The day began when the sun soon arose
But of course in New England that’s a hoax
Because all of our days do begin, yes,
But often the sun’s hidden, I confess.
I miss the time when day gently began
With a bright orange orb in all the land
That shone over the blue Pacific Sea
And my soul soared in awe of such Beauty.
But I’ve learned that day begins, sun or not
The birds still sing and I still find a spot
In my soul to embrace clouds and the rain
My thoughts wildly free with thunder untamed.
So winter come forth! I’m ready for you
Mother Nature, I can handle your brew
I laugh at the snow and ferocious wind
Let’s dance together and go for a spin.
With gratitude for friends and family from coast to coast (and from my land to your land, wherever it may be). And an acknowledgment to powerful Mother Nature, from her frigid blast of New England wind to her soft fog through the Golden Gate.
And down the coast a couple hundred miles from the Golden Gate, there’s a warm wind blowing the stars around and all my windows are open. We usually have our first frost around Thanksgiving but tonight is marvelous. Clear, starry, and warm. You can have your bluster, I’ll take this.
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“There’s a warm wind blowing the stars around” – how I love that verse and that song. And the sentiment! No warm winds here now for at least five months. Sigh. Enjoy your beautiful CA space, Esther.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
SUNG LIKE A TRUE NEW ENGLANDER! HAVING FUN—REGARDLESS!
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Thank you for the reblog, Jonathan! 🙂
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Thank you Pam for this great poem and high spirited attitude to winter.
Please, can I join you in your Snow Dance, it is absolutely delightful.
I also love these soft flakes falling and see all get soft and pristine. The air smells clean too. So yes, let us dance.
You say ” Mother Nature, I can handle your brew
I laugh at the snow and ferocious wind.”
Brilliant ! 😊⛷
Miriam
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Miriam, I would LOVE to dance with you in the snow. It’s quite invigorating. And displaces the gray cloud over my head when I realize it’s too cold for a long walk. 🙂
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Pam, your post starts my day with much-needed laughter and tears…I just love your dance and spin in the snow and was right there with you! The glorious feeling of the snowflakes on one’s face, viewing the world transformed, the stillness and peace, the soft crunching of snow underfoot. Bliss. I was waiting for you to collapse to a snow angel!!😀😃 You look ready to handle anything Mother Nature throws at you and luckily the birds continue to sing and be there for us. hugs xx ❤️
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Do you get snowstorms like this in your English neck of the woods, Annika? They come more frequently here in NE than I’d prefer. But that first wondrous day when the snow falls – it is SO magical. The next day…I wish it would all melt away. 🙂
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Pam, I wish they were more frequent. If lucky there will be a day or two of snow during the winter. Over the past decade there were two years where it lasted for two weeks – nearly unheard of. However, I live in the South and know my brother has already had snowfall up in Yorkshire and there is quite a bit on the Scottish hills. It is so magical and your poem and video shared it so beautifully. xx
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xo
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You have a unique title, almost reminds me of an old drama. You prepared a great clip, that’s wonderful!!!
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Thanks for enjoying my snow dance. 🙂
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Love both the photos and the poem. I kind of miss winter. Kind of….. I miss the snow.
Peta
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To be truthful, when we moved back to CA after living in New England for ten years, I didn’t miss winter one iota. I am a sun and warmth kind of girl. But we’re back in the Boston area now, and lemonade should be made out of lemons; pumpkin pie should be made out of pumpkins; and a snow dance should be made out of a blizzard. 🙂
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Love your poem embracing winter weather. I think winter is the black sheep of the seasons and needs allies. Keep dancing like everyone is watching, Pam!
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“Winter is the black sheep of the seasons” – that’s so true (and kind of funny). I returned to NE with a black heart, dreading that black sheep season. But I realize, I better embrace it and just dance into Spring. ❤
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I remember how much I loved winter as a kid because it meant playing in the snow. As an adult, I see it as an inconvenience, and all the extra work it entails. But if I can adapt my child-like view of it, it really is wonderful and beautiful. Mud season is quite another matter!
