Good to Wow: Spring Edition, SOOC

My very best guess is that, with the prompt being "spring", Ashley and Jill had in mind the three-month period from about March 20th to June 20th; the period of time when warmth hugs the earth, and new life floods the world with color and fragrance; the season that, thus far, has eluded the Arctic.

Having just moved here, I remember very clearly those early southern springs. And, in fact, I am doing my best to avoid all of my friends' Facebook pictures of lovely blooming trees and children playing outside in shorts.

Though I cannot speak from experience and therefore 100% accuracy, it is my understanding from things I've overheard that spring in Connecticut does not care that the calendar is marked "Spring" on or around March 20th each year. It is my understanding that we could be well into April before we begin posting pictures of lovely blooming things and bare-armed children. These days when I look outside my window, I actually am deliriously happy because I see patches of ugly, brown grass. But, again going on assumption based on rumor, I don't think the melting snow is any promise that we won't be buried again sometime in the next month or two.

So, with that in mind, I am afraid I am forced to post this as my SOOC:

This is a spring. From a pen.

And after seeing this very intriguing photo, you might be thinking that I simply have run out of things inside this house to photograph. You would be correct.

Spring, please. Please, spring, hurry up!!

You Capture - Happy

There are a lot of things that make me happy: my husband, my kids, a new book, chocolate, sunsets, the beach, chocolate...

Lately, though, I've been thinking that what would make me really happy would be to see some green outside instead of all this white. Seriously, why in the WORLD did the Pilgrims come all the way over here and say to themselves, "Wow, this looks like a really great place to live in the middle of December even though we don't have any houses or any other kind of shelter"?

There is so much snow here. Just piles and piles of it. And it's not just snow. It's a couple layers of snow, a layer of ice, another layer of snow, a layer of ice, some more snow. I'm sure there is a summer of some kind up here in the Arctic, but I kind of see these piles just sticking it out through the summer...trying to get a head start on next winter.

Anyway, there are a million more inspiring, more important things I could photograph that define happiness for me, but honestly, the thing that made me the happiest on a snowy day like today was stopping by Starbucks to pick up my favorites: An Iced Venti Green Shaken Tea and some Scones.





And, yes, I realize that I'm probably the only one in this frigid land who goes in on a day like today and orders an iced drink, but when you're hooked, you're hooked.

Sweet Shot: The Drive-Thru

We still have 2 feet of snow on the ground because the temps haven't pushed above 32. There are 4-5 inches expected tonight followed by a pretty bad ice storm.

Remember how I was wondering if the white stuff would ever begin to fall up here in the Artic?

Dear Mother Nature ~ Enough already. I GET IT NOW!!

Anyway, since I will likely be snowed/iced in for the next couple of days, I thought I would see the outside world if but for the few minutes it takes to drive down to McDonald's to purchase a really nutritious lunch. (Would you be surprised if I mentioned the fact that IF WE HAD A CHICK-FIL-A HERE, WE WOULD ALL BE EATING HEALTHIER???)

Thankfully, I just had Audrey in the car because she did not roll her eyes and make a snide comment about me taking way too many pictures when I whipped out my iPhone and took a quick picture of the dead grass growing beside the drive-thru lane.

I think it's lovely, especially after I touched it up with Coffeeshop's Chocolate Truffle action (LOVE The Coffeeshop Blog!!).

Toto, I don't think we're in Georgia anymore!

On account of the crud that invaded our house this week, we had to cancel our plans for the science museum today (Note to self: Do NOT pre-pay for anymore field trips!). Since I had no school planned, the kids lucked out and got a day off.

We had fun anyway. We played Guesstures, a new game I picked up a couple weeks ago.



Although we had fun with the charades, Jacob and Alex, the two who feel 100%, were DYING to go back outside to work on their snow fort.





I would not let them until after lunch for two reasons: First of all, it was still 18 degrees outside; and secondly, I didn't want any nosy neighbors knocking on the door. "Are schools still out because of the snow?"

