All of Northern Europe...

All of Northern Europe got a big layer of snow yesterday except for the Netherlands. We got a fine dusting of it and then got rained on and it made the snow disappear. Secretly I am very happy about that, well, maybe not that secretly, because you all know I didn't want it to snow. I don't know why we were spared, it was a fluke of nature.

After giving it much thought, and listening to my nagging little inner voice, I canceled the purchase of the new sofa and I was much relieved after I did so. I kept being unhappy with the idea of it and couldn't justify it in my mind. I think I will wait a good while before I will get a new sofa, or may even do what some of you suggested and have this old one reupholstered. I'll see. The thing about this sofa is, that it is awfully comfortable and great to fall asleep on. The new sofa didn't have such great armrests even though it was bigger. Well, it's all water under the bridge now. Luckily, I was not to late to cancel and that was a very good thing.

I keep sleeping very well. I do get up once in the middle of the night to go to the toilet, but I have enough sense to go back to sleep, where in the past I thought I had to get up and turn the computer on. I sleep late in the mornings, at least what I consider late, and feel well rested. Luckily, most of the time, the Überhund sleeps as late as I do, so I don't have to get up to let him out or to feed him. When it comes to timing, we're tuned into each other.

I just finished another book, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. It has a very sad and surprising ending that is very troublesome. I was almost asleep when I finished it and laid awake some time after that thinking about it. I have a grandson who is the same age as the main characters of the book and that made me extra sensitive as to what happened to them. My grandson lives far away from me and there is nothing I can do to shelter him in any way from any kind of harm. Sometimes that makes me feel so sad. Especially when reading books about very brave little boys in dire circumstances.

I only read when I go to bed a night, because it is bound to put me to sleep, no matter how exciting the story. I always have this incredible need to sleep and I must guard against making the circumstances too favorable. Sitting on the sofa with a book results in me falling asleep with it.

I haven't gotten a library membership yet, because so far I have had enough books to read, but I'm running out and will have to get one shortly. I like owning books better than I like borrowing them, but they can be costly. There is a good on line bookstore that has English language literature where I buy books. It's the greatest invention since the wheel. There is never a book that I can't find. They also sell second hand books, which is really a good deal. It's cheaper for me than buying at Amazon.

Well, it's getting kind of late and I do still have to take out the Überhund. He has been waiting patiently, but I have no doubt that he really needs to go, because he has had his breakfast.

Have a very terrific day and I hope you aren't too much bothered by the snow.

Ciao...