Snowtime

SNOWTIME


Soon after arriving for a visit from California, Tony and Cathy gathered their children, Jaci and Garrett, with Peter and Eliza (cousins), and me (Grandma Barb) for a snow outing at Foothill Park.

And I'll huff and I'll puff, and maybe I'll make it to the top! This is exercise!

I'm sure glad I don't have to carry these discs myself, thinks Peter.

Ready, get set.... go!

Hurry up, Mom! You're in the way!

It was a great time to enjoy the fresh snow. Others were there too, but there was plenty of room for us. The snow was perfect, the air crisp and cold, but our snow suits were warm and we all felt toasty. The hills were steep and long. Armed with discs we tramped up and down, the children gleeful as they climbed the hills, slipping and sliding down sometimes before they even reached the top.

I was hoping I could climb these hills as easily as the children. (Tony doesn't count; he could climb Mt. Everest in an afternoon.)

Eliza doesn't trust the first run without a guide, and Tony, natch, is the best!











Garrett posed only twice for me. He was much too busy tramping up and down, racing and recovering to be bothered with photo shoots.


Cathy takes her first ride down the hill. Does it look this scarey to the children?

Too bad we don't have sound effects!!

Eliza can't wait for a disc.

This is too fun! Who can wait for a sled?

What's a little snow up the parka, after all?

Peter slows down for an instant to catch his breath. He has been working hard up and down this mountain.

Can we do this every day? Can we live here?

Garret, the fearless daredevil, ready to start another long steep descent.

Is it legal for him to go that fast?

Hi, Grandma! Want to go down with me?
Did you see me that last time? It's so cool!
(No pun intended!)

This reminds me of a roller coaster. Are you sure my bod can take this? Besides, I barely fit.

Grandma, you were the fastest of all!

Last run. Can we come back?

Of course. I always need more photos.

Always with camera. It beats words.

The end.

The First Snowfall

I love the first snowfall.

There is an element of mystery about the quality of stillness it creates,
especially at night when the radiance of the snow defies even the moonlight
to excel its quiet brilliance.


How I love the stark outline of dark post and fence and wall against the white,

...the silvery reflections everywhere,

the sight of heavy limb against the sky, and the soft sculpting of snow shapes.

Snow blossoms, it would seem, on branches at night.

How different things can look!

The night's snowfall filled the basketball hoop.

the silhouette of leaf and plant.....

...the curious patterns created when the snow silently,
one flake at a time,
fills up space and crevice...

layering precarious narrow walls of white atop phone wires,

thin tree branches, softening the sharp edges of

roof and rail, challenging us to look with new eyes .....
at the ordinary things around us.

The play of light and shadow astonishes,
amuses, and delights.

Though I secretly relish being first to tramp a trail through the glistening virgin snow....

yet part of me hesitates disturbing the ethereal beauty of a first snowfall.

A study in shapes and shadows.

Dressed for the cold, I've learned snow makes me feel vibrantly alive! The tingling of skin in the chilly air, the puff of breath like smoke, the falling flakes tickling my face bring a heightened awareness of the joy of living, even the joy of movement when bundled up like a snowman!

Children instinctively know this. They want to be one with the snow, to frolic in its loveliness and to create something-- a snow angel, snowballs, snowmen-- and to slide down a slope. Out of closets and chests come boots and hats, gloves, snow pants and puffy parkas. Their noise echoes across the snow, down the hills as they slide on sleds, discs, on bottoms or stomachs!

They must be first to experience it.

A surprising splash of color in the winter!

I love that first snowfall. It supplants ugliness with beauty. Even a scrappy bush takes on new sculpted form and comeliness. Rough edges are softened or erased. Scarred landscapes become inviting scenes worthy of an artist's brush. Light gathers around lampposts like halos in the snowfall. Every sound seems hushed.

Peace supplants noise.

Snow slows the world. Cars and people move cautiously, carefully through it. Our neighbors share greetings and conversation as they scrape away at driveways and sidewalks with their shovels. Sometimes they appear uninvited to clear the snow away, leaving happy gratitude in their wake. Sometimes a baked treat appears out of nowhere on the doorstep. The modern world of haste and aloofness disappears for a time.

Life slows down and feels peaceful.

The first snowfall seems like a gift to soften the expectation of long, cold, drab days of the winter season. This beauty will not last; it is as transient, nearly, as a rainbow. Slush will follow, and soon the lovely crystal night scenes and the brilliant days of enchantment will melt away, fading into drab colors and jagged, crusty salt-and-pepper ridges along the roadsides.

