Shades of White

Vespers

 

 

Late Winter

Snow 'n snow

Snow 'n snow

If what we have we receive as a gift,

and if what we have is to be cared for by God,

and if what we have is available to others,

then we will possess freedom from anxiety. 

~~R. Foster

The Snow Missed Us; The Ice Did Not

 

Most of the schools in the area are canceled due to the ice...just another day off for many Wisconsin students (their teachers called in "sick" last week so they could assemble in Madison and protest Governor Walker's efforts to balance our state budget).

But my brave and hard-working son got into his little Honda and headed down the highway for his college classes this morning. The only time the universities cancel school seems to be when the Governor intervenes. Pray for travel mercies!

 

More Beautiful Winter

 

Winter on the Farm

 

The Storm

 

 

 

 

 

Winter Weather Advisory

Hold on, little one. More snow and wind to come--10 to 12 inches.

Did you know that birds' toes lock, keeping them attached to the tree branch while sleeping or in a storm?

In somewhat the same way, perhaps, Christian faith anchors us to God, allowing us to rest even during the storms of life.

 

Finding Peace in Beauty

I took a walk at dusk.

Pushing myself

To pull on boots and gattors

Down coat

Warm hat

Camera over my shoulder

 

I walked through deep snow

Around the pine trees

To the top of the field.

And then...

 

Wordless Wednesday 26 January 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday 19 January 2011

 

 

Daybook 17 January 2011

Picture thought . . .

My farm lane...beautiful winter

Outside my window . . . 

Deep snow

Blowing and falling snow

Birds at rest in the rows of pines

Darkness 

I am listening to . . .

The scanner

Ambulance calls (prayer)

Tow trucks needed

Snow plow drivers going in for the night

I am wearing . . .

L.L. Bean flannel lined jeans

A turtleneck (always)

Light blue hooded sweatshirt

I am so grateful for . . .

Family

Kitty purring

The green goddess (aka the wood stove)

Beautiful winter 

I'm pondering . . . 

Growing in God through solitude

I am reading . . . 

The Quest for Serenity by G. H Morling.

Is there another book that captivates my thoughts as his?

I am thinking . . . 

I need to fold my laundry

I am creating . . . 

A Wright Brothers Award for a Civil Air Patrol cadet

On my iPod . . . 

Walden by Thoreau

Interesting to read;

Lacks a dose of reality

Around the house . . . 

Sorting, tossing, organizingl

From the kitchen . . .

 Baked apples sprinkled with your choice:

Brown sugar or cinnamon

Rhythm and beauty in our home . . . 

The church year

The cycle of the moon

Watching the sun move through the constellations

Morning meditation, evening prayer

A wall hanging that says:

Live simply, love life, give generously 

The church year in our home . . . 

Epiphany

The baptism of Our Lord

A quietness that follows Christmas

One of my favorite things . . .

My electric mattress pad

Recent milestones . . .

I've been doing my stretches and weights almost daily

The week ahead. . .

CAP

Visiting mom and my in-laws

Seeing a friend

Full moon

Cooking, cleaning

Cooking, cleaning

Grading papers and homeschooling

Hm. Maybe I'll mail my Christmas cards...

(Daybook idea was snitched from Kerry :)

January Wisconsin

The Chickadee

The Chickadee is a lively little fellow.

I've been trying to get a photo of his face.

And so I sit at the window and snap photo

After photo

After photo.

If I go outside and stand perfectly still just a few feet from the birdfeeder, the Chicadee will come and flutter from branch to branch in the shrubs beside me.

If I turn my camera towards the saucy little fellow, he'll hop to the feeder, grab a seed, and flutter past me before I can get a single shot.

But at last...

"Chickadeedeedeedeedee."

The 5th Day of Christmas 2010

The snow and below zero temperatures that we normally get in January arrived in December this year. I wonder if we will continue to have cold and snow, or if the rest of the winter will be mild.

I chuckle at people who stand in front of me in sandals or barely-there pumps, bare legs, cute wool jackets (you know, the ones that don't cut any wind), and nothing on their heads and then have the chutzpa to tell me they hate the cold and the snow!

Winter Gear

Flannel-lined jeans or khakis (LLBean's jeans are wonderful!)

Or long underwear (silk fits under your clothing without bulk)

Turtlenecks and big bulky sweaters or sweatshirts

Down

Shoes or slippers around the house. Never tight-fitted. Never just socks or bare feet.

Coats that fall below the knee (can I repeat, down?)

Dry socks. Changed often. Ones made to wick moisture away are the best. Damp feet are cold feet.

Warm hats.

Foot warmers. Hand warmers. Toe warmers. (http://www.warmers.com)

Boots. Dress boots at the least. If spending time outside, I wear ones with a rating of -40. This with foot warmers makes life good.

Mittens. Much warmer than gloves. Holds hand warmers nicely.

Wood stoves go along with these nicely, too, if you have that option.

Oh--there are great things for winter wear! They are cuddly and warm and comfy.

 

But I need to be off. The birds need to be fed, and I am going to put out some grain for the Ring-necked Pheasant along with some fruit scraps.

By the way, have you noticed Venus is out as the morning star right now? It rises in the north east before dawn, looking like a star on steroids. Look at it with a pair of binoculars, steadied on a railing or against a window. You will see a small disk that looks like a miniature half-moon hanging in the sky.

Merry 5th day of Christmas!