Snowed In.

Today is a Myers (+ Cameron) SNOW DAY! Both boys were called off work which means we have the whole afternoon ahead of us with nothing to do except our favorite activities. So far, our day has included the following:

- fresh coffee

- sizzling bacon from the West Side Market

- making homemade apple and pear sauce with cinnamon (for Jack)

- the watching of Nacho Libre

- a game of Settlers (which hasn't happened... yet)

Today also happens to be a staying in one's pajamas day - Jack included. And because of the extra cuteness he exuded, I did a rare (semi-formal) photo shoot. And here, my friends, is the product of that:

White Winter Hymnal.

So you know that ice I just mentioned .... the kind that wraps itself tightly around any and everything? Well if it's my car... no fun. If it's every tree, shrub, branch and berry in sight, it's breath-taking. And it rarely happens. But it's magical, especially when the sun sparkles through the branches on a clear morning. It's a sacred thing, being surrounded by such heavenly beauty. I almost ran inside to grab my camera on my way to work yesterday, knowing I'd have a good chance at catching that moment forever near the woods by the church, but I was already running late and decided not to (which I sorely regret). I was hopeful the morning sun would be in full effect this morning as I stopped by my favorite spot to try and capture some images, but to no avail.

Nevertheless, I still savored those few quiet moments of solitude out in the stillness of the morning. Even without the sun to highlight its best features, the woods are always inviting, beckoning me to stay and visit awhile.

Ice!

As predicted the balmy hint of spring quickly turned into freezing rain and we awoke this morning to find our little world coated in a sheet of ice. You know, the kind that finds its way into all the seams of your car door frame and key holes creating an impenetrable mold of frozen wretchedness that takes a good ten minutes to chip off. Jack, on the other hand, stayed toasty warm from the comfort of the front window as he watched the neighbors fight the elements for access to their vehicles.

Anticipating Spring.

I'm very much a four seasons person. I have no desire to live in a warm climate that only sees summer, nor would I want to live in a frigid climate that only sees winter. On the other hand... I could probably be quite content living in a spring/fall climate the whole year. In any case, I really do love my seasons. They offer the promise of change and variety, of beauty and the opportunity to appreciate nature in all of its forms. Just as I welcome the coming and going of seasons in life, I relish the coming and going of the seasons in nature.

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.

If we did not sometimes taste of adversity,

prosperity would not be so welcome.”

Anne Bradstreet

That said, this winter feels as though its been especially long. And with these past few days of cold temperatures being replaced by a warm breeze and the color green returning to the palate outside my window, I can't help longing for spring to be here. I have been greedily taking advantage of this taste of spring as much as possible with two walks in the park and one around the neighborhood (baby in tow). In sad anticipation of this glorious weather being erased by the return of the winter chill tomorrow, I've changed my desktop background to the image below to reflect my new state of mind and remind me that spring is so very closely around the corner. Puxsutawny Phil agrees.

“It's spring fever.... You don't quite know what it is you do want,

but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”

Mark Twain