Long winter’s nap time

We’re a few days early, but we officially declared today as the start of “winter.” The mower deck came off the tractor and the back blade was installed. It is one of our fondest hopes that use of said back blade, to plow the driveway, will be totally unnecessary this winter and next spring. (We learned a long time ago that it doesn’t cost any more to dream big.)

Today’s weather has been a delight, with sunshine, temperatures in the 40s, and blue skies. I’m making note of that so I can remember the last time we saw blue skies if clouds return to stay. Much of the autumn’s prior snowfall has melted. Tuesday may bring a little or a lot, depending on that infamous “storm track.”

this year’s lights are even more subdued

Photo by J. Harrington

This may  be a more mellow and subdued Christmas for us than has been typical in years past. Neither the Better Half nor I have much of a Christmas list. I could use a new attitude, but I don’t think Santa could fit that in his sleigh. Meanwhile, I’ve books to read (look up tsundoku), coffee to drink, good food to eat thanks to the Better Half, family and dogs for company, etc.

I would like the world to overcome hostility, restore biodiversity, meet the 1.5℃ target on time, focus on getting better instead of bigger, and learn to integrate traditional ecological knowledge and indigenous knowledge with the scientific knowledge based we’ve developed. I’m not sure Santa can deliver on that list but maybe we could all work on improving our attitudes and perspectives.

As I’ve noted a number of times in these postings, I am a recovering planner. One of the planning rules of thumb I learned that seems valid in almost every context is that “More of the same never solved a problem.” Maybe as Christmas presence to each other, we could work harder on remembering that.

Zas (“Snow” in Navajo) - A Winter Poem

Appropriately, a poem on snow by Mikayla J. McRoye 

Zas (“Snow” in Navajo)

 

The snow begins to fall once more.

 

Drifting against the windows,

 

Politely begging entrance,

 

And then falling with disappointment, to the ground.

 

Endlessly,

 

A heavy blanket on the outdoors.

 

Floating down on the silent Earth and covered

 

All around and silenced all trace of the world

 

I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields?

 

That it kisses them so gently and then it covers them up, snug, you know?

 

With a white quilt and perhaps it says "Go to sleep... Until the spring comes.”

 

Something awaits beneath it.

 

The whole story doesn’t show.

 

A cold wind blows from the North,

 

As it makes the trees rustle like living things.

 

When snow falls, Nature listens.

 

Snow is Mother Earth’s attempt,

 

To make her dirty world look clean.

 

Snowflakes are Nature’s most fragile things.

 

But look what it can accomplish when they stick together.

 

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world

 

Changing it before our eyes

 

Everything is softer and more beautiful.

 

For some, it isn’t just a season.

 

It’s a feeling.

 

To others, it is a day that holds time all together.

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