Dec 16 2007
Snowbound
We already have about four feet of snow piled up in the back and front yards, and a couple of more feet coming since 3:00 a.m. and continuing all day and night, so we hear. We are being told to stay off the roads except for dire emergencies.
So I’m writing Christmas cards and catching up on three weeks worth of ironing.
This is just to impress upon you the fact that I do indeed live an exciting life offline. Hidden, but oh, so thrilling.
You really must excuse me now, as I have to plan dinner. We didn’t get out yesterday to buy any groceries, but I’m sure I can throw something together with lettuce, mushrooms and Christmas cookies. I do enjoy a culinary challenge.
Ugh. I took a photo of our own precious white flower-grower/disease-limiting stuff hours ago, back when it was only up to my winter waistline. It’s naptime again, tho’, so I’ll upload later. Maybe. Or perhaps I’ll hold off until that freezing rain forecast for us comes and crusts everything over beautifully. Ugh, ugh, ugh…
Gosh, not even throwing cushions on the floor and drinking saki and/or blue koolaid around the coffee table in our kimonos would help. It is too much ugh.
Alright, which one of ya’s prayed for a white Christmas?
Bah, humbug. *yawn*
It wasn’t me, JM, honestlywho prayed for a white Christmas.
And I’m sure Gabrielle has more culinary knack than her modesty will admit.
We just got rain and wind out of this storm. But there’s nothing I like better than a couple of feet of snow. No work, no school.
May I suggest peanut butter sandwiches for your evening repast?
We are having our nice snow but icy weather here too. They cancelled formation class for today, the Chapel closed yesterday, I like your idea of being snow bound. I enjoy the white stuff too much, it’s so pretty. Nice picture of the hidden you.
In all seriousness, though, I am here in a warm home, with some food in the pantry, and affected by this only in terms of not being able to do what I had planned to do. Pretty lightweight stuff in comparison to the homeless they are trying to get out of this storm and into the Missions, and the search for extra mattresses is not going well, so I hear on the news. Even more snow to come on Wednesday, they say, and always, always more homeless.
On my ch-ch-chilly way to Mass Saturday eve (I don’t prefer vigil Mass ever, but knew that waiting til Sunday morn would mean dragging someone out to drive me), I saw the most beautiful young man crossing in the crosswalk. He had on a peacoat of sorts, and no hat. That’s how I saw the dark ringlets encasing his face. No hat! And his cheeks were scarlet. But his astounding eyes were so happy.. Are you missing someone from Canada, G? Is Nazareth missing Jesus?
Well, I’m penning all this foolishness so as to say that as much a hardship as the snow and cold is, we should be thankful that we do have the snow to blanket the ground, and the cold to numb some of the bazillions of microbes and parasites. The cold/blanket does kill germs, and it does hibernate some crucial seeds and roots; without it, we don’t just have less beauty in spring, we may have less health year-round. I will die in winter, of that there can be no doubt; but I am more worried about global warming.
Gab
Cooking challenge. How about Iron Contemplative Chef?
What are those strange garments wrapped around your face in the photo? It is that some sort of third order habit?
The cold must be a challenge, it was so cold here once, that I had to wear two tee-shirts at the same time when going outside.
Cube, as always, you are very perceptive. Yes, this is the traditional clothing of members of Our Lady of Mount Snowremoval. We require humility, obedience and upper-body strength. Dowries are very welcome, as are snow-blowers and electric generators. We are a contemplative order, which comes in handy, because the heat generated during contemplative prayer (yes, it’s possible, even with a shovel in one’s hand) melts approximately 4% of the white stuff. Always looking for new members, but have had recruiting nightmares with Californians who don’t know how to do anything except pick blood-oranges off trees in their backyards.
How rude is that?? Two t-shirts, eh? ow.. owwwwwww
Yes, G.. I am a closet snow-lover.. and an amateur wrestler, as a matter of fact. Come, let me show you a half-nelson that truly impresses my hubby…
Good to hear from you!
G, alright, I’ll reserve the upper-body strength for snow removal. Besides, JT is likely taller than me, and I don’t know how to get out of a half-nelson turned upon myself.
UKOK, that reminds me of how hard forecasters in Ireland have to work to say for all 365 days but in different words, “There’ll be some sun and some rain tomorrow.”
: – p lol
I have lots of blood oranges this year. It was a great citrus year. No I don’t live in Cali. Much too cold.
