Earmuffs (Subtitle: I'll be going to my happy place now)

I had my first 2010 earmuff sighting this morning.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Especially on the heels of this Seattle Times article that ran last week. In my simple world, the words "winter" and "whopper" should never, ever be used in the same sentence.

And especially as my roses, nasturiums and impatiens are throwing off a vibrant and bittersweet last hurrah of blooms right now. (When you can see them, that is. They're also buried underneath about 3 tons of pine needles that have dropped over the last week. Another clever way Bermtopia reminds you fall is in the air.)

Ah, yes. It's October in Bermtopia. Brilliant 70-degree days; clear, frost-free nights (for the time being at least); and women who wear earmuffs on their morning walks.

That's why I love Bermtopia.

Waiting for snow

The National Weather Service assures us we'll be getting 1-3 inches of snow later today and maybe another inch or 2 tomorrow. But, suprisingly, I'm approaching this snowfall vigil with uncharacteristic equanimity, especially given my basic aversion to anything white, wet and cold with an annoying tendency to accumulate.

I think it's because, overall, the weather has actually been quite nice. It's amazing what a little blue sky and sun will do for a gal.

Christmas week was drop-dead gorgeous (if not a little chilly) -- and, looking back, the 3 or so inches of snow that fell around the middle of the month was quickly disposed of, thanks to several days of rain. Then, there was that week with sun and temperatures in the high 40s, low 50s. I can live with this.

My mom, who was here visiting over Christmas, also had a good point: Any snow that falls now might "only" be on the ground for a couple of months as opposed to 3 or 4 months when it falls in November-December. Thanks, mom. I feel better now.

Ulimately, I find the greatest consolation in the extended forecast -- temperatures in the mid- to high 30s and rain by the weekend. Works for me.

I've got plenty of indoor recreation planned in the meantime: A stack of new Christmas books. . . a house-cleaning blow-out after 10 days of guests. . . replenishing our homemade bread inventory. . . and, TAH DAH, making fresh pasta. Yes, Santa brought us a pasta machine. Nice. More on that later.

So, let it snow. And let it rain. Works for me.