In the Bleak Mid-Winter: Music by James Taylor, Images by Me

"In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
 earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
 snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
 in the bleak midwinter, long ago." Christina G. Rossetti

 This season is full of colorful lights, festive decorations, and glowing colors. This season also surrounds us with a midwinter beauty. Rossetti's poem was made into a traditional hymm that has been loved by Christmas music lovers for years.

 As I reviewed photos I had taken a year ago during the midwinter I was struck by the beauty of this series along Lake Roosevelt.

What made the words and images complete was my favorite version of this Christmas hymm performed by James Taylor. Enjoy!

Joy

The songs of the holiday season has always been a big part of the memories I hold dear of Christmas. I remember hearing songs on Christmas specials at a very young age. Our first record albums contained Christmas songs. Until I was an adult, most of my experiences with holiday music had been listening to classical or traditional songs.

Then I discovered the album December by George Winston. I believe my brother introduced me to this album. First owning the cassette tape, then moving on to a CD, the arrangements by George Winston take me back to decorating my first home in Kennewick, driving through the snow to arrive to Kellogg for Christmas, and songs I could play in the background at school.

I really love songs from all the albums, but since joy became of them of my recent photos, here is Joy. Enjoy.

Christmas Cookie Exchange and a Keeper from the Recipe Box

I first posted this December 8th, 2007 on this blog. It is about memories of a cookie exchange. I will make these yummy cookies again this year.

Christmas Cookie Exchange

Years ago when I was teaching at Cascade Elementary in Kennewick our librarian organized a Christmas cookie exchange. The idea was greeted with enthusiasm, particularly since our staff was mostly women.  This was how it worked. Each participant chose a favorite cookie recipe, then brought an assigned amount to the exchange. Each staff member then collected a mixture of new cookies to take home. The first year we did the exchange our kindergarten teacher Joy brought these incredible cookies. It was hard to tell the exact ingredients. They were soft and buttery with hints of other flavors. I had to have that recipe. To this day I don’t know the real name for this cookie recipe. After baking them for more than twenty years I still call them Joy’s Cookies. My mom has since added the recipe to her Christmas repertoire. She refers to them as “Those Sesame Seed Cookies.”

I still have the 4x6 note card that Joy, using her perfect kindergarten teacher printing, carefully wrote out for me. At the top of the card it says “Here are those yummy cookies- Joy”.  My gift to you- those yummy cookies!

Joy’s Cookies

2 cups softened butter

1 ½ cups sugar

3 cups flour

½ cup finely sliced almonds

1 cup sesame seeds

Cream the butter and sugar. Add flour until mixed. Add sesame seeds and almonds. Divide dough into thirds. Roll and wrap in waxed paper. Chill. Cut into slices and bake at 325 for 20 minutes. Makes about 5 dozen.

Tips: Buy the sesame seeds in bulk or the cookies will cost you a fortune.

          Splurge on the almonds already sliced. If there is a way to slice them by hand, it escapes me.                                                   

          Watch the time. They burn easily depending on how thin you slice them.       

       

 I can’t say how many the recipe actually makes because Everett usually samples the first warm cookies from the oven and somebody usually samples the dough. If some burn, dogs do love them as a treat. These are perfect any time of year. For some reason I always make them at Christmas.

Christmas Memories: Look Alike Nightgowns

As I prepare for the Christmas season I am flooded with memories of holiday seasons past. This month I am going to reflect on those memories and capture the moments I remember so well in celebration of Christmas.
It is funny the little things that stick in your memory long after the event has happened. Some days I can't remember what I wore the day before, but can remember the matching pajamas from years ago.

One Christmas I think Grandma Woolum gave the whole family matching pajamas. This was before my sister was born and we lived on 14 E. Portland. I don't have any pictures of those pajamas, but I remember how special I thought it was to have matching pajamas. Grandma Woolum pulled through again a few years later after Carol was born. As you can see from the picture above only the sisters had the matching nightgowns. I guess the Crescent didn't have sets that included brothers.

I think one thing I loved about having the matching pajamas was opening them on Christmas Eve. We hardly ever got to open presents on Christmas Eve, but I guess grandma thought we needed to wear them to bed while we waited for Santa to come, so she trumped Dad when it came to present rules on Christmas Eve.

Our family never again had matching shirts, sweatshirts, or pajamas for any occasion. Perhaps we start up the tradition again!