But for now... I will enjoy the first snowfall.

The end

Let's Pretend!

LET'S PRETEND it is still November, because I am feeling nostalgic about Thanksgiving. (Besides, it has taken me this long to be able to figure out this blog thing!) What does it take to make the best thanksgiving ever?

How about Deborah and kids flying in four whole days early, Bex extending her trip a week, and then add the Livingston clan, mix in the Sotos-- and what do you get? Bedlam? Close! Nineteen grandchildren, nine adults, food, fun and conversation, even a football game in the morning at the Livingston home. This year's dessert menu was awesome: homemade pumpkin and sugar-free apple pie by Becca; homemade pecan pie by Lane; cheesecake, banana cream and chocolate pies by Cisco (with Marie Callender's help). If I were Becca, I'd have taken a picture! (And she did.)The weather was great and the turkey was juicy. Sarah and I made homemade rolls to accompany raspberry freezer jam and all the traditional yams, cranberry jello salad, etc. The turkey leftovers go on... and on... and on... disguised as turkey enchiladas, soup, and salad till we all opt for a good ole hotdog!

Here are some highlights we'll all remember:Making gingerbread houses while Mitchell eats the candy and graham crakers. Megan likes the frosting. Grandma is doing her darndest to make the two stories stand up! In the next picture are the youngest grandkids eating their food at the bar. Luckylittlekidsgettogofirst. (I'm still learning how to work this blog this.)

It took a lot of doing, but at last the eight strands of lights are on and the decorations placed by jolly grandchildren! Christmas has to follow Thanksgiving the next day at our house. (Besides, there's help!)

That was a good one!

Matt tries to fit in a little work, but talking is more fun.

Here is the illustrious cast.


Becca waits for her cue in the play.

A few of the pictures laboriously created hours before! Such budding talent. Paige and Eliza were the main artists, I believe. Note fairies and castles.


The play has begun! The playwright is a bit nervous.


This is part of the script for the play written by Megan and assisted by Lindsay. It was very elaborate and detailed!

Time for a pose.

Where Becca goes, good aromas in the kitchen follow. So do all the hungry children!

Our California girls keep the cousins happy no matter what they are doing. Such sporty, fun girls.

More rolls, please.

We just finished going night driving to see all the lights on pretty houses. It was very cold. Mitchell could not refrain from singing his own version of Jingle Bells at the top of his lungs going and coming. ("Dancing through the snow, in a one-horse open sway...")

Baby Jane tries out her own version of Jingle Bells.

This is a favorite! Grandpa's McDonald's train was magical, though we had a hard time keeping it on the track because the wheels are so tiny and delicate.

We got the tree decorated. Everyone helped.

Eliza was only one of many dancers! Notice the other girls working hard on their props for their play.

Below, Mitchell and Hayden enjoy the pleasant weather outside. There is magic in the trampoline.



Mitchell turned three while he was here, and a birthday party was a great way of extending the holiday fun. Below, I get a hug from our party-maker Becca.

Must have been another momily!

Grandpa gave all the little kids rides on his wheelchair.

There is always hot chocolate if Becca is around-- and it is usually fancy!

We all enjoyed having a baby around. Who can resist marshmallow?


If you don't know how to play football, you can always ride the....ball?


Couldn't resist this photo. Have you ever seen Dave more relaxed? Must be the pie.


I've got it! No, I've got it! Wait... Where is it?


All right, this is the strategy!


And here's the big game! The weather was so cooperative, and competition is intense!

It's nice to have cousins the same ages and to sit at the table without the grownups!



Peter and Hayden are inseparable and find they have common interests -- pirates, trampolines, swords, and jokes.

I will also remember : playing Skipbo and drinking rotten Martinelli's apple cider while Nathan cheats to liven things up-- (Scrap Skipbo); lunch at the Training Table because no one could get into the house without a key; amazing and delightful plays written by Megan and Lindsay with an incredible script, props, and sixteen drawings from the pens of Paige, Becca, Eliza, and Julia; Mitch in his Buzz Lightyear PJ's; Cabella's with Cisco and Dave and families; Mexican tacos at Cafe Rio one day; taking lots of videos; watching the little girls color and draw reams and reams of pictures; and much much more. I went to bed happy every night (and usually very full!)

Being together and seeing everyone enjoying themselves, mingling with cousins and hoopin' and hollerin'-- what could fill us with gratitude more than the happiness that was here during the best Thanksgiving ever.