In October, weather prognosticators predicted a relatively warm winter with low snowfall in the Philadelphia region.
The New Year has instead turned out to be quite chilly in Philly.
We don't receive nearly as much snow as Big Sky, but on our walks, it often feels just as cold and sometimes colder, perhaps because the air is more humid here.
Nonetheless, Julie and I don jeans over at least one layer --- I go with pajamas, whereas Julie usually wears leggings --- and at least two shirts. Winter coats, ski hats and quite often scarfs are necessary to continue outside. Yes, we are bundled up inside the house, too. In fact, indoors I almost always wear a fleece jacket or sweatshirt instead of my ski jacket.
Yeah, I'm not overly concerned with manmade global warming this winter in Philly. Perhaps I'm just too dense to understand that freezing weather is caused by CO2.
As I started to say, regardless of temperatures, Julie and I head out --- bundled in our winter clothes --- and take daily walks around our lovely neighborhood or hike nearby trails through what are now bare woods.
Lots of birds somehow stay warm enough nestled inside evergreens. We occasionally a little red fox. Just today, I saw five young deer on the Haverford Northbrook Trail.
On sunny days --- and bright sunshine is often the case, even if the temperature is below freezing --- we see birds flying around and chirping merrily. We like that they still visit our bird bath in our front yard, at least when it isn't frozen solid. And there are Canadian geese flying in ragged formations.
Gina and Laszlo often join Julie and me on our walks/hikes. The Haverford College Nature Trail remains a favorite. It is right next to Emma's skating club where she practices. I feel like a professor without the responsibilities of teaching classes.
Emma keeps improving her ice dancing, spins and jumps. She had a solo performance in a recent demonstration at America's first skating club, PSCHS. She did a great job, and in the weeks since then, she has definitely strengthened her jumps and turns as she prepares for a season of exhibitions with skaters from other schools as well as her own.
Amy came for a couple of visits. First, she brought a friend who had agreed to buy our Ford Escape. We had lunch at Nudy's Cafe in downtown Ardmore. It's a successful local chain that seems to fill booths at all of its locations with diners happy for good meals at reasonable pricing. Gina joined us for that meal.
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| Freezing rain at the train station. |
Last week, Amy came for a longer stay. Her job allows her to work remotely. A lot of her days in Ardmore were spent at her computer. We certainly had a lot of nice walks, shared meals and socially watching "House Hunters International" with lots of comments. Gina, Laszlo and Emma often joining in.
As a nod to the changing world of technology, I will mention that Julie and I received delivery of a new TV in preparation for our Eagles playing the Chiefs in the Super Bowl two days before Amy arrived. The price for home theater size and quality in early 2025? $599!
Amazing how technology has vastly improved, and prices have reduced, over the last 40 years. I can only imagine what my grandparents who I don't think progressed beyond maybe 19-inch black-and-white TV with rabbit ears antenna would think of this. I remember visiting my paternal grandfather in Los Angeles as he listened intently to a Dodgers game on his large transistor radio in the 1960s.
On the other hand, my parents were early adapters of RCA color television. That was just in time for the first airing of Bonanza "in living color on NBC" in 1959.
Back to present day Ardmore, Amy was in town for Super Bowl Sunday. Gina and Emma joined us too. As Eagles fans, Julie and I were elated as we watched the game. Amy cheered along with us. Not exactly football fans, Emma manicured Gina's nails and were pleasant company too.
Julie cooked various Super Bowl snacks including boneless BBQ wings and homemade pizza. Laszlo was teaching an SAT class while the game was being played, so he wasn't there for the game.
Jay, Sasha and Owen still live on the warm west coast, where smoke from the Palisades fire forced an evacuation from their Santa Monica condo. Thanks to God they remained safe. Sasha's mother Libby lives nearby and shared her place as a temporary home away from home for them.
Their condo came through the nearby fire needing only cleaning and deodorizing. However, they did check on it regularly, and on one occasion probably thwarted some looters when Jay confronted a spotter/getaway driver sitting in a dark-windowed car in front of their building.
When we were visiting them in Santa Monica for Christmas, Jay and Sasha gave us tickets to an amazing concert by the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra at beautiful Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center to attend upon returning home. We had great center-stage, balcony seats.
It was an outstanding program, featuring Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” Symphony. The conductor Rafael Payare put on an incredible show with his histrionic motions that conveyed how deeply he felt the music. A lady sitting next to me said she had attended Julliard School of Music in the 1950s and seen many great conductors. She said Payare was her new favorite.
Full orchestra concerts are powerful.
Julie and I had taken the mainline train into Philadelphia. Arriving early, we stopped at the Center City branch of Insomnia Cookies for a large chocolate and oatmeal cookie and coffee. No doubt delicious, but it is surprising how many people will pay steep prices for cookies. And the treat was so good we returned to Insomnia when we went for an afternoon organ concert a week later.
That was also a very good show by virtuoso Paul Jacobs from New York City. He performed masterfully on the magnificent pipe organ that he said far surpasses anything in NYC. Later that night, he performed with the full orchestra. The works of Mendelssohn, Franck, Ives and Bach made a nice showcase for the organ's tone.
With 45 minutes to spare before our train back home, we stopped at the DoubleTree's Standing O for drinks. Prices were much more reasonable than something equivalent in NYC.
Philadelphia is a wonderful alternative to the Big Apple. Much better, if you dislike crowds.
We spent most Friday evenings with Gina, Laszlo and Emma. Julie cooked family meals for us to share. Whether roast pork, taco salad or chicken, it was always delicious. We enjoy our end-of-the-work-week discussions.
Emma now works in the Learn to Skate program at PSCHS, so she leaves for that right after dinner, dropped off by Laszlo or occasionally me.
On one of those dinners, we celebrated Laszlo's birthday.
Another highlight event for Julie and me was a neighborhood happy hour at Brick n Brew in Havertown, arranged by the editor of our neighborhood magazine, Stroll. While we have dined there before, we had no idea how great the varied meals could be. The chef prepared his best dishes for us to sample, and everything was fantastic. It was nice socializing with neighbors.
In another culinary note, I have convinced Julie that Cheesesteak Sandwiches from Wawa are tasty. She likes hers with only beef and Swiss cheese. Mostly, we enjoy homecooked meals.
So, despite the cold, our hearts have stayed warm in Philly.
