Winter Skies at Dawn

The sun's rising is not dramatic this time of year.  Often only gentle colors light the predawn sky, and the sun is lost in fog or clouds...Today the predawn sky showed only a small band of salmon and gold, but as the disk itself rose above the horizon, the drama was immediately visible in the bands of light on the trees behind me.  The dusty old grey trees became a burnished brown, and the branches seemed to lift towards the sun, as if praise-filled, or perhaps as an old Ent, lifting his face to seek warmth.  

 

In front of me, unwatched for a few critical moments, the sun rose in a wash of color, for only a few moments, and then drifted up into the clouds to hide its face.  

                       

Merry Christmas, and God bless us, every one!

 

Does Your Cat Snore?

This is my soul cat Rufio.  He likes to sleep on my lap, transferring all his Cat Gravity to me.  

This is a closeup of him doing just that, and snoring!  He may look like he has no teeth, but that’s just the cute black spots on his tongue and gums...he has excellent dental health.  

The sun sets in a beautiful sky after a wild couple of days....already the mountain is showing her ridge line.

A fire makes both hearts and homes warm...especially when accompanied by cats and a toddy or too.  

But one little princess finds the tree very interesting, full of shiny and fluffy things.  She’s plotting something....
 

 There was some wind last night!  It wasn’t awful, nor did it last for hours, but instead came and went as the gusts pleased.  

When the wind wasn’t wild, there was an almost eerie silence that reigned in its place, muffling sound, just the gentle ticking I associate with falling snow. The light was different too, more...almost luminous.  It’s been years since we’ve seen this much snow, and there’s not anything substantive looming on the near horizon, so I will enjoy this while I can.  Honestly, I can’t remember a time when snowstorms weren’t accompanied by the stress of having to get to work, worrying about the kids, or being Alpha personnel in the Navy.  This was delightful!  No wondering if I would have to travel through the slippery roads, no finding a daycare that was open, no planning and overseeing the berthing arrangements for sailor’s families or stranded civilian workers.  

Instead I stoked the fire and made comfort food and petted my cats while watching the snow fall... total and complete perfection!we made it through without power loss, though we were ready if need be.  The birds rather frantically ate, getting in as many calories as possible.  I changed out the sliver of suet they left this morning for a fresh, fatty, protein rich block.  The kitties have been entertained watching the activities of dozens of feathered fliers jostling for treats.  I knitted.  Most of the day!  Today was bake cookies day for our neighbors who plowed us out with their tractor.  Good people, very good.  

I hope everyone stayed safe...though I’m sure many were in dangerous situations.  I am grateful for the people who cleared the roads, who ran towards the emergencies, who fought their way in to hospitals and firehouses and Sheriffs offices.  Those who fought through the storm, keeping safe the flocks and herds and coops in their care. May God bless you, every one.  

Snow

 The snow is falling hard and fast, but the wind keeps it from settling onto the ground in a fluffy blanket.  It is light and dry, so the above ground power lines are not in danger from the snow, and so far the wind isn’t enough to worry me either.  Nonetheless I got out flashlights and oil lamps, and even candles if we really need them.  Thank goodness for the knowledge of safe lamps with olive oil fuel shared in the SCA.  

The kitties are taking turned on my lap and the heating pads, they both give and receive comfort.  

The Weather

The ever changing vista outside my door beckons me each morning to get my lazy self out from the covers and see what God has on offer for me this morning.  Then, if I’m lucky and have both a moment to notice and the energy to go out back, the sun setting over my South Mountain can take my breath away.  

 

Dreaming of Winter

A garland for the mantel to greet the snowy morn.  

Sunrise in a grey sky, just a hint of color blushing through the grey.

But the sun breaks though and lights the tops of my South Mountain.

Dawn sun, my morning has begun with beauty

Back from my gentle sauntering, slowly trying to strengthen back and knees, the sun has hidden itself once more, promising to return.

A Miscellany of Pictures and Thoughts

Industry

I blind the sun on his throne at noon, nothing can tame me, nothing can bind, I am a child of the heartless wind- But oh the pines on the mountain's crest whispering always, "Rest, Rest". Sara Teasdale

The autumn is old; the sear leaves are flying; He has gather'd up gold, and now he is flying; Old age, begin sighing!  Thomas Hood     

 

A Cold and Cloudy Day

The day began with heavy, grey clouds obscuring the sunrise...except for one small sliver of vibrant coral and gold beyond my neighbors house.  After getting the paper I scurried back inside and put the coffee on to warm me up.  I figured a nice little fire was warranted, so laid one and lit it.  There was no wind outside, always a little challenging to get the box warmed without smoking up the house!  I finally got it though, and oh the warmth!

The coals, of course, invited me to find a bag of marshmallows from the early fall bonfires, only a little crusty, and roast them a rich golden brown before sliding them off the fork and popping them in my mouth.  The sweetness and warmth were perfect.  

And then the snow came, the wind picked up and the flakes persisted until the grass and leaves on the ground were crusted with snow.  The moon, later on, limned each leaf, each branch, with an silver glow that was startlingly bright.  

Inside, warm and dry, I dosed in my chair.  Pippin and Strider were snuggling on the loveseat, and as I lifted the phone to capture their sweet pose, Pippin awoke and looked at me accusingly.  I swear he can hear me change my breathing.  Candid photos are hard to achieve with such vigilance!

Moon Light

 The moon is so big and bright that I can almost see into the little copse in front of our house.  Or read!  But only where the trees are not!

Thoughts on Living My Dream

 This view out my window was so gorgeous I wanted to catch it to be able to see again and again.  About a millisecond later, this was my view...

 

Rufio  is my soul cat, and can’t stand to see a camera pointed somewhere other than him!  In fact he is so jealous, if I call another cat, pet another cat, or snap a picture of another cat, he is there quite suddenly, winding sinuously around my ankles.  Me, Mommy?  Me too?

On my walk this morning, I went a bit farther into the woods, and found a great big log section that will be perfect for a table in my to be completed sitting area.  It was hard going for me, I’m glad I took my walking stick.  My two new knees were performing admirably, but my back made everything harder.  Just two more weeks until the, hopefully, second surgery, and then the work of recovery, and then, I hope, normalcy.  Well, as normal as this year can be.  

We had moths in our old place, just one of the many issues that plagued us there.  A very old, very loved hat was one of the casualties.I had to throw out so much wool.  The hole mending was put on hold so as to get better set up in our new home, and somehow it was tossed in the washer!  Oh no, must fix holes!  So I got a little ball of some of my first spinning, and filled the holes.  A little fulling and it will be fixed....

The sun is setting earlier each night, laying its course to the winter solstice.  Each time is rises and each time it sets it slides a little further south for the rising sun, and north for the setting.  I wonder how people, long long ago saw the suns progression. We know they tracked it...not just in the Iron Age, or Bronze, but back into Neolithic time as well.  In Pennsylvania we have one of the oldest sites of human habitation in North America as well as some fascinating petroglyphs and stone stacks, all of which have representations of solar and lunar activity.   I think it must have been comforting to have a stable schedule, a calendar if you will.  It must have been frightening if it deviated. So much depended on the sun.  And the moon....but that is for another post.