December 16, 2013

It's a snow globe world...


The week that was...


"First Snowfall"
(my front yard)
December 8 - December 16, 2013
Project 52 (50.5/52)


Not a fan of winter.  But I DO love the first snowfalls of the season.  Especially if they are BEFORE Christmas.  Those are the magic ones. They come silently (if you take away the clamor in the grocery stores over milk, bread, and toilet paper).  They announce a change of pace by disrupting routine and slowing life down.  They bring a sense of calm.  Sparkle.  Freshness.  The first snowfall is a magical event of peace and joy because it causes the world to pause and exhale.  Those are the days I don't even want to get out of my pjs, and am content to sit by my window and stare out at the loveliness cocooned with family. We were blessed last week with our first snowfall of the season.  And our second.  And our third.  I'm not tired of it yet.  I will give it until January 2nd.  Then I'm done, and will have an entirely new perspective on the white stuff...

"The snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches."
-E.E. Cummings 

The first snowfall also brings out the kid in me, and causes me to reflect as I'm sitting pondering the beauty and the stillness.  Brings back some great memories of Christmas's past.  Must be all that stillness that makes the mind wander to other snowfalls and Christmas's that were pretty darn awesome...


1.  The year I woke up Christmas morning and found Santa had built an ice skating rink in my backyard.  Santa (aka Pops) took the secret to his grave how he pulled off THAT little miracle!

2.  Then there was the Christmas when I was home alone with my two younger sisters and the Sears truck decided it was A-OK to deliver ALL the Christmas toys my parents had ordered....to three kids....with no parents home...nothing wrapped.  When the parental units returned home, I told them I hid all the toys with my eyes closed, so they shouldn't worry.  It was a fib they didn't call me out on.

3.  The Christmas Eve we lived with my Granny in her Philly rowhome, I was in first grade.  I awoke from sleep to find Santa Claus sitting on my bed!  I couldn't believe it!  Especially when he told me I was "Not so good of a little girl this past year" and I might wind up finding coal in my stocking.  That was the year that Santa totally SUCKED! (p.s. years later I told my parental units what Santa said, they were surprised.  It was a fib I didn't call them out on).

4.  My Oma and Opa (who was a German baker) visiting at Christmas from St. Louis.  It was with anticipation that we awaited Opa opening his suitcase to bring out carefully wrapped gingerbread men that he had made for us.  He also brought stollen, salami, and liverwurst...wasn't so amped about those.

5.  The first Christmas I was dating the Better Half in college.  Couldn't WAIT to see what romantic gift he chose for me.  I tore into the poorly wrapped box to find a size XL beige chamois cloth shirt.  Why the Face!  He told me it was functional and I would have it foreverrrrrrr.  35 years later...dang I still have it, and I even wear it.  I still have the Better Half too....functional and forever.

6.  Penn State Christmas break 1979.  Pops drove 3 1/2 hours to pick me up and and another 3 1/2 to take me home for the holidays, in a snow storm.  Crossing Seven Mountain he pulled off  the road. With the snow blowing he told me "get out, we're gonna cut down a tree",  and pulls out a saw.  NOT a normal occurrence, just sayin'.  We trudge in the wind, and snow up past our ankles, thru fields and some woods and finally found a decent tree.  I remember I was even being PICKY about the trees despite the snow storm.  He cut down the chosen one, tied it to the car, and we drove the remaining 3 hours home.  To this day I have no idea WHO'S property we were on!

7.  "It's gonna be a baaaaaad Christmas".  Pop's traditional Christmas Eve warning to us.  It never was.

8.  The year we spent Christmas at Disney with the Things.  Also known as the year one of the Things peed on my lap because they were scared going thru the stupid Epcot ball! Won't divulge which Thing it was.  I'll just let all three share the shame.

9.  The Christmas Thing #1 was in kindergarten and the first Nintendos came out.  Unbeknownst to him, the Better Half and I cracked open that baby a month before Christmas morning and hooked it up to the tv.  Every night the Things would go to bed, and we would pull it out and play Mario Brothers with the sound really low, then tuck it back away when we went to bed.   I was awesome.

10.  This Christmas.  Hasn't happened yet.  But it is the last Christmas the five of us will be home spending it together, just us. Two get married next year.  I love THEIR better-halves.  But it just won't be quite the same anymore.  So I plan on appreciating every last dang moment.  Even tho "It's gonna be a baaaaaad Christmas."