Snow melts. Pia is the one we have to be praying for this Christmas. I’d rather accompany Frodo to Mt. Doom than have to cook Christmas dinner for a group of Italians. It will be as complex as a moon landing, but with much higher stakes.
Pia, ten inches of snow in Italy – wow! So happy you’ve now arrived safe and sound in the USA. I was sort of hoping that (although you’re family) that you would be considered a bit “guest”, and would not have the job of preparing the big meals (a bit of a reprieve when you’re on holidays is always welcome, isn’t it?) Good luck!!!
Kristin, your description is perfect! That’s exactly how I feel here with these wonderful people, including you, naturally! Whether it’s winter and we’re sitting around the fireplace, or summer, sitting around the campfire as Ann once said, I feel warm, cozy and at home with good friends.
Cube, “much higher stakes”. You mean like right through the heart, instead of the kneecaps? There’s alot riding on this turkey dinner, I gather. Maybe JustMe could put up a quick YouTube demonstrating the half-nelson and Pia could practice, just to get her self-defence skills up to scratch.
What the heck are blood-oranges?? Gracious, I may be off citrus items forever, now!! OY!
Pia’s got big problems regardless of what side of the Atlantic. If she’s in the states she’s not really off the hook. In this example, Pia would be the hostess. So then family will come over to “help” her prepare for the big dinner. The real problem she has is how many old aunts are involved in the “helping“. I call this grouping of aunts the “ziacracy”. The strength of the ziacracy will depend on how many of them are blood aunts or related by marriage. There is a different dynamic depending on the familial relationship (both bad by the way). The “ziacracy” sort of oversees things. Any one of them could win Iron Chef, but there‘s no pressure, everyone‘s just family. Now if there is a mother-in-law or sister-in-laws involved that brings additional layers of complexity (again typically bad). Then there are the regional concerns if any (Italy is a lose confederation of warring tribes). Regional concerns also determine how strong the tyranny of the “ziacracy” will be, not to mention the language barriers. (Italians only speak Italian in the United States, I have not quite figured out what they speak in Italy). She has to size all this up before she can take control of her kitchen, and began the cooking. What are they going to cook on Christmas Eve? Most likely fish. Probably the hardest most complex thing to cook. So once she has navigated the politics, she has to supervise the cooking of perhaps dozens of dishes for many people, and execute them flawlessly while dressed really really well in her Sunday best.
So if you’re worried about cooking a turkey and stuffing, just think of Pia and offer a prayer for her sanity this Christmas. She will need it.
(((Pia))) We’re rooting for you!
Turkey? Heck, that is Thanksgiving fare. Spiral-sliced hams are getting pretty affordable just now. I don’t know what it is about them, but folks really seem to like them. And I like anything that one can stick in the oven for a while with potatoes, while opening a jar of pearl onions and a can of cranberry sauce, and a jug of wine or Bailey’s Cream..
(Fortunately, I have help with all that opening of stuff.)
JM…homeschooling?? Nah…
Pia, I can visualize your Mom so well from your description! I can see her talking to the tomatoes, telepathically. I wonder if the little metal contraption belonged to her own mother? Hope you’re relaxing a bit, and that the menfolk are enjoying the change of scenery!
I dunno, G, about the wrinkle situation. You may have a hottah heatah in your dryah. Do you take the items of clothing out immediately when done and hang them?
I must iron because, tho dryers do exist now in Italy, they are very expensive and they cost a lot to run. I have my trusty clothes line outside and when the weather is inclement, we have them hanging all over the heating elements and on a portable clothes hanger. However, I do admit that I never do an ironing session, I only iron the item I need when I am going to wear it. My sons iron their own clothes on a need to use basis, but at least they know how to do it. Their wives will one day thank me I suppose, lol.
My mother in law on the other hand, is very precise and irons each wash when it’s ready. She used to iron socks, but something of my philosophy has rubbed off on her. She limits herself to ironing underwear, shirts, towels, tablecloths, sheets etc.
Merry Christmas!
I did once iron and fold then iron again a stack of my father’s handerchiefs. Yes, once. I never dared again, because near the end, a floral apron had starting forming atop my jeans, I began to crave low-heeled shoes, and long blond hair suddenly seemed a nuisance. A terrifying day.
I liked ironing for money, tho’. (Somehow, that didn’t come out as sparklingly as I hoped..)
Terry, wouldn’t that be cool if you could have a coffee together somewhere? Merry Christmas to you and your family as well!
JustYourself, I would enjoy ironing for money too, but they refuse to pay me. Believe me, I’ve asked.