We awoke to quite the surprise this morning, didn't we friends?
The first snow of the year is always such a delight...
I could hear my children rustling around downstairs while I laid in bed, still sleepy-eyed in the early morning darkness, wondering what all the excitement could be!
Of course, as I have written before, where we live old man Winter can be such a boss to the other seasons. I couldn't help feeling sorry for poor Autumn. She gets her pumpkin toes stepped on this time of year. I'm sure she had a talkin'-to with him today... "Excuse me, Winter, it is not your turn yet. Quit cutting in line! Your snow is making a mess all over my mums and gold leaves!"
I've never gotten the impression that Wisconsin Winter cares.
He just stomps around whenever he pleases.
Nevertheless, the fresh snow is beautiful, so one just can't help but enjoy it!
Part of how we enjoy each change of scene is by searching our bookshelves for stories that relate to what we're experiencing.
After our family read-a-loud at breakfast (we are reading through "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott at the moment), I told the kids to search the house for "winter" books.
Roman found "Emily's Snowball" by Elizabeth Keown (today's snow was the sticky kind, perfect for making snowballs)...
I found "The Mitten" by Jan Brett (one of my favorites!)...
But Soren came back with this Little Golden book...
(It used to be mine from my childhood.)
And it provided the perfect inspiration for our snow day.
Nothing extraordinary. I'm never doing anything real important. I spend my days schooling children and doing laundry. But the way to make an unexciting life feel brighter is by taking delight in all the little things. So why not bake the pumpkin pie we read about in the book? Isn't this why we dig through books?
The children were very happy to know a pie was in the oven when they came in from playing in the snow.
The cat ran in behind them and found her bed soaking up a warm sunbeam. I couldn't object to this...
This is why we're home. To enjoy life.
Today was an uneventful homeschool day, but I've noticed our simplest at-home days are often the nicest.
We live life how we please.
We pursue what interests us.
Roman spent a big amount of time today writing out a detailed outline for an upcoming presentation he is scheduled to make.
Soren and Elsa played "Pirates" once their school work was complete. They changed into costume and everything!
And Nola played the piano for what seemed like all afternoon, trying to perfect "Carol of the Bells" for her next recital. (How did her piano teacher know that is one of my favorite Christmas carols?!)
My older children are now at a level with their piano skills that listening to them play is quite pleasurable. I get to go about my work while my own children fill the house with live music. What a lovely thing!
I set a pretty table...
(Ordinary days are great days for setting a beautiful table! I think it lets our families know that they are important to us! It even has the power to lift the ordinary off of the day and turn dinner into something special.)
We enjoyed our pie with real whipped cream afterwards...
Today felt like a true start to the cold weather months I know lie ahead.
I have been out of practice.
To end this simple day at home (and to refresh my memory of how winter evenings are done) I warmed the house with candles and twinkly lights...
Yes, feels like winter.
Except we know Autumn won out in the end. *wink
She stood her ground all day. We watched the snow slowly melt in the bright sunshine.
We have our October back.
"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." -Anne of Green Gables
At least for now...
xo,
~ Courtney ~
