

Nearly all of the Main Street restaurants that offer outdoor dining have various flowers.

Red, white and nearly blue flowers are popular colors in many of the arrangements.

The city's Department of Public Works does a great job of regularly watering all of these flowers so that residents and visitors can enjoy them all summer.

Speaking of enjoyment, we celebrated 🎉 a special occasion yesterday — Patrick's 🎂.

His lunch time choice was to go to the Big One, a local family-owned ice cream stand for the lunch time special of two hot dogs, soda and chips capped off with a hot fudge sundae for dessert. This local visit is a once-a year treat, usually around the time of his birthday, this year, it was a timely one as well. 

That's because today, July 16, is National Hot 🌭 Dog Day, which is celebrated on the third Wednesday in July. The earliest known Hot Dog Day began in Alfred, NY, in 1972 started by two Alfred University students as a fundraiser for local charities and community organizations.

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) is an American trade association that promotes the hot dog and sausage industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it was founded in 1994 by the American Meat Institute, which promotes July as National Hot Dog Month and October as National Sausage Month. During the pandemic, the council designated the third July Wednesday as cause for a national celebration. According to council statistics, Americans eat about 7 billion hot dogs during hot dog season, or some 818 each second. 

That's a lot of  🌭. Patrick helped this week but won't be entering any eating contests !

A Winter 🎂 Getaway

Winter has definitely arrived in NH the past few weeks with several snowfalls here in Nashua. While many folks are longing for someplace with warmer temps, we opted for a snowy, cold getaway in the White Mountains for my 🎂 celebration. Admittedly, we never need any reason for a road trip.

Although, it had snowed a few days earlier, we traveled on cleared main highways with blue skies views that were winter postcard perfect.

We stayed once again at the Mountain View Grand Hotel. This wasn't our first trip to one of America's few remaining grand hotels that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mountain View Grand Hotel, Whitefield, NH

This was not our first stay in the hotel and we received a return visitor discount and perhaps a nicer room for my birthday (shamelessly mentioned when booking). We had first visited in 2016 for our traditional first date anniversary celebration and have returned several times, most recently in 2022. 

Spacious and open main lobby, part of front porch and bar

The hotel's start as a guest house dates to 1865 when it began as the Mountain View House. Its history was explained in this 2016 post, so won't be repeated here.) Unfortunately, its claim for oldest operating elevator in the state of NH is history. The elevator has been deemed unsafe and is out of service per a posted notice.

Our room provided wonderful mountain views

This corner room had outstanding views of the Presidential Mountain range, which are not all named after presidents. The highest peak is Mt Washington, named after George Washington by the Rev. Manasseh Cutler after he climbed it in 1784.

The rest of the presidential peaks were named in a single day in the summer of 1820. A group from Lancaster, NH, hired Ethan Crawford as their guide because of his mountaineering skills. 

Sunset on the Presidential range

As the tallest peak was already named for Washington, the next tallest was named for second president, John Adams, continuing down the line with Jefferson, Madison and Monroe. When the naming party ran out of presidents, two peaks remained. One was named after Benjamin Franklin, the other was named Mt Pleasant; in 1969 a vote of the NH legislature renamed it Mt Eisenhower.

Morning drive to our destination along a winter wonderland 

The day after our arrival, we were up early for a 45-minute drive to the destination of this adventure, the Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center in Pinkham Notch. There was an overnight snowfall of a few inches and while roadways were clear, the trees were beautifully snow-covered. At times we were the lone car on the road, a wonderful wintry experience.

Many folks claim bragging rights (we did too) of having driven the Mt Washington Auto Road in summer by a This Car Climbed Mt. Washington sticker placed on their car; however, there's something unique about making the trip in winter 🥶 — but not in our car.

This white utility van with four triangular tracks vs. wheels maneuvers the snow-covered Mt. Washington Auto Road in the winter months

Instead, this was the reason for our getaway adventure, a trip in this Mt Washington SnowCoach. We joined 4 other passengers (it can take 8) for a 90-minute trip which doesn't travel to the Mt Washington summit, but only to the winter turnoff, a clearing that sits just above 4,200 feet elevation. This also called the tree line found at high elevations and high latitudes. It's the point at which trees, aside from small shrubs, can't grow, due to conditions that are too dry, cold or windy. Tree line and timberline are terms often used interchangeably.