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So true. As kids, we couldn’t wait for a “snow day.” Now as adults, we dread it. Gotta go back to the kid point of view!
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Beautiful words and pictures, Pam! 😄
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Thanks so much for enjoying my Ode. If I keep repeating it to myself, I may find a way to embrace these seasons. xo
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I like the way you embrace it all, Pam. I love the photos.
I am not ready for the real cold, though the snow if pretty. Today should be a nice fall day–the sun is out and the birds are singing.
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
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When I grew up in southern NJ, we had cold icy winters, but not that much snow. Big difference up here in NE. Sigh. So I might as well dance into the icy freezing 4-month snow-white adventure, right?
Thanksgiving was great – Turkey Trot at 32 degrees, but sun was out, so 1,000 people showed up. New Englanders are tough turkeys. 🙂 Enjoy your sunny weekend!
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You do a wonderful job finding the beauty in everything.
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Thanks so much Bernadette. I find that finding the beauty in not-so-perfect circumstances can keep the grumpiness at bay. xo
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We have no say to Morher Nature!!! Dancing in the snow….now that’s a first !!!
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Try it during your first Long Island snow storm, Karen. I dare you! You’ll find that you love it. 🙂 (Let the dogs dance with you….)
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Beautifully put! Good morning and Happy Thanksgiving, Pam!
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Thanks for enjoying my ode to weather. May we keep Mother Nature happy with our poetry. 🙂 xo
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Wow, you have snow before us! I guess it won’t be much longer now…
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I confess, Jennifer. This video (taken by my bemused guy) occurred last March. We had a lot of March snow last year, and it was hard to smile through all those snowflakes! Happy almost-December.
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Enjoyed your snow dance . . . but it still looked cold. 😀
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My snow dance is shown in slow motion. Believe me, I was dancing around fast to keep warm. 🙂
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I love the photos and the poem. Mother Nature is very busy these days!
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She is. Perhaps dancing in her weather will appease her a bit….?
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It is a wonderful attitude you have Pamela and eloquently expressed. Although I must admit the wee video really made me smile. We have our fair share of the white stuff since a few weeks ago.
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Some people ski in the snow, snow board in the snow, snowmobile in the snow (all things I’ve seen you accomplish in your blog!) Klutzes like me? We dance in the snow. 🙂
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i love your poem and your approach to winter –
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Thanks, Beth. Trying to keep a young attitude. I imagine your students dance every snow day!
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I used to live in Connecticut and enjoyed the changes of temperature and seasons. The Connecticut sound kept our winters somewhat moderate but remember beautiful days of snow. Thanks for the video.
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A big change, from CT to TX, John. Honestly, in the middle of winter, I’m very jealous of your Texan warmth.
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Was big but I had a stop in California in between.
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Hmmm, yes, a good waystation.
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We loved it. Seven years there.
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Wonderful tribute to the weather and our mixed up relationship with it! Thanks for the smiles and sneak peek at winter. I almost forget what snow is. I love snow, but don’t enjoy too much cold. 🙂
To gratitude, play, and embracing the wacky weather.
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Weather IS wacky, so we might as well be wacky along with it. As another blogger said, we really have no choice. So….I’ll read in front of the fire for a while, then go wild and crazy in the snow just to show Mother Nature that she ain’t going to get to me. 🙂
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Yay! That’s the spirit Pamela. 🙂
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We are two months into our full-on rainy season on Vancouver Island (which can last for 5 more months).
Your post was a great reminder to accept Mother Nature’s brew as she chooses to spread it. But I do already miss our warm, dry, sun-drenched island!
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Ah yes, Donna. That sounds a lot like the SF bay weather from November to March. Since I grew up in the East Coast, when I moved to the bay area I really made fun of the San Franciscans who whined about all the rain. “Better than snow!” I’d say. Welllll, now that I’m in New England, guess who’s getting the last laugh? 🙂
Stay dry in your beautiful part of the world.
