Currently I watch a blizzard out of my window. A woman in a black hood walks down the road and picks up speed as she turns up her front path. Two cardinals, blood red, seem to jump out out of the bush by her steps: in a second they disappear. Where in the world did they go?
There has to be a porthole somewhere where I could poke my head above this white, white, and gray that has taken over our town for the last three weeks. Merry's been out of school for six and a half days straight, and even Bea (who wakes up and demands, "Where's sunshine?" and then concludes: "Down to seep" or sleep) is starting to find her own ways of coping: popsicles and chocolate. Every time we put her in her chair she looks at the freezer and demands: "Poptoose!" The other day I found her with a chair up to the freezer, holding an ice-cream scoop from the drawer. Goal: sherbet. Hey, if the poptoose is "all down" (all gone). . .
Today Merry gleefully led me to a pile of gold coin wrappers and smeared chocolate behind the couch, where Bea had been taking advantage of the left-overs from our Valentine's/Birthday tea. I cleaned it up while she napped but then later as she and I sat sharing a banana, she said: "Chocate!" and scrambled down from her chair and made a bee-line for her happy place behind the couch. "All down?" she said. I must admit I have been indulging in similar coping mechanisms, such as "evening up the cake." You know that game. With a fork, you trim the cake so it's even, and that takes a lot of concentration and a lot of eating.
Elspeth and I were having a knock-knock fest the other day when we deviated mercifully into riddles:
Mommy: Why did the elephant go out of the house without his coat, hat, scarf, and boots?
Elspeth: Because the stores were all closed.
Mommy: No. Because it was summer outside.
Elspeth (eyes round, astonished:) I didn't think of THAT!
Well, I've been pouring over the calendar, and though for a few blissful hours a couple weeks ago I forgot entirely about the existence of March (I like to skip right to April and the first robins), winter can't last forever. Right? Right? It can't possibly. . .last. . .forever. . . .
5 comments:
I like that cake evening thing!
And El and her great Auntie share affinity for chocolate that cures all ills.
Ariel was here just for the night, he worked a reception downtown for this years early entry freshman at App.
He just left, driving back into the sixth major snow/blizzard since Christmas break.
He told us the last time Boone had this much snow in Feb (60") the total for the winter was 100"!
Hope that is not the case.
Hang in there, spring is indeed just around the corner.
It might either delight or sadden you to hear that over here we have had the LAMEST winter ever. It is going to be nearly 50 here today and there is mud, mud, mud everywhere. I look at your pictures with deep envy.... this is the winter Mara started the ski team and we've been driving through warm, brown highways all the way up a warm, brown mountain before getting to the cold, crisp snow. Of course, she is happy anyway, but it makes us all sad, sad. You should build a "guy-nomous" snowman and decorate her with loads of birdfood-ish jewlery. Then at least the cardinals and jays will come... :)
Amy, I would certainly rather have snow than mud!
Good idea on the snowman--and maybe I'll strap some skis to the girls and let them careen down our hill.
Kim,
This month has simply reconfirmed my belief that February is indeed the most heinous month of the year. Spring? Grass? What is that, do you even remember? Unfortunately though, we will have our share of mud when all of this snow FINALLY melts.
T
Thank you for the wonderful artwork from the girls! It is in our place of honor on the fridge, where all can see.
And especial thanks to Bea for parting with one of her golden choco's!
Love Auntie Phyllis and Uncle A.J.
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