Goodbye, Stove. Goodbye, Friend. Hello, February!

I hate goodbyes, most of the time. So I'll start with a hello. Hello, February! We are one step closer to spring.

From my Birdiferous calendar by Kate McNenly

Somehow February, the calendar's shortest month, always seems the longest to me. But these days everything seems to fly by so quickly, maybe February will too.

I said goodbye to Christmas, finally. Yes, I know -- most said goodbye to that a month ago. I still have some winter snowfolk to keep me cheerful during the dark days and evenings.

I love this one.

And these little fellows around what was formerly a Christmas tree and now is a Valentine one!

My friend Mike moved north to permanently live in Traverse City. Mike and I worked together for my full 32 years at the station, although it was probably the last fifteen or twenty where we were joined at the hip during pledge and fundraising times. I have numerous memories, mostly good, of our pledge drives. Yes, I know they are annoying to you but they are critical to public broadcasting stations. Mike produced them; I promoted and did on-air during them.

With his retirement, he now has the flexibility to relocate and he loves up-north Michigan. Those in the Traverse City area or up north, look for him at the Traverse City film festival or playing ukulele with the strummers.

Here, he he will be missed. Our friend and former colleague Nancy, Mike and I had a goodbye lunch -- it went three hours. Now that was a good lunch!

And coming very soon -- this week, in fact, I will finally, say goodbye to my old stove, a 1963 Westinghouse that was in my house when I bought it back in 1995. It wasn't much to look at and if a part went (and some did) it became increasingly difficult to find a replacement. But it was a good friend for many years. How many appliances do you have that have worked consistently for 57 years? They don't make 'em like that anymore!

I'll miss you, stove! Goodbye, old friend!

The new stove has arrived and gets its big reveal soon! The gas fellow will come on Tuesday so it's dining out, eating at Rick's and micro-meals for a few days. I am so anxious to bake again! Don't expect a huge remodel here. We're talking paint and a stove and new counters will just have to wait  -- but to me, it's a very big deal!). Just a bit more painting, stove hook-up and moving back in the storage pieces and we're good to go! Meanwhile, we watch the birds.