Snowy Day

Hurray, there is snow and definitive signs of winter-time in Homer! Judah, Amesa, Blaster and I are excited about playing outside in the snow. I’m afraid that Zach Brown is slightly less enthusiastic about working outside in the snow, perhaps because he does not have frequent indoor interludes of snack time, story time, nap time, 4pm glass of wine time, etc.

The one major drawback of winter in Judah’s mind seems to be the absence of berries growing on the once prosperous bushes. And alas, she believes this to be her own fault and is now bemoaning her lack of foresight…”Oh bother! Judah eat ALL the berries. Should have saved some”! (Although we did save some and they are in the freezer…)

Now that mitten season is unarguably present, Judah insists on wearing her mittens at all times. She wore them to bed last night – they stayed on until morning and she is now wearing a different pair while napping.

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The Times are Always Changing…

Summer is drawing to a close in this hemisphere, although in Homer, Alaska it feels as though summer is just now on it’s way in… this past week’s weather has been the nicest since April! I’m quite excited for Winter; it’s a fun season and I love the natural transitions from Summer to Autumn and how by mid-Winter, all people can think about is the imminent arrival of Springtime.

Autumn Smiles...

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Happy Days

It is very clear to me this year, that the designated time we have together to celebrate Christmas, is really all about spending our time together, peacefully and happily and mirthfully. The surrounding months are busy with work and classes and various time consuming activities and events…but I am so thankful to have this protected time together for now. And this is how we choose to spend it:

Baking Christmas Eve banana bread. Sleepy Stockings… (artfully knitted by my mother)Loving each other!

Taking a wintery walk in the snow with our dogs.

As I write this, Zach and Judah are working on a barrage of Christmas cookies in the kitchen…it’s a lovely time.

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Snowy Trees

It’s finally winter in Homer!

Judah loves to play in the snow. She was extra pumped when we all trudged through the snow to pick out a tree and despite never having selected a Christmas tree before, she was quite involved in the process and assertive about which trees met her approval.

We had a nice time decorating (and repeatedly undecorating) the tree and hanging lights. Judah observed Zach hanging lights in our house and now assumes that he is responsible for all of the lights she sees around Homer. Most places we go have holiday lights hung, and she happily points and says, “Dada!”, clearly pleased to see how proactive he has been this year spreading Christmas cheer.

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The Best

My favorite books…of those I read this year…A List:

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
Difficult Loves by Italo Calvino
The Way of Ignorance by Wendell Berry
The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved by Sandor Elliz Katz
Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de St Exupery
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott
Of The Farm by John Updike
Autumn and Winter by Gerda Muller (also on Judah’s list of favorites)
Equus by Peter Shaffer
Alaska Gardening Guide by Ann D. Roberts

This is sort of a ridiculous list, because several of these books I read over and over and they will always be amongst my favorites, but how can I not include them when I love them so much? And these authors? Such contributions! I can’t even begin to describe how they have shaped my own thought processes and considerations on the world and that within it.

I feel delighted to have discovered Gerda Muller and her lovely collection of children’s books centered around the changing seasons. I can hardly wait for Spring and Summer respectively, when Judah and I shall begin to read those with much anticipated frequency.

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Whats Normal?

I love holidays. I love celebrating, I love people, I love food, I love my family, I love gifts, I love the seasons and I love fun.

I (regrettably) participate in but do not love: materialism, consumerism, gluttony, commercialism and the cheap thrill that comes from indulging in such fleeting pleasures.

Must these lists mirror one another? Must traditional celebration of holidays be so morally disconcerting?

Not only do I ponder my own ethical qualms at this time of year, lest I get caught up in the frenzy, but I must consider what I am teaching my sweet child about holidays, family and celebration.

I hope to always give generously and thoughtfully of myself, and to receive graciously and with thanks. I hope to not cave in to the societal pressure to buy and to have and to gorge not only on Christmas cake, but also with stuff because it “is the Season”… I hope to create with Zach fun holiday traditions for Judah and each other, and to cultivate a sense of peace and hope and whimsy at this exciting time of year. I hope that Judah will embrace her own sense of family and individuals, not for gifts they may bring, but for the privilege and good fortune we have in holding them close to us. I hope that entitlement and self centered-ness will not play a part in the way we celebrate, but rather our focus may be on thoughtfulness and giving to those who need things more than we do.

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Waiting for Winter

It appears as though Autumn cannot let go. I keep hoping for snow. We have started reading books about Winter, in our attempts to summon this change of Season.

Presently it’s raining…if it could just cool off a bit, that rain would turn to snow! Winter in Homer is notoriously rainy, much to my dismay, but I do recall there being snow as well.

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