Our first snow; microwave headaches; remembering baby Austin

We finally got our first snow of the season this week!  I had noticed on Tuesday morning that there was just a bit of white stuff on my car, but then I was busy at the desk, then went for my shower, etc, never looking outside until I was ready to leave for work.  I was so surprised by this sight!  I knew there was a reason we still had our Christmas decorations up, hahaha!!

At some point that afternoon I looked out my office window and could not believe what I saw - a whiteout on our very first day of snow!  We actually did not get that much accumulation, however.  

We got more snow on Thursday too - the kind that looked beautiful on the evergreens.  These pics were taken out my windows. 

But then warmer temps came on Friday, so we really don't have much of anything left. 

A few months ago our over-the-range GE microwave stopped producing heat.  After reading and watching YouTube videos Dick determined that he needed to replace the magnetron.  But then Christmas came, and we had a small replacement microwave, so it took a while till he ordered it, and even when it did arrive, he didn't have time to work on it.  So finally on Monday evening he got busy on it.  WHAT A PROJECT!!!  I totally did not realize how big or heavy it was.  First off, here's a before picture, taken a couple of years ago. 

He had to go into that cupboard above the microwave and unplug it, then unscrew the bolts that held it up.  He had me stand on a chair and loosen the last bolt while he held it up.  I was so nervous!!  I had visions of that thing falling down and crashing my glass stovetop!!  But he's a strong man and got it loosened from its bracket, then let it down on a piece of plywood he had put over the stovetop.   It looked pretty ugly up there!

He then carried it over to the kitchen table and worked on it.

When he was done putting the new magnetron in place,  he had me help to hoist it back up into its bracket,  we bolted it back in place, and plugged it into the socket in the cupboard above.  

AND IT STILL DID NOT PRODUCE ANY HEAT!!

 I couldn't believe it!!  He said that the other possibility is that it needs a replacement diode, which he has since ordered.  But it will again require all that lifting, and of course, more money.  The magnetron was $169, the diode will be a lot cheaper.  But the idea was to save the money of needing to buy a new microwave.  UGH.   We'll keep you posted!

Today we finally put all our Christmas stuff away - well, except for the outside lights.   They're just white, and I like them, so I'm not in a hurry to take them down.  

Tomorrow will be a fun day.  The choir at Fillmore is doing the song I talked about last time - Amazing Grace to the tune of The House of the Rising Sun.  We just had a blast practicing it on Thursday evening.   I think it will be recorded.   

Then in the evening we will have a very special birthday party for a certain SEVEN-YEAR-OLD!!  Just crazy that Austin is that old.  I clearly remember my seventh birthday.  I got a doctor kit in a red plastic case!

Seven years ago at this time we were eagerly looking for updates on a blog that Anthony was doing about the labor and birth.  Some of you were following it!  Her labor was on Friday, the 16th, then he was born shortly after midnight on Saturday the 17th.  We lived in Lancaster County at that time,  but hit the road for State College as soon as we could that Saturday.  Because of the holiday weekend, we were able to stay until Monday.  Here are some pictures from that first day or two. 

I can't believe we soon get to do this all over again!  It makes looking at these pictures a whole lot easier.  Babies just don't keep!  Before you know it they're seven or eleven or fifteen or twenty-two!!!