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.

320/365 Bookmarked?

Memory confirms

I’ve seen it but can’t pinpoint

The title or page.

319/365 On the Hunt

Wings out-stretched to ride

The wind, a hawk glides o’erhead

With swift elegance.

318/365 Tradition

Honored customs can

Benefit from a new frame

Of mind as we grow.

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow holds so much expectation.

 

Traditions,

while supplying a context

for our observations and

expectations,

can sometimes benefit from an

occasional update.

 

 

 

For many of us, of a certain generation, 

Thanksgiving traditionally marked

the beginning of the

 "holiday season."

 

In recent years we've seemed to carom from

one event to the next

with barely a pause for breath,

let alone time

to actually enjoy or reflect

on our holiday traditions.

 

Thanksgiving

can become lost in the holiday

shuffle fueled by

magazine spreads, Pinterest and other

media options that bring images,

 wish lists, and DIY projects to our

attention with dizzying speed.

 

There is no shortage of blessings

 in my life that

could/would/should

prompt my thankfulness.

 

Tomorrow

will be a day of celebration.

 Norman Rockwell's

universe rarely

-if ever -

aligns with mine

but it doesn't make my family

any less special

or my thanks

any less sincere.

 

I hope your day will be spent in

the company of those you

hold dear.

 

 

317/365 Thrilled

Each item crossed through,

The finished list marks the day

A complete success!

316/365 The View from my Window

Dazzling sunshine tells

Only half the story as

Frigid north winds howl.

315/365 Options

The pause between plans

A and B gives a heartbeat’s

Chance to change your day.

314/365 Echoes

The mem’ry of a

Newborn’s mewl reverberates

Deep within the heart.

313/365 Distraction

Things necessary

Vie for attention amid

Bright lights and glitter.

312/365 Stretch

Doubt gives way to glad

Relief as one last effort

Satisfies our reach.

311/365 Snowfall

Streetlights obscured by

Falling snow create spectral

Pools of dampened light.

310/365 Relief

Questions addressed can

Ease the worry created

By tacit concerns.

309/365 Cold Determination

Swirling winds nip as

Shoppers bustle in and out

Under sunny skies.

308/365 Starry Night

Lightly frosted roofs

Reflect  the subtle glow from

A star-speckled sky.

307/365 November Rain

Drumming rain coaxes

The wakeful to linger in

Drowsy contentment.

306/365 Moonlight

Radiance fills the

Eastern sky casting shadows

Deep in the still night.

305/365 Family

Blood ties or chosen

Bonds – the heart lays claim to those

Who enrich our lives.

304/365 Days' End

Tasks completed, plans

Reviewed and talk winds down as

Thoughts turn toward rest.   

Change of Plans

 

Charlie and I are waiting for it to warm up a bit

before we take a walk

and as my run to Webster City has

been cancelled,

I have what amounts to a free day.

Yippee!

 

What to do!?

As with any free time - it will fill

much too quickly

and seem much too short.

 

It struck me, yesterday, that we

are half-way through November.  How that

happened is a mystery, but it

means that I need to get started

on Aidan's advent calendar which is

traditionally delivered

at Thanksgiving.

A tradition that started when we lived hours

 and hours away

as a way for me to share the

holiday anticipation with him.

 

One year he received fancy envelopes

containing a carol for each day.  His dad

sang them at bedtime.

 

Another year it was the pages

of a lovely story of a pine tree

 rewarded for its

kindness to other forest creatures.

 

His own tree and ornaments one year.

 

Last year his reading skills

allowed me to mark off

pages for him to read everyday

from a schmaltzy cute paperback

about a homeless dog looking

for a family during the holidays.

 

Other years have been a combination

of whatever

school supplies

trinkets

gum

coins

bills

games

puzzles

will fit in the chosen container.

 

Pinterest

 

It's time to choose a container and theme -

a task that gets harder as he grows older.

If I want to keep the containers manageable

the content is pretty limited.

He doesn't like chocolate

which eliminates an easy default.

He's a boy - cute stuff only goes so far.

 

So today will be dedicated to strategy.

Making plans and lists.

Sorting through materials on hand.

Necessary groundwork

for productivity

if this Christmas project

 is actually going to happen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



303/365 November Moon

Mottled moon, high in

A pale blue sky, waits with me,

For the sun to set.

