The Anticipation...

The anticipation of Christmas is building! It was quite evident the other day when a mother was fending off her child's insistant pleading for something while I passed by the toy isle at the local store.  

Oh, but we're all children at heart when it comes to Christmas!  My husband and I watched part of the old "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" movie, the other night.  I still thought the abominable snow monster was scary! We'd both forgotten about the land of misfit toys. I thought it was worthy to highlight the quote by one of the elves below.  Dreamed up by some marketing genius, I'll bet!

My favorite toys were stuffed animals. One of my all time favorites was a large pink (surprise) cat with a black tail and ears. Oh, I wish I had her still....

What were some of your favorite toys as a child?

The Coming of Snow

Thanksgiving is here and snow is soon to arrive just in time to throw a snag into your travel plans.  Yes, I know, it was just a few months ago that I was ranting about being sick of snow, but I am over that now. I really am thankful, for Snow!

Many of you have already had your first taste of snow and we here in Minnesota ready ourselves for the real snow storm that will inevitably occur sometime soon.

The shovels stand in the corner of the garage accessible when needed. Some sand is ready if we get a bit of ice. My husband and I handle snow the old-fashioned way, with a shovel. No power, just the quite scrape of the snow shovel on the sidewalk. 

It really isn't such a difficult job and I love shoveling at twilight when the air is getting still and the sky is turning from pink to purple. I love that time, when it is so quiet, and I often stop shoveling to rest and just listen to .... the silence.  When all is done, a cup of hot cocoa makes it all so worth it. Looking out at the backyard and seeing the soft snow while cradling a warm cup in my hand is a beautiful feeling. 

I found this lovely poem that gives a sense of this time of year, the end of autumn, right before the snow.....

Variations: II 

 

Green light, from the moon,

Pours over the dark blue trees,

Green light from the autumn moon

Pours on the grass ...

Green light falls on the goblin fountain

Where hesitant lovers meet and pass.

They laugh in the moonlight, touching hands,

They move like leaves on the wind ...

I remember an autumn night like this,

And not so long ago,

When other lovers were blown like leaves,

Before the coming of snow.”

 ― Conrad Aiken

 

I want to say that I am thankful for many other things,
but I am especially thankful for all of the wonderful people who
visit and comment here.

I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!