Friday, December 22, 2017

First Snowfall


We have had an extremely dry summer and autumn and beginning of winter. Lately it has been crisp and cold with sunny clear skies. Beautiful days, with no sign of a cloud. But I have been growing restive for some white snowflakes to make their appearance. Then this week, the weatherman said yes, it was going to happen! So....I have been going about my business, getting exited for that first glimpse.


And finally we saw the first fat white downy flakes falling on Wednesday morning. Not at night, while we were blissfully snoring our way through a winters sleep, but in the morning when we woke up so that we could see and enjoy it! Not a lot, just several hours of lightly falling snowflakes, coating the grass with a thin cover that would melt at the hint of a sunbeam. But enough for now. Enough to make me feel like Wednesday was a magical morning, a special time. 


And then the sun came out, and shone on everything and everyone. And it was beautiful. And now the weatherman says it will really snow on Christmas day....how about that for timing! But it won't be the first snowfall, not quite the same.

And I will leave you with this poem by James Russell Lowell. Get a handkerchief ready...

THE snow had begun in the gloaming, 
And busily all the night 
Had been heaping field and highway 
With a silence deep and white. 

Every pine and fir and hemlock 
Wore ermine too dear for an earl, 
And the poorest twig on the elm-tree 
Was ridged inch deep with pearl. 

From sheds new-roofed with Carrara 
Came Chanticleer's muffled crow, 
The stiff rails were softened to swan's-down, 
And still fluttered down the snow. 

I stood and watched by the window 
The noiseless work of the sky, 
And the sudden flurries of snow-birds, 
Like brown leaves whirling by. 

I thought of a mound in sweet Auburn 
Where a little headstone stood; 
How the flakes were folding it gently, 
As did robins the babes in the wood. 

Up spoke our own little Mabel, 
Saying, 'Father, who makes it snow?' 
And I told of the good All-father 
Who cares for us here below. 

Again I looked at the snowfall, 
And thought of the leaden sky 
That arched o'er our first great sorrow, 
When that mound was heaped so high. 

I remembered the gradual patience 
That fell from that cloud like snow, 
Flake by flake, healing and hiding 
The scar of our deep-plunged woe. 

And again to the child I whispered, 
'The snow that husheth all, 
Darling, the merciful Father 
Alone can make it fall! ' 

Then, with eyes that saw not, I kissed her; 
And she, kissing back, could not know 
That my kiss was given to her sister, 
Folded close under deepening snow. 


Thursday, December 14, 2017

All Things December

 Fun with Piano Students
After school one day in December, we had an impromptu 'tea' only with hot chocolate and molasses sugar cookies. This is Abby and Emily, and their Mom Carol and I are sipping out of sight of the camera, and keeping warm in front on the fire. Brrr- it's been cold for a couple of weeks now.

Here is another group of students, and the one with the guitar is Shayli, then Brinnay and Ella in the green Christmas t-shirt, along with Mom Kindi. I have known Kindi since she was Ella's age, so it is so much fun to teach her girls. The home school in the kitchen while each has a piano lesson.
JoAnn has been busy baking up a storm, and made some very beautiful sugar cookies that were a work of art!
JoAnn and I had a fun time too, decorating the tree this year. We had purchased a few new trims and I sat and got the ornaments ready for her then she put them on the tree. What a great idea! I was happy to be sitting, and she was happy having control of the placement. Christmas music was playing and a plate of cookies was nearby for the hungry (that's us)!

Well, we have done some fun things in December this year. Tonight we are going out to dinner with 3 dear friends and have a special Christmas dinner together. Then on Saturday is our Church Ladies Christmas Brunch and I am going with a friend and looking forward to it. 
Then of course I am fitting it the baking and Christmas cards as time allows. So nice to spend these days preparing my heart and home for the coming of the Savior!

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Quirky, Beautiful and Amazing Critters

Last spring I posted some spring baby animal photos I had collected from Pinterest. I decided today to post some of my favorite winter animal scenes, collected from Pinterest as well. It is fun to see the critters out in the midst of a cold snowy winter in their natural environment. The photographers do such an amazing job of capturing these animals so close and quirky, fun and beautiful.
Enjoy!