ASINGAN JOURNAL PART 3: cruel days of winter

One of the best ways to soften the blow of a harsh winter is to have flowering plants inside the house. This orchid, which came all the way from San Diego, California bloomed right during the first week of January while the strong blizzard winds were raging outside...It has a faint sweet smell that reminds one that "spring is not far behind.."

The cruel looking icicles hang down from our eavesthrough in front of our house. They are still there as I write. Remember in one of the DIE HARD movies? Bruce Willis used one to kill a bad guy by sticking an icicle into one of his eyeballs...

These winter babies are caused by the heat going through the roof of our house. It melts the snow capping the roof. The water runs into the eavesthrough and when it overflows, these weird looking thingies are formed. Need ice to mix with your beer? Just snap a couple and put them in your glass. They will make fancy stirring sticks too...