The drivers for each rig are knowledgeable about the terrain and history of the area. The 90-minute tour ascends to 4,200 feet in elevation. Reservations are required. We booked the senior mid-week rate at $69/person (discounted from the peak $89 rate during holidays).

The rubber tracks provide stability on the road which averages a 12% grade

The Mt. Washington SnowCoach has four triangular tracks instead of wheels. These rubber tracks, similar to tank treads (also called Mattracks) allow the SnowCoach to travel over snow, ice or thin patches of bare road without damaging the surface and provide stability on the winding road which averages a 12% grade. Similar vehicles use a ski system vs. tracks, depending on the terrain and conditions. 

How the SnowCoach Began

When the Mount Washington Summit Road Company first opened the Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center in 1994, one of the activities offered was a ride up to “Halfway” on the Auto Road, using a diesel-powered snowcat outfitted with a passenger cabin.  The plan was to provide transportation for skiers to descend the bottom half of the road, which was being groomed simultaneously each run by the snowcat. The plan proved to be cost-prohibitive; however, the idea of a winter tour with a unique snow-laden scenery, was established. The company shifted from using the snowcat to a passenger van, named the SnowCoach.

Prepping for Performance

By 8 a.m., SnowCoach drivers arrive and go through their own vehicle checks which include the track system, vehicle interior, and cleanliness of the windows for clearest viewing. Several times during our tour, Bruce topped to clear the windows from blowing snow and ice. After each day's run, a SnowCoach is taken to maintenance building and checked out before the next ascent. Our driver, Bruce, informed us that there's a complete inspection of the tracks and the van’s mechanical parts, checking fluids, belts, fuel lines and brake systems. 

Bruce, our SnowCoach driver and guide, gave me a front row seat

It’s a loud and rumbling ride because of these treads. Our driver, Bruce, told us he had been a driver for a number of years. As a birthday treat (never be bashful about sharing) that's me in the front passenger seat. My only function was to enjoy the ride as Bruce provided a running commentary and we checked out the surrounds. 

The start of the tour was clear and calm

The trip began in a Northeastern hardwood forest and was relatively calm after the SnowCoach left the base of the Auto Road at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center. There's 3 tours daily with more than five vans equipped to run in peak periods, weather permitting, December through March. Vans have been converted to bi-fuel, letting them operate on cleaner-burning, less expensive propane or conventional gasoline. The first tour leaves before 10 am, another at mid-day and a final one around 2 pm. We were on the mid-day tour as the tour start was a 45-minute drive from our hotel.

The higher we went, the more extreme the weather became with blowing snow

As more elevation was gained, the trees become stunted, misshaped by continuous exposure to wind and cold. The winds became more noticeable and also audible, but the coach was very comfortable and warm. According to our driver and guide, Bruce, the outside temperature was about -4°F with a windchill factor of -22°F degrees and 40 mph winds.

While everyone else departed in the subarctic temps, I stayed warm in the van

Our tour stopped at the Top of the Tour, the winter turnoff having traveled through various landscapes to reach 4,200-feet elevation (4.25 to 4.5 miles) at treeline, the border to the alpine zone with subarctic conditions. While Grenville joined Bruce and the other passengers in braving the harsh outside conditions on a mountain known for the world's most severe weather for photos, I remained inside the warm and comfortable van. We learned that while views can be amazing on a sunnier day, this wasn't the case on our tour. The group didn't stay out more than five minutes in the blowing wind, snow and very cold temps before re-boarding for our trip back to the base.

Visibility became reduced on the way down due to white-outs

These photos show the blowing snow on the way down without trees to block the blowing snow, drifting can occur.. A couple of times, our driver stopped until visibility cleared a bit. SnowCoaches reach the Alpine zones safely due to night-time grooming by Great Glen’s grooming crew plus constant monitoring of conditions by drivers throughout the day. We learned that the last tour the day we traveled had been canceled because of blowing snow and whiteouts. Forgot to mention that those seeing more adventure can ride up in the SnowCoach and then cross-country ski or snowshoe back down the Auto Road. 