After lunch it had warmed up to a balmy 21 degrees, so I let the wild things out. And then I ventured out. It's the first time I've been out since it snowed a record 2+ feet. It was a new experience. I sank up to my thighs in the powdery stuff, rendering my new snow boots quite useless since the snow snuck in to the top.







I got a grand tour of the kids' really cool snow fort and then trudged back through it because I had had quite enough of my snow-filled boots.

Quick Takes: The Snow Edition

~ Quick Take 1 ~
Our homeschool week went a little better than last, I guess. I still lack enthusiasm and motivation. It is as if I am experiencing spring fever, which is definitely NOT the case (have you seen the weather map recently?). But things are going OK. Audrey is progressing in her reading, and the boys are plugging along in theirs. I am enjoying using my new whiteboard A LOT!

~ Quick Take 2 ~
One reason our homeschool week wasn't all that stellar is because of the crud that hit our house. Oh, and the huge blizzard too, but I'll get to that in a moment. When the older 3 get sick, it is not such a big deal; they hole up somewhere, and I meet whatever needs they have. When the Princess gets sick, however, it is a different story.

No matter what she is sick with, she throws up. She has a very strong gag reflex, so I guess that is why. This week it was just slight fever along with some mild cold symptoms. But just one cough, and up it all comes. And so it is that anytime she gets sick, I drape several layers of sheets and towels on the couch/bed where she decides to hole up.


Going out, though? Forget it! If the other 3 have colds, we still venture out, but not with the Princess on account of the puking thing. I honestly wouldn't have a problem with just sticking a plastic bag in my jacket pocket to carry along to catch whatever she decides to part with, but I know that wouldn't go over very well with other moms. I would find it difficult to explain her strong gag reflex as I watch other moms clutch their children a little closer and go through that Mom Check List: Did that little girl play with my kid? Did my kid touch anything she touched? Did she sneeze on my kid? Did she come anywhere within a 10 foot radius of my kid? I better go wash my kid's hands and Lysol him down. Stat!

So, really, it's just easier to stay in and wait it all out. Even if it means we may miss a trip to the Science Museum.


Hosted by Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

~ Quick Take 3 ~
The kids and I have prayed for years for more than a dusting of snow in Hotlanta. And we didn't dare even put in a passing request for a white Christmas because, it's the South, it could never happen. But lo and behold, in the last 3 weeks, Atlanta got both a white Christmas AND a lot of snow.

And so I will reiterate just in case my friends in Atlanta aren't getting the message: Good things happen when we leave. Like if we ever leave Connecticut? It would become a tropical paradise here, and all of the Starbucks would put in drive-thrus.

My wise husband made a keen observation that if we just contiued to move around the world, it would become a better place.

I think Italy needs a make-over. What do you think?

~ Quick Take 4 ~
We got a lot of snow this week. And I am not assessing a lot through the eyes of a former southerner. I've been told we have gotten more snow in the last couple of weeks than all of last year. Yes, that is my initiation to New England winter life.

See? I told you. We make things happen.



~ Quick Take 5 ~
Dear City of Bristol, CT:

It's 12 degrees outside. I don't think anyone will be surprised to hear I am not using the sidewalks, nor have I seen anyone else out on any of the sidewalks. They are YOUR sidewalks. If you are so insistent that they be cleared, YOU shovel them.

Thank you,
A former southerner who plans to stay inside until May



~ Quick Take 6 ~
I am in awe of the snowflake shots at Forever n Ever n Always. Even though I am aware of and completely accept the fact that I cannot emulate her, I did want to try to get a few shots of snowflakes. Needless to say, they didn't turn out that well:



I think I need to get out in the cold and find some actual snowflakes rather than just ice.

