Snow | dual personalities

Well, I got a few things done on Friday before the storm hit–like everyone else who was out and about buying bread and milk and salt/ice melt. I went to Trader Joe’s early and bought flowers and then went to church where I arranged them for Sunday, which I knew might be cancelled, but what the heck, I did my duty.

I will note that as I drove around and made my various stops, people were very nice and polite, even cheerful. Part of this is because I have gray hair and look like an old lady, so people are usually quick to assist me when they think I need help. I am always a little taken aback by this because I feel like a completely capable woman, but again, what the heck–if someone wants to take my grocery cart back to the cart corral for me in the single digit weather, have at it.

The boy came over in the afternoon to pick up some stuff and to have wine time with me since daughter #1 had many errands to run after work. Everyone was in a tizzy about whether various events would be cancelled. Well, I had no plans to worry about so I just concentrated on hunkering down…

Church was cancelled after all–I certainly couldn’t get out of my driveway. And this was the scene in Wildwood…

While admittedly there is no substitute for worshiping together in person, we were encouraged to watch a previously recorded service on our YouTube channel or watch the recorded adult ed classes.

Daughter #1’s church was also closed as was daughter #2’s. Central had already recorded their sermon to be viewed…

So Mr. Smith heard the word of God on Sunday morning.

All Souls suggested reading a book of the Bible and praying or watching a previous sermon. So many options. I listened to an old sermon given at Central by Dr. Dan Doriani last October on James 3:1-12, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

In the afternoon the twins had fun frolicking in the snow…

And so did the prairie girls…

Now it is Monday and I am waiting for the yard guys to come plow my driveway.

All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well…

3 Comments

February 19, 2024

It’s the same old song

by chuckofish

Friday we got several inches of snow. Plans were canceled.

But the sun came out on Saturday and we were back in action, venturing to an estate sale and even Costco with daughter #1.

On Sunday we went to church and during the adult ed hour heard from two of our missionaries, one in Mexico and one in Connecticut. I find it fascinating that Connecticut (and New England in general) is a mission field. But with 5% of people attending church, it really is.

I made a new breakfast casserole which incorporated bagels, eggs, bacon, cheese. The consensus was positive, so I will make it again. The twins had fun frolicking with Mr. Smith, whom they had not seen in several weeks. “Smitty!”

I want someone to make me one of these…DN?

And I think this is funny:

I heard the boogie man checks under the bed for Chuck Norris.

Happy Monday!

5 Comments

January 26, 2023

My burden is light*

by chuckofish

As reported yesterday, I returned home on Tuesday in a remarkably delay-free, easy trip. The plane wasn’t even full! The OM was at the airport to meet me and he had not burned down the house while I was gone. Daughter #1 cooked dinner. The forecasted winter storm did not turn out to be anything special, just some wet sticky snow which continued to melt all day yesterday. (The twins did manage to build an impressive snowman.)

So all is well, thanks be to God. Anyway, I am taking my time getting back into my flyover routine.

I will note that today is Paul Newman’s birthday, so I suggest we all watch at least one of his movies.

I recently watched The MacKintosh Man (1973) which I had not seen since it was originally released when I was back east visiting colleges. I went with my cousin and her friend to a drive-in movie theater. They talked throughout the movie and I had no idea what was going on in the movie, which at the time was very annoying. However, watching the movie 50 years later a few months ago, I still did not really know what was going on. It is one of those English spy movies where you don’t really like anyone and you can’t tell who the good guys/bad guys are and there is a cross followed by a double-cross and so on. Honestly, there are better choices to make.

So I’ll probably watch an old favorite. Maybe Road to Perdition (2002). We can eat one of your pizzas and toast you, old blue eyes. You were pretty great.

*Matthew 11:30

3 Comments

February 17, 2022

Is it snowing where you are?

by chuckofish

“You wake up on a winter morning and pull up the shade, and what lay there the evening before is no longer there–the sodden gray yard, the dog droppings, the tire tracks in the frozen mud, the broken lawn chair you forgot to take in last fall. All this has disappeared overnight, and what you look out on is not the snow of Narnia but the snow of home, which is no less shimmering and white as it falls. The earth is covered with it, and it is falling still in silence so deep that you can hear its silence. It is snow to be shoveled, to make driving even worse than usual, snow to be joked about and cursed at, but unless the child in you is entirely dead, it is snow, too, that can make the heart beat faster when it catches you by surprise that way, before your defenses are up. It is snow that can awaken memories of things more wonderful than anything you ever knew or dreamed.”
–Frederick Buechner, Telling Secrets

4 Comments

January 11, 2019

“Snow’s all right on a fine morning, but I like to be in bed when it’s falling”*

by chuckofish

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Well, they are saying we will get 5-7 inches of snow starting later this afternoon.