302/365 Bright Spots

Small victories lift

The spirit, instilling hope

When life seems mundane.

Monday Night

I find myself at the end of a busy weekend

looking forward to a busy week.

 

So a short recap of the trip to

Minneapolis is in order.

Driving.

Laughing.

Eating.

Shopping

Laughing.

Eating.

Scrabble.

Laughing.

Eating.

Driving.

 

Naphtali took good care of us.

We're all still speaking so we can

call the weekend A Success.

The weather was mild so the red coat

didn't make it's debut

but tomorrow's walk to work will remedy

that situation.

 

This morning it snowed and

though it is that time of year and you know

that snow can fall at

any time, the first

snowfall always seems so unexpected.

Little more than a

light dusting, it still

packs a psychological punch.

 

My calendar actually looks rather full this week.

My work week starts tomorrow.

A lunch date Wednesday.

Quick trip to Webster City and back on Thursday.

An open house that evening.

Friday night I'll help serve

Thanksgiving dinner at Kennybrook. 

 They're expecting 360 guests

- three dining rooms, three seatings -

I'll be at the library all day Saturday,

 partying that night

and finish the weekend by

working Sunday afternoon.

 

I think it's time to set my clothes out for the gym

in the morning and

head to bed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



301/365 First Snowfall

Driven by fierce winds

Flakes flew past leaving a few

To dust the rooftops.

300/365 On Waking

Sunlight filters through

Matchstick blinds lending rosy

Charm to cozy rooms.

299/365 Gloomy Day

Low-flying clouds on

The horizon foretell the

Advent of winter.

298/365 Perseverance

Ears pinned flat against

His head by savage winds the

Dog ambled onward.

Road Trip

Heading North this weekend.

My mother and sister want to see

my daughter's new house.

Tonight will find me at their place

- a ninety minute drive -

and in the morning we'll point the car

in the direction of the Twin Cities and see what

the day brings.

 

They had snow in the cities earlier this week

and, even though Naphtali

assures me it will be gone before we

arrive, the weather provides a good excuse to

debut a recent thrift store find.

 

 

I rediscovered a forgotten fact about

vintage wool coats:

They are wool.

With a satin lining.

No thermo-tek engineering here. 

It should be well-suited for

the predicted mid-40s this weekend

but probably won't stand up

to the frigid extremes we'll experience

later this winter. 

 

For some women it's all about the

shoes, jewelry or purses.

Me?  It's coats. 

This one was just too fun, and

- even with the dry cleaning -

 too cheap, to leave hanging. 

It will require a certain attitude as

its main accessory

and, as I've pretty much been in a

damn-the-torpedoes mood lately,

it should be perfect.

 

 



297/365 Bravado

Saucy squirrels taunt

Neighborhood dogs enjoying

A safe, fencepost perch.

296/365 Laughter

Disbelief becomes

comic relief as friends share

outlandish stories.

295/365 Rainy Day

Shimmering mists wrap

the countryside in a thick

cloak of mystery.

Rainy Day

It's raining today so outside activities and

projects have been postponed.

There are a couple things calling for my attention

before work but they can wait

a few more minutes.

 

I baked gingerbread cookies yesterday

using a maple leaf cutter.

I love the mellow combination of molasses

and spices.  We enjoyed our portion and the rest

will go to work with me today.

 

This is the view outside my bedroom window.

It creates a gentle rosy glow throughout the room

but the leaves are thinning quickly

and soon we'll be surrounded by bare branches.

 

Hard to believe from this shot, but Charlie

seems to be having some anxiety issues.



I'm working to incorporate more exercise into his day,

hoping it will have the same positive effect

for him that it does for me.

 

This is the new bracelet. 

It's going to work with me today, too.

294/365 Kitchen Magic

The aroma of

 Fresh-baked gingerbread fends off

The chilliest winds.

293/365 Tricks of the Trade

Morning’s shifted light

Has the last laugh as vigor

Fades with setting sun.

Killing Time

It's too late to start anything new

before bedtime

but I have too much time to do nothing

so here I am.

 

Pictures will be added another time

because I'm already at my desk.

You'll have to come back.

 

Tim sent me shopping for my birthday.

