turning the page

“I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.”

~ Neil Gaiman

on the sixth day o' Christmas

We got snow!

What we lack in garbage dumpsters in my community, we make up for in snow removal. Some eager soul was out plowing our ONE INCH of snow. Then, the sanding and salting and leaf-blowers removing the sidewalk snow commenced. I couldn't fall if I wanted to. 

Happy red boots out on a walk.

The portion of the WO & D trail by my home is under some very large wires~don't know what they are for, but they're always humming. Most likely destroying my brain cells, but the miles of looping wire add such architectual interest to the skyline that I'll take it. 

Anyway, these bolts at the base of the towers looked interesting with shadows and snow.

Ran upon an excellent quote (is there any other kind) from Annie Dillard this morning:  "Time is the continuous loop...or time is an ascending spiral if you will, like a child's toy Slinky. Of course we have no idea which arc on the loop is our time, let alone where the loop itself i, so to speak, or down whose lofty flight of stairs the Slinky so uncannily walks....catch it if you can."

frosty poetry

"You're searching, Joe,

For things that don't exist: I mean beginnings.

Ends and beginnings~there are no such things.

There are only middles."

~Robert Frost

four frozen birds

It was -2 when I woke this morning, so if there were four calling birds~they were very quiet. Had a hoot today trying to explain the tradition of lefse to my rice-based ESL students. We had a meandering conversation about flatbreads of the world~injera, tortillas, naan, pupusas, moo-shoo, blini, crepes~now they can add the Norwegian variety.

And, best of all, I came away with a recipe from their grandmothers' kitchens~legamat. Fried dough covered in honey and sesame seeds sounds like the ideal snow day food!

I had the trail to myself for a brisk afternoon walk.

Three French Hens

A cosy morning~while I was out walking, saw a man riding a unicycle through the snow flurries. Probably a sentence I will not use again in my life!  Unfortunately, the snow flakes stopped for today. Still hoping for some snow during break.

Someone decorated a tree along the trail today. Enjoying this quiet lull of liminality.

on the second day of Christmas

Elegant table for all our Feasting.

 

Admiring her Snow Queen dancer.

 

The calm before the carnage. 

The proper size for a Christmas truffle! 

One of my stocking stuffers.

The glee of the Littles.

Monkey Buns for brekkers put us all in a happy caramel glazed stupor.

Darling little slippers for cold winter days. 

I am obsessed with this lipstick~it changes colours according to your body chemistry, so it's the perfect shade for your skin. The fact that it's filled with a rose and glitter just adds.

The happy of flipping lefse.

Yum.

One of my presents.

You know you're approaching adulthood when you're super excited to get new sheets and a new kettle (I have my grandmother's kettles and they are leaking out the bottom they've been so well-used over the decades.) 

It was a lovely holiday on every level~twinkles of lights, so much good food, laughter, reading many stories, playing games, and simply sharing family time.

And now, it's time for a long winter's nap!

merry & bright

May your Eve be filled with peace, joy, and candles. And possibly some amazing cookies!

solstice scenes

I may have had three students cancel on me, but at least I made some monies.

right here

“Our roots are in the dark; the earth is our country. Why did we look up for blessing--instead of around, and down? What hope we have lies there....Not in the light that blinds, but in the dark that nourishes, where human beings grow human souls."

--Ursula K. Leguin, from Dancing at the Edge of the World, Grove Press, 1989.

Love the concept that what we need lies near at hand. Happy Winter!

another Yuletide

An excerpt from this year's poem from the New Yorker.

They can’t destroy it. Though they try,
It does outlast them by and by.
Angels flying ever higher,
Singing in the heav’nly choir
“Joy to the World” and “First Noël,”
Can the season’s secrets tell:
Love one another, peace is near;
All people will be welcome here.
Thus, good friends, let hearts be merry!
Two-oh-eighteen might bring us very
Different luck than we’ve had lately—
Fates improving bigly, greatly,
Spirits to protect and guide us,
Inspiration strong inside us,
Clearer vision, wiser choices.
Hear our better angels’ voices.

~Ian Fraizer

carols, christmas

With the mania of holiday shoppers/drivers increasing by the hour, it is good to be able to escape into the ancient world of Christmas carols.

while visions of sugarplums...

Breakfast is served!

so, this is Christmas

Natural red/green action going on in the 'hood.

Should the nation indeed implode, there are handy hitching posts around to use when our cars won't run. This song is running through my head this day.

Rejoooooooooice

Finally made it to a local church this morning. I was warmly welcomed and look forward to visiting again.

As all I looked at the website for was parking (these charming Colonial towns have maybe five spaces for the entire town) and the time of service~didn't realize that it was Lessons & Carols! Enjoyed all the music, even if the organist seemed uber-caffeinated. I've never heard Rejoice Greatly done at that tempo. The upside is the soprano didn't really have to worry about breathing. 

Warm afternoon~enjoyed a walk and was rewarded with a quarter found.