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.
- It Was a Dark and Stormy Night . . . a Chicken Tale
- Check out “Aprons,” stories from the trenches of the food and drink industry
26 thoughts on “A Few Things”
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Great blog, as usual…love all the pictures…it makes the reader feel as if they are there…without the cold of course….
Caro, Thanks so much. I guess you can probably do without the cold–I sure could! Have a great day!
Lovely post, thank you for bringing us in to little moments like this. At 50 years young, I am still waiting for my first grandchild 🙂
Janice, Grandkids are even more fun than everybody says they are! 🙂 You’ll enjoy every minute when you finally get them!
Great blog post Amy! Your photos are fabulous and I can so relate to the snow ones. -:)
Thanks so much, Victoria. I want to work on pictures–one more fun thing to learn about!
Brilliant – love it! I so want to go sledding and attempt to clamber into that tree house (two words, I think … 🙂 ) And – wow – the snow! Haven’t seen that much since I was in Canada 🙂
Thanks Karen. If you ever get bored with sun and surf and lovely flora and fauna, you have a place to stay here! My kiddos would even take you sledding and escort you up into their treehouse . . . oops, I mean tree house.
Yes! I just love to show off my tree house!
How nice to come visit your page. The sledding brought back childhood memories. Love the snowman in the tree house. (spell check here says two words too!). I see the dog likes sticks twice its size and the bare foot in the cold??? brrr. The picture of your daughter is a stunning portrait. I’m sure you captured her correctly!
Carolina,
Thanks so much for visiting my blog! Our dog Bea always has to have something in her mouth. I don’t know why. I appreciate your comments so much!
Didn’t know they make duck houses in trees.
Thanks for sharing a snapshot of moments of life in Nebraska. Wonderful pictures. One of our daughters is a Marine, so I know what you mean about grabbing a little time with them, when you can. We’re happy that her tour in the desert is over and she’s back in the states. But she is stationed a thousand miles from where we are at, so like you, we wait for those phone calls now and then. This is a great article.
William,
A thousand miles away–ouch! That must be difficult, but I’ll bet you really do treasure the time you get to spend with her. Thanks so much for stopping by; I really appreciate your comments.
Great post !
There should be a comments box under the posts on my page. I love your collection of pictures !
Thanks so much Sophie, I’ll try to comment again. Thanks for your sweet words. Best wishes.
Great post Amy, freezing here in France we are about to receive snow too.
Best wishes
Cher
Best wishes to you, too, Cher. Where do you live in France?
I am so glad I stumbled across your blog today from Ultimate Blog Challenge, what a lovely, if cold, breath of fresh air. I loved the collection of photos and short thoughts. Heavy sigh about your daughter going back to college. My son will be 14 soon and I had one of those panicky mommy moments realizing how fast the next 4 years will go.
Minette, thank you for your kind words. The years DO go fast, and there’s really nothing (in my opinion) that makes it easier to let the children go. Bethie is my third child to grow up and move away, and one thing I’ve learned is that the joy of seeing them come home again (and the fact that they WANT to come home again) blunts the pain of seeing them move away. Thanks again for stopping in!
I loved that first photo. You don’t need a fancy camera to take good pictures. I grew up in the age of Brownie cameras. One setting, plus a socket for flashbulbs. We learned to take good pictures anyway. It’s all in the photographer!
What a sweet thing to say, Alana. Too often I compare my photos to those that I see online, and I feel like they could be so much BETTER. I appreciate your stopping by! Best wishes.
What a beautiful family and photos. I love the one of you and your granddaughter, and the little tobogganing hill brings back memories.
Thanks for sharing!
Cindy
Thanks for stopping by, Cindy, and for your kind words!
What a beautiful family you have Amy. I love how the snow man is hanging in there. Your photos are amazing. I especially liked the ones of the Tae Kwon Do class. I can really relate as I teach that same age group dance both boys and girls. The boys really tickle me a lot. They always have to put extra ooof(power) in what they do. It tickles me and is such a joy to watch, all of them both boys and girls. Thanks for sharing your family with us.
Thanks for taking a look, D’TaRelle. I really appreciate your comments. Best wishes.