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What a wonderful joyful warm-hearted poem, Pam. And I totally love the slow-motion clip. So much magic in watching you twirl and the snowflakes swirling down, up, and sideways. Happy Snow. ❤
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What’s that expression? If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Snowflakes love to dance, and they seem to enjoy the company. 🙂
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Loved it! Whoever said we have to stop twirling in the snow?
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I love your attitude of not putting life on hold to wait for the weather to be our idea of perfect. There is beauty in every day. This post is a good reminder to embrace whatever life throws at us and make the most of it. Well done, Pam.
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You gave my poem a metaphor I didn’t write on purpose, but I like it, I like it. That’s right. We can complain about the weather (or what storms ‘life’ brings to us), or we can dance through it. I admit, I don’t dance every day, but I try. I try…. xo
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That’s what we have to do – keep dancing!
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A beautiful ode. (And a beautiful town! Are those your pics? Do you live in that idyllic place?)
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Thanks for enjoying my Weather Ode, Mike. Yes, these are all my photos. The ones with sun in them are from my former bay area town; the ones with clouds are, of course, in my New England village. :-0
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Beautiful Pam! I love your dance in the snow — with abandonment and joy. Reminded me of Betty White doing a dance to mother earth in “The Proposal.” I’m not so eager for the snow as I used to be. Our last two winters have been mild in SW Ohio.
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Oh, that’s so funny. I did a Betty White routine without even knowing it. I felt more like Lucy Ball, trying to collect all the chocolate shooting out, or in my case, catching snowflakes. 🙂
I wish you a mild winter in Ohio this winter. I really do. Well, maybe one big snowstorm?
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Wonderful Poem Pamela and that was one ominous looking cloud.. But wow to that Beautiful Orb.. and her golden glow..
Loved the pictures and the snow video.. Have a Fun filled weekend 🙂
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Thanks for the enjoying my sun and cloud-filled photos, Sue. Yes, when I saw the ‘ominous’ cloud hovering over the 1700s graveyard, I whipped out my camera. Late fall seems to bring forth the biggest darkest clouds here in NE. The orb I watched as I walked on the path overlooking the CA Richardson Bay. Quite a show.
To you… I wish sunshine and warmth. ❤
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Lovely, Pamela! ❤ Oh, the wonder of it all… xo
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The wonder of it is the BEST way to appreciate what Mother Nature slings toward us throughout the seasons, Bette.
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I love your attitude. As my father always said, “There is nothing you can do about the weather.” Of course, I did do something, I moved to Spain! It was 24C (75F) today and I read in the sun. I loved your Snow Dance though and your ode.
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Oh, Darlene, you do know how to turn my face green. I’m breathing in and out to achieve a rosy (from the cold air today) glow to my face again. Haha. YES, you DID do something about the weather by moving to Spain. And I live there vicariously through you in the dead of winter. xo
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Loved your dance with Winter! You might as well embrace it and you make it seem like fun. Lovely post and words. Tomorrow we will be back in the 80s.
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Your 80s temp sounds so lovely. I’d write a poem to the warm lovely Texan weather if I lived there, believe me. But, sigh, I find beauty where I can, and we must admit, Mother Nature shows off all of her plumage in the white of a snowstorm.
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I danced with your weather frolic though not in the snow.
My Florida day began bleak and turned sunny spending time with a long-time friend. I love how you embrace life – sun, rain, or snow!
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Believe me, Marian, I’ve had my days when the cold dark days of winter have brought me down lower than the bottom step. But then I realize that spring here is more magnificent than any other place I’ve lived – because of those frigid snow-filled days. So…. I dance and write poetry. 🙂 Happiness to you in your warm home with warm hospitality, whether in person or on your blog.
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And same to you! Love your pictures. We had a chilly Thanksgiving on the Jersey shore, but the sun was shining all day!
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The Jersey shore is beautiful in every season to me, Barbara. I usually only get there now in the summer (when I rejoice in the heat and the hot hot sun). But when I was a NJ high schooler, my friends and I would drive to the ‘shore’ in the dead of winter and walk along the frigid sand, laughing and roaring back at the surf. Enjoy your gorgeous part of the world.
