Morning Thoughts:
If yesterday I focused my attentions on my daughter's post-Christmas home, today I target my own space. Outside, a light snow is falling, reminding me of the frustrations of winter weather patterns in south central Wisconsin: you think you're getting a good snowfall and instead you get a wintry mix that makes your driveway and path to the house totally slippery, without giving you the beauty of a snow that would be good for skiing.
As the flakes and ice crystals cover our walkways, I start in on taking down the Christmas tree. Normally I would do this on the last day of December, but honestly, I've had the tree up for many weeks. It's time to refocus my attention on the rest of winter.
I hear a friend of Ed's remark that we are in this terrible place where everything we looked forward to has happened already and what's left is the rest of winter, a Covid surge, and a spring that's months away. I agree about the futility of seeing joy only in what happens at the end of March. But I don't agree that we have nothing immediately before us except for dark and cold winter days. Just one example: a good snowstorm, followed by a period of intense winter sunshine would be very lovely, don't you think?
I am also a little bit looking forward to teaching the kids to ski. I know that Snowdrop and Sparrow are at different learning ages and have different reserves of patience for winter sports, nonetheless, I am really hoping that I can make some progress here. I watched youtubes last night about the important elements of teaching young ones the art of Nordic skiing. The one piece of advice that I see again and again is to keep it fun and keep it short, and reward it with cocoa at the end, preferable with marshmallows on top. I think I can handle that!
But we need more snow.
Breakfast...
And farmhouse tidying. With an eye out toward the gently falling snow.
Afternoon Thoughts:
The two older kids come here after lunch. And several things happen: First, they play a little in the snow. (The play consists mostly of throwing snowballs at a willing target. Me.)
But a few minutes is enough for both of them. They want to read/play/eat. Inside.
Outside, the snow keeps falling. Still lightly, but with greater conviction. I'm thinking maybe tomorrow I could dare take out the skis. But Snowdrop has other ideas: what's wrong with today? She has had her snacks and indoor play time. Can't we please try out the skis now?
I look outside. There does seems to be a nice build up of snow. Are we up for it? It's nearly dusk. There are all these steps you have to take: the thicker socks, the pants, the mitts, the scarves, the caps. Snowdrop is independent, but Sparrow is just three. He needs help. Still, they're motivated and so am I. We step outside. I let Snowdrop try hers on first. Everyone says -- leave the poles behind initially! So I do. And she is off!
Sparrow follows closely behind. What about my skis??
He's a boy who pretty much likes to do anything that his big sister chooses to do, but last winter, he drew the line at snow play and so I'm thrilled to see him actually want to join in this year.
The snow is on the wet side and so speed is going to be limited, but that's a good thing for first timers.
Eventually, Snowdrop wants to try using the poles. The goal is to keep them excited about the sport and to have them take some ownership of it, so I'm pretty agreeable to anything.
I'm suddenly thinking that maybe I'll have a coupe of skiing buddies soon. Maybe they'll love the trails through forests and up and down the hills. Maybe they'll beat me in speed and endurance. Maybe they're already on their way to loving this sport as much as I do!
Of course, the skiing is followed by the warm chocolate. With marshmallows swimming on top.