A bladed snowcat is required to climb higher on the mountain which is why the SnowCoach tours do not attempt to summit Mount Washington.

SnowCats transport staff to and from the Mt Washington Observatory

A highlight of the trip was seeing these two snowcat vehicles that the Mount Washington Observatory uses to transport staff to and from the summit during the winter. The snowcat is similar to a groomer used at ski resorts. It has a plow on the front and large treads like a tank. It can carry up to a dozen people.

We had a wonderful experience for my birthday celebration

This trip was definitely a wonderful, but one-time, experience. Now, we have traveled on Mt Washington three ways — by auto (2019), cog railway (2017) and SnowCoach (2025). We have no future plans to hike, ski or snowshoe the mountain.

Every spring, the Mt. Washington Auto Road closes its winter SnowCoach operations and gets working on clearing the road of snow for summer travel. It's a long process. In the 1800s, it was done by hand with shovels and often wasn’t complete until July 4 weekend. Now, there's the advantage of heavy machinery to complete this project. It uses the snowcat and a specialty designed hot-water “drill” to clear culverts of ice.

About the Mt Washington Auto Road & Cog Railway

Our Auto Road trip

The Auto Road is America’s oldest man-made tourist attraction. It's a steep, narrow mountain road with no guardrails. There have been three fatalities since it opened. In 1880, a stagecoach driven by a drunk driver overturned, killing a passenger. In 1984, a vehicle lost its brakes and crashed about a mile up the road. In 2009, a motorcycle crashed. 

Construction of the road began in 1853 with a charter from the State of New Hampshire. The 7.6-mile Auto Road opened in August of 1861 as the Mt Washington Carriage Road and its first travelers went to the summit by a team of horses and a carriage specially-built by the Abbot-Downing Company of Concord. 

What surprises many is that the road is privately owned and maintained. The Auto Road and the Glen House Hotel first came into joint ownership in 1906 when Elihu Libby purchased the rights to the Auto Road. His descendants own and operate the Auto Road, Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center and the nearby Glen House Hotel. The family-owned company has been providing safe access to the summit of Mt Washington for over 115 years.

Over the years, travel on the auto road has advanced from horse-drawn vehicles to steam engines and internal combustion to hybrid and electric powered vehicles.  Over 50,000 cars drive it annually taking about 30 minutes to ascend the 7.6 mile road and from 30 to 45 minutes to come down depending on traffic, weather and if a stop is needed to cool the car brakes. 

We rode the Cog Railway in 2017

The Mount Washington Cog Railway, also known as the Cog, is the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway (rack-and-pinion railway). The railway climbs Mt Washington using a rack system and both steam and biodiesel-powered locomotives to carry tourists to the top of the mountain. It's been in continuous operation since 1869 with service interruptions only during the World Wars.

It is the second-steepest rack railway in the world, after the Pilatus Railway in Switzerland, with an average grade of over 25% and a maximum grade of 37%. The railway is approximately 3 miles  long and ascends Mount Washington's western slope, beginning at an elevation of approximately 2,700 feet above sea level and ending just short of the mountain's summit peak of 6,288 feet

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Postscript: Many of us learned this week of a fellow blogger's passing. John Haggar, the blogger of By Stargoose and Hanglands passed away last weekend from cancer. His cousin, Sue, posted the update on her blog, Granny Sue's News where you can find more information. John's blog, which included photos and information about walking tours with his brother, Les, were a delight to read. I have left the link to John's blog on my sidebar for anyone who wants to see some of his beautiful photos. My condolences to his family. John will be missed.

Caught Up Today

Patrick on Prince Edward Island

🎉 Happy Birthday 🎂

Today is the day that my significant other (Patrick aka Grenville) has caught up with me in age. We're now both 3/4s of a century. 

That's a lot of years.

We're both part of the Baby Boomer generation. This term refers to a people in the generation that was born between the end of WW II and the mid-1960s, from 1946 to 1964. 

In 1949, the U.S. population was at 149,188,130. By comparison, the current U.S. population is 341,879,132 (and counting) per an online source. 

