The Poetry of Snow

It started as rain and quickly changed over to sleet. Sometime in the wee hours it turned to snow. Our devoted plow guy came at the screech of dawn and scraped off the layer of crusty snow and with it went any hope of getting up the driveway. What remained behind? A perfectly lovely sheet of ice. It is truly impressive.

 

 I emailed my students around 7am and said I'd be in by 3 but as the day went on and the snow started coming down heavily in wide fluffy flakes I knew I wasn't going anywhere. 

 

Ken and I often joke about the "This Is Why We Live Here" season being May through October. Truth is, winter is why we live here too. I love the way it forces me to slow down, the way it makes me look, notice and observe.

Snow Day...Slow Day

The snow has stopped but the rain and sleet have begun. I am taking a snow day. There's a chicken roasting in the oven and the house is beginning to warm up. Kitties are snoozing, Ken is working from home today and so am I. Chores are done, another lamp is rewired and a box of smalls is ready for the shop. It's almost time for lunch.

We're eating at a new table now. It's new to us but vintage for sure. Handmade out of solid walnut by my dad almost forty years ago. Its fashionable 1970's tapered legs were remade into candle sticks by my dad after mom insisted on a pedestal base. As mom says, it seats eight if you don't mind cozy...and I don't for sure.

2012 Recap

Earlier today I asked Ken if he thought it possible to sum up the year by choosing a single photo from each month that captured the essence of each month for the past year. He wasn't sure and neither was I, but here goes!

JANUARY

With the help of nurse Pippa I spent much of January recuperating from neck surgery. It was quick and easy, and almost pain-free. I have the feeling back in my feet and hands. Now on to getting my playing back again...

FEBRUARY

Ken's dad had a serious health crisis in February but miraculously he rallied and recovered in fine form. He is an inspiration.

MARCH

I brought my viola to a jam and played with friends for the first time since my surgery. I'm holding hope there'll be more of this in my future.

APRIL

April is always a hectic time at school and this year was no exception. I helped prepare more student recitals than ever.

MAY

I am always happy to turn the calendar page to May because it signifies the beginning the "Why We Live Here" season. It was an absolutely sumptuous spring and I couldn't get enough of it in person and through the camera lens.

JUNE

Three places sum up June...San Francisco, Carmel and Yosemite.

We also celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary.  All in all, a fabulously fun month!

JULY

July brought some serious patio time, fireflies, sunsets, summer sounds...Grassroots, the FOUND FLEA, visits from far away friends and family. Another wonderful month.

 We said goodbye for now to Lexi and Frank who moved to NYC at the end of the month.

AUGUST

 A month of stress and multiple challenges. We moved mom into assisted living,

 

and said goodbye to her pretty condo on Lake Damon.

I shot this pic on our last trip from the condo over to mom's new place. It was bittersweet but we are so happy mom and Max are safe and happy in their new place.

SEPTEMBER

I turned 55 in September...I still have trouble wrapping my mind around this fact...
The morning of my birthday I was presented with a ginormous apple crisp made by my sweet second year students. Minutes later I walked down the hall to the dean's office and submitted my request to take a leave of absence for the 2013-2014 academic year. There is lots to ponder and figure out and I need some serious time to do it.

In the fall we splurged and got ourselves tickets to almost every concert in town. Highlights were Gordon Lightfoot, Judy Collins, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Indigo Girls.

OCTOBER

It was one of the most beautiful autumns in recent memory.

My LOA was approved. No looking back...

NOVEMBER

Thanksgiving, Indian Summer, family, friends, being home...
Thanksgiving day was so warm we gave thought to eating outside. 

DECEMBER

More great music in December including Le Vent du Nord.

We had Christmas dinner with Ken's family in Philly and on the 26th we put the car on the auto train and headed down to Florida to see my mom and brother. We rang in the new year on the train back home!

And now on to 2013!

Thirteen Years Ago

Thanksgiving this year was quiet and cozy,

and for the first time in history I made appropriate amounts of food. 

This year we will not be throwing away leftovers. I am feeling proud.

On Thanksgiving day my dear friend and neighbor Joann popped in as she was taking her daily walk. Not being able to resist, I bolted for the door. So clear. So warm. We all know what's coming. Gotta soak in every last second of this while we can.

We eventually made our way up to the top of the ridge to take in the view from our neighbor's barn.

Thirteen years ago, long before there was Ken and Debra, Lexi and Amanda, 192 Shaffer Road and FOUND, I drove out to the country with my sister to pick out a new kitten. I came home with two that day - an orange boy we called Peter and a chocolate tabby I named Lily. That day we drove past a sweet little farmhouse with a big name - Edgewood. It was a perfectly lovely day.

That neighbor with the fantastic hill top barn we visited on Thanksgiving day this year? Well thirteen years ago he and his eight year old daughter fostered a lovely litter of six kittens. Emily dressed them in doll clothes and read them stories every day. Every time I see him he asks after those two kittens.  And Me? Well I ended up living in that sweet little farmhouse with the big name. Isn't it just amazing how things turn out sometimes?

I remain ever grateful...

Crafty

It's the day before Thanksgiving...warm, bright and sunny.

 I spent the day baking, prepping the table, 

 and doing a little crafty project...

with Pippa's help of course.

 

Since gardening didn't happen again this year, anything that comes from it really feels like a gift.  I'll use these herbs in my stock and stuffing tomorrow.

Bergamot

Parsely

Sage

Life is rich and and full. We're basking in the gratitude of it all.

This time next year...

It's finally starting to feel a little like Thanksgiving around here! I shopped for the big meal this morning, got a little gardening done and had a proper walk after lunch. All that's left is excavating the dining room and ironing the linens. Ahhhh...I'm liking this temporary housewife gig!

We'll have a somewhat downsized Thanksgiving this year. The girls and their beaus will be in Philly and most of our usual holiday posse has other plans. After mourning the idea of twelve to fifteen folks cozily crowded around our harvest table, I find I'm now getting used to the idea of a smaller version. Gone are the days of one pie per person... Five side dishes? No way. This year it'll be two - mashed potatoes and broccoli. Soup? No. Corn pudding? Nadda. Ken's homemade pumpkin pie, made from freshly roasted pumpkin...oh yeah, it made the cut and is still on the menu!

I haven't had a proper walk in weeks and with temps in the 50's and a cloudless sunny sky, I went rambling down the road,

 

  to my favorite abandoned house.

It was built in 1817,

 and by the looks of things it's been empty for 30 or 40 years.  

Moo...

Life is good. There is much to be thankful for.

Last week I told my students I am taking a year off next year.

So, this time next year...

 I plan to spend a lot more time right here.

Ready...waiting

In true girl scout style, I was prepared for Frankenstorm...

• Propane filled, water on hand - check, snacks and wine - double check!!
• Candles, flashlights, batteries and portable radio - set out and ready to go.
• Laundry and dishes are done ahead of the impending power outage (no power = no water), coolers are in the house, extra ice is in the freezer. We are READY!
  
  

Aren't I just the girl scoutiest girl scout you've ever known?

 

Fortunately for us the big storm never really came. Yeah, we had some big winds and lots of rain, but it was nothing compared to the beating the folks in NYC, NJ and CT received.

In our neck of the woods we are safe and sound.

Note to self for next big storm: FOUND should definitely stock lamp oil and maybe a few generators and cases of bottled water too. Oh, and homemade gluten-free baked goods are not worth the work. Just sayin'...