Are You on Your Way to San Jose?

Here is my sister-in-law's orchid tree in full bloom. Though it has
been rainy and chilly since I arrived in Arizona, today is sunny with
temps in the 50's and it feels very nice to knit out under the blue
skies. I got to spend the weekend with my grandma and aunt. Yesterday
I saw my younger sister and her wonderful son and daughter. In between
I'm staying with Tomorrow, I actually am on my way to San Jose. I'll
teach for the weekend, see my far-away pals, and finally fly home on
Monday. I'm always a bit conflicted about traveling away from my
family, but being able to see other family and friends makes up for it
a bit.
That and seeing flowers like this in February.

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Hoping for Zen

I have something to write about other than the snow. Yes, you guessed it,  it's the aftermath of the snow! I had lots of post started over the last week, but they were all some variant of, "Today, because of the snow, we stayed in and did nothing." But, on this Wednesday, we turn the corner. Right now, my house is empty. It's a little strange.

I like this quote from a Japanese priest named Shunryu Suzuki:

“Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.”

Today should be a Zen kind of day because finally, after 13 days of the routine being interrupted or just thrown out the window, the snow situation has relented enough to allow the kids to return to school and thus, to a semblance of the familiar patterns of life. It will take concentration for sure, because we succumbed wholeheartedly to the spirit of winter hibernation. We stayed indoors most of time, slowed down, gained weight and slept a lot.  Unlike most hibernating animals, we did do a lot of reading, of watching movies and tv, and playing of games. On the whole, it was a pleasant, quiet time punctuated by occasional outbursts of normal sibling rivalry, just so I'd know everyone was still alive.  I ran and exercised quite a bit, in spite of the uncooperative conditions, but I ate enough and lowered my basal metabolic rate enough to completely offset my efforts and still gained weight. Oh well, that's what springtime is for.

I did take the kids sledding yesterday to celebrate the last day of the break and we had a great time.  I got a nice accidental head-butt to the cheekbone from Evan as we tandem-rode over a big bump and actually caught some air, but so far it is not bruising too badly. If it does and you see me with a big shiner, you'll be reminded that being 43 is no reason to give up on playing in the snow.

The school system also waived the rules and allowed a regional wrestling tournament to take place last night. Sam won both his matches and continues his excellent record for this season. Last night he pinned one of his opponents in 44 seconds. He goes into the post season with only three losses.

And so we move on, gingerly navigating around in the mountain range of giant snow piles on every corner and learning a new set of manners as we pull over to let our neighbors drive through the one-lane roads. The snow is softer now, and the icicles are dripping and breaking, but it really is kind of nice to have a true winter landscape for a while. We'll always remember the Blizzards of 2010.

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A Little Video

Here is a record of the current storm in progress. Hear that wind?

By the way, no mocking, okay?  I know this is no biggie for many areas of the country but give us a break, okay? People are suffering here. It's extreme for the area and that's what matters. So be nice.

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The Post About the Blizzard

This one lived up to the hype. It's been fun but also sobering as some friends have dealt with loss of power, and almost everyone is dealing with being literally housebound until your street is plowed.  We felt compelled to get our truck free of our street before the plow schedule,  so while the storm was still blowing, we all worked together for hours and dug down our street while Eric had fun 4-wheeling over the snow that was way too high for the wheels. The street we are off of was plowed, so once we were free of the cul-de-sac, we could get around. It was eerie to drive around and see folks just walking down the middle of the street, cars abandoned, etc. It was also fun in a way, because there is a feeling of community. Strangers helping strangers and all that.  I like that sense of all being in this together, so the normal walls come down and we reach out to each other.
Here are the photos so far:
Here is the first view of the morning-the pristine, unmarked snow moment that I love.

 

This was a wet, heavy snow, so many trees became wonderful, weird works of abstract sculpture.

 

It was deep enough for a fully-grown 17-year old to sit down completely, once he got the hole dug. 

 

How many times in life do you have to climb onto your front yard?

 

 

Is it Antarctica from the air? Nope, just the tendency of this snow to take on funky shapes.

 

This is at eye level, looking upwards at the pile of snow made from shoveling our driveway and cars.  It's about 6 feet tall.

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The Cabin

I have a group of friends that gets together in a cabin in the woods of Pennsylvania every year on the last weekend in January.  It has become a constant in my life. It is 3 days of peace, quiet, laughter, tears, firelight, reading, walking in the woods, unbelievably good food, hot cocoa, love, support, venting, solving problems, and a host of other things. This year was just lovely except for the fact that three days goes too quickly. Maybe I'll have to start going up on Wednesday instead of Thursday. I did forget to get photos of my secret crafty project, but it was felted bowls, made from my own stash of yarn. I might get some photos when others share their shots from the weekend.  It was wicked cold but there was very little snow on the ground, which was different than past years. I didn't get my Amish quilt yet, so that means I will have to go visit my friend who lives in the cabin again sometime in the next few months.  Here are a few photos:

Turkey Tracks in the Snow. We've seen flocks of turkeys making their way through the woods some years, but not this year.

A lovely creek with icy branches

Ice crystals on a local lake

Another view of the creek. The woods there have a primeval quietness about them, even here by a campground in a fairly run of the mill state park near my pal's place. 

An ice formation on the creek catches the sun for a moment.

This is a pool of crystal clear water with a bubbling spring in the center-the lightest area there in the middle. Can you see the suggestion of a heart? 

 A view of Friday's Wolf Moon-the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. 

 Out for a walk before we have to say goodbye. 

This one has me in it. I'm second from the left. 

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