BUT...I did end up getting some shots I think are pretty cool. Snowflakes Ice under a magnifying glass:





~ Quick Take 7 ~
You know how, lately, the smell of dead pine needles has been emanating from my vacuum cleaner? That really is a good smell, actually. Today I spilled a tub of feta cheese on the ground. I'm fairly certain I'm not going to like the smell of feta cheese in the carpet 2 months from now.


Quick Takes hosted by Jennifer at Conversion Diary.

Good to Wow: Winter Edition, SOOC

Guess what I got today? Photoshop Elements! (Not to be confused with the full-blown, expensive Photoshop, though I have assured my husband that I will still accept the full-blown expensive Photoshop as a gift.)

So I decided to join Ramblings and Photos and Forever n Ever n Always Photography in their new weekly editing challenge. On Mondays, Forever n Ever n Always will host the SOOC (straight out of the camera) portion of the challenge. I will join in by posting one or more photos that have undergone no editing yet.

Then later in the week, Ramblings and Photos will host the editing part of the challenge, AND Ashley will give an editing tutorial.

So here goes...the theme this week is Winter. I took two rather overexposed pictures today:





I have wanted to get a shot of that barn for weeks, even before the snow brought its picturesqueness up 180 degrees. Every week on the way to church I beg and plead for just one quick stop to get the shot. Not everyone in the family is as enthusiastic about barns as me.

Today, though, I was in the car all by myself. Granted, I was en route to my annual gynecological appointment, but that is a very small price to pay for 45 minutes in the car all by myself. Did I mention I was all by myself?

Quick Takes: Boring Week Edition

~ Quick Take 1 ~
I am enduring my second snowstorm since moving to the Arctic. Thankfully, this storm, unlike the blizzard of a couple weeks ago, is gently depositing the white stuff in fluffy piles rather than ramming it into the ground.


{FRESH snow}







~ Quick Take 2 ~
Quite honestly, I am a little bit disappointed in these Northerners. Based on how much we Southerners are mocked during any "snowstorm", I was under the impression that life carried on as normal up here even if Mother Nature dumped 12 feet of snow on any given city. But no. With just rumors of snow, all of our day's activities were promptly canceled: a much anticipated field trip to the science museum and basketball practices. Plus, I heard someone say schools were closed. The snow did not begin to fall until late afternoon. Northerners are overreactors just like Southerners.

~ Quick Take 3 ~
I was at Bed, Bath, and Beyond the other day and discovered they have added an entire section for toiletries. I find that odd. "Honey, will you watch the kids while I drop by Bed, Bath, and Beyond for a box of tampons?" I wonder if I can use the 20% off coupon they send me regularly on a tube of toothpaste.

~ Quick Take 4 ~
We started back to homeschool on Monday. It was not a good week. My enthusiasm is waning. Oh, who am I kidding? My enthusiasm got up and raced out the door about 2 months ago.


Hosted by Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

~ Quick Take 5 ~
My husband brought me home something that may renew my enthusiasm. It's a hand-me-down from his company, but second hand or not, I'm tickled pink. It's a little large. Way too large for our dining room. But I don't care because I have a whiteboard!



Oh, and it's still in the car. Did I mention it's oversized? It won't come in through the garage, and we have about 3 inches of snow and more steadily falling on the walkway.

I may have to teach from the car on Monday.

~ Quick Take 6 ~
The whiteboard was on my letter to Santa. I acquired the whiteboard because of this conversation:

Mark's colleague: What are you giving Kathleen for Christmas?
Mark: She wants a whiteboard.
Mark's colleague: There's an extra one. Why don't you gift that to her?

Mark's colleagues must think I'm a barrel of laughs.

~ Quick Takes 7 ~
My one goal this week was to get the laundry completely completed in one day (yeah, I aim high). I failed. Miserably.


Quick Takes hosted by Jennifer at Conversion Diary.

