Maxie and Stretch

What do Alaska, snowbirding, women RVers,  mini-dachshunds, and mysteries have in common?  Answer:  Fiction books by Alaskan author, Sue Henry.  I just finished reading #4 in the Maxie McNabb Series of books about 60-something RVer Maxie and her faithful dog, Stretch. This book features Maxie at home in Homer, Alaska, forgoing her snowbird travels this year.  As always, the books are a quick, cozy read, with Maxie landing in the middle of a mystery to solve.  The first three books in the series are The Serpents Trail, The Tooth of Time, and The Refuge.  The books don't have to be read in order, but they are more enjoyable that way.

Sue Henry has also written 13 books in her Jessie Arnold series, featuring Alaskan woman dog-sledder, Jessie Arnold.  I enjoy reading that series, too, even though it doesn't contain anything about RVs.  In the books, Jessie lives near Wasilla, Alaska, the town now known to the whole world as being the hometown of Sarah Palin.

I had two options for reading this book.  A paperback version was waiting for me at my local library, and a library electronic version was loaded onto my Nook e-reader.  I started reading the paperback and soon switched to reading on the Nook because the print was bigger and I didn't have to try and hold the paperback book open.  Not all the books I want to read are available from the library, e-book collection, so unless I want to buy each book (I don't!), I will continue getting the physical books from our local library.

At home here in Vancouver, Washington, Dave and I woke up to almost three inches of snow this morning.  The low temperature the next two nights is predicted to get down to 18 degrees.  Dave shoveled our driveway and a path out back to our shop, and the snow is already starting to melt. 

Back yard

Front yard

We had to make a trip into Portland this afternoon to pick up our motorhome.  The refrigerator was being repaired, we thought, but evidently not, since the repair place couldn't get Norcold to agree to replace the expensive cooling unit without the motorhome being inside at 70 degrees for 24 hours.  Not going to happen in Portland in the winter.  Arggh! 

It's been snowing very heavily for the last two hours, and with the cold temperature predicted for tonight, it won't be pretty in the morning.  Well, it might be pretty, but it won't be good driving conditions.  I think we'll stay home!

Happy Thanksgiving

Vancouver, Washington, like much of the Pacific Northwest, has been experiencing very cold (for us) weather and some snow.  The temps have been in the high teens at night and not a whole lot warmer during the day.  Here's a couple of pictures of the snow at our house, which turned out to be less than what was originally predicted.  Still, it was enough snow to cause school cancellations at some of the higher elevations on Tuesday.

Here's a prayer for Thanksgiving from Pastor Kim Riddlebarger's website:

Our Sovereign God, who created all things for your pleasure and who gives to all life, breath, and every good thing, we praise you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life. For rain and sunshine, in abundance and in lack, we acknowledge that our times are in your hands. You supply all of your creatures with your good gifts: the just and the unjust alike. Nevertheless, we especially give you praise for the surpassing greatness of your saving grace that you have shown to us in Christ Jesus our Savior. For our election in him before the foundation of the world; for our redemption by him in his life, death, and resurrection; for our effectual calling, justification, sanctification, and all of the blessings of our union with him, we give you our heartfelt thanks. And we look with great anticipation toward that day when you will raise us to life everlasting, glorified and confirmed in righteousness, so that we may sing your praises without the defilement of our present weaknesses, distractions, and sins. As you have served us with these gifts, we ask that you would give us grateful hearts so that through us you may serve our neighbors. In the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, Amen.

Have a happy, safe Thanksgiving!