There's just something about the first snowfall. Ours came today. The total accumulation can probably be measured in microns, but it snowed!
It's cold and damp. That's what happens for a first snowfall. It gets cold, (duh!) but not quite could enough. Much of the snow melts as it hits the still-warm ground. The damp just lingers in the air.
Later in the winter, when it's truly cold, the snow won't melt. It'll stay on the ground, the air will stay dry, and, although it will be cold, it won't be this damp-chill-through-to-the-bone-cold. I can actually handle 5 degrees better than 35 degrees. It seems backwards, but that's the backwardness that is me!
And this exhilaration I'm feeling at the sight of the first snow won't last, of course. As each successive snowstorm comes, yes, I'll enjoy it. I'll enjoy the crispness, and the stark branches against the grey sky, the red of rose hips against the white of the snow, the puffs of steam when people and animals breathe. Come March, though, this very same damp cold and sloppy snow will wear and tear on the soul. That's one of the things that makes spring, true spring ("wuv, twue wuv") so wonderful. That's one of the reasons I would really not enjoy a life in Florida, or Arizona, or even Tennessee. I need, really need a thorough change of seasons during the year. And I don't just mean hot season, less hot season, tourist season, migrating bird season, hot season again.
But for now, I'm enjoying the first snow, the first frosty fingers and nose, the last time I forget gloves and a hat for a while.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
High Pressure
If the pounding in my head and neck are any indication, we're in for some storminess pretty soon. Or not. Maybe I'm just exhausted. We had an eventful Thanksgiving.
Without going into any detail, we traveled 19 hours; the usual round trip is about 13 hours. 6 of us in a 5-passenger car. We started out in two cars; one car whose fan motor gave up the ghost along the way, and another which gave up the ghost altogether. Too bad about $1000 was put into the car before it did!
This week will see 3 of the 6 of us moving out of here into another home. 2 dogs, a cat and a guinea pig will join them. I will be cleaning like a banshee. Yay, me!!
Still working on planning a trip to Europe, and am looking forward to (?) bunion surgery in the middle of next month. Stay tuned....
Without going into any detail, we traveled 19 hours; the usual round trip is about 13 hours. 6 of us in a 5-passenger car. We started out in two cars; one car whose fan motor gave up the ghost along the way, and another which gave up the ghost altogether. Too bad about $1000 was put into the car before it did!
This week will see 3 of the 6 of us moving out of here into another home. 2 dogs, a cat and a guinea pig will join them. I will be cleaning like a banshee. Yay, me!!
Still working on planning a trip to Europe, and am looking forward to (?) bunion surgery in the middle of next month. Stay tuned....
Sunday, November 28, 2010
The Advent of our King
The advent of our King Our prayers must now employ,
And we must hymns of welcome sing In strains of holy joy.
The everlasting Son Incarnate deigns to be,
Himself a servant's form puts on To set His servants free.
O Zion's daughter rise To meet your lowly King,
Nor let your faithless heart despise The peace he comes to bring.
As judge, on clouds of light, He soon will come again
And His true members all unite With Him in heav'n to reign.
Before the dawning day Let sin's dark deeds be gone,
The sinful self be put away, The new self now put on.
All glory to the Son, Who comes to set us free,
With Father, Spirit, ever one Through all eternity.
And we must hymns of welcome sing In strains of holy joy.
The everlasting Son Incarnate deigns to be,
Himself a servant's form puts on To set His servants free.
O Zion's daughter rise To meet your lowly King,
Nor let your faithless heart despise The peace he comes to bring.
As judge, on clouds of light, He soon will come again
And His true members all unite With Him in heav'n to reign.
Before the dawning day Let sin's dark deeds be gone,
The sinful self be put away, The new self now put on.
All glory to the Son, Who comes to set us free,
With Father, Spirit, ever one Through all eternity.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
God of Grace and God of Glory
God of Grace and God of Glory,
On Your people pour Your power.
Crown Your ancient church’s story,
Bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.
Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.
Cure Your children's warring madness,
Bend our pride to You control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Your kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Your kingdom’s goal.
Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Your salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving You Whom we adore,
Serving You Whom we adore.
On Your people pour Your power.
Crown Your ancient church’s story,
Bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.
Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.
Cure Your children's warring madness,
Bend our pride to You control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Your kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Your kingdom’s goal.
Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Your salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving You Whom we adore,
Serving You Whom we adore.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
-sigh-
It's become tough to blog again. Part of the fun for me is taking pictures that I can use to illustrate. But my camera is, again, AWOL. Maybe this is the time to look for a new one, one that I can take on my trip to Europe.
Yes, I am planning a trip. When my mom passed away, she left me money with instructions to take my two sisters to England, Germany and Italy. I am planning that for next May, and I'll need more than my point-and-shoot. Does anyone with more camera savvy than me have any suggestions? I tend more toward mid-range in price and features, by the way, and I have access to lenses from my husband's stash. So, recommend away!!
Yes, I am planning a trip. When my mom passed away, she left me money with instructions to take my two sisters to England, Germany and Italy. I am planning that for next May, and I'll need more than my point-and-shoot. Does anyone with more camera savvy than me have any suggestions? I tend more toward mid-range in price and features, by the way, and I have access to lenses from my husband's stash. So, recommend away!!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Where Were You?
We returned about 3am from one of our best family vacations ever, to the Smoky Mountains. Along the way, we had visited Fort Knox, where Jay was at Basic Training. Of course, we didn't see him, but we did learn later that we parked the motor home in the parking lot of his barrack. No one questioned us as we drove around post, seeing what we could and soaking up the atmosphere. (Those of you who have served are smiling at that, I know!)
We had disconnected our television antenna that summer. Our kids, 16, 11 and 6 at the time, had become zombie-like in the presence of a television, and the summer is just reruns, anyway. We went to video-only mode for the summer, and had just reconnected things for my sister and brother-in-law. They stayed at the house, caring for our animals, while we were gone, and John wanted them to be able to have TV if they wanted.
We slept in, which meant about 9am, and I had just sent John out to bring in suitcases so we could dress. The kids were up, some on the computer, and Mary watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, when my mom called.
"Turn on the TV," she said, knowing we wouldn't be watching. "The Arabs have blown up the World Trade Center." About 10 minutes after we tuned in, the second plane hit the south tower. (About two months later, we drove back to Fort Knox to see Jay graduate from Basic. We waited 45 minutes for a security check at the same gate we had entered in late August. At that time, no one had manned that gate.)
And now I have three kids in the Army, all of whom are off this weekend, drilling with their units of the National Guard. Thank you, guys. I miss you.
We had disconnected our television antenna that summer. Our kids, 16, 11 and 6 at the time, had become zombie-like in the presence of a television, and the summer is just reruns, anyway. We went to video-only mode for the summer, and had just reconnected things for my sister and brother-in-law. They stayed at the house, caring for our animals, while we were gone, and John wanted them to be able to have TV if they wanted.
We slept in, which meant about 9am, and I had just sent John out to bring in suitcases so we could dress. The kids were up, some on the computer, and Mary watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, when my mom called.
"Turn on the TV," she said, knowing we wouldn't be watching. "The Arabs have blown up the World Trade Center." About 10 minutes after we tuned in, the second plane hit the south tower. (About two months later, we drove back to Fort Knox to see Jay graduate from Basic. We waited 45 minutes for a security check at the same gate we had entered in late August. At that time, no one had manned that gate.)
And now I have three kids in the Army, all of whom are off this weekend, drilling with their units of the National Guard. Thank you, guys. I miss you.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
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