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We’ll see.

I plan to head home a little early and settle in for a quiet weekend. Hopefully I will get some reading done. I have a lot of new books.

And there are always movies to watch, right?

In the meantime, try to focus on the little joys encountered every day. For instance, yesterday morning on my way to work, I passed the boy in his big ol’ truck driving the wee babes to their nursery school. We waved to each other.

Have a good weekend!

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*Samwise-gamgee (J.R.R. Tolkien)

7 Comments

January 25, 2016

“Woman, I am the calvary”*

by chuckofish

So I spent most of the weekend inside, in solidarity with daughters # 1 and 2, who really were stuck inside their east coast apartments because of all the snow.

Although I guess daughter #2 wasn’t stuck inside all weekend.

We had no snow besides the old stuff from our mid-week event.

The boy came over to show us his new hockey skates.

And we watched Furious 7 again and thoroughly enjoyed all its lovely ridiculousness.

The OM made shepherd’s pie.

Not a bad weekend, all things considered.

Have a good week!

*Hobbs in Furious 7.

6 Comments

March 2, 2015

Holier than thou

by chuckofish

Well, I do feel a bit holier than thou, having gone to church on Sunday when over 300 (mostly small) churches in the area were closed. However, First Presbyterian and Kirkwood Baptist, two large churches which are only a block or two away from Grace, were also closed. And why you ask? Because it snowed on Saturday! But only 6-7 inches! The streets were plowed! I got down my driveway in my little car no problem.

When did this happen? This fear of snow and the weather in general? When did Americans become such sheep huddled together in fear of a big bad weather front coming through? When did church become just another activity that could be canceled at will?

Well, about 40 hardy souls gathered at our church (and 18 at the 8 a.m. service!), including all the acolytes, all the lay readers and half the ushers! The Sunday School held classes. I say high fives all around for these intrepid Episcopalians!

I must say, it was kind of creepy listening to the snow slide loudly off our big ‘ol roof during the service.

I shoveled off the front walk when I got home and part of the driveway and then the OM hired some teenagers with a snow-blower to clear the driveway, so we are all set now.

I watched some of Ken Burns’ The Civil War in anticipation of my trip in a couple of weeks to see daughter #2. We are road-tripping up to Gettysburg to see the National Military Park. I am also re-reading Long Remember by Mackinlay Kantor, which you will recall is a novel about the battle from the viewpoint of the people who lived in the town. It is really good. I will probably also watch Gettysburg (1993) based on the Michael Schaara novel The Killer Angels. I always thought it was pretty good, except for Martin Sheen as Gen. Robert E. Lee. Jeff Daniels, who plays my hero Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, makes up for Sheen.

Speaking of Chamberlains, did you watch Josh Duhamel’s new show Battle Creek last night? He plays a detective named Milt Chamberlain. (And BTW, the actor who played Dewey Crowe on Justified has a small part.)

Have a good Monday!

8 Comments

March 26, 2014

More snow you say?

by chuckofish

Bah humbug!

Yes, we are a wee bit annoyed in our flyover state. However, you may recall that last year at this time we had 12.4 inches of snow! So big deal, right? What’s a dusting?

Besides, this is just a minor set-back. It does feel like spring is almost here. There are Robins in abundance. Songbirds are singing. Have you heard “Peter! Peter! Peter!”? According to BirdWatcher’sDigest.com, we should also be listening for woodpeckers drumming and owls hooting. Look for raptors in clumps or pairs and ducks in flight.

Take a deep breath. It smells like spring.

Meanwhile I have my spies in Florida. They send me photos of this guy.

Hello, Mike Matheny. How ya doin?

4 Comments

February 5, 2014

And make rough winter everlastingly*

by chuckofish

N.C. Wyeth, “Snow Platform”

Well, we are digging out from more snow. Aargh.

So here is a poem for a snowy day. The last verse is rather famous, but perhaps you have forgotten the earlier part.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, 1923

*William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”

4 Comments

January 31, 2014

No cloud above, no earth below,— A universe of sky and snow!”

by chuckofish

Yesterday’s post with the wonderful Hiroshige landscape got me thinking about my love of landscape paintings that include snow. I have always loved them. I don’t know why.

I have one in my kitchen which I love.