I was curious as to how much of the U.S. population is currently our age. The closest online estimates were that of those who are 75 years of age, 38% are male and 45% are female. And that the number of people aged 75+ years has been growing at an average annual rate of 2.13%. 

If this is your birthday as well, here are some of Patrick's and your birthday facts: July 15, 1949 was a Friday. It was the 196th day of that year and the 28th Friday of that year. A fun fact is that the next time, those born in July 1949 can reuse an old 1949 calendar will be in 2033 when both calendars will be the same. His Chinese zodiac sign is the Ox and his star sign is Cancer.

Here's some things about 1949:

• 

  In younger days

  The 33rd U.S. President was Harry S. Truman (1945-1953). 
• No. 1 song was (Ghost) Riders in the Sky sung by Vaughn Monroe.
• The modem was invented letting computers "talk" over phone lines.
• A new car was about $1,700, gas was 26 cents/gallon 
• Buying a new home would be $14,500. 
• U.S. first-class postage was 3 cents.
• A loaf of bread cost 13 cents,  milk was 84 cents a gallon, a pound of bacon was 50 cents. 
• A box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes was 19 cents, Campbell’s Tomato Soup was 10 cents.
• Coca-Cola cost 5 cents per bottle, 25 cents per 6-bottle carton, and $1 per 24-bottle carton. 
• The minimum hourly wage was 70 cents per hour. The average 1949 annual salary was between $2,950 and $3,600.

Things have certainly changed since then.

This is one of the favorite signs in our apartment

We're traveling this week on yes, a(nother) road trip. We'll be in  Newport, RI, to visit areas we missed on our previous visit, including at least one mansion. The end of the week we'll celebrate the oldest granddaughter's 13th birthday also in RI.

Waltzing Through

The post title is a reference to waltz music being in 3/4 time. 

Today my age is best described in a similar way. Yes, once a year this date comes around whether welcomed or not. But, I am in not complaining. As a famous statesman famously said. "It's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years . . ." (Abraham Lincoln)

It's hard for me to fathom that today marks a major milestone in my life, three-quarters of a century to be exact, and perhaps wishing it were a bit less.

As a toddler and today

During a phone chat with my (slightly) younger brother this week, we were reminded of the words our late mother, and certainly others, have cautioned: "Don't get old."

And, the alternative is?

Let's not go there, we both agreed, while noting that longevity seems to run in our family. He laughed when reminded that our age difference is just 3 years.

Personally, I'm thankful for many things in my life, especially the love and support of my best friend and husband, Patrick, and for friends, near and far, who have sent well wishes by mail, text, email or phone call. Birthday cards received to date are displayed on bookcases in our apt as is our usual habit for cards. It makes me happy to see them every day. Friendship is not only the best gift, but certainly a priceless gift, to be remembered is even nicer and much appreciated.

Some fellow bloggers asked in their comments if I was doing anything "special" today. A fellow resident who is 93 years young, and my Scrabble playing partner here, invited us to a homemade crepes breakfast, which was delicious. Patrick is treating me to dinner at a downtown restaurant after he was told (politely) that no gift is needed. That said, my future gift to myself will be a new computer to replace my aging (and getting slower) desktop. The big question is another desktop or a notebook PC with all the "bells and whistles" to last a few years (or longer). Opinions welcomed in a comment.

Birthday wishes on the bookcase included duplicate cards (a fun coincidence)

And, while on the subject of a waltz tempo, my favorite 3/4 tune is The Christmas Waltz, but only the version done first by Frank Sinatra. It's been covered many times by a number of popular artists and, while it's an oft played popular holiday tune, it's never been #1. 

The backstory (of course): The song was written for Sinatra by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne and recorded in 1954. During a hot spell in Los Angeles, Cahn received a call from Styne who told him: 'Frank wants a Christmas song." Cahn initially resisted, but Styne was emphatic that Sinatra wanted a new Christmas song. Styne had been working on a waltz to which Cahn added the lyrics and Sinatra recorded A Christmas Waltz. 

So in honor of my own 3/4s today, here's a link to The Christmas Waltz.
Maybe, it's one of your favorites as well, no offense taken, if not (smile).

