351/365 Last Sunset - 2013

Pink cotton candy

Wisps surround the setting sun

As the cold day ends.

350/365 Insurance

How can a price be

Assigned to value a life

Of interactions?

Monday Evening

It was snowing

- unexpectedly -

this morning as I got ready to

 leave for the gym.

It snowed most of the day.

 

I ran errands in the snow.

Found some bargains

shoveled the driveway

checked the mail

brought in garbage cans

made granola

did laundry

brought in firewood

created new Pinterest boards

put away the Christmas dishes

surfed for beret patterns

shuffled stuff for the new shelves

and a surprising number of

other things

while it snowed.

 



349/365 This Morning at Saylorville

Tire tracks crisscross the

Frozen lake as howling winds

Redistribute snow.

348/365 Hope

At bay we draw our

Truest breath, the touchstone of

Our humanity.

and so it goes...

This was the view on December 5:

 

Decorating for Christmas had begun. 

 

Tim decided it was time to tackle a project

that we had been discussing all summer.

I told him he could have 2 weeks.

If it couldn't be finished in

2 weeks - don't start.

He started.

 

 December 12

 

 December 16

 

December 19

 



December 21

 

 

December 22



347/365 Changes

Adventure or black

Hole new facets of life come

As they will to all.

346/365 Grace

Let’s acknowledge that

To “meet in the middle” both

Poise and pride must bow.

345/365 December Dusk

Countryside trees stand

In crisp relief against the

Dark’ning western sky.

Christmas Eve 2013

Mailbox disaster.

Laughter.  Carols.  Long, slow train.

Snow.  And dear children.

343/365 Dog Tired

Poor Charlie, grabbing

Sleep as best he can, between

Holiday visits.

342/365 Bittersweet Gatherings

Loved ones far away

Claim a share of the day’s joys

As we celebrate.

341/365 Holiday Delights

Treasured faces, found

Once more round my table make

The heart sing with thanks.

340/365 Overload

The mind spins as you

Try in vain to subdue wild

Bursts of frenzied thought.

339/365 Package for Logan

Hats, mittens, booties;

Small somethings for a small boy

Fighting a big fight.

338/365 On Alert

Ears forward, body

Poised, ready to act, bold Charles

Sits at the window.

337/365 Overhead

Bellies white against

The pale evening sky, three geese

Streak toward shelter.

336/365 Foggy Night

A ghostly gauze hangs

Across the moon, tattered and

Drifting aimlessly.

For Valerie...

...because she asked so nicely
and because it's too early to go to bed.

 

Tunic length sweater, knit pants worn tucked
 into boots and my blazer.
Unless I can work some real magic on that
blazer this winter will be its last.
I can now wear it (buttoned) with both a long sleeve shirt
and my fisherman sweater.

 

 This is one of the cashmere cardigans we bought during
that long-ago shopping spree.
It is one of my few "old" pieces that still fit
and I love wearing it with this
striped shirt.
Here it is with skirt, tights, boots and pearls

and here with grey jeans, and different shoes and necklace.

These trousers have been versatile

 

 as the grey jeans are proving themselves to be.

I do love a flannel shirt

and this one is tunic length so it

presents less casual than most.

 

This worked well before the cold settled in

but we're forecast to hit near 40 this week

so it may make another appearance.

 

And the red coat continues to delight.

 

I haven't made straight-line progress

with Christmas shopping

because I keep finding things for myself.

This week  (THIS week)

I came home with new

(well, some of this was thrifted)

yoga pants

a plaid skirt

2 tops

1 sweater

and a wonderful pair of

berry/burgundy jeans.

Oh - and a new pair of

"alligator" booties.

They look so good with the new jeans.

Can you tell I love those jeans!?

I'll include a picture of them soon.

 

I'm still experimenting to find a reliable way to

take these pictures.  Often it

just doesn't occur to me

until the clothes are in a pile at the end of the day.

 

I have a haircut scheduled for Tuesday. 

It is truly amazing to see

how much my hair grows in six weeks.

 

My to-do list is pretty reasonable

for the week before Christmas.

The gym every morning.

Some last minute shopping tomorrow.

Hair on Tuesday.

Baking and cleaning as it fits

 throughout the week.

Charlie has a bath scheduled on Friday

so any last last minute

shopping can happen then, too.

Jacob flies into Minneapolis on Friday night

then he, Naphtali and Aidan will

come down Saturday.

The Jordisons descend on Sunday.

Fort Dodge on Tuesday.

Kids leave Wednesday.

Naps and sanity resume Thursday.

 

How is your week shaping up?

 

 

 



335/365 Reflection

The mind casts back o’er

Days and feats well-past then scans

Forward with wisdom.

334/365 Nocturne

A long day’s end draws

Within reach its hectic pace

Replaced by repose

333/365 Flight

Startled pigeons lift

Off turning to quicksilver

In the morning sun.

332/365 Review

Good, bad, in-between;

Memories chronicle our

Defining moments.

331/365 Wednesday's Readers

Shedding mittens and

Coats, they linger, choosing books

In warm denial.

330/365 As Time Goes By

Rick and Ilsa’s tale

Resounds with timeless truths: love

And humanity.

329/365 Undaunted

Single digit temps

Proved insufficient to stop

Intrepid shoppers.

328/365 Gentle Snowfall

Soft flakes drift earthward

Creating a lustrous glow

Everywhere you look.

It's Beginning to look a Lot Like Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

327/365 Christmas Lights

Twinkling lights conjure

The ghost of Christmas past and

Mem’ries bittersweet.

326/365 Flight Interrupted

Poised, with eyes bright and

Ears erect, the fox waits to

Spring into the lane.

325/365 Contentment

Cozy day at home

Spent with busy hands and warm

Thoughts of cherished friends.

324/365 Wintery Bluster

Chill December winds

Howl past my windows making

Even warm bones ache.

323/365 Carols

Familiar comfort

Set to catchy tunes prompts us

To smile with strangers.

322/365 Migration

Undulating vees

Stretch southward across the sky

As days grow shorter.

321/365 The Lake this December Morning

Winding lines mark loose

Edges as encroaching ice

Meets open water.