Giving In To Winter

I shoveled three times yesterday. I don't mind it, honestly. Doing it several times when it is only two or three inches a shot isn't so bad (though I could use a shoulder rub). But isn't it gorgeous? This is the tree in front of our house. The people we bought from called it a Chinese Apricot though I don't know if they knew anything... whatever the case, I love the tree. The leaves are small and blow away, so we never have to rake, but it gives nice shade and is pretty... and I love how it looks coated in snow.

If we look across the street, the woods, likewise, are coated. Those trees are oaks... It's fun to have wildlife central so close—the inner-city woods have mostly benign wildlife—racoons, skunks, woodchucks... though at times there are bigger things (deer) or more worrisome (foxes or coyotes). Those woods have made two of my books now... they sit between us and the high school and it is just a nice set-up... woods next to a high school...

Inside we are getting Christmassy, too. I made the Christmas stockings the year I had maternity leave after my son was born... my last great hurrah as a crafty person... I've never had the inclination to do a LOT of that, but I made that pattern myself... the satin lined, velvet outside... they didn't turn out too badly.

So why am I REALLY rambling?

Snow Days

As I write this I am crossing my fingers that they will declare it 'too lousy to leave home'. Why? Who would want lousy weather?

Only every KID on the planet!

As a grown up (by technical definition), I don't actually get a snow day very often, but I can still dream about it... So...


If I had a snow day today I would:


1)  Bundle up and tromp around in it for a bit to pretend I'd gotten some exercise.
2)  Take a long hot bath with my book to get my body temperature back to normal.
3)  Check on my bloggie friends (I do that rain, shine OR snow storm).
4)  Get out LEGACY and spend a little time editing.
5)  Drink cocoa and complain about being out of marshmallows
6)  Consider baking Christmas cookies but pass it up.
7)  Watch a Harry Potter movie or two with my kids

All in all, it would be a VERY good day.

So here is crossing my fingers that by 5 am they've declared it too lousy to leave home!

Hope you are all keeping warm enough, or at least having fun!

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TWO UPDATES

1) Kids get a snow day. I don't. POO! It is 12 degrees (F) but 'feels like -6) (BOO!) but hubby is giving me a ride to work, thereby assisting in my slug transformation process, so that's something. I didn't want to by a slug-cicle.

2)  I AM A FINALIST IN MICHAEL'S HARRY POTTER BLOG FEST!!!  The WINNER will be selected by voting on the five finalists. All stories are 500ish words, so it isn't much to read. I'd love it if you'd go read and VOTE!!!!