It was my day off today so I took the bus downtown to meet Kayla for lunch. I don't know if I could depend on public transit all the time but it is interesting to ride the bus once in awhile. It is awesome for people watching. Everyone from stately elderly ladies with carefully curled air to young people with multiple piercings and jet black hair styled in mind boggling ways. In between you have office people and school kids and casual riders like me, going downtown for the afternoon. It is also quite stress free if you aren't on a strict schedule. No parking worries, no lane changes and you can even read a book - if reading while moving doesn't make you feel queasy. And since you aren't driving, you walk a lot more, see more of downtown, smile at more people, avoid a few more panhandlers and get more fresh air. All in all a good way to go on a laid back day off.
The down side of riding the bus at this time of year is that you wait by the curb. The streets are very wet and the gutters are filled with gray brown slushy stuff that sprays up very easily. You have to be quick to jump back for fast moving vehicles! But that is the first sign of spring so you can't dislike it too much. I came home and shoveled the same yucky stuff out of the garage and opened the end of our driveway. The graders had been through and now we are actually driving and walking on pavement!
I also saw a downy woodpecker in our tree. He is here all winter but it was still good to see some wildlife back after the long cold spell.
I know in BC there is probably something ready to bloom but here we take every little hint of spring we can! I love winter but there is something really exciting about seeing it wane.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Missing......
I lost my school keys. I misplace them frequently - though I have been much more careful this year. But on Friday one of the special needs kids was away so the EAs and I took the opportunity to do some housekeeping. We moved some furniture around, cleaned up several work areas and the tech guy and I moved computers too. At the end of the day, my keys were gone. I tried to retrace my steps, no keys. I told the janitor and the after school program mom. No keys. I keep looking in boxes, under desks - I cannot find them! This time they seen truly LOST. Did they end up in a garbage can or will they turn up in some box in a few years? Will the school have to re-key all the locks! (Gulp!)
But it is interesting to me that though I am unhappy about the key situation, I feel worse about losing the little wooden apple I had on the key chain. Ryan gave it to me years ago as a souvenir after his high school trip to New York. (Big Apple - apple for a teacher.....) It's been my "worry stone" and I am going to miss it.
But it is interesting to me that though I am unhappy about the key situation, I feel worse about losing the little wooden apple I had on the key chain. Ryan gave it to me years ago as a souvenir after his high school trip to New York. (Big Apple - apple for a teacher.....) It's been my "worry stone" and I am going to miss it.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Winter
I write a little thing called Gardening Lessons for our church newsletter. It comes out about four or five times per year. I just finished the one for February so thought I would post it here too. Let a few more people read it.
Last night on television, a street reporter asked several people what they would prefer, the frigid cold with wind chill temperatures that feel like –40C or summer with mosquitoes. All but one said, the cold. I was rather surprised by that because I felt many people would prefer summer. But for me the answer to that question is exactly the same; I prefer the cold to the heat of summer. I did complain about the long cold spell a few times but most of the time, as a gardener, I think the winter is wonderful.
I look out of my windows, front or back, and see a beautiful, breathtaking view, that I had no hand in creating. Trees stand tall and proud, with glittering snow on their branches, silhouetted against a brilliant cobalt sky by day or cool blueness by moonlight. Drifting powdery snow has created interesting sculptures by my back door and the tracks of a brave squirrel across the back yard make me smile. Occasionally, you will hear the chirp of a chickadee and see it venture to the bird feeder and then ruffle its feathers in the warmth of the sun. All this beauty is a complete gift from God. I didn’t plant, water or weed. It is just his handiwork spread out to enjoy.
When we venture out for a walk, the crisp snow crunches beneath our boots and the cold air in our lungs feels renewing and invigorating. One day, we walked at dusk while a gentle snow was coming down. It was like diamonds falling from the sky all around us. I thought of Isaiah, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” And that is how the world seems: fresh and clean and cleansed by His Hand.
But for me, even better than the beauty of the snow outside is the joy of coming in. Frosting glasses just means that the house is warm, the kettle is waiting and we don’t need to fear the harsh cold. We live inside with very little awareness of the winter outside. I often think we take that joy for granted.
After I have been out, I love to be wrapped in a comforter with a warm beverage in my hand, reading a good book. I brew a pot of tea or coffee, snuggle on the couch, and keep an eye on the neighborhood and read mysteries, or devotional books, biographies or journals on teaching. Sometimes, I start to plan for spring planting but it is far away. I can stay in the winter cocoon for a while and appreciate it.
I do admit I don’t like the cold cars, the icy streets, the constant looking for lost gloves and scarves. By the end of March I will be ready for another favourite season and will probably want to grumble if it takes too long to come. But for now, I am going to enjoy the gift of my garden and home in winter: peace, quiet and breathtaking beauty.
Last night on television, a street reporter asked several people what they would prefer, the frigid cold with wind chill temperatures that feel like –40C or summer with mosquitoes. All but one said, the cold. I was rather surprised by that because I felt many people would prefer summer. But for me the answer to that question is exactly the same; I prefer the cold to the heat of summer. I did complain about the long cold spell a few times but most of the time, as a gardener, I think the winter is wonderful.
I look out of my windows, front or back, and see a beautiful, breathtaking view, that I had no hand in creating. Trees stand tall and proud, with glittering snow on their branches, silhouetted against a brilliant cobalt sky by day or cool blueness by moonlight. Drifting powdery snow has created interesting sculptures by my back door and the tracks of a brave squirrel across the back yard make me smile. Occasionally, you will hear the chirp of a chickadee and see it venture to the bird feeder and then ruffle its feathers in the warmth of the sun. All this beauty is a complete gift from God. I didn’t plant, water or weed. It is just his handiwork spread out to enjoy.
When we venture out for a walk, the crisp snow crunches beneath our boots and the cold air in our lungs feels renewing and invigorating. One day, we walked at dusk while a gentle snow was coming down. It was like diamonds falling from the sky all around us. I thought of Isaiah, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” And that is how the world seems: fresh and clean and cleansed by His Hand.
But for me, even better than the beauty of the snow outside is the joy of coming in. Frosting glasses just means that the house is warm, the kettle is waiting and we don’t need to fear the harsh cold. We live inside with very little awareness of the winter outside. I often think we take that joy for granted.
After I have been out, I love to be wrapped in a comforter with a warm beverage in my hand, reading a good book. I brew a pot of tea or coffee, snuggle on the couch, and keep an eye on the neighborhood and read mysteries, or devotional books, biographies or journals on teaching. Sometimes, I start to plan for spring planting but it is far away. I can stay in the winter cocoon for a while and appreciate it.
I do admit I don’t like the cold cars, the icy streets, the constant looking for lost gloves and scarves. By the end of March I will be ready for another favourite season and will probably want to grumble if it takes too long to come. But for now, I am going to enjoy the gift of my garden and home in winter: peace, quiet and breathtaking beauty.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
BRRRRRRRRRR
It is -33 C here today with a wind chill which brings it down to below -40! Yikes! But the odd thing is - I sort of like it. You bundle up and run to your car and do only what you really have to do. Then you go home and read, do crosswords or cook stews and soup. It looks great outside - the snow is sparkling even though its not really sunny. I realize that I really don't hate winter - I'm not to crazy about the heat of summer, though. Good thing I became a Canadian.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