Thanks to John Updike

This poem spoke to me today about how moving into winter does represent a certain sense of loss. He also referred to the beauty of the bones of the garden. Yes, the year is old, but yet we have a reason to say thanks.

November

by John Updike

The striped and shapely
Maple grieves
The loss of her
Departed leaves

The ground is hard
As hard as stone.
The year is old.
The birds are flown.

And yet the world,
Nevertheless,
Displays a certain loveliness--


The beauty of
The bone. Tall God
Must see our souls
This way, and nod.

Give thanks: we do,
Each in his place
Around the table
During grace.

Moving Into Winter

Our seasons have a natural rhythm that is determined more by temperature, length of days, and precipitation than the dates on a traditional calendar. When the days grow shorter I feel like winter is quickly approaching.

Moving into winter means not seeing the gardens during the week. It is dark when I leave and dark when I arrive home. Even if many plants are done blooming and the trees have lost their leaves, I like the stark beauty of the bones of the garden. It gives me something to look forward to on the week-ends. There are always images to capture on a cold winter day.

Moving into winter also means beginning a natural hibernation. I wrap up in warm blankets as the day moves into night. I take more naps.  Winter is the time to rest the gardens and rest the body and soul. We need winter like other animals for our own hibernation. We need our own sabbath.

Moving into winter also means sipping hot soups, craving comfort food like meatloaf and macaroni and cheese, and enjoying a warm drink at the day's end. Winter is pumpkins, squash, and apples saved from the tree mixed up into a homey crisp while sitting by the fire.

Moving into winter means tackling that pile of books that have been waiting to be read. It is time to find those writing inspirations in a journal lost during the fall, time to organize photos, and get things in order. Winter is wool socks, warm sweaters, flannel pajamas. Winter is cats each finding a spot to curl up and sleep and the dogs quietly snore in front of a fire.

Each season draws me in for different reasons. This year as winter is approaching, I am reminded to slow down, rest, reflect, revive myself, and be warm. 

Leaves and More Leaves

After our short visit with snow the leaves reemerged with their mix of autumn colors. I even discovered a rose still blooming. We may move leaves off the sidewalk, but we have started letting the rest work into the ground all winter and I think that has helped our soil.

No matter which plant or tree a leaf comes from, it always holds unique beauty. This one is from a oak leaf hydrangea.

The flowering crab apple tree has a distinctive orange color the her leaves.

The front walk is a mix of many trees created a mosaic of colors.

One single leaf from the cherry tree ((I think!). Today I am thankful for the beauty of autumn once again.

Kindness

I love poetry and often return to those poems that have stayed with me for a long time. "Kindness' is one of those poems. I had a very upsetting experience today, but when I returned to this poem it helped me make sense of my situation.

Kindness

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you every where
like a shadow or a friend.

~ Naomi Shihab Nye ~

(Words From Under the Words: Selected Poems)

Beauty of North Central Washington

 I think where I live is one of the most beautiful corners of the state. We just returned from the Methow Valley in north central Washington state. It has it's own beauty. Higher mountains, stark landscapes, river, and lovely trees. Above is a view in early morning on the highway. 

Here is a view toward the Okanagan Highlands.

The bare trees bunch together in the morning light.

Here is a view looking toward the Cascade Mountains. 

It is a beautiful part of the state and well worth a visit.

Simplicity of Nature

Even though the walk took me a longer time this morning, I decided to really concentrate on the small things of beauty as I walked with my husband and dogs on a river trail near where we were spending the week-end.I am sure I could have found even more simple images of nature if we had walked further. Enjoy.

Time to Retreat

We work at trying to build some time away from home throughout the year to give us time to relax, refresh, and retreat. We try to go somewhere close. We like places where it is quiet and the dogs are welcome. Tomorrow we will head to the Methow Valley in north central  Washington state. We like this area for many reasons. Everett grew up here and loves to revisit places he remembers. There are two bakeries to die for. Two coffee roasters and a good winery. The scenery is spectacular the times we have been there in spring and summer. We now look forward to enjoying autumn close to Winthrop and Mazama.

It is expected to be really cold. We are packing our wool sweaters and heavy socks. Books are going in the bag. The cameras are a must. I can't wait to drink morning coffee on the deck overlooking a nice river. Time to retreat.

A Nation's Strength

Such a powerful poem for today.

