A Winter Picnic

When Faerygirl was wee, I used to take her out for winter picnics. Sometimes we would slip into the kayak and paddle down the creek to an island. There we would find a log to sit on and have a snack. This was when we lived along the Wildcat Creek, so it was only a short trip...but always exciting. Today, I felt gloomy being stuck in the house for so long by winter weather and illnesses. So I decided to seek adventure. I put on my flashy earrings, bought last summer at the farmer's market, a jingly-jangly bracelet made for me by my girlfriends and some outrageous costume jewelry. I bundled up Squirrelboy and packed my dad's old army backpack with surprises. Then I donned my favorite leather jacket and my cloak. We set out into the snow. Squirrelboy is not very fond of the snow and the cold, and truthfully, neither am I. But sometimes you have to face discomfort to find what you need. We explored a little, worked through a tantrum (sigh), and then found a destination worthy of our expedition. In the woods, Faerygirl has built many "hollows". This particular one, her latest, is woven of branches and still-living trees bent over. It looks like an igloo. Being a grown-up, I had to dig into the snow just to create an entrance I could slither through on my knees and forearms. Squirrelboy enthusiastically followed. Once inside, I could sit upright, bundled in my cloak. Then I opened the bag and shared the clandestine treats I had packed. Oh, I did it right! Peanut-butter crackers, dried fruit and nuts, marshmallows, and kool-aid mini-packets to dump in water bottles (from last year's birthday parties). It was wonderful to sit in a woven shelter looking out at the snow and enjoying a forbidden treat (yeah, we don't eat a lot of sugary snacks here in Dragonwood). But it was so appropriate, and we were happy. As we finished up, we left a nut for the squirrels and marshmallows on sticks for any snow sprites that might be around. The moment I mentioned "snow sprites", a bunch of snow fell down right on my head!! I hope they like their marshmallows. Fingers burning from the cold, I managed to follow Squirrelboy out of the igloo and wander towards home. It was a short outing, but a merry one. I highly recommend a winter picnic to anyone who is feeling the winter blues.

Hoarfrost

It's been a snowy week. Three out of five school days were cancelled due to weather. I start feeling a bit isolated when we are snowed in for so long, but the heated floors and prudential grocery shopping (before the winter storm) certainly help. Unfortunately, the Lady, Faerygirl, and Squirrelboy have all been "under the weather" with sore throats and nasty energy-sapping colds. Still, nothing can mar the beauty of this day! As the sun started its way up the sky, the branches of the trees swiftly turned white. At first, a bare glisten graced the branches, but as we watched, a thick coat of hoarfrost formed. The woods became utterly enchanting. Every surface outdoors is now covered with perfect crystalline structures. It makes the forest look fuzzy. Above, the skies are blue and the sun shines. The tops of the trees are brilliant. Our family went out doors for a while to enjoy the bizarre cold beauty.

TreetopsBeehives

Dragonwood Manse

Window View

Blue (Da Ba Dee)

Blue is the color of the morning and evening this snowy February. Not the pale blue of a summer sky, nor the inky velvet of a starry night, but a bright cobalt you expect only in a painter's box or a child's plastic toys. And it's not just the sky. The snow also reflects, resonates, radiates this color blue. It's like being enveloped in slow bluesy jazz, smooth and vibrant. These mysterious sensuous blues don't exist very long, only in the moments before sunrise and after sunset. Stark trees stripe the landscape with their black silhouettes. It's ineffably beautiful and almost impossible to capture with words. Not even photos can do it justice.

From the Pit

Just hauled Squirrelboy from the La Brea tar pits, where he was playing with a fairy and a dinosaur. Sadly, the fairy had to leave early because "she had to be home by eight o'clock". Even though it's pretty chilly out, the boychild dug himself well into the mud. His snow pants and coat are thickly covered, and his hands looked as if he'd made himself brown gloves. All this happened while the Lord of Dragonwood, his royal parents, Faerygirl, and I were busy trying to finish the downstairs wiring.

Oh, and when the Lord checked yesterday, all four beehives were alive!! I picked up sugar to make sugar-water for them to eat. We want all our dear hives to be alive and well coming into spring.

Ice and a Warm Lap

Today it is so icy-slick that Faerygirl's bus cannot drive down our road. We slipped and skidded down the driveway in the dark only to find out that the roads are nearly impassable. Yesterday, I checked the bees. Three out of four hives buzzed when I lay my ear on the cold metal roofs and knocked. The one that didn't buzz might have expired. We won't know until we check it on a warmer day.

My lap is warmer, now, because one of our former kittens has returned to us. Bucko started out his life in Dragonwood, and then moved to my sister's house for a while. Now that my sister is moving far away, he has come back to live with us. He is a very affectionate cat, purring and snuggling and playing with Squirrelboy. It's nice to have him back. The two tigers, Mars and Charmer, are gone. Faerygirl's Skeezicks is still with us. The Lord of Dragonwood believes we've upgraded.