Winter finally stops by for a visit
I had to leave the kids at home all day yesterday to enjoy the snow while I went to work, but I did leave an hour early so I could come home and play in it with Lila before I went to yoga. Only problem with that plan was I didn’t pay attention to the time because we were having so much fun and I missed my class.
Chris had come home at lunchtime and took Lila outside to make a snowman. Or, actually, a snowgirl who does not have a name. “No. She’s just a snowgirl. She doesn’t need a name.” And she also does not have a photo because I was too busy taking pictures of the real snow girl…
and of the property…
and of trees…this is the Christmas tree that has yet to be planted. It’s stuck down into the middle of our big leaf mulch pile, where hopefully the root ball is protected enough to keep it viable until the ground thaws.
By the time I got home, the temperature was dropping about a degree every ten minutes, from 34 down to 20 and the snow went from wet and heavy to powder. The sky took on that icy glare that hurts to look at and the snow kept coming down. It looks like we got about a foot total, the first real significant snow we’ve had all winter.
While dressing yesterday morning Lila said, apropos of nothing, “Freemember how in the summertime when sometimes I go outside and it’s too hot to move? And so I just stand there and the sun is so hot that I can’t do anyfing? Freemember that? I wish it was hot right now.”
You and me both, kiddo. Even while I relish the wintry wonderful because we haven’t had much of it until now, I’m also looking forward to long, slow meals on the front porch with the warm glow of the string lights and the choral chirp of the crickets, something jazzy, soft and low on the stereo, humming through the open windows.
"In summer we live out of doors, and have only impulses and feelings, which are all for action, and must wait commonly for the stillness and longer nights of autumn and winter before any thought will subside; we are sensible that behind the rustling leaves, and the stacks of grain, and the bare clusters of the grape, there is the field of a wholly new life, which no man has lived; that even this earth was made for more mysterious and nobler inhabitants than men and women. In the hues of October sunsets, we see the portals to other mansions than those which we occupy."
~Henry David Thoreau
February 27th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Wasn’t that a seriously fun snow? Not for driving, of course (not that I really know about that), but I tagged a friend for a snowball fight after work, made a snow angel, and ate snowflakes floating from the sky. Best fun I’ve had with winter this year. Glad you and the Lila Bean had such a good outing!
And now… where’s Spring???
February 27th, 2008 at 7:56 am
I think I am going to start using Freemember. I like it.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Jennifer, it was too fun! And around here the roads weren’t too bad. And yeah…c’mon spring!
February 27th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Darcy, I’m going to be heartbroken when she stops saying that…it’s one of the last wrong, but oh-so-right words of hers to hang on… that and when she puts her coat on she says, “I’m getting all bungled up.” Which slays me.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:08 am
it’s like Narnia out there, isn’t it. Snowfall here is about 14 inches and c-o-l-d. Two of the dogs loved it but poor Lily could only go to the end of the porch where we cleared some snow. She didn’t even try to go farther today after yesterday’s venture that left her weighted down with snowballs all over
xoxo
February 27th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Ooooh, I love those string lights. And I’m astonished by how much your (much too grown up!! where is the time going!?!) little girl looks like you. Finally, I printed up that bread recipe; I’ve been longing to make a good, crusty, bread but had no clue it was even possible. Thank you, thank you. I’ll post pics if I bake it this weekend.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Debra, it does, indeed look like Narnia out there, and it’s snowing again! Where’s the Turkish Delight?!
February 27th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Toni!!!! Have you been posting? I need to run over and check, if you are it’s not showing up in my feed reader…boo hiss!
She is growing up so fast. As I guess your guys are doing, as well!
February 27th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Lila is so dang cute! I love eating snow. I am envious of the snow.
I was just thinking how I’ve always wanted to have string lights on a deck or a porch and didn’t have the right situation for it, but if all goes well we’ll have a large porch that will be perfect for slow meals in the summertime underneath colored lights!
By the way, your letter is in the mail. I got it out yesterday so it should be there in a couple of days.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
aw, thanks Angelina! She is too cute…and reports that the snow was scrumptious.
I love my string lights, they cast such a soft, warm glow. I only have them on half of the porch, and hope to get a few more strands this year to do the other side. Am also on the lookout for an inexpensive, yet funky table and chairs for the front porch…the card table we set up for meals last year was too low and flimsy. I want something permanent that I can make cushions for.
My fingers, toes and other limbs and appendages are all crossed for you guys and the house situation. And I can’t wait to get the letter. I started one to you, too, over a week ago, but got sidetracked as usual.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
What a cute kid! So glad you got to enjoy that day!! The best!
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Lila is adorable - kids and snow go together. The snow looks beautiful - your property looks great covered in white.