Snow Day!

This early morning the ground is covered with a white blanket - probably about a foot thick -  and made entirely out of ... snowflakes!

Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty,
 .... Every crystal was a masterpiece of design,  and no one design was ever repeated. 

Wilson (aka"Snowflake") Bentley (1865 - 1931)

Today is the first official snow day (No school!) of this winter.  Always a special occasion around here.  I'm not sure who looks forward to snow days more - me or the girls :)  They're so quiet. So peaceful. SO special that we celebrate them! Tho' not in ways that one would typically celebrate a special occasion. We celebrate snow days by sleeping as late as we want (tho' I like to get up early bc they seem to last longer that way) & stayin' in our PJs til whenever - and using the time they're so full of to do most anything we don't normally have time to do --  to entertain ourselves rather than to be entertained  -- and to use technology less (preferably no TV) and our imaginations more. They're ideal for cuddling under a blanket with a good book, lingering over a hot cuppa, lighting a candle, writing a handwritten letter,  sitting by the fire - and for being creative - for making just about anything - music, crafts, food. Toward that end, and assuming the conditions are right, snowdays are often the perfect time to make a friend of this nature...

This guy was a jolly happy soul! Made on a snow day way back in 2007.  Perhaps he'll come back again someday ;)


My husband's company even canceled work today - thereby making this the perfect storm as far as I'm concerned -  & making this particular snow day extra special, as I don't believe he has ever, in all the years we've lived here, enjoyed a snow day at home with us.


Soon we'll make what basically boils down to dessert for breakfast! --  a giant upside down apple pancake thats preparation is begun on the stovetop in a cast iron skillet then placed in the oven (skillet and all) to bake. Once it's done, all that's left to do then is to flip it out onto a platter, slice and serve warm - topped w/ vanilla ice cream and sprinkled w/ cinnamon. 


In hopes of reinforcing the "warm & cozy" generated by breakfast, and in an attempt to encourage it to linger as long as possible, a pot of beef stew will simmer for hours and I'll be baking a loaf of homemade bread. It's been much too long since I've done that. 


Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, here's hoping that you also are able to find a reason and make time to celebrate today. 

Simple pleasures are the last healthy refuge in a complex world.

Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)