It was Cold

It was frigid cold outside on my 🎂 birthday this past weekend. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes, all were much appreciated. I played dominoes with friends and we went for dinner on Sat eve. It was a very low-key celebration. 🎉 

Cold here in Nashua, NH was daytime highs in the single digits and overnight in the minus teens. But nowhere near some other places, especially Mount Washington, NH. There it was minus 108 F wind chill, 97 MPH winds, which is likely the lowest ever recorded in the country. That's really cold 🥶

Aside from the biting cold across a lot of the nation, there was another event last week in the U.S. On Tuesday, the country's most famous marmot saw his shadow Thursday morning after leaving his burrow at Gobbler's Knob. According to folklore, if he sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't, spring comes early. (Groundhogs are a type of rodent known as a marmot, marmots are closely related to squirrels, yet squirrels have never forecast the weather.)

Internet source

Phil,  a furry critter in a western Pennsylvania town, saw his shadow which means that the country can expect below-average temperatures for the next six week, that is, if you subscribe to the legend of a furry critter in a western Pennsylvania town and Phil's weather-predicting abilities. 

Phil made the prediction at Gobbler's Knob as members of Punxsutawney Phil's "inner circle" summoned him from his tree stump to learn if he would see his shadow.

Internet source

On Feb 2, the nation awaited to see what he would predict, and, with a bit of human prodding, Phil came out of his burrow about 7:30 am and saw his shadow for the 137th time in front of a large Groundhog Day crowd. 

Phil made his prediction after speaking with Groundhog Club president Tom Dunkel who translated the prediction for the world. Yes, there is a Groundhog Club. It was established in 1887 and a website details all Groundhog Day events, including lunch with Phil and a Groundhog Day ball and banquet, who knew?

But, while Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction forecasts more winter weather, on Groundhog Day, it depends on who you want to believe. Phil is not the only groundhog forecaster as there are several others, it's just that Phil is the most well known.

For example, there's, Staten Island Chuck who did not see his shadow and therefore, signaling an early spring. And, another groundhog, Lady Edwina at the Turtleback Zoo in West Orange, NJ sided with Phil. 

Predictions aside, Punxsutawney Phil has been making his long-range winter forecast the longest, since 1887.  Staten Island Chuck only joined the forecasting game in 1981. The newest member of the four-legged weather crew, Lady Edwina, is the youngest and most recent weather forecaster at just over 2 years old. When it comes to accuracy, Punxsutawney Phil isn't that accurate, while Staten Island Chuck has been right 80% of the time. You can choose which one to believe if you are so included, as for myself, not at all.

Last week, we continued a long-standing tradition by watching the 1993 film, Ground Hog Day, starring Bill Murray and Andie McDowell. If you have never seen this movie, you should watch it someday. Bill Murray's character relives the day over and over again. It's a true classic. Spoiler alert, the movie was filmed in Woodstock, Ill, although the actual Punxsutawney, PA, holds annual festivals. This shooting location was close to the hometown of film director Harold Ramis, whose family lived in Chicago, IL.

Internet source

Of course, Phil's prediction came as many areas were dealing with a major winter storm and frigid temps. Of the 127 recorded times Phil has predicted the weather, he has now seen his shadow 107 times (or 84% of the time). His longest streak of seeing his shadow remains at 31, when he saw it every year from 1903 to 1933.

Ice on the Nashua River this weekend

The Nashua River below our living room window had its first coating of ice this past weekend. Temps are warming up this week and so the ice will be gone in a couple more days.

Speaking of cold, I am dealing with yet another head cold, the second one this year. Once again tissues are close at hand and I'm staying home. Hope that you are all staying well.

Internet source

Canon Powershot G7 Mark III

As to what I bought myself for my  birthday, it's a camera, which may come as no surprise. Now, I have to learn how to best use it before we travel later this year. The camera was bought refurbished on the Canon website. Good Great news is that it includes a 1-year manufacturer's warranty. An added 2 or 4 year protection plan can also be purchased at additional cost within 90 days, most likely I will get that. Purchasing this camera refurbished on the Canon website was a significant saving over new on other sites. 

Your turn — Do you buy yourself gifts too ?