www.marilynbrant.com

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

A Googolplex of Snowflakes, Hugh Dancy & a DVD Giveaway

Because we've had blizzarding conditions across the Midwest over the past couple of days, I've had a chance to take a look at WAY more snow than I typically enjoy seeing. Of course, while I'm less than delighted by the notion of shoveling our driveway again (and again!), viewing a snowflake up close--isolated from its 127 million dearest friends in our front yard--is really a beautiful thing.
And since I'll be spending a lot of time indoors this week, I suppose I could finally start decorating for the holidays...or try cleaning my office...or maybe just relaxing with a good movie or two. In fact, I'd planned to give away a copy of one of my favorite Austen-inspired films (a DVD of "The Jane Austen Book Club") to one commenter on my blog this month, and this looks like the perfect day to announce that prize! I'll throw in a couple of individual packets of Swiss Miss hot chocolate (with the mini marshmallows), too, so the winner will have something to drink while watching the adorable Hugh Dancy...and, um, the rest of the talented cast--LOL...onscreen.

**This contest is open to anyone, anywhere in the world who leaves a comment on my blog between today and December 31st at noon. I'll be posting a few other times this month, too, so one comment on each new blog post will count as an entry. And, because I'm new to Twitter , double the chances to win if you tweet about it!!**

So...what's the weather look like outside of your window??

25 comments:

Margay Leah Justice said...

That is an amazing picture! I love things like that. I just wonder how they got the picture without it melting on them.
Margay

Pamela Cayne said...

What a beautiful snowflake! I've forgotten what they look like, but enjoyed the rain we had here on Monday (precursor to your current storms.

Happy to hear you're bundled in, ready for the snow. Movies and cocoa are a fabulous way to deal with dreary weather!

Anonymous said...

The weather outside my window is rather deceptive. It's bright and sunny, so it's nice to look at. But stepping outside you quickly realize that it's below freezing. Brrr. No snow yet, but apparently that's coming tonight! I'm enjoying our last few snow-less hours.

Rain Maiden said...

We had a freak storm move in on Monday. My two year old loved the snow. I didn't like the power going out and the frozen pipes. We surived though.

Courtney Nicole said...

Oh, Marilyn, its wicked outside. I'm also a midwesterner. It is not snowing, so the violent wind and biting cold is without pleasure.

The snow came on Monday, and blanketed the roads. School wasn't cancelled...and yes, everyone is still complaining about that.

I would marry Hugh Dancy...he is so ridiculously gorgeous. And his voice...don't get me started!

LSUReader said...

Today was sunny and cool in my part of south Texas. But last Friday, we got snow--yep, snow. The snowflake photo is great. Thanks for the contest.
P.S. Don't feel like the Lone Ranger on that whole "I'm not decorated for Christmas" thing. Can we maybe add another week to mid December?

Nancy J. Parra said...

Hi Marilyn, *waves*

The weather outside is frightful... I hope you stay safe and warm!

GladysMP said...

What does it look like outside my window? Well, we just had the earliest freeze in Houston since they have been keeping records and we had snow. At my house there was only about one half inch, but some parts of town got up to four inches. But what does the view look like now outside my window? My banana tree is frozen, the bush with red flowers that is the only bush in my yard that attracts humming birds is black as are a number of plants in my front flower beds. But the snow was pretty and most unusual for our area, so the kids had ball! But we are all bundled up with coats, caps, etc. the minute we step outside the door.

Marilyn Brant said...

Margay~You ask an excellent question! I hadn't thought about it melting, but you're right...they must've taken some special measure to keep that from happening ;).

Pamela~I remember that about you, that you love overcast skies and rain, and find them very productive as a backdrop... I wish more of that for you, so you can get lots of writing done!

Alita~Did the storm arrive? Hoping it turned out to be less snow than expected! And I know what you mean about the temps... Ours are headed downward rapidly. I think it's going to be -15 or something tonight. Sigh.

Rain~Oh, no! Frozen pipes and power outages!! SO sorry to hear about that... Really glad you all made it through and that your 2-year-old had a little fun in spite of it all. Kids have such a way of enjoying themselves no matter what, don't they? :)

Marilyn Brant said...

Courtney~Oooh, so you're in the midst of all of this, too. It's FREEZING!! The thought of Hugh Dancy is definitely a warming one, though! *wink*

LSUReader~One of my best friends is from San Antonio originally, and she and I were just talking about what a big deal it is when snow hits southern Texas... Thanks for understanding the holiday decorating thing, too!! I *so* need another week (or three) in December--just to catch up!