(He also came home with flowers,

 and fixed his signature shrimp pizza for supper.)

 

He acknowledged my

thrift store purchases

and alterations

 and said it was time to have

some new things.

Hard to argue with that.

We agreed on a price range and

thanks to a great sale

and some coupons

I was able to spend almost twice

the allotted monies.

 

I came home with a mixture of

classic

fun

and utility pieces.

 

I'm normally a careful

and almost reluctant shopper

but

(and this is where the promised picture comes in)

 my way out of the store

passes the jewelry counter.

Something caught my eye and I

made an instant decision

- and I do mean instant -

that a particular

bracelet was going home with me.

(Well outside the allotment but hey - it was my birthday)

 

It's going to be so much fun to wear

and the c/w will factor out to pennies in no time!

 

 

 

 

 

 



292/365 Holiday Onslaught

Glitter and sparkles

Whisper insistently that

Festivity reigns.  

291/365 Voice Over

My son’s voice echoes,

For tonight, the clearing piping

Notes from his childhood.

Reflections on a Lazy Night

It's Beggar's Night in Grimes.

Answering the door falls to me, so

tonight's tasks can't be anything that needs

undivided attention.
With knitting and reading out of the question
this seemed like a good way
to occupy my time.

 

I've been enjoying the rhythms of the season.

Harvest has ended for many local farmers.

One has begun planting posts for

snow fencing.

 

The trees have been lovely.

Over the weekend we drove past a

fairly new tract of homes

and I was encouraged to see how many

new trees had been planted.

For some reason those spindly trunks topped by

their brilliant scarlet leaves

made a statement about young

(presumably young) homeowners

investing in the future

when a new patio set may 

have had a more immediate payoff.

 

I'm also feeling a certain

squirrel-like urgency in these last

 few days before daylight savings ends.

Darkness late into the morning  and

falling early in the evening

makes the day too short and too busy 

when there are projects to tackle!!

 

290/365 Lost Time

Darkness crowding both

Ends of day makes each minute

As precious as light.

289/365 Vagaries

Laugh, cry.  Black, white, red!

Short, long.  Together, alone.

Today, tomorrow.

288/365 Secrets

Shining eyes disclose

The excitement that careful

Wording seeks to hide.

287/365 Mixed Reactions

Joy and sorrow, at

Times, sit too closely making

Our tears bittersweet.

286/365 October Morn

Scarlet leaves atop

Thin branches quiver, touched by

Autumn’s frosty air.

285/365 October Outing

Sunshine, reflected

In smiling faces, warms a

Lovely afternoon.

Friday!?

Did your week pass as quickly as mine?

 

Two days were spent sitting in

the dark as training sessions introduced 

the staff to a new cataloging/records

system for the library.

That kind of disruption in normal routines

always challenges my sense of

days/time.

You know that feeling, right?

 

It has been a productive week, though.

Furniture has been re-arranged.

Closets and cupboards addressed.

And with the onset of colder days my

kitchen has seen some action.

 

These two ideas/recipes were from

Pinterest:

 

 These pumpkin muffins contain just a dab

of molasses which makes them so

moist and mellow.

 

The apple chips - easy and oh, so tasty -

were a hit at work.

 

So I started thinking...

why wouldn't this work with potatoes?

 

Guess what's in my oven?

 

I used our garden potatoes - flavorful! -

 tried different thicknesses

sprinkled salt

and added cayenne to a small sample.

 

The very thin slices took hardly any time

to crisp and were so delicious!

Yes, that past tense is correct. 

 

My mantra for the rest of the day is

Mustsavesomefortim.

 

 

284/365 Refuge

From low‘ring clouds and

Spitting rain throughout the day

The warmth of home calls.

283/365 For Pops

Certain events will

Prompt remembrances of those

Dear to us.  Go Cards!

282/365 Tuesday

Warm scents of baking

Fill the house holding biting

Winds and sleet at bay.

Ya Gotta love it!

For as long as I can remember

any occasion involving gifts

generally includes  a conversation

with Naphtali along these lines:

 

N - I got your present today.  Do you want to open it?

Me - No, I'll wait.

N - I found it at a little shop downtown,

it's gorgeous.  Do you want to open it?

Me - It's only a week - I'll wait.