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I loved your snow dance, Pam! I’d have to wear a lot of layers to join you. 🙂
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Believe me, Jill, I had five layers under that red coat. And when my dance was finished, I took a good long hot bath. 🙂
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You worshipped that snow! I think the after-effects of your pixie flight are still giving you joy to take you into winter 🙂
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I think you’re right, Andrea. A little pixie dust with flight goes a long way.
I’m hoping for a bottle of it this winter…. 🙂
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I’m not quite in the good snow headspace that you are in, but in a few more weeks I’ll have no choice but to embrace it. You are my snow goddess inspiration.
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Oh dear, if my NE friends could hear (read) you, they’d roll their eyes. I admit, there are times when I bemoan the next snowstorm, and then the next. I’m going to keep a goddess snow coat in my closet to remind me to dance in each snow-filled storm. Let’s make a pact to each other, okay? We’re gonna SMILE through the snow.
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You got it. *pinky swear*
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It’s a lovely attribute to be open to seeing the beauty wherever we reside. Your photographs are spectacular! It may be a little colder, but it is beautiful!
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Thanks Debra. In fact, I find that when I’m looking for a perfect scene for my camera, the cold gets warmer, and the sun gets brighter. ❤
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Beautifully expressed, Pam. Love the photos and how your words bring them to life..:)
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Thanks so much for enjoying my weather ode, George. I’m going to have to read it out loud to myself the next time I start to whine when the thermometer dips below 30 degrees F…. ;-0
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I love your change of season poem…so true about the sun rising in New England but the last few sunrises have been gorgeous….Your dancing is superb. I’ll sign you up for the ballet…perhaps the Nutcracker next year…
Hope your Thanksgiving was delightful.
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Thanks for the laugh, Cheryl. My guy and I (and now our granddaughter) attend the Nutcracker every year – EVERY year. I know the Snowflake Princess role by heart. Think I have a chance?? 🙂
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A very lovely poem and I really enjoyed seeing the beautiful photos. The scenery fits the poem very well.
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Thanks! The photos came first – I click and save them for inspiration. The Ode came next – I needed some fortification to get me ready for this next winter. xo
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Lovely sentiment, Pam. I especially enjoyed the video of you enjoying the snowfall. 🙂
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My snow dance is a bit embarrassing, but I must admit, I had a heck of a good time out there. Then I raced inside and took a long hot bath. 🙂
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I don’t think your snow dance is the least bit embarrassing. I wish I’d been with you. The long hot bath afterwards sounds very relaxing – all great for creativity!
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I just lovedd ittt and the way you put your thoughts into words is commendable👌
That video is Awe Awesome😊💖👌
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So glad you enjoyed my ode to weather. 🙂
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Yes I absolutely did.!😊💖💖💖
Your video was awesome 👌👌👌🌷🌷🌷🌷
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my Danish blogging friends visited our Southern California Thanksgiving where it was 90!!
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I’d write lots of poetry to a 90 degree Thanksgiving! 🙂
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Love your poem, Pam, and your snow dance. Oh, how I wish we could have just a little bit here by the Golden Gate. 🙂 xo
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Once, in my 20 years in the bay area, we experienced snow. My guy and I and the kids were eating lunch up in a many-windowed top floor restaurant (at the Hyatt) in December, and suddenly, white flakes flew past our view. Such excitement. But it turned to sleet, and sleet on SF streets is slick and scary. Hail dropped on our Marin deck, and we gathered the hail balls and placed them in the freezer. The next day, it was 68 degrees. 🙂
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What a memory! I heard it has snowed here, but years ago, so that’s probably when. 🙂 Well, we go to Tahoe often for our snow fix, so it’s all good. Enjoy and stay warm, too! 💦💝
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I LOVE Tahoe. In the summer. When it’s warm and smells like the trees. 🙂
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Embracing the weather is a good thing – after all, one can’t change it. Thanks for the snow dance! 🙂
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It’s dance or grouse. I prefer to dance… 🙂
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That a way!
