WORLD'S BEST OATMEAL AND A WALK IN DA HOOD

Ccccccoooolllldddd again here this morning (it seems to always hover around zero at our house), but Willie and I needed a walk, and I needed to practice some photography, so off we went! Here's what I hate about winter: how friggin' long it takes to get out the door; long underwear, hat, gloves, scarf, coat, boots, on and on. But here's what I love about winter: the blue, blue sky against the snowy trees, and the crisp pure mountain air:

My walk usually starts by my neighbor's house; her son had his snowmobiles parked outside--a sure sign of winter here. In fact, did you know that where we live (Old Forge, NY) is the Snowmobile Capital of the East? Well, now you do:

People also like to ski here--check out my neighbor's antique skis that decorate her house every winter:

Onward we walked, down the private road near our house. I have a "thing" for split rail fences--LOVE THEM!:

We had a pretty bad wind/snow blizzard storm type thing here last weekend--these people are going to be so surprised by this monster tree that fell across their driveway. Welcome Home!:

In fact, we've had so much snow this winter that, if you didn't happen to shovel off your roof, this is what could happen:

(That's our friend Rick's excavation building--bummer!) Onward we walked, checking out this old farmhouse with a craggly old apple tree out front:

Then we cruised by our friend's Bed and Breakfast, located right on the Moose River:

You should see how gorgeous their garden on the river is in the summertime!

Next we walked by Thendara's old train depot and town hall. Check out the Pepsi machine--don't think THAT was there when the depot was built!:

A few more awesome homes in the hood--I LOVE the yellow on this house (and again, the split rail fence thing)!:

By the time we got home, we were pretty danged cold. I would say it's time for some oatmeal! One thing I have to mention: For the record, Big Daddy has HATE HATE HATED oatmeal his entire life, until I switched over to the Steel Cut Irish Oats. Now he can't get enough--seriously, he begs me to make it, at least twice a week.

(Please note--these oatmeal photos are the last ever from my old piece of SH%* digital camera--much better quality food pictures are on the way!)

The key to great oatmeal, in my book? The toppings:

I like to add things like chopped nuts, raisins and/or cranberries, chopped dried apricots, diced apple or banana. Of course, you also need a little butter, a little brown sugar (if desired) and some cinnamon:

I MUST show you my cuter than cute butter dish, that I've had forever and a day:

I buy the quick cooking Irish Oats, so I can whip up a pot full in about 10 minutes time--just enough time to chop up your fruit and nuts:

And here's breakfast! So delicious, and so nutritious!

             TOP 3 THINGS I'M GRATEFUL FOR TODAY:

1. I'm grateful that my husband hired an amazing new assistant manager for his club--should make Big Daddy's job much, much easier from now on!

2. I'm grateful that today is our Arts Center's Chili luncheon--gotta love chili on a day like this!

3. I'm grateful that our daughter and her boyfriend have just announced that they'll both be HERE for over a week in March. SO looking forward to seeing them!