Yep, that first snowfall is a gift. Gives one time to reflect  to appreciate life, home and family.  But come January 2nd?  I'm returning any leftover and unused white stuff.  The magic will be done.

How about you, any fun snow and/or holiday memories?






Here's where I'm linking up today ..."The Party's On"

Please join me on Sundays for Song-ography.
This week's song title is "Silver Bells".

37 comments:

  1. Functional and Forever. I have no words. I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. (I went to visit Oregon for the first time over Christmas when Brian and I were dating. It was the meet the family visit....and I might have been expecting a ring. I got a clock. Made from Oregon Juniper wood - I'm looking at it ticking away as I type)...Then the tears came back as I read "the last time it will be just the five of us"...sigh. I know you'll enjoy every second of being all together!! As for the white stuff? Bring it on...I'm good through mid February. When it lasts into March I start to get cranky!

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  2. Ha! I love that quote and I agree. After Christmas I'm done with Winter!

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  3. Great and fun post - I love your sense of humour! :-D

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  4. Really interesting Christmas that you have had.. I've yet to see snow falling in a long time as we stay in the tropics.

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  5. I love this post, while the image is pretty, it's the memories that are the most lovely. I don't know how you remember all of them so vividly. I don't think there's one of mine I can recall....other than in a general they all run together kind of way. Your Dad was a trooper to get you from State College-that ride is really tough in snow. Snagging a tree-classic.

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  6. I loved every word of this post! What great memories and perspective on the snowfall!

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  7. Such fun to read your blog. I hope this year brings you more wonderful memories too. We just had our first real snowfall here yesterday (the first two were only flurries and barely covered anything) which dropped about 8-10 in. of that white stuff on us. Bad part is none of it will ever melt and it will just keep piling up until spring. Last year we still had a pile in the yard in May. We used it for one last snowball fight.

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  8. I am as giddy as a school girl over all the place!! More tomorrow (-:

    And love the title - my kids are currently working on the writing prompt "Help! I am stuck in a snow globe!"

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  9. Very fun to read first thing in the morning way out here in sunny California for this Jewish girl who doesn't celebrate Christmas and can identify with everything you wrote. Even though we are Jewish there were some years my mother wanted the colors and lights and warmth of a tree. My sister and I were up in the middle of the night trying to see what presents were under the tree without turning on the lights. Your last Christmas before your next Christmas with in laws and a whole new series of memories.

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  10. I know, Christmas changes when the kids move out. I was always having my tree up the day after Thanksgiving when they were young. Now, currently, even as I type, my tree is up with the lights on it and not a one decoration hung on it yet! lol

    Have a fabulous week, girlfriend!

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  11. That is such a beautiful image! and I loved reading about your past Christmases!

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  12. Christmas is such a wonderful time to recall memories! Loved reading your post! and what a gorgeous shot this is! Have a wonderful Christmas Kathy and enjoy this time together as a family!

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  13. You sure can make me laugh! I'm totally picturing your face over that functional gift. Men and their practicalities. One year my husband bought me one of those "gopher" claw things that old people use to pick up things off the floor. He has never been forgiven. It was the Christmas to go down in history. I'm dying over Santa on your bed giving you the 3rd degree. Oh my, trauma!

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    1. Kim, one birthday the Better half bought me a HUGE package full of snow gear. He knows I do NOT like to be cold. I was soooo mad at him! I made him return it all because I don't WANT to go out in the snow and didn't need any of my excuses to be invalid due to his gift :)

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  14. I love that you take a picture and tell a story about each week. What a great way to appreciate all of the little things!

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  15. I totally laughed out loud at some of these. Now everyone in my office thinks I am crazy. I could so see my dad getting out of the car and cutting down a tree on someone else's property like that. And, he did the same thing... told us every year Christmas wasn't going to be good... and it always was awesome. Great list! Thanks for stopping by on my blog!

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  16. The first snow of the season is always the best. We don't get too many of them here in the Tennessee valley. I'm less tolerant of the cold and snow as I get older, but to see the white fluff swirling in the air is always such a lovely sight. Mmm, gingerbread! I bet your grandparents made not only delicious gingerbread but real works of art. We try to buy a stollen at our local Fresh Market after Christmas when they are marked down - too expensive for me or I'm just too cheap? I'll let you decide. lol I just loved reading your list - great fun! And, it was so nice to meet you!