Nancy~Don't I know it! Plus, you were outside shoveling far too much today (I read your Facebook comments :)! You need to snuggle inside for a while now...

Gladys~It *is* really unusual for Houston to have snow--wow! But I have to say how COOL I think it is that you have a banana tree!!! A friend of mine from Australia had a few in her backyard and, when I first saw them, I couldn't get over how amazing that was. (I love bananas!) The tree will be okay, right?

Theresa N. said...

Our weather has been strange very strange. Going from cool weather 40-50s to 79 yesterday. Ttoday we're back to 40-50's, I haven't a clue what the highs we're for yesterday but we also got high winds and tornado watches. Don't want that.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Edie Ramer said...

Love the snowflake picture! It's beautiful like that.

We had 12 inches of snowflakes yesterday! And a 6 hour power outage. I missed my computer! Today we're in single digits. I decided not to venture out until tomorrow when we're in the balmy teens.

Pamala Knight said...

That is a gorgeous snowflake picture, Marilyn dear. I just wish that we could have the beautiful, ethereal snowflakes without all the ensuing snow, ice and bone-chilling weather that comes along with it. I guess there's no pleasure without a little pain in this case, eh?

*waves*

Marilyn Brant said...

Theresa~I hope the tornado watches in your area have expired now--those are scary! You've really had a range of temps, too. Hard to know how to approach a day that could be either 45 degrees or 70...

Edie~6 hours without power--yikes!! I really get frustrated with that. Not only because of the no computer and no microwave, etc. but because I just hate having to reset all the clocks and everything when it's finally over :).

Pamala~You're so right! Wouldn't it be great to have such pretty, delicate little things flutter down from the sky but not have them freeze our streets or our fingers?! Definitely a fantasy. (And even less likely than the one where my DH cooks for me. ;-)

erika said...

We have finally dug out from the snow. My area of Madison got 17.5 inches. My kids were having a blast making snow angels and forts. Now it has turned bitterly cold and we are hibernating. Spent part of the day decorating the inside with snowmen and ornaments of the tree. We also watched movies though with only boys in the house it was Star Trek not a chick flick. Keep Warm.

Silvia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Marilyn Brant said...

Erika~I've been hearing about the crazy amount of snow in Madison!! Wow--17.5 inches...and, yeah, now with the freezing temps, even the kids who love it can't get out there and enjoy it. Got my fingers crossed that it'll warm up this weekend--at least enough for us to finally go out and get a tree.

Silvia~Hi! I hope you'll get that dusting of snow you're waiting for. (Believe me, plenty of us in the Midwest would love to ship some down to you. ;-) If only we could share our climates a little bit, huh? I could really go for a warm-weather day every week or so during winter and would be thrilled to be able to share some snow with you so you had a White Christmas...

Hope everyone reading this has a wonderful weekend!!

Unknown said...

Science is pretty cool sometimes. Probably liquid nitrogen on the slide or microscope stand to keep it cold. Who knows.

No snow here in San Antonio. Snowed around the city, and in Houston, but not here.

Robin said...

I just love snowflakes. :)

And oh, I've been wanting to this movie! Thanks for the chance to win it!

Marilyn Brant said...

Tiffany~Oh, good thinking with the liquid nitrogen--I hadn't thought of that, but it makes sense!

Robin~"The J.A. Book Club" is a fun film! I think you'd like it ;).

Anonymous said...

I've been dying to read this book, so seeing the movie would be really cool.

Marilyn Brant said...

accountantgrrl~It's a fun film! It was one of the rare movies for me that I actually enjoyed even more than the book ;).

Laura Hartness said...

Down here in south Florida, I've almost forgotten what a snowflake looks like...sniff..sniff... I'd still love to watch The Jane Austen Book Club and drink hot chocolate, even if it is warm outside!

For the contest, I tweeted about it:
http://twitter.com/lhartness/status/6779318564

And I posted a comment on two of your blog entries: December 11th (Chocolate!!) and December 16th (Accolades and a promise of English Truffles!)

Thanks for the chance to enter!

Laura Hartness
The Calico Critic
CalicoCritic@gmail.com

Marilyn Brant said...

Laura~thanks for tweeting and for spreading the word of the contest! I appreciate it!! And I'm very envious of your lovely warm weather down in S. Florida. :)

Laura Hartness said...

Marilyn:

I guess it's all about wanting what you don't have, right? It's snowing in my home state of North Carolina right now, and I'm jealous! But I guess if I had to live with it year in, year out, I'd get sick of it. But really-- it was 86 degrees here last week! Crazy!

Laura Hartness
The Calico Critic