Wordless Wednesday

Poetry Friday: Snow, Snow, Snow

Temperatures are finally moving out of the freezing range. Snow had turned to rain. Now a time to reflect on the beauty of it all instead of the mess it made of the holiday.

snow flan winter treat
midnight nibbles, unseen guests
hummingbird grace notes

autumn’s last vestige
oak leaves grace winter’s blanket
afternoon surprise

Miss Rumphius Effect is hosting Poetry Friday and share a little Frost.  Head over there for more poetry offerings.

Christmas Eve Adventure

We had been snowed in since Sunday. Over 15+ inches dropped on our little part of the world since Saturday.  It was followed by ten hours without power (hardly anything compare to a friend of mine at 66 hours). So all snug in the house with plenty to eat, plenty to read, and a fire and yet cabin fever happens.

Yesterday, Christmas Eve, a break in the weather, napping all done, my husband I decided to don our hiking boots, bundle up, and head to Starbucks, 1.5 miles from our house. Someone forgot to tell us about what it was like to walk in slushy, soft snow. If you have ever walked on the beach, the soft sand, that compares except colder! And then the joy of having cars pass you with chains on and slushy dirty snow flying like batter from the blades of a mixer going out of control.

 

 

 

 

 

 
But we made it to Starbucks in about thirty-five  minutes. Not bad considering I stopped a bit to take photos. 

Mmmm, coffee and peppermint mocha and then the rain began.  I was thinking it and so glad to hear my husband say, “Let’s take the bus home.” So heading toward the bus stop, we trudged through the dirty gray muck and wait.

Two wonderful things happened as we climbed aboard the bus (after waiting for about fifteen minutes). First, the driver did not charge us fare for our short trek and second, the interim pastor for my church was aboard. She was on her way to the Christmas Eve service that I would not be attending (car still snowed in).  So I wondered during my conversation with her if it would count at dispensation; to see her on the way to church.

Our stop arrived, we hopped off, dodging the monster snow puddles as we crossed the main thoroughfare to our street.  The street had deteriorated in the brief time of our adventure.  Between the rain, slushy snow, and falling temperatures, we watched a car give up on trying to get up the hill.

Once inside, we traded our wet garments for our comfy clothes, and snuggled in for the evening.

Sunday Scribblings: Late

Late

This amends
five years
later
a grieving heart
I wonder
will there be a time
we chat
over coffee
reminisce
our childhood escapades
forgive
our transgressions
we become
family
once more

Many people have a lot to say about  ”late” over at Sunday Scribblings.

One Single Impression: A Winter’s Day

river’s mouth open
captures snowflakes all day long
serenity drifts

dogs sleep together
snow glow cascades through window
reaches for your hand

 we slumber, dreams drift
undiscovered paths

More haiku and other poetry on the theme, “A Winter’s Day” can be found at One Single Impression.

Wordless Wednesday

Mandala Monday

The Difference of a Week

Bird Bath Last Sunday, December 14, 2008

This Sunday, December 21, 2008. Doesn’t it look like a snow flan?

My Christmas Letter

To those of you in blogland!! This is what I sent out.

Greetings from the Pacific Northwest!
  This year has been a fantastic year for the Caputo-MacCulloch household. 
It began late in 2007 when our daughter, Audrey married Wes on December 20. 

In early 2008, Charlotte and Michael announced that their family would be growing.  Amelie Elizabeth arrived on October 8, 2008 at 8:01 AM.  I was privileged to be in the birthing room to witness the arrival. (This also made me realize why I had taken the teaching path of my father rather than the nursing path of my mother.)

I finished my portfolios in March for national teaching certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, took the exam in June and this November was informed that I achieved certification, I am among the 9600 people throughout the United States who accomplished this rigorous certification this year.  Need I say how happy I am?  (Perhaps you noticed that the cards last year were barely signed due to the NBPTS process.)

Chuck and I went on a grand adventure this summer by driving first to Arizona to see family friends, then onto California.  Our two pooches Rusty and Sophie came with us in their “first, big car adventure”.   We discovered how much fun it was to have them with us.  So in August we drove with them over to Idaho to see more family friends.

Our summer also saw the annual trip to the coast with both of our daughters’ families.  The granddaughters, Estelle (almost 4) and Cecelia (4) are too much fun. We baked together, went on the bumper cars (my driving stinks) and just had a blast. 

Aunt Betty visited for a weekend in November. We had a spectacular day at the coast and she came to my school for a half day. She still travels a blessing back and forth across the country. How great is that?

I am in my thirty-fifth year of teaching, thirty years in the same district.  It still feels new to me after all these years.  I had a practicum student this fall and will have another in the winter.  Besides teaching, I am focusing on beading, photography and writing (I keep two blogs: http://maclibrary.edublogs.org and http://deowriter.wordpress.com) .

another year flies
let joy, hope, love surround you|
may our paths cross soon

Wordless Wednesday: A Day Late