Early Wednesday morning the snow started. By Wednesday evening we had about four inches of snow on the ground. It wasn’t much snow but it sure has been cold. The low last night was about -4 and the high today was 19. It’ll be a little bit warmer tomorrow. These are good days for staying indoors.
Nina probably wishes she had stayed indoors on Wednesday morning! She had an appointment with the physical therapist at 7:30 a.m. She left the house about 7:15, about the time the first inch of snow had fallen. Not quite a mile from the house she lost control of the car and slide over the curb and up onto the sidewalk. While the car survived the incident unscathed, she did not. She wrenched her back and was in quite a bit of pain. She went to the therapy appointment anyway and barely missed being hit on her way home as another couple of cars went out of control in the same spot! Needless to say, she stayed on the recliner most of the rest of the day yesterday. She’s feeling much better today, but it’ll be a couple more days before she’s back in good form. 
Even Bradica (the dog) thinks that staying indoors is a Good Thing. Persuading her to go outside, and in particular to get off the back deck before doing her business, is difficult when it’s this cold and there’s snow on the ground. Meanwhile, she’s developed this curious mannerism of standing under things like plants (as in the accompanying picture), or under the edge of a table covering or a bed covering, anywhere that something falls across her back. She’ll stay there for a long time, peering out at the world. It’s quite amusing and seems to have no known purpose. Chuck Sale, our Home Teacher, suggested that it was her jungle instincts coming out. Do dogs get Alzheimers?? She’s a very good dog and fun to have around (even if she is more work than any kid of similar age). She’s now a lurking dog as well.
Why is Nina going to see a physical therapist, you ask? She’s been having a lot of trouble with her right leg. She saw the doctor on Monday who has ordered up a number of tests. Since the most likely cause is sciatica, he sent her to see a physical therapist to work on a better alignment of muscle and nerve in her leg. The first day at the therapist seemed to help. The second day, however, was marred by the wrenched back. She’ll have several more visits with the therapist in hopes of fixing the problem. Meanwhile, the rest of us here are just trying to stay warm!