A Few Things
A few things of import have occurred to me, so, Gentle Reader, I will write them down and share them with you.
There are wonderful things about living in Nebraska in the wintertime. Here’s one of them.
1. One morning I stepped outside to take care of my fowl, and this is what I saw. Pretty, huh? I was looking to the west, where the full moon was setting. That little structure is our duck house, which (unfortunately) right now is empty of ducks. This picture convinced me that I need to do a little work this year and learn how to use my good camera. This picture is taken with my little digital pocket-camera, which I love, but which doesn’t have a lot of options.
My kids are so much fun. Here they admire their handiwork. I did contribute the nose-carrot, for my part.
2. Our tree house now has its own chilly inhabitant, a snowman that Amalia and Timothy built up there. He’s a brave snowman, preferring the upper story of the tree house (which has no protective railing). I’ve been up there myself, but it’s a little spooky, being so high with no visible support. My editing feature does not appreciate my trying to join the words “tree” and “house.” Is it one word or two? I wonder.
Here’s the best sledding spot on our place: down the dam and across the pond. Here Matthew, Timothy, and Malachi brave the cold to have some fun.
3. Our area of Nebraska is not known for its long steep hills, so we are thankful for any slope on which to ride a sled this time of year. Our little pond is frozen solid right now, so this little slope down to the pond makes a great place to slide. Down the slope you go, and then you slip right across the pond to the other side! (We don’t do this when the ice is questionable.)
Matthew and Rachel with some new baby things, and cousin Sophia in the foreground.
4. These two. Matthew and Rachel are having their first baby in just a few weeks. I lie awake praying for their new baby and imagining what he or she will look like. I pray for the new parents, also. Is there any transition so fraught with confusion, exhaustion, anxiety and joy as the one that takes you from being a young couple to being new parents? Is there anything as exciting in life as expecting a new baby in the family? And can I just move into their little apartment for a few weeks so I can hold that new baby 24/7?? (I have tons of experience, I really do.)
Here’s Anya and me . . . and Bea . . . and some arresting shadows . . . and a foot.
5. I did not take this picture. That’s why it is so amusing. It makes me laugh, with the shadows on the pond, our frenetic Aussie, Bea, compulsively carrying that stick (I think it hit me in the head a few moments after this picture was taken) and that foot. My husband, who took the shot, was surely mesmerized by the beauty of the subjects (ahem!) and didn’t notice all the details. This little Princess, Anya, our first grandchild, will soon have a cousin to share all the attention with! It will be a delight to have two babies around.
- I chuckle the entire time I watch little Mack’s class. Something about all those grinning little faces and the flailing about of their skinny little limbs. Such joy at learning how to block and kick, and defend, and push!
6. It’s really entertaining to watch a group of 4, 5, and 6-year-olds learning Taek-wondo. Believe me. It is.
(Sigh.)
7. This girl. Our daughter, Bethie, a sophomore in college, moved back today to start her spring semester. She was home on vacation for nearly a month, and we did everything together: we went shopping; we played games; we watched movies; we cooked; we suffered through the ‘flu together; we missed her boyfriend together (grudgingly: he was back home in Hawaii for a month). She’s truly as sweet as she looks in this picture. My heart is hurting a bit and I’m hoping she’ll find the time to give her ole’ ma a call sooner rather than later. (Hint, hint.)
8. The Ultimate Blog Challenge: those of you who keep up with my blog may have noticed —may have noticed!–that I’ve picked up on posts this month. Yes, I can hardly believe it, but I’ve been posting every day! So far. Through Christmas vacation, through the ‘flu, through the dead dark dorky days of this dank winter season. It has been very fun and a great learning experience. We’ll see if I can continue it as we start school again this week!
Have a great day, you. And thanks for stopping by.
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