Snow.

 At long last, we have had snow. Like manna from heaven, like every kind of blessing.

These first pictures were taken the first day back to classes, last Tuesday the 21.

 This marks the end of the first two weeks of classes in the "Spring" 2014 semester. As I expected, it was all I could do to just manage. It's not that it's all trudging misery, it's just such a dramatic change of pace, it takes all my concentration to execute. Doesn't help that I had two viruses, back to back. The first day back to class I was just coming down with the one, and no sooner did I get over that than I got the worse one, fever and all. I've been in a sort of tunnel since then. But I do think I am emerging, and not just because I'm finally healthy and it's 50 degrees and sunny out.

I just needed to investigate the new terrain, that's all.

 The classes I'm captioning (all Sociology) are all varying degrees of interesting and manageable. I've been drafted to participate in a couple of office projects, so my free office time is waning. The class I'm taking FOR ME ("Love, Sex, and Marriage in Medieval Literature") is as self-indulgent as a box of truffles, yet as necessary and bolstering as a hot shower. It is amazing what investing in yourself can do for the rest of your life.

 It's amazing what a sacrament snow can be. This most recent one was so dry and so cold it seemed made of tiny, fuzzy diamonds. I just marveled at it; such a different texture from the snows that usually fall in the mid-Atlantic states.

 I am ALL about gargoyles in the snow.

The children have had more snow days than we've ever had before, and it's affected us as it never has before, even closing the daycare (as well as Miles' preschool) a few times. Poor Jon has borne the brunt of it. I'm unwilling to use very much family personal time in January, since I plumb ran out of it before last year was over.

On Wednesday, though, I took some time off, giving Jon an opportunity to get out of the house and write.

And obviously, I stopped by CVS on the way home to buy a sled.

 Made the rest of the walk a bit awkward, but it was worth it!
 The mini-hill next to our building makes an excellent bunny slope!

 Miles seems to finally love sledding as much as my heart could desire.

Adele remains wary. She will not go willingly. 

 It was about 15 degrees at the time. But cold feels SO different when you are bundled up to sled, running up hills and whizzing down, compared to when you are simply trying to live your life, go to work, get to class, etc on a winter day.

The forecast for next weekend is riding the border between a good snowstorm and a yucky, messy "wintry mix." Pray for the former, won't you? An a Saturday we can really make use of this glorious new piece of plastic. 

This semester has included some early classes. This requires that I become again a person who takes the bus. The mornings are breathtaking. This can be negative: cold, tired and sick, or a joy. The effect the pre-dawn usually has, of seeming as if the earth is holding its breath, is enhanced when the temperature is so cold it is like an absence of atmosphere. On good days, I enjoy it. It feels like the universe is about to be recreated.

On other days, I just keep moving. KBO: Keep Buggering On, as Bridget Jones enjoined.

Beauty in the ugly: the view outside my office building.

And here I am at my desk. You seen my arsenal of books, like photos of friends. You notice my Hogwarts Letter, still a talisman against much. Up and down, back and forth, and onward we go. And also around.

Tomorrow is Imbolc! The Feast Day of Saint Brigid. Does it do your heart any good to remember that the ewes are lactating? It does me! Does it do you good to remember the life of Saint Brigid? How she loved the poor? How she did miracles of bounty involving simple food and drink?

How she prayed for a lake of beer that would last forever and refresh us all? 

How I do love her prayer: 

I should like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.

I should like the angels of Heaven to be drinking it through time eternal.

I should like excellent meats of belief and pure piety.

I should like the men of Heaven at my house.

I should like barrels of peace at their disposal.

I should like for them cellars of mercy.

I should like cheerfulness to be their drinking.

I should like Jesus to be there among them.

I should like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.

I should like the people of Heaven, the poor, to be gathered around from all parts.

I will see you there!