Have you lost the magic?

Shopping.  Cooking.  Stress over company, wrapping, cleaning, and correspondence.  Is this what the holidays become as we grow older?  I love Christmas and have fought what many see as the inevitable loss of the magic even as I have gained in years what I have lost in innocence (there were possibly a few touchy moments in more recent years where the exactitude of the occasion began to overtake the sweetness of the event) but nothing has done more for my holding onto that magic than having a child.  All week we planned to attend tonight's ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree in downtown Dexter, but when today arrived with its blustery cold (only 18 degrees at noon), the affair looked far less inviting.  Not so to Calvin, though, and we found ourselves bundling up as best as we could, grumbling a bit under our freezing breath about the absurdity of the situation.  But it's hard to grumble on when faced with the shining stars of curiosity in your child's eyes at the site of the crowds, the warmth of the fires, and the beauty of the large tree.  Even more overwhelming to my heart was his wonder and excitement at exploring the dreamily lit, child friendly (i.e. ride on) manger scene;  he tried out all the camels, the donkey, the sheep, and then spent long moments gazing into the eyes of Mary, the kings, and even Baby Jesus.  Be still my fluttering heart, THIS is the magic of Christmas.

More pictures in the Dec 2008 album.

Winter Morning

Winter is the king of showmen,

Turning tree stumps into snow men

And houses into birthday cakes

And spreading sugar over lakes.

Smooth and clean and frosty white,

The world looks good enough to bite.

That's the season to be young,

Catching snowflakes on your tongue.

 

Snow is snowy when it's snowing,

I'm sorry it's slushy when it's going.

(Ogden Nash)

Ha Ha Ha

Did we say spring???
 

Snow, we miss you.

It's January, where is the snow?  They're getting feet upon feet of it in New England, so how come we can't be that lucky?  Come on, where's our snow!?!?  Today we are posting a picture of Calvin thoroughly enjoying the snow we had two weeks ago as our version of a  snow dance, our mouse's clock (as from "Twas the Night Before Christmas"), in hopes of enticing Jack Frost to visit our area once again.  There are more snow pictures in the January 5-11 album, just in case you are missing the snow as much as we are.

Tornado warnings and gale force winds

...no we did not move to Florida, and yes it is still January.  So what are powerful thunderstorms doing moving through the state of Michigan in what is arguably supposed to be the coldest month of year?  God only knows.  Seriously.  Sunday was relatively chilly, but Monday brought a spring like thaw, climbing all the way to 63 degrees, and the subsequent thunderstorms and tornado warnings kept us on our toes all night.  Tuesday was not much cooler or dryer, and the wee hours of Wednesday morning brought gale force winds upwards of 50mph that blew our 7 foot (now curbside) Christmas tree down the street.  We've heard of the January thaw, but this is a little ridiculous.