Our March Snow

We are still in Asheville celebrating the snow. Miriam and Alex were here for most of the w-e too, but they left Sunday midday after Alex realized that she was coming down with a cold. It had been raining or rainy all w-e, but that didn't stop us from enjoying Brushfire Stankgrass at the Pisgah Brewery on Friday night as well as the Mast General Store, Salsas and the Hot Springs Hot Tubs on Saturday. It was a bit more drizzly on Sunday though, and it began changing into sleet and then snow around noon. It was so beautiful here all day yesterday, even though it was cloudy and gray most of the day. Despite the clouds, 4" of snow has a way of brightening things up-all clean, and white and pristine looking. Today it is clear and cold with blue skies to offset our white topped hills. It was 19 degrees and windy when I did my run around Beaver Lake (me and the guy with the Salukis) this morning. I almost fell a couple of times in the icy patches, but it was terrific to get out and play in the snow. I have been wanting to go somewhere to cross country ski before it gets too warm, but I'm not sure we will make it to Vermont or Colorado anytime soon. So I was imagining that I was skiing since the exercise, movement, and views are very similar. It sure was pretty going up and down Lookout Mtn (and up and down it again after running around Beaver Lake). I took a couple of pictures to include here.

Later we'll pack up our things, Quigley and the kitties and head back down the mountain to the Triangle. Holly's company announced a 10am start today, so I suspect we'll encounter snow or ice there as well. Next w-e is the start of daylight savings time so this is out last w-e here before we have more daylight evening time. Nice to get one real snow if this turns out to be the last one.

I had the cutest little boy in my clinic earlier this week, being seen for a cold and sore throat. He was about 5 yrs old, hispanic, with that short buzz cut that really accentuates their thick, black hair. He conversed with me easily in both english and spanish, hopping up on the exam table, saying "Ahhh," and breathing deeply when I told him what to do for me. After we were finished and I was telling his Mom what to do for his cold, he officiously pulled out his wallet, one of those hand tooled leather ones with lacing around the edges, and removed a crisp dollar bill to hand to me. I had to chuckle as I told him that he didn't pay me but instead the women at the front window. I told him that I only do the doctor part and someone else takes the money. That seemed to satisfy him, and he carefully placed his dollar bill back into his wallet. I felt honored, actually, that he wanted to pay me. I remember how precious a dollar is at his age.

Today's photos: Miriam and Alex plus one of the house in the snow.