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  17. So true about the first snowfall. There's something magical about it that does stop us in our tracks. Of course, we don't get as much snow down here, so we deeply appreciate every snowflake that falls. :-) I enjoyed your Christmas memories. They made me laugh and smile. Your dad sounds like he was wonderful.

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  18. I love any new snowfall throughout the winter months. In between snowfalls it's not so pretty.... But fresh snowfalls, YES! They are romantic and magical to watch.

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  19. What great memories! Most of them. This is the last Christmas my son and nephews will all be home and single. Of course, they've already grown up, but I imagine it might change things a bit too. Hope you have a wonderful holiday with all your Things.

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  20. My parents pulled that same Nintendo trick the year we first got ours. We couldn't figure out how my mom was so good, so fast!

    Lovely listicle! Though judging by your URL I guess we have opposing stances on the Christmas story! Merry Christmas!

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    1. Yes we do, but we can still get along just fine :)

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  21. What a lovely post! It's making me want to think back and come up with some thoughts of my own.

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  22. Obviously, I have several of the same memories....and the year of the Sears delivery, I remember seeing Toss-Across in that big bundle of toys being toted by the delivery man. Why I remember that particular game, I have no idea :). That ice skating rink was awesome, but I also remember ice skating right across our back yard!

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    1. Haha...DEF remember the Toss-Across. Probably the largest box :)

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  23. That is a pack of memories - gracious, what was Santa thinking sitting on your bed telling you that you were bad (serious potential for therapy material). We always used the red blinking light on the power line tower as an indication that Santa was near and as soon as we got home - it was "straight to bed". Kids never seemed to notice that night any other night of the year. Snow and Christmas and memories. Trifecta.

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  24. awwww so many gifts, they came in so many different packages!! i love winter, i love snow and everyday inbetween!!

    you have shared some wonderful memories!!

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  25. Love the snow globe imagery and your reflections on the first snowfall of the year! Christmas has been changing in my household as well...two years ago my father-in-law remarried after my mother-in-law died and now my son's a college senior with an uncertain future (job and destination)!

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  26. Oh, what an awesome blog post. This is my first visit - I popped over from creative every day - and am delighted to find you. I really love the first snowfall photo. It made me smile... and feel nostalgic for snow. I also enjoyed the wide variety of memories you have. Christmas hasn't been all that great for me for quite a few years, so reading your memories is inspiring me to simply remember each and all and be grateful for what was/is and is to come.

    Thank you!

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  27. What awesome stories! stopping by from Monday Listicles. I love the Sears story. And the Nintendo story. And the Santa telling you you're a bad girl. I just loved them all! What great memories. Thanks for sharing. Oh yeah, and I expect this Christmas will be a memory-maker for us as well. But aren't they all?

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  28. I thoroughly enjoyed this post....but am quite bewildered....you cannot have been at Penn State in 1979. You weren't even born then!!! You couldn't have been. Your picture looks like you are 30. My daughter is 38 and was born in 75....so another 8 years would have you being born in 1983....is that a typo? Did you mean 1999? Had to have!!! If you meant 1979, please, please, please tell us all how you look so young....because I graduated from high school in 1973....so I would have just graduated from college (had I gone) in 1977.....so I can't be too much older than you are.....if that wasn't a typo.....and there is a HUGE difference in the way we look!!! So, next post should be on your beauty secrets. We are all dying to know!!!

    Wonderful post, again. I felt like I was there with you each Christmas!

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    1. Well THIS was a nice message to wake up to on a snowy morning :). No typo, graduated from high school in 1977. No beauty secrets beyond exercise, TRYING to eat healthy, and....wine :). Thank you for your nice comments.

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  29. Wow. Stopping in a snow storm to cut down a tree. That is a wonderful memory. Waking up to Santa on your bed, then an ice skating place in your yard, and having a Sears truck deliver all the gifts unwrapped. This post is awesome!!

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  30. Lmao-Kathy this post is what I love about the holidays-such wonderful stories and I love that you brought us in and shared. Enjoy that snow-is it gorgeous and pretty magical-until jan. 2!!!!

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  31. my birthday is january 11, and growing up nine times outta ten i had a white birthday. haven't had one since, but i still keep my fingers crossed.
    but then when january 12 rolls around, i'm ready for shorts and going barefoot. loved your stories, and that photo is gorgeous. merry christmas!

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  32. The picture is gorgeous and the memories are wonderful.

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