Random notes from the second day of spring:
Did you know that typically, spring comes here on March 20th or 21st? That the last time it fell on March 19th was in 124 years ago?
Oh, the passage of time! Can you believe that a week ago, your kids were still in school?
Let's go back to the changing seasons. (A note to my Australian readers, who mused wistfully that they do not have spring to look forward to in these troubled times: you have autumn! Glorious, cool and sunny walk-inspiring autumn!) Here, I notice that almost behind my back, the daffodils are pushing their way up. In my warmest spots (for example, in the southern bed facing the road), I can see the bulging flower buds.
Breakfast. Interrupted by the porch kitties meowing their tails of because we sat down to breakfast before feeding them their morning grub.
It's much colder today and that's a good thing. I have a morning full of chores, bills (my mom's, our own), and emails. No pressure to go out, to take in a good walk. (We settle for a cheat hike: to the development and back again.)
It's hard to believe that this was a corn/soy field just a year back.
And the winds blow and our cheeks turn a rosy red and we turn around quickly and return home.
Several of you have emailed funny clips and jokes and I love them all! My laughter is really pronounced right now, probably because it is such a relief to laugh! (Ed is a smiler. His guffaw is saved for loud guy banter.)
The afternoon is a repeat of yesterday: Snowdrop is at the farmhouse while her brother naps at home. Of course, with a five year old, nothing is ever a "repeat." Yesterday, the little girl worked for a long long time on making a "calendar of the seasons." It deviates slightly from the real Gregorian calendar in that the seasons appear to have fewer days in the Snowdrop version, still, her concentration on this task and determination to get this done so that she could hang it on the wall at home (all four pages for the four season) were impressive.
Today, she is in need of more help in terms of ideas. Normally, when she comes after school, she cannot wait to release herself into the freedom of her own world of imagination. But of course, right now, she has (almost) no limit on free time. And so when she comes here, she is ever so hopeful that I will help her figure out how to fill those long indoor hours.
We read, of course.
A lot.
And we eat. She can really make a dent in my mango supply! She leaves behind two raspberries. They are treasures right now, I tell her. She understands and gobbles them up.
Some modest play.
Some snuggle time with us on the couch, with "Olivia" on the screen.
In the evening I cook up a fish from our CSA (community supported, out of Alaska) small fisheries. A while ago I wondered how I would ever work through all those packets of frozen fish. Not anymore.
And the wind blows and the temps really dip tonight! And once again, we are grateful -- for the heat, the good food, the quiet in our lives right now.
With love.
Did you know that typically, spring comes here on March 20th or 21st? That the last time it fell on March 19th was in 124 years ago?
Oh, the passage of time! Can you believe that a week ago, your kids were still in school?
Let's go back to the changing seasons. (A note to my Australian readers, who mused wistfully that they do not have spring to look forward to in these troubled times: you have autumn! Glorious, cool and sunny walk-inspiring autumn!) Here, I notice that almost behind my back, the daffodils are pushing their way up. In my warmest spots (for example, in the southern bed facing the road), I can see the bulging flower buds.
Breakfast. Interrupted by the porch kitties meowing their tails of because we sat down to breakfast before feeding them their morning grub.
It's much colder today and that's a good thing. I have a morning full of chores, bills (my mom's, our own), and emails. No pressure to go out, to take in a good walk. (We settle for a cheat hike: to the development and back again.)
It's hard to believe that this was a corn/soy field just a year back.
And the winds blow and our cheeks turn a rosy red and we turn around quickly and return home.
Several of you have emailed funny clips and jokes and I love them all! My laughter is really pronounced right now, probably because it is such a relief to laugh! (Ed is a smiler. His guffaw is saved for loud guy banter.)
The afternoon is a repeat of yesterday: Snowdrop is at the farmhouse while her brother naps at home. Of course, with a five year old, nothing is ever a "repeat." Yesterday, the little girl worked for a long long time on making a "calendar of the seasons." It deviates slightly from the real Gregorian calendar in that the seasons appear to have fewer days in the Snowdrop version, still, her concentration on this task and determination to get this done so that she could hang it on the wall at home (all four pages for the four season) were impressive.
Today, she is in need of more help in terms of ideas. Normally, when she comes after school, she cannot wait to release herself into the freedom of her own world of imagination. But of course, right now, she has (almost) no limit on free time. And so when she comes here, she is ever so hopeful that I will help her figure out how to fill those long indoor hours.
We read, of course.
A lot.
And we eat. She can really make a dent in my mango supply! She leaves behind two raspberries. They are treasures right now, I tell her. She understands and gobbles them up.
Some modest play.
Some snuggle time with us on the couch, with "Olivia" on the screen.
In the evening I cook up a fish from our CSA (community supported, out of Alaska) small fisheries. A while ago I wondered how I would ever work through all those packets of frozen fish. Not anymore.
And the wind blows and the temps really dip tonight! And once again, we are grateful -- for the heat, the good food, the quiet in our lives right now.
With love.
