Wednesday - 271st

There's no question: today was busy. And it's not over yet! Typically, by the second week of December, I'm wrapping gifts, thinking about baking (sometimes it never goes beyond "thinking"), planning out the few days before Christmas, luxuriating in the sounds and smells of the season. This year, it's all a blur. And today was a fine example of this.

Not that I mind. My day is filled with so much good stuff that the chores sandwiched in when a few minutes open up seem inconsequential. Muted by the good hours spent with the kids, the calm meals with Ed, the meditative walks we routinely take now in the nearby parks. So, busy but good.

And you have to be thrilled with the weather: we have a two day interlude, where the sun is out and we're reaching the upper 40sF (maybe 8C). Delicious weather for this time of the year!

Breakfast in the sun room!

The kids' day at the farmhouse is much more relaxed because Wednesday is a day free of school lessons for Snowdrop. She has independent work, sure, and I hustle her to it somewhere in the course of the morning, but otherwise we have before us time that is entirely within the control of those two:

And perhaps predictably, Snowdrop wants to play school. 

 

 

 

In her game, school is normal. With lunch periods and recess and outings. There's no Covid in her pretend world. I am always the assistant teacher, she is both mommy and teacher, switching back and forth as the story demands it. Sparrow flits in and out of this play, always eager to join in, but distracted by some of his favorite toys -- like for example magnet dolls. The little guy may be totally indifferent to what he wears, but he loves to pick outfits for these figures!

At some point Snowdrop asks me if it's okay to let some of her school characters (aka dolls) play in water. Of course it is. I fill a tub, leave it to the kids and go back to preparing lunch. But, Snowdrop loses herself in a book (she is a terrific reader -- a real leap from last year)...

 

... and Sparrow? The tub of water transfixed him and next time I look up, I see a boy with water-soaked pants.

Well, never mind. It's pizza time.

 

This is a real cave on my part: Snowdrop loves pizza so much that she could eat it for lunch every day. Indeed, so far, they have been eating it every day. Initially I balked and pushed other ideas, but it did strike me that a pizza with tomato sauce and abundant cheese (I always overdo it) is as good as any of the other offerings, so for now, we're sticking with pizza.

And yes, in the afternoon, it's absolutely nature walk weather. The kids offer no protest!

Much later, I do run through errands and household tasks. Bank to drive through. CSA spinach to pick up. Groceries to wash. It all takes time and we are awfully close to sunset by the time Ed and I head out for our walk. 

 

But what a walk! I mean, yes -- same old same old, but it truly is one I love -- for the fields, the lake, the forest. 

And of course, at this hour, the colors are all gold, rose and heather violet. Who would not love a winter sunset walk!

Even though I have allow myself time where I do not think about how tough it is to be caring for the sick among us, I do come back to this throughout the day. In my state, in my county, hospital ICU units are 93% full right now, with a depleted, discouraged and overworked staff. How can you not think about this, not worry about the stress endured by so many? To all whose work is so tough right now, I'm sending all that I can send -- my gratitude and love.