N -You're really going to like it. 

Do you want me to tell you what it is?

Me - Really, I'm happy to wait.

 

Honestly, that routine is aired

several times each year.

 

When I arrived on Thursday afternoon

one of the first things she said to me was that

she had put my birthday present in my room.

With that in mind I should be excused

for taking a peek, right?

 

 

I did peek - it was only a bag - and

found four beautiful fabric bundles with

tags that didn't help me identify them.

 

 

So I commented on the beautiful fabric

- said thank you -

and asked if they are bath towels.

 

You guessed it:

Mom!  Those are for your birthday!

You weren't supposed to look yet!

 

Naphtali is a very generous gift-giver.

She loves to give, and

she loves the search for something special.

 

 

I think she scored, again,

with lovely foutas for my bathroom.

 

 

 

 

 



281/365 Family

Bound by durable,

Proven ties we take delight

 In shared memories

Tea Time

Several weeks ago,

while I was sick,

I drank copious amounts of

hot water with lemon and honey.

 

 

It made me think that maybe it was time to revisit

my quest to learn to drink tea.

After all, how much different would tea be?

So, I have been trying.

 

google images


I've worked my way
through a box of Lemon Zinger
-which in some minds may not even qualify as tea -
but it was progress.
Polite company would doubtless
look askance at the amount
of honey added to my cup, but it was progress.

More helpful, though, was that
I finally understood my difficulty with tea.
It's not the sweetness, but the lack of saturated flavor
that I miss.  Maybe double bagging would help.

Today, I've brought home a
 lemon-based green tea. 
Fresh lemon has been added, as has
ginger
cinnamon
and honey.
Less honey than I've been using.
Progress, I tell you, progress.
 

 



280/365 Sunday Routines

The familiar sounds

 Of home surround me like a

Favorite blanket.

Saturday Night

The day is winding to a close.

The radiators have us all feeling coddled

and a scrumptious dinner has put

us in a mellow frame of mind.

Chickpeas with cumin and tomatoes

fingerling potatoes roasted in olive oil and rosemary

grilled chicken breast

a salad that defies its simple designation

warm baguette with dates and feta.

 

How will we'll actually remember this evening?

A good meal after a busy day

served with love by candlelight.

Aidan whistling nonchalantly as he scootched

his chair toward the light switch.

Waving a cutting board under the fire alarm.

Several times.

Dogs inching closer to the table.

The butterscotch versus caramel debate.

Laughter.

Plenty of laughter.

 

Tomorrow will find us headed home

- trying to avoid construction delays -

and thinking about our own

projects to tackle before winter.

 

We have everything - and a few extras -

crossed off Naphtali's list

for  this weekend.

Her cottage is cozy and ready for

whatever weather comes their way.

Aidan's homework is done.

Grandpa is tired.

 

And we'd do it all again in a heartbeat.

279/365 Welcome

Cozy warmth spills out

The door as guests crowd in, cheered

By friendly voices.

278/365 October Afternoon

Pallid sunshine and

Chill winds conspire to hasten

Winter’s arrival.

Thursday Morning

Ooh! but it's dark and cold, now, in the early morning.

Bumps in my schedule have sent

me to the gym for the 6AM class

twice this week!

Once I'm up and out it's okay

but getting out of bed and ready to go

can be a challenge.

 

I do enjoy the different sights of an early morning

 (those that can be seen in the dark) like:

the reflective spots on the runners' shoes

 bobbing along the path

or

the moon - nearly full - hanging

huge, low and golden on the western horizon

or

the single light shining in a dark house

or

Traffic!?

a surprising amount for 5:37!

 

Today we'll head north for a weekend

with Naphtali and Aidan.

There are a few last details to attend

and then Charlie and I will hit the road.

Good times.

 

 

 

 



277/365 Early Morning

Winking tail lights trace

An intricate path as folks

Make their way to work.

276/365 Anticipation

Preparations add

to the growing excitement

surrounding a trip.

275/365 Slow Night

Crawling painfully

past each number the clock's hands

bring me no relief.

274/365 Windy Day

Russet, gold and green

Quiver against cloudless skies

As autumn winds blow.

Surrender

Who am I kidding?

 

There will be no wrap-it-all-up

posts to finish the trip to Oregon.

