to Chicago

Between now and the New Year, we will not see a single day, indeed, a single hour with temperatures above freezing. If you're smart, you prepare for such cold spells. You scrape up slushy snow off the walkway, because going forward, it will be iced over and falling on your fanny in the winter is never fun. You make sure the car tires are pumped up and that there aren't snow mounds by the car doors. I swear most slipping happens when I try to get in and out of my car and the footing just isn't there. I imagine the ice rinks will open next week. I am of course not terrific skating material this year (that knee injury!), but that doesn't mean I will not skate. Maybe by Christmas! We surely are getting the weather for it.

In other words, a blast from the north can be a gift. 

For now, though, I'm focused on doing the morning barn run (so beautiful!)...

(Wouldn't it be thrilling to string lights on the tall pines??)

(Perhaps it's more realistic to imagine them on the little ones, like on this juniper that I planted here. Hmmm... not so little anymore!)

(The field of snow begs for grandchild activity. But, Snowdrop likes playing outside with her neighborhood pal. By the time she comes here, she wants indoor hours! Sparrow is basically an indoor guy, period. Sandpiper -- he's my hope! Though still too young to build a credible snowman or snow fort...)

I'm focused, too, on eating breakfast with Ed. And Dance. And at our feet -- a meowing Unfriendly, now renamed "Snowflake" by Snowdrop herself, who had proposed Snowdrop until I told her that that name was already taken!

And on fitting in a very quick ski run at our local park...

And on packing up for my trip to Chicago.

Hello, young family! It's great to see you again! 

(Picking up Primrose at school...)

Remarkable how kids never stand still. Not in their physical space, not in their weeks of growth. I saw them three weeks ago! The girls seem to have taken a great leap forward since then!

(dinner with the girls...)

(bedtime reading...)

We stay up for a few hours after the kids are asleep, but we don't push it. We all need to rest up for the full weekend that's ahead of us!

With a smile of anticipation...