Monday, December 23, 2024

Skating with Harley and Katie's birthday.

The Ghosts of Winter Past


Once upon a time I lived in hilly, pine tree covered Wausau, Wisconsin.
Every day at noon I would head over to the ice rink at the fair grounds to skate.
Typically four or five skaters would be there; a mother and a child, a young man skating figures, an elderly gentleman and me.

The young man showed me how to skate a figure eight. I learned to use the edges on my skates.
Harley, the elderly man, taught me to skate the waltz. The waltz is skated much faster than you would imagine and very close to your partner.

Stroke, swing, inside edge, loop.
Stroke, turn, outside edge, glide.

I was nervous and scared and worked very hard to keep up with Harley's speed and steps.

I loved it so much.

It was possibly the coolest thing I have ever done.


(post from quiet life 2005)

Did you know my blog is twenty years old?



My first profile picture.
















Christmas pictures thru the years.....

Katie turns twenty-five tomorrow.
She was four when I started blogging.

We continue to  enjoy one another's company and make one another giggle.
She and her boyfriend will come over for chicken and dumplings tomorrow.
We might put together a puzzle and make the last of the rolo turtles.

We will live that quiet life when we are not laughing out loud.



Happy birthday honey.
I love you.

Mom







Thursday, December 05, 2024

December: All Bundled Up

Welcome December!






With such a late Thanksgiving, December took us by surprise.
Well.  Me at least! heh.




December
by John Updike


First snow! The flakes,
So few, so light,
Remake the world
In solid white.

All bundled up,
We feel as if
We were fat penguins,
Warm and stiff.

The toy-packed shops
Half split their sides,
And Mother brings home
things she hides.

Old carols peal.
The dusk is dense
There is a mood
Of sweet suspense.

The shepherds wait,
The kings, the tree
All wait for something
Yet to be.

Some miracle.
And then it's here,
Wrapped up in hope-
Another year!



******


December memories....





















Last year Katie and Karen decorated for me.  I think I really liked that tradition!!!

I am slowly switching the decorations over from fall to winter.  Slowly.


Yoohoo.  Katie and Karen!!!


Encourage One Another,

Donna