We returned about a month ago

 and I don't know how that is possible.

 

Much has - as it does - happened in the last month

and keeping up is enough of a challenge

without always trying to catch up.

 

So forget about a description of the

incredible fresh crab bisque

I enjoyed at the coast.

Not going to happen.

 

There will be no tales of

grilling fresh fish

fingerling potatoes from the garden or

steamer clams.

 

Fajitas

 featuring peppers, onions and tomatoes

from the garden?

You'll never hear about them.

 

Fresh eggs from backyard chickens?

Pretend it didn't happen.

 

The polite, handsome,

cowboy/students

who offered to replace our broken

windshield wipers in Laramie

will not get the ink the deserve.

 

The last blurry, rain-soaked

seventeen hours in the car to make it home

will simply remain a memory.

 

I'm through talking about it.

 

 

It's 5AM Monday morning and

I'm headed to the gym.

 

 

 



273/365 Autumn on the Lake

Crisp reflections on

Still water mirror scarlet

Accents set in gold.

272/365 Twilight

Tasks left for day’s end

Are rescheduled, as fading

Light forces a halt.

271/365 Friday Evening

Shared conversation

And food create mellow moods

And week’s end good will.

270/365 Peek-a-Boo Moon

October crescent

Hangs low above the roofline

Hidden by treetops.

269/365 Hummingbird

Green flash against clear

Azure sky seems misplaced as

Golden leaves languish.

268/365 Conspiracy Theory

Our best intentions

Are thwarted as well-meaning

Loved ones interrupt

267/365 Making Hay

Bold in the warm sun,

Marauding squirrels pilfer

Nearby bird feeders.

266/365 Fire

Flickering chatter

Warms the room holding the damp

Autumn night at bay.

Short Shrift

I'm afraid Mt. Hood and remaining portion of our trip

are going to be condensed.

 

 

Lessons from Daily Living 101

interfered with our plans

 for a day of hiking on Mt. Hood, but the necessary

phone calls were made,

details feel into place,

a late start was deemed better than no start

and we drove over to the mountain

on a cloudless afternoon.

 

Mt Hood is a beautiful sight. 

Unfortunately, an unexpected camera glitch left

me with no pictures.

You'd be right in guessing we took the long way

and enjoyed our glimpses of it's  

classic, snow-capped shape as the curving road

brought us closer.

 

Tim and I also went on our own

one afternoon when Jacob was working and

found Lucia and Moulton Falls

near Battle Ground, WA.

 

 

 We clambered around on the rocks,

Tim picked up bottles and cans left by

inconsiderate partyers,

and we marveled at the size of the trees.

This was the type of old Pacific coast forest region

that I'd been expecting.

 

Food?

The food deserves better treatment

than to be summarized thus:

it was great!

So I will put together one last post

soon.

 

 

 



265/365 Relaxation

Weekend rhythms slow

As homely concerns call for

 Leisurely efforts.

264/365 Sick Day

Of all the ways we

Express those “three little words”

Chicken soup’s matchless.

263/365 Waiting for the Rain

Dark clouds gather, pass,

Then re-form, through a long day

In which no rain falls.

Sauvie Island

The next stop on our recent travels

in Oregon was Sauvie Island.

Only 10 miles from Portland, Sauvie Island is

a blend of agriculture

and wildlife.  And shipping.  There are several camp grounds

and a marina of house boats.  It's one of Jacob's

favorite local spots.

 

 

My guess is that this is the Sauvie Island

excursion boat.

 

But this one is on its way to the ports.

As we stood there we googled the name of the ship

and were connected to a real-time gps signal

 tracking it - including our location - and its

progress toward Portland.

Who knew?

We drove through orchards and truck farms.

These are hydrangeas

- one of several fields -



 

and the were surrounded by fields of roses.

 

We stopped at a local market and bought

apples

sweet corn

pepper jelly

and a beautifully utilitarian market basket.

 

We followed a sign to a nearby orchard,

looking for gravensteins,

and heard some of the local

history/legends from a woman who grew up

on the island.

 

A good day.

262/365 Serendipity

Unexpected gems

Drop from unknowing lips to

Prompt inspiration.

261/365 Focus!

Sweeping second hands

Chides us about dawdling as

Deadlines creep nearer.