Many years ago my mother and I flew to Puerto Vallarta to celebrate our 2 winter birthdays. Mine is today, her’s was the 12th of February. I share my birthday with Michelle Obama and Eartha Kitt. My mom shared hers with Abraham Lincoln.

I flew from Boston to meet my mom in Denver and we left from the mile-high city in freezing temperatures. Puerto Vallarta was a balm for us both and we felt so regal having the ability to leave ice and snow and land in sun, warmth, palm trees, water and sand. We had fun sunbathing (who knew?), drinking margaritas, and shopping in the market streets. My mom posed with some young boys and a lizard; I bought hand-stitched handiwork and baskets. In the end we returned, alas, and the scene above reminds me of that day even though it is in a much graphic earlier style. It captures how we felt re-alighting in Denver. Sweet memories!

This hits home. I saw it yesterday when I drove by in my red pickup truck that the nicest friends on earth, Renee and Dan, loaned me for this stay in rural Illinois. Greatly blessed by these essential things: family and farming and friends.

Rural Illinois is experiencing its snowiest winter in years! Lucky me! I get to experience full on winter while I await that doggone Italian Visa! I must say, on days like these, Italy feels like a pipe dream!

But look at the beauty of winter in the cabin!

All highly recommended!