Grandma Anne

For a moment time stood still last night. I saw everything but saw nothing. Then I realized I was still grating carrots for the cake I was making, but with glazed over eyes. Sesame Street droned on in the background. I think I grated a part of my finger around that time. I got a call about my Grandmother. She had a medical procedure done last night and she's going to be fine. But for several all-consuming moments I thought of her, coming to Alaska to take care of me when I was sick, cooking for me, scrubbing floors on her hands and knees, taking care of an 8 month-old baby; did I mention she was in her seventies at the time? She's a super-hero. She helps others when they are in need and doesn't need much herself. Only yesterday afternoon I was thinking about her advice for roasting chicken, and attempting one of my own. One of my most treasured possessions is a piece of yellow note paper that I asked her to write her baked chicken, salad dressing, and hollandaise sauce recipes on. Right there, in her handwriting is the real deal. I know it's right because she wrote it. I have referenced that paper so many times since she gave it to me in 2008... and yesterday I realized I am nowhere close to reconciling any idea of her mortality. Oh mine I've come face to face with but some people just seem like they'll live forever and she's one of them. So thank goodness for everything that's made it possible for her to shop and scrub another day! Love you Grandma Anne. I promise to make you a really good chicken the next time I get the chance!

February Blizzard

This past Sunday and Monday saw 18 inches of snow dumped in our area. It was more like living in North Dakota or something. Our local paper had just published a piece on another low snow year, besides we just had our roads grated last week so it was bound to happen. Monday Jason was able to take the day off and we built the coolest snow fort; Mia was laughing and asked, "Is this fun?" She could swim in pure powder all over our yard. The snow fort started as a place for her to duck down out of the winds that followed the snow. It whipped up the fresh snow and gave a sculpted look to it. Today is a bit colder but it's been great. I like a lot of snow. Unless I start to think about the fact that every flake that falls is another one that must melt before spring comes, I'll be fine.

Dude, where's my car?



Blowing snow caused white-out conditions all around town.


Jason did a lot of shoveling on Monday.


Mia's ready to face the elements.


Slightly snow-encrusted.

Another Delicious Poem...

Be Like the Bird

Be like the bird, who
Halting in his flight
On limb too slight
Feels it give way beneath him
Yet sings
Knowing he hath wings.

Victor Hugo

One of my Favorite Poems...

To a Skylark

Hail to thee, blithe spirit!
Bird that never wert,
That from heaven, or near it,
Pourest thy full heart
In profuse strains of premeditated art.

Higher still and higher
From the earth thou springest
Like a cloud of fire;
The blue deep thou wingest,
And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.

In the golden lightening
Of the setting sun,
O'er which clouds are brightening,
Thou dost float and run
Like an unbodied joy whose race is just begun.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Ode to Blackberry Jam

How do I love thee, let me count the ways.
In the morning I do desire thee
in thy deep purple adornment.
Gently and carefully slathered
upon an unsuspecting piece
of sprouted grain bread.
Thou art not a vice,
but a necessity.