A Nation's Strength by Ralph Waldo Emerson What makes a nation's pillars high And it's foundations strong? What makes it mighty to defy The foes that round it throng? It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand Go down in battle shock; Its shafts are laid on sinking sand, Not on abiding rock. Is it the sword? Ask the red dust Of empires passed away; The blood has turned their stones to rust, Their glory to decay. And is it pride? Ah, that bright crown Has seemed to nations sweet; But God has struck its luster down In ashes at his feet. Not gold but only men can make A people great and strong; Men who for truth and honor's sake Stand fast and suffer long. Brave men who work while others sleep, Who dare while others fly... They build a nation's pillars deep And lift them to the sky.

A House Divided

When  I met my husband I was smitten. He fixed my gate. He brought me roses and iris plants from a  construction site to replant in my garden. He liked my cooking. We were both Christians. His dog liked my house better than his ( Everett and I were neighbors). My dogs liked his dog. He loved taking drives in the country. He also loved going out to eat for breakfast with me.

We have one difference. We are a house divided politically. We knew that when we married. I suppose we always "cancel" out our votes when we mail them in. It doesn't matter.  The political process is important to both of us. We both vote. We both follow our parties. We agree to disagree on issues that make him conservative and me more liberal. I think it is one of the things that adds strength to our marriage.

How strong are we? We can sit side by side and watch the blue and red states appear this evening and know that we will love and support our country no matter what. We are thankful for the freedoms our country has given us. The American flag flies by our gate  for both of us at 11 Crestview Dr.

Part of the Fun is the Planning

I always enjoy planning Thanksgiving. Sometimes family has come to my house and as a group we have put together a fantastic feast. A few years mostly due to weather we have stayed home and done Thanksgiving by ourselves. One year we just went away for a night and had dinner out and stayed in a hotel. It was a quick rest during a busy time.

This year we are returning to my mother's house for Thanksgiving. That hasn't happened in a few years. It will just be three of us, but the planning has already been fun. How many ways can you do a turkey. Lots! One recipe I wanted to try made my mom wrinkle up her nose. "I don't like sweet things on turkey." The maple glaze idea went away. After discussing many turkey ideas, I think Mom will just do it her way, which is the all-time best. 

I can't wait to try some new side dishes to serve up with traditional potatoes and gravy. Soon I will can pear mincemeat for one of the pies. All the planning and conversations is what makes planning for the holiday meaningful. It is weeks away. I am sure Mom and I will have a few more conversations about the menu. I am sure I will check out more ideas for the dinner. Along with the big dinner, I also look forward to some quiet time during Thanksgiving break.

I am thankful for Thanksgiving.

A Gift Outright

Today I am thankful that I live in a place that is free. I am provided with opportunities to explore the vast land any time I want. That is a gift outright.

The Gift Outright


The land was ours before we were the land’s.
She was our land more than a hundred years
Before we were her people. She was ours
In Massachusetts, in Virginia,
But we were England’s, still colonials,
Possessing what we still were unpossessed by,
Possessed by what we now no more possessed.
Something we were withholding made us weak
Until we found out that it was ourselves
We were withholding from our land of living,
And forthwith found salvation in surrender.
Such as we were we gave ourselves outright
(The deed of gift was many deeds of war)
To the land vaguely realizing westward,
But still unstoried, artless, unenhanced,
Such as she was, such as she would become.

-Robert Frost

Remembering With My Camera

Today I am thankful for my digital camera. I am on my third one and these cameras have helped me create a visual timeline of my life the last few years. If we ever need to remember when something happened or where we were, we just go to the photo files. Here are a few of my favorites from the last few months.

Thankful for Friday

It has been a hectic, crazy, busy month. I am thankful to have a job that I love, but today I am thankful for Friday with a short day at school and plans for a relaxing week-end. Photo above taken a recent morning on Lake Roosevelt by Barnaby Island.

Thankful

Today I am thankful for the beautiful corner of Washington state where I live. Today sunshine, mist, and a rainbow.

Good-bye October

It must have been the combination of sunshine, clouds, rain, lack of rain, barometric pressure, lining up of planets, fog, and harvest moons that created a most spectacular October. The flowers have never bloomed as well. The fall foliage has never been so diverse in color and texture.

The skies have never seemed so blue. Sunrises and sunsets have been breathtaking. November is usually a study in contrasts. Tomorrow we will begin more gray, early dark evenings, fog, bare trees, and the winding down of autumn. It all has it's own beauty though. Enjoy favorite images of October.