Rantings – Changes in Latitude

Winter Blues, Golds & Purples

Here I sit with my morning coffee working on projects on my Mac, when I check social media. Yes – there it is, another beach photo or snarky post about winter in a warm place. Surely this type of posting will have me giving up all social media for lent again!

This is the third winter I have lived in the northeast as an adult. Admittedly, around late February and early March, I do yearn for the warmth of a sandy beach. Having two daughters in South Florida colleges always give me a reason to check in on them.

What I really want to express as I sit in my cozy house in the woods, is that I do like winter… especially the newly fallen snow. It is truly peaceful. I am fortunate to see the sunrise and sunset most every day in the wintertime. The sky is beautiful with golds, periwinkle and every beautiful shade of blue against the stark white blanket on the ground.

The ability to stay inside and work on projects, with a fire going and something warm to drink feels like a luxury…

But wait, there’s the dog with a ball in her mouth signaling we have to go for a needed walk in 18″ of icy snow! How many days until spring?

February 3, 2015February 8, 2015 by Kim Categories: New Jersey, Rantings, Winter 2 Comments

Resolutions…

The holidays are over, we have brought in another New Year filled with hope and resolutions, and I have noticed it has been since November that I have posted anything on this blog. I do a few other blog projects… ennui adventures.com where my friend and I take on a weekly photo challenge and then another photo blog if I am working on anything in particular… but this one has been left behind.

This is now my 3rd winter as a North Easterner. I have to say that I adore the seasons, and we love our house set in the woods. People are friendly enough out and about, but I have yet to feel part of a community here. In the past my connections had everything to do with my girls and their school and activities, but now as an empty nester it has been much harder to find those connections. I’ve taken painting, pilates and other activities around town, and I know in my heart that I need to put myself out there by becoming involved to make a difference.

When I started this post I meant to write about venturing into NYC with our girls over the holidays – but now they are back at school, my husband is back to traveling and I am home alone working on photography and art. This amplifies my need in becoming part of a community and making friendships. Wish me luck as I RESOLVE to try harder to put myself out of my comfort zone!

Happy New Year,

Kim

January 13, 2015February 8, 2015 by Kim Categories: New Jersey, RantingsTags: new year resolutions Leave a comment

Marching forward

It definitely was a long winter this year. I have to admit that I absolutely love the snow especially when its peacefully falling or on a beautiful sunny day being out in the fresh crispness of winter. By the time there are layers of ice where you need snowshoes to walk on it, and the snow is now shades of charcoal along the roads, I long for Spring.

I love what Charles Dickens wrote about March because it the truth living in the Northeast! I am on the lookout for that first “Spring Day”!!

Kim

March 28, 2014January 31, 2015 by Kim Categories: Poetry, Rantings, SpringTags: Charles Dickens, spring Leave a comment

Spring Fever

Punxsutawney Phil definitely predicted wrong!

Early Spring? Well tomorrow is Spring and I had to call to get my driveway plowed. This afternoon I shoveled my steps as we are expecting a delivery tomorrow! I was walking the dog in hat, gloves and jacket.

I have really loved my first winter and the snow. Although I find as we are counting down the hours to Spring, I am ready for the next season!

Spring please get here quickly…

Mark Twain wrote:

“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is and when you’ve got it, you want – oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!

March 19, 2013April 9, 2013 by Kim Categories: Favorite Quotes, RantingsTags: punxsutawney Phil, spring fever Leave a comment

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

the driveway

I have to admit, newly fallen snow is just beautiful and peaceful.

Getting around in it is a different subject…

After Nor’easter Nemo came through, we woke to find our power still on (YES!) and only a foot of the white stuff – compared to other areas with 2 to 3 feet of snow. We remembered that we needed to get last night’s mail and took the dog for a walk down the drive. I just followed behind my husband, stepping in his footprints all the way down. When we reached the box, we only found the wood structure that holds the mailbox! All we saw was a huge drift made by the snow plows, but no mailbox. John dug around the area to see if he could find it, and then a little black piece caught his eye about 10 feet away. There it was!

So happy it didn’t get plowed away, we then trudged back up the driveway. John with mailbox and garbage pail in hand. Me with Bailey. I realized my current snow shoes were not made for snow this deep! Time for another winter pair of boots, & snowshoes.

A few hours later, the driveway was plowed but secretly I think John really wants to take my jeep 4 wheeling through the snow!

February 11, 2013January 31, 2015 by Kim Categories: New Jersey, Rantings, WinterTags: Nemo, snow, winter Leave a comment

The Mayberry Test

Today I had to ship my daughter’s passport to her as she needs to renew it for a spring break trip, so I headed to the post office in town for the first time. On the way, I thought of some of my favorite post office visits. One was to Sunol, California where I drove out of Pleasanton to avoid the Christmas rush. It was so worth the extra miles to enter a true small town and have that warm fuzzy feeling where people take the time for pleasantries. My other favorite post office was in the Florida Keys which was another small town stop on the way to the store. The two ladies were so nice and welcoming, it reminded me of Mayberry which was the fictional town from the Andy Griffith show in the 1960’s. I told my husband when I hopped back into the Jeep, I was ready to move there…. well, we didn’t move south!

This post office looked promising, small and quaint! I went in and could tell straight away it wasn’t a friendly sort of day. No welcome as I was the only one in there picking out my express envelope. When I walked up to the woman at the register, I tried to be pleasant but she hardly could glance up. I was going to comment on her nails (because mine are so in need of help) but I wasn’t feeling it. On my way out, I sang “Have a good day.” Disappointed that they didn’t pass the Mayberry Test… I headed off to take a drive instead of more errands.

When I mentioned it to my husband, he said how could anyone be friendly in this bitter cold. I think the high was 19 degrees today… so I decided to not let a first impression be my final impression. I know it’s silly to have expectations, but when you move to a new area and looking for that “hometown feeling” its hard not to want to meet a friendly face.

Update: Had to go back recently and it was busy. I witnessed patience and humor by the woman who waited on me last time, and the man who helped me was very informative and wished me a good day!! My husband was right… again!!

January 24, 2013April 9, 2013 by Kim Categories: RantingsTags: Mayberry Leave a comment

Crazy Weather

For anyone who has visited the “paradise” called South Florida, you know how crazy the weather can be. The day can start off a beautiful 90 degrees, and in the matter of minutes a huge downpour can hit… maybe only on your street in the neighborhood! You just never know.

I guess it must happen everywhere in its own way. We are almost here for two months and in that time, I’ve experienced multiple snow storms (losing power twice!), rainy days, a few days in the fifties only to be followed by the coldest weather in a decade.

Even this morning as I dressed knowing the temperature was dropping – snow started swirling around and put a nice 1″ layer on the ground and then the sun came out and melted it all… by lunchtime. This brings me to the conclusion to be a scout (always be prepared) with layers and accessorizing!

Even for the dog…