10 Confessions of a Blizzard Survivor

So maybe you're wondering how we weathered the blizzard, and here I am prattling on and on about inane topics like pine needles. In short, we survived. But I do have a few confessions to make:

Confession #1
This blizzard was my fault. I have been watching the forecast for weeks hoping against hope there would be snow during my parents' visit. I really, really wanted them to see it. Obviously, I got my wish, but all the white stuff here made us housebound, which meant that, although my folks got to see the snow, they didn't get to see anything else of New England. We had a good Christmas week anyway. And turns out they could have had a white Christmas if they had stayed at home.

Confession #2
Credit should be given to me and my family for the first white Christmas in Georgia in over a century. I know this because good things always happen when we leave a place. I mean, look at all of the shopping centers that sprang up all over the little town of Winder when we left 7 years ago. Not little town anymore, but more like big metropolis.

To all of my Georgia friends - you are welcome.

Confession #3
I already knew what my first real snow would be like. I had visions of me standing by the window, hot beverage in hand, watching big, fluffy snowflakes fall serenely from the heavens to alight gently on the delicate branches of the backyard trees. Instead those soft, gentle snowflakes were more like white streaks. And there was no serenity about it; the white streaks were hurled violently to the ground by furious wind.

Confession #4
The wind caused me great angst. It howled, it groaned. It threatened to snap the power lines; it threatened to pick up the house and dump it in the Land of Oz. It went on and on for a day and a night and a day. Even through double-paned windows, it snuck in, causing the curtains to flutter a bit. Moreover, because of the wind, all of the trees and many a hill were left naked. No soft, fluffy snow outlining each branch and creating a postcard perfect winter picture.

Confession #5
As this blizzard made its way up the east coast, I read a few blogs that depicted happy families cozying up for the blustery day, enjoying the snowbound time together. There were descriptions of games and fireplaces and hot cider and happy smiles. We didn't do anything. I am a preparer. I should have been more prepared. I should have had ready a List of Things to Do When We are Snowbound.

Confession #6
Remember that snow blower our landlord left us that my handy dandy husband was sure to fix? Neither he nor our neighbor could get it to work. I'd probably feel better saying that this meant Mark and I got out and shoveled the driveway and all of the sidewalks ourselves, but no. We hired someone to do it for us. Which will work out just fine for me when TravelDaddy is gone thankyouverymuch. Plus, I have my little men to help out if need be.


Confession #7
As shocking as it was to my Facebook friends who saw my pictures of the blizzard, I played outside with the kids. I even enjoyed it. I can do stuff, you know.


Confession #8
When I saw the elderly neighbor shoveling his driveway, I convinced the kids to be good neighbors and help him.


I watched them be good neighbors from the window. I felt bad because it took them about an hour. But I was proud. So I made them hot chocolate with lots and lots of marshmallows.


Confession #9
I'm a little bit terrified nervous about driving in this stuff. My husband drove us to the airport this morning to drop off my parents. It seemed a little bit intimidating. My dear friend Tisha sent me a ha-ha-very-funny gift a few weeks ago. Actually, not so much ha-ha-very-funny but ha-ha-if-only-it-weren't-so-true. I plan to slap it on my car as soon as I decide to get behind the wheel and slide down the hill to the store venture out into the white wonderland.


I continue to check weather.com obsessively for the next storm on the horizon. It will be lovely with big, giant, fluffy snowflakes that float gently to the ground. And even with the snow on the ground, it will be 80 degrees outside. Oh wait, that is my vision of Heaven.

Preparing

I've always kind of assumed the term blizzard to be an exaggeration, hyperbole. Sort of like when someone says, "It's raining cats and dogs" or "It's hot as you-know-what". But, no, there it is on the forecast for today: Blizzard.

I have been watching the forecast for weeks now with much anticipation, waiting for my first "real" snow. A blizzard was not what I had in mind, however, for my initiation into the Arctic.

