Tonight's interwoven pieces are from "A Winter Walk" written by Henry David Thoreau.

"We sleep, and at length awake to the still reality of a winter morning. The snow lies warm as cotton or down upon the window sill; the broadened sash and frosted panes admit a dim and private light, which enhances the snug cheer within."

It snowed last night. It snowed inches of cold, powdery gossamer...enough to cover the bird feeder and the last heap of Autumn leaves that just didn't get raked into the garden. Enough snow so that Philip had to don the winter clothing that he always brings to Indiana to do the shoveling. I like watching him out the window as he scrapes clean my sidewalks and driveway knowing that his island doesn't afford the shoveling of snow or sidewalks for that matter!!
Tonight after dark we made snow angels in the back yard..side by side. It will give our neighbors something to talk about in the morning.

"The stillness of the morning is impressive. The floor creaks under our feet as we move toward the window to look abroad through some clear space over the fields. We see the roofs stand under their snow burden."

A week has passed since our last conversation. We settled into a routine with the kid's all back to their homes after Thanksgiving. I had school every day and Philip spent time here working on his stories. Evenings were spent at the movies...a debate at the University...another round at Rachael's coffeeshop setting up furniture..dinner with Aaron and Karen.

We decided to travel to Chicago for Friday and Saturday so we drove to South Bend and took the South Shore Line train into the heart of Chicago. We packed our lunch and sat side by side sharing tuna fish and chocolate chip cookies as we sped across the farms and cities of Northern Indiana. We did crossword puzzles...some reading...but mostly we talked and watched the world go by from the train window. Fascinating folks ride trains...people watching is a great occupation.

It was cold in Chicago..gathering our small satchels we stepped foot off the train in the deep and bitter cold...an unusual cold snap of 15 degrees below the normal. We spent the evening having dinner at a lovely Bistro and walking and window shopping. We both spend most of our time in rural locations so the sights and sounds of Chicago are pulsating and fascinating to us....lights...so many lights. The Holiday decorations are everywhere...we rode each escalator up and down again at Bloomingdales, Marshall Fields, Sears Tower...We sampled chocolate...bought coffees...and held tight to each other to stay warm!

"Silently we unlatch the door, letting the drift fall in, and step abroad to face the cutting air. Already the stars have lost some of their sparkle, and a dull, leaden mist skirts the horizon."

Saturday morning we were directed to the Christkindel Market in the heart of Chicago. We both have traveled extensively in Germany so it was such a treat.
The red and stripe awning tents invited us in as we went from booth to booth exclaiming over cuckoo clocks and hand carved toys and sausages and Marzipan...it was a feast for all the senses. Philip spoke German to several of the vendors and we were amazed that they could even begin to stay warm. By the time we had walked through several times, my feet had turned to glass...but our purchases filled our backpack and it was sight we will not forget.

We arrived home late last night just minutes ahead of the snowstorm.

"Opening the gate, we tread briskly along the lone country road, crunching the dry and crisped snow under our feet, or aroused by the sharp, clear creak of the wood shed."

Today was spent bringing out the winter dishes...the hanging of the wreath and the open house of the Steuben County Historical Museum. The home was built in 1899 and is furnished to the period even down to each dresser drawer and closet!

Tonight was the lighting of the Christmas Tree at the University so we bundled up, picked up little Matthew, who could barely walk with all of his clothes and made our way up to the school. The Mayor read The Night Before Christmas and then lit the tree. There was a nice crowd of folks from town who braved the icy temperatures and then we were treated to hot chocolate and cookies and a small quartet from the Fort Wayne Philharmonic played inside. It was lovely. It was community. It is the reason I live in a small town, and I loved sharing it with Philip.

It has been a good week. It is late and cold here in Northern Indiana. My candles are burning..I have a mug of cocoa next to me on my writing desk and Philip is deeply engrossed in the book he is reading. Life is sweet. If the ticking clock next to me stopped for a short time, I would be delighted.

"We see the farmer's early candle, like a paled star, emitting a lonely beam of light through his window, as if some severe virtue were at its matins there. And one by one the smokes begin to ascend from the chimneys amid the trees and snows."

Love to all,
Lou Ann