As I sit here looking out at the 7" of snow we got last night, unable to get to work but not feeling too badly about it, I realize how much I like the quiet beauty of a snowed in day. When you live in Michigan, it's not unusual to hear people talk about the weather as if it's the most interesting topic in the world. At work "you got your snowblower all gassed up for the big storm ?", at the grocery store counter "looks like you've stocked up on food for the snow storm headed our way", at the gas station "filled up for the storm, did ya?", outside shoveling the sidewalk, the neighbors yell "hey when you're finished with yours, come on over and do my walk!".
The snow creates a kind of comaraderie, as we all prepare for a snow day when schools are closed, work is shut down, people hunker down in their homes and prepare for a day of making cookies, reading the paper or a book, doing puzzles, and just plain relaxing.

Yesterday I had the task of looking at budgets and increasing monthly fees to my customers to catch up with inflation. Not a fun task but one that needs approaching annually. Rarely do I get a complaint about it because any business person knows it's a part of surviving as a business owner. I also reminded myself that not only do I have a great bunch of customers, but my employees "the green team" are the best ! I often forget to say so, but the snow being the topic of the last three days, I had time to reflect on other things, appreciation being one of them. I appreciate my green teams dedication, their loyalty, their talents, and their contribution to Artscape's reputation, which I've been told "on the street" is one of quality and integrity. Cool. Not much more I can ask for.

Except now I have to go shovel snow, happily I might add, and then I think I'll open up that jigsaw puzzle in my cupboard.