The day after...

I'm not sure when it finally stopped snowing today, but we went out around 2:00 pm to start shoveling the driveway.  In the flattest parts of the yard, the snow measured about 8 inches, so that's what we're calling it.  

Took a break to notice a flock of sandhill cranes:

It seems early for them to be migrating this far north already, but their call is unmistakable.  Unfortunately, the wind is blocking out their calls, so you'll just have to trust me about what we're looking at here.

Then, we were back at it...

Drifts at the front door got above 19 inches. I couldn't reach the spots taller than that without walking into snow above my boots, and I wasn't about to shovel more snow just to get close enough to measure those tallest drifts.

Two hours later...

A tired Greg makes the final push of snow off the driveway:

And before I came in, I cleared a path to the front door:

While it wasn't quite as bad as predicted, it will be really nice if this first snow is the worst we get this winter.  

It's probably too optimistic to hope it's the last.

I hope you're staying warm and dry wherever you are!

First snow of the year...

While it's pretty in our backyard, it's dangerous out there on the roads.  If you're in this band of winter weather, please be careful.  

Beans, beans, the magical fruit...

15-bean soup mix

Overnight-soaked, wrinkly-skinned 

Prelude to dinner

The finished tan-gray soup can never do justice to these beautiful, colorful beans, so appreciating them before cooking seems a worthy thing to do.

Adding ham, onions, garlic, and chopped carrots (pretty much according to my post here), Ham & Beans Soup was enjoyed this week, and extra was shared with friends.

I don't know why I only seem to make this yummy soup once, at most twice a year, but this week was a perfect time for it.   The last of it was enjoyed on this snowy, wet February day.  

Winter is nigh...

Thursday, the 21st, is winter solstice and I have mixed feelings about it.  Normally, I enjoy taking note of each of the solstices and equinoxes - and the anticipation of the changing days and seasons ahead - but this year I've pretty much completely missed the days that marked these changes up 'till now.  

I greatly enjoy anticipating spring and fall and the glorious colors, and not just of growing  things.   Do you take notice of how crystal blue a cloudless early autumn sky can be?   Do you delight in how the autumn sun can still feel hot on your skin, while the breeze cools?  Have you ever noticed how BIG grasshoppers are in September?  Do you notice how the decaying smell of late winter mud gives way to the scent of grass as it comes to life in the spring?  And how fresh spring air is?  Do we stop and give thanks for these marvelous things?  Sometimes I do, but I don't think I do enough.

And the solstices...   I love the long days of summer, and that there is time on both ends of the day to be outside and enjoy sunlight when temperatures are often more comfortable.  I also love how evening time come earlier than expected as autumn approaches, and how it becomes downright dark at suppertime as the days cool down.  In the autumn, I enjoy the cozy vibe of porch lights shining when I'm coming home from a long afternoon out.  I remember when I was home with young kids, I enjoyed turning the porch light on, hoping it would be a welcome sight as my husband returned from a long day at work.  I'm not sure if he noticed, really, but I tried to remember to do that.  It made me happy.

This year the seasons and daylight changes came and went without much notice by me - it's no wonder, as I was otherwise preoccupied for much of the year.  I had just begun to notice spring when my mind became filled with what was ahead, and then - just like that - the pretty fall colors were over before I had a chance to really enjoy them.   The days got longer, then shorter with little notice, certainly no anticipation, on my part.   

And now the days are about to get longer again.  Feeling much more myself, I am happy to know I will likely take more notice of the lengthening days than I did of the shortening days in early fall.  Anticipating keeping the curtains open a little longer each evening fills me with the same amount of pleasure as turning the porch light on earlier and earlier through the autumn does.  

Today felt like winter with a cold wind and several snow squalls - that, fortunately, didn't amount to anything.   I don't mind admitting, I'm happy to see it's forecasted to be in the mid-50's on Christmas Eve!

It is a busy week ahead for a lot of us as we approach Christmas.  Like you, I have grocery shopping and gift wrapping to do, special foods to prepare, and a few dust bunnies to sweep away still.  But in the midst of the busyness of the days leading up to Christmas,  I want to also take notice of the daylight shortening for a few more days before it starts to lengthen again.  Just noticing such a simple thing grounds me somehow.

I feel a little like a child when the seasons change.  Filled with anticipation and delight that our Creator has given us a world full of wonder to notice and enjoy.

~~~~~

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

~ Thomas Chisholm

           Great is Thy Faithfulness

Spicier and Spicier...

Last week I mentioned that I was thinking of making a second Spicier Life blanket (alongside the first one), and I decided this week it was time to start it.

Here is Part 1 of my 2nd Spicier Life Blanket:

For this blanket I went with colors that are bright and fun, and hopefully it will be a blanket that makes its recipient smile.


Meanwhile, I also continue to work on my first Spicier Life blanket (which is done in more or less the same colors as the original Jaipur-inspired blanket):

I'm enjoying them both, but I enjoy them differently. 

~~~~~

I know friends on the east coast have taken a beating with snow this winter and I almost feel bad showing off our pretty (and hopefully last) snowfall of the season we got yesterday.  Do you see that tiny red spot just a little above the center of the picture below?  It's a cardinal that was competing with the finches at the bird feeders.  I didn't even see it when I was snapping the picture, and I was a little sad that it didn't come back before dark so I could try to get a better photo of it.

Anyway, it was a peaceful, heavy snowfall and I thought this young couple so cute, out taking their dog for a walk in the falling snow, I decided to snap their picture:

~~~~~

And today, the sky is (mostly) blue and I hear the drip drip of snow melting off the roof as I type.  It's in the high 40's and with tomorrow in the 50's and rain forecasted the rest of the week, there will soon be nothing left of this season's last winter wonderland.

At which time I'll be doing a jig because that will mean the magnolia tree blossoms (that appear to have survived the freezing temps and snow yesterday) will bloom, and other flowers will shortly follow.  Spring has nearly sprung, and like the rest of the country, I'm ready for it!!!

To see what other YOPpers are up to, visit our group on Ravelry.

First snow...

I've been down sick most of this week with a bad cold - which meant plenty of crocheting time (in between drug-induced naps).

I think it was Wednesday when we saw our first snow of the winter season.  (Or it could have been Tuesday, really...  I can't remember...  the past week is all melded together in the fog of my murky memory).    But whatever day it was, even with a foggy, sick head I was able to appreciate how pretty was this first snow, and I decided to poke my nose outside and snap some pictures:

Poking my nose out the back door:

And then out the front:

to the left

 

and to the right

And then pulling my nose back into the warm house and closing the door, as I turned around it occurred to me to snap a picture of what it looks like when someone is coming into my house:

At the time it seemed like a funny thing to do, but seeing the picture, now I think it's kind of neat. And I'm curious if any of you might like to do the same.  Wouldn't it be fun to step inside each other's front (or back) doors and just take a peek inside?  :)

Speaking of peeks, here are two little snapshots of  the Linen-Stitch Scarves I nearly finished this week (they're finished except for weaving in some yarn ends):

A gray and black striped scarf 

and a blue, gray and black striped scarf

One more to go!  Hopefully, next week (say, that's Christmas Day!) I'll have some modeled shots of these scarves.  That is if I have them all finished.  Note to self:  Take pictures before wrapping them - just in case I forget to round up the models, or in case the recipients decide to be bashful.

To see what other Yoppers are up this week, visit our group on Ravelry!