In true Southern fashion, we are preparing with a mindset that is just about right at Panic. We got ready for church but then decided to opt out this week so Mark could hit some of the stores for things we might need to keep alive for the next couple of days. Of course, we don't need food since this is the day after our Christmas feast, but we do need gas for a snowblower our landlord left for us to use. Of course, we do not know how to use it, but I'm sure my handy dandy husband will figure it out. We also need firewood in the event the worst occurs.

The Worst, a power outage, was certainly not in my picture of how the first real storm would play out. The way I imagined it, I would be inside a warm house, a cup of hot tea in hand, watching from the window as the children merrily played out in the soft, gentle snow. I hadn't really thought about the possibility of sitting in a dark, freezing cold house. Because this is the North, right? They know how to deal with this stuff without all of the problems, right? Maybe not, at least according to the local news.

And did I mention my parents are here visiting from Georgia? I have to keep them warm too.

My children do not share my anxieties over this pending white doom. When I told them a blizzard was forecasted for the day, they cheered. I think they have been a little misguided too, however: Somehow I think that their ideas for the first "real" snow may not have included hurricane force winds accompanying the flakes.

So if you don't hear from me, I'm either huddled around a fire trying to stay warm. Or I'm dead. If we do survive our first blizzard, I'm sure there will be lots of pictures to follow of the kids playing in our expected 10-20" of snow. After the wind has died down, of course.

It Snow Lie, Just the Facts

Fact #1: By some strange, divine prodding or something, I felt strongly inclined yesterday on my secret shopping trip to not only do a little shopping to help Santa, but also to finish purchasing the items the kids need to play in the snow like boots and waterproof gloves.

Fact #2: In anticipation of the snow forecasted for the end of this week, Michael drew a snow picture. It features two smiling faces in the middle of the picture which belong to Michael and his brother. They are hiding behind a barricade of piled snow. There are snowmen guards. And piles of snowballs. A zigzaggy design lines the perimeter to show the walls of snow with some windows cut in it for easy snowball firing. And with whom does Michael plan to be at war? His sisters of course.

Fact #3: Meterologists get paid too much.

Fact #4: When I glanced outside last night before bed to see if there were still any little flurries dancing around, I discovered a white lawn.

Fact #5: I had to be out the door by 7:15 this morning to get our friend's daughter who babysat for us to the airport.

Fact #6: I have no clue how to drive in snow and ice.

Fact #7: I made it safe and sound.

Fact #8: The flurries are still falling and the sun is shining. It is beautiful.

Fact #9: The kids have been sick, but they will be going out to play later anyway due to the fact that I have that anxious feeling inside that tells me this may be their only chance this winter to play in snow. I know that is not true, but I have been conditioned to feel that way. So...someone may have pneumonia later, but we'll have gotten to play in the snow.

And Fact #10: I have come to realize that the advice that 100% of people in the know have given me is correct: It really is tolerable if you just dress right.

A Frozen World

After lunch today, I ordered my regular Iced Venti Green Shaken Tea Sweetened at the nearest Starbucks. I sipped it down to the halfway mark by the time we got home where I left the kids and my husband and went out to do a little secret shopping. I sat in my car in the Target parking lot for a few minutes enjoying the beauty of watching snow flurries fall even as the sunshine shone brightly on the lot.

I was in Target for a good hour, enjoying a peaceful shopping trip that did NOT involve any breaking up of quarrels, any whining, any trips to the little girls' room to potty a princess who can't seem to catch on to the concept of emptying the bladder at HOME instead of in the nasty public bathroom, no standing around waiting for little people to look longingly at the newest Lego set/video game/Barbie Doll/Nerf gun for the thousandth time. Nope, just me, wandering the aisles looking at whatever I wanted to look at, lingering in the aisles that interested me.

So all this time in Target my Iced Venti Green Shaken Tea Sweetened was sitting out in the car. When I got back to the car, there it was, same as I left it, half of my tea still waiting for me, not a cube of ice melted. And why would it be melted when the weather outside is 27 degrees? In the sun.