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I’ve been around the country and the world — and I think I will always come back to New England. I love the seasons. And the holidays! I don’t know how some parts of the country or world interpret Christmas without the Colonial homes, chill and at least the chance of snow. Winters can be challenging; but there’s something even to that challenge that makes me feel … well, hardy. ;D
Did you already get snow this year? We haven’t had our first yet, though the frost has come some nights.
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No snow yet – this video is from last March. Remember how we got more snow in early March last year, than in February? ;-0 I wasn’t happy about it, but then I decided, ‘what the heck, might as well dance.’ When we lived in the sf bay area, on Christmas Day we opened all the windows (60 degrees out) closed all the shades, and kept a fire going on all day. It helped get in the New Englandy Xmas mood a bit.
Stay hardy, my friend! ❤
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We stood outside Friday and Saturday morning last weekend ringing a Salvation Bell for the red kettle. It was 70 degrees and the sun was bright and warm. It doesn’t feel like Christmas is soon or that we just had Thanksgiving, but that’s Texas. Someone said he thought we would have better results if it was cold out, but I don’t think that would have changed anything. Weather has little to do with what is in someone’s heart. ❤ Merry Christmas Pamela! 🙂
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Well, but I think people do get more in the holiday mood with the cold. I see people pass our Salvation Army bells throwing coins/bills in the bucket, first needing to take off their gloves and use a tissue to wipe their running nose. 🙂 Sort of a “Charles Dickens” reflex. :-0
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It is true that people are more in a holiday mood with cold weather but they were extremely generous with their giving both days in spite of the warmth 😉
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And I loved your poem!! 💖
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See? They were dancing in their souls…xoxo
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That was what I meant in my first comment. It didn’t matter what the weather was… if someone’s heart told them to give they would. It didn’t need to be cold to put them in the spirit of giving. I don’t believe people would have given anymore if it were 30 degrees instead of 70 😉
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Gotta love those cattails, Pam! From a gray overcast cloudy November day in the north… (Love our connection in other dimensions…)
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Let’s DANCE with the cattails! xoxo
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Loved your dance in the snow Pam. I love all the seasons, even winter. 🙂 xx
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A true Canadian you are, Debby. I’m getting there… maybe. Slowly. 🙂
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LOL 😉
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Well written – I enjoyed it very much and I can picture myself in several of the scenes you painted so vividly with your words as I have been on both coasts during all seasons and your words capture them beautifully.
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WOW! Thanks for the affirmation. I do feel fortunate to have experienced the ups and downs of the weather on both coasts, don’t you?
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The day I’m reading this the high was 57 degrees with a beautiful sunny sky … in New Hampshire … in late November!! Then around 5 pm, a fierce wind blew through, the temp dropped 25 degrees and it started to pelt icy rain!!
I learned a long time ago to just go with the flow with the weather here. When I visited my husband’s family in California, I noticed the gray skies first thing in the morning. I said offhandedly, “Oh, looks like it’s going to rain today.” My SIL said, “Nah, it always looks like that.”
So there you go. New Englanders expect unpredictable weather. Those on the West Coast expect pollution.
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So true, Kate. Never know what to expect hour to hour here in New England. Have to just dance through it. I will speak up for northern CA, though, where we don’t get the pollution like the LA area. No, if it’s “cloudy,” it’s from the fog flowing through the Golden Gate Bridge. My favorite sound is that of the fog horns blowing its warning to the ships on the Bay.
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We all have great faith that morning will invariably arrive, don’t we Pam? What a beautiful, grassy, well-maintained cemetery.
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The cemeteries here in New England are revered, Roy, and considered ‘old’ for America, with gravestones from the 1770s (like the ones in my photo, which are in my NE town). A few miles away is Sleepy Hollow cemetery, which includes the graves of Henry David Thoreau and Emerson and Hawthorne, etc. I love walking along their hallowed ground.
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You have a one of a kind title, practically helps me to remember an old show. You arranged an incredible clasp, that is great!!!
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