I'm really not complaining. Not yet anyway. In fact, I check the 10-day forecast at least two hundred times twice a day looking for that first predicted snowfall. It seems all of my Facebook friends across the country are enjoying some of the white stuff but us. And I was under the impression I had moved to the Arctic. Or, at the least, not-so-far-from-Canada.

The snow has been there in the forecast. In fact, when I checked last Monday, it was on the docket for today. But the very next day, the little snow picture was replaced with sunshine. At least there were some snow flurries thrown in with the sunshine. Now the forecast has snow flurries forecast for the next few days and snow on the plan for next Sunday. I know these meteorologists don't know what they're talking about half the time, so I won't hold my breath, but I really would like to see some of the snow I was promised when I moved to the Arctic.

Until the snow comes, I will just enjoy watching the world freeze over. I know on the way home from Target today the line of cars behind me probably got a little perturbed by my slowing down every time I saw a frozen puddle. I'm not sure what is wrong with these northerners. Does it not fascinate anyone else to see water that is not in the freezer--water that is outside--freezing? You can bet that to this African/Southern Californian/Georgian girl, that is fascinating indeed.

I know my kids are also quite taken with it because they spent hours the other day leaning over the edge of the above ground pool hauling out pieces of ice that have begun to form on the water that has collected in the cover. And today? It was reported that while I was enjoying my peaceful time at Target, they were out on the side of the street chopping up the frozen puddles with a mallet.

Don't ever think that we southerners can't have a good ol' time up here in the Arctic!

Wordless Wednesday - In Which Swimming Goggles Meet Snow

Basketball, Strange White Stuff Falling from the Sky, and a Houseful of Kids

Our homeschool group usually has a park day every Friday, but with the cold winter temps we've had lately, we planned instead a day inside. The park where we play volleyball and where the Nazi Pool is located has an indoor gym that allows free play. Well, not free as in you don't have to pay but free as in the kids are free to play as they wish. I went prepared this time, having called a friend from the park's county to ask her if I could walk in with her, thus avoiding the out-of-county double charge. They didn't even ask for my license. Or to see what I was wearing under my jacket.

The kids had a great time. They started out just shooting baskets but soon had a full-fledged game of b'ball organized and underway.

And once they tired of that, they enjoyed pool, ping pong, and air hockey.

Audrey just did Audrey things, though: a purple basketball, which she scammed off of her sister, and her Littlest Pet Shop Pets kept her busy.

About halfway through our time at the gym, the snow began to fall, so our group headed outside to the parking lot. And then migrated to the playground. We moms sat in a car, looked around at the otherwise desolate park grounds, and joked about how we homeschoolers will go to the greatest lengths to avoid crowds.

And then my husband called and told me I should come home. Which is code for, "I know you're not a great driver--especially in this stuff--so please come home safe and sound. Now."

So I arrived home safe and sound, and the kids had a blast playing outside as the snow continued to fall.

I had heard on the news that we were supposed to receive from a dusting to an inch. So I wasn't worried about the birthday party which was scheduled to take place the next morning. But it kept snowing. And snowing.

So I rescheduled the party to begin at noon. This party was for my little man, Michael. At age 9, he is certainly becoming quite the little man. My Lego man, though he had a Lego birthday party last year, asked for another Lego party. And that is what he got.

Per his instructions, I made a Power Miners cake with the good guys fighting against the rock monsters in the midst of a hot stream of lava.

We played some Lego games. The first was a scavenger hunt in which the kids--divided in teams--searched the house for baggies of Lego pieces. In the end, they raced to assemble a Lego castle. There was also a word game in which the children formed as many words as possible from the two words Power Miners. The last game involved building Lego towers to see which team could reach the tallest without falling over.

We had a good time. A group of boys is a wild group, but I think everyone had fun. But I'm Lego'ed and partied out, and I'm headed to bed.