Ode To Joy & Christmas Eve, snapshot of my art studio desk, BlackBerry Shots, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 2009, all photos © 2009 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
savor the small things
the joy of writing haiku
in the dead of night;
the silence of snow falling,
calms the chatter in my mind
circumspect darkness
relative humidity
what matters to me?
seeing clearly with the heart
things invisible to the eye
Holiday blizzard
thank you for braving the storm
following footprints
of those who walked before us —
Joy hides in the strangest places
It’s the dead of night. I’m staring out the window at snow falling on cedars, oaks, and ash. A Holiday blizzard. I’ve always liked Christmas Eve almost better than Christmas. When I was growing up, I’d stay up way past the time when my five younger siblings were in bed, rocking in the leather recliner, bathed in the glow of firelight and candles. Some years the living room would be blue from head to toe, my mother’s favorite color, with a tree dressed in angel hair and the front door wrapped like a package with pine cones and ribbon. Do they still have contests for best door decorations?
I can smell Amelia’s fruit cake and rocks, ladles of egg nog, cloves spiking the Christmas ham. It’s the time of year when I count my blessings. I’m grateful for family, friends, and lovers, for blog partners and red Ravine readers, for puffy orange coats and wet mittens. Thank you for walking with us through murky and uncertain waters. Thank you for running through rain. And pausing in the darkness of Winter. There is so much joy in the silence.
Happy Holidays from red Ravine, December 24th, 2009
-related to posts: haiku 2 (one-a-day), Poem For The Trees (Keepers Of The Light), A Few Of My Favorite Things, On Eating December Snowflakes, Tamales — A Christmas Tradition, Merry Merry, Happy Happy, A Partridge In A Pear Tree, A Christmas Gift From Dad, On Collecting Pigs Against Your Will
wow… i love ode to joy…
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Thank you for providing us all with such wonderful, inspiring, and thought provoking material.
I’m not quite at the “enjoying” Christmas Eve yet. I have to go around town to collect packages that were shipped to different addresses. There is also grocery shopping to do. I’m not doing it. I’m delegating.
And I want to write. I need to write. I have a new Christmas story in mind but it hasn’t happened yet. Hopefully there will be writing time at some point today.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
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Corina, Happy Holidays. And we sure appreciate your visits to red Ravine. In the dead of night last night, snow falling all around, everything seemed filled with joy! I feel lucky that Liz did our last minute grocery shopping a few days ago. We’re having a Christmas ham this year, some homemade bread, egg nog. I’m not sure what else yet.
We woke up to almost 7 inches of snow this morning. I have to head outside to shovel soon! I hope you find some downtime to write, if only a few short passages. Since I’ve gone back to working full-time, I sure appreciate the time I get to write, do my art, be with family.
Thanks, Pinoy Rookie Blogger. Happy Holidays to you.
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A happy holiday to you and yours, Qoinmonkey.
Thank you for being here sharing your writings, thoughts, art. The material you post here distills what is important to keep in mind for full life, of constant awareness and appreciation. For this you are important to me. Thank you for sharing!. G
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G, thank you so much for saying that. And thank you for stopping by red Ravine. It’s always a pleasure to read your comments. I feel a strong connection to some of the first people we met out in the blogosphere. You are one of them. Happy Holidays and a toast to the year to come.
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Merry Christmas, QM, to you and Liz and all the kitties. And Merry Christmas to all our readers who celebrate this holiday.
I was offline since yesterday morning–modem went kaput. But I have a new modem that has much better coverage, although I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
I love Christmas Eve. The presents are under the tree. The girls are giddy. I feel relaxed. Went to the coffee shop twice today already. Looking forward to seeing familia.
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ybonesy, Merry Christmas! Happy you are back online. So do you use a modem with your TV cable? We have a router, I think, that covers the house. We have a small house though. What did you do at the coffee shop?
We spent part of the day shoveling our driveway and parts of the roof. A really heavy snow. We got walloped with Round 1 of a Christmas Eve blizzard. We’re lucky though because this young sister and brother team knocked on our door in the early afternoon and asked if we wanted them to snowblow our driveway for $10.
We said YES. Their blower was a small one and had a little trouble getting through some of it. So we helped them shovel. They were so cute. They also ran out of gas and 2-cycle oil. So we opened the shed, filled up their tank, and helped them finish up. We gave them $20.
They live down the street. Really great to meet them. This morning all of our neighbors were out shoveling at the same time. It was kind of wild. It’s continuing to snow as I type. I’ve got the heating pad on the back. 8)
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Merry Christmas, Quoin Monkey and ybonesy.
I was rushed,
and only read a little
but felt, instinctively,
i shoulda read more.
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After two days of late Spring weather, the temps turned cold and the snow started late last night and we have about 3 or 4 inches outside. The sun is trying to shine through the clouds and it’s still snowing. The Devil’s wife is fluffing her feathers pillows (sun shining and snowing at the same time) all on this white Xmas day.
Minus 4 degrees windchill. I won’t be windchilling today.
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Merry Christmas, amuirin. And to you and yours out West. Hope you have a wonderful Holiday.
Bob, love that phrasing — “the Devil’s wife is fluffing her feather pillows.” Is that something your mother said?
I saw on the weather map that Kansas City was getting socked. We’ve had 10+ inches just outside Minneapolis. We just recently got in from shoveling again. AND once again, we had Good Samaritan neighbors who strolled the block with their snowblower and helped people dig out their driveways. They snowblowed ours up to the cars.
We were so grateful! We then followed them a ways and helped other neighbors. It felt like stepping back in time to when people actually knew their neighbors and helped out in time of need.
Bob, Merry Christmas. And Happy Holidays to All! I don’t think we’ll shovel again until tomorrow. We are watching the Yule Log on TV with Christmas music. Liz is baking Honey Caramel Sticky Nut Buns. Ham will go in soon. Cats are healthy. Happy for the little things in life. Back later!
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Twas the day after Xmas and all through the house
The owner was prowling and beginning to grouse
The shovels were lined by the front door with care
In hopes that some old friends would soon appear.
But they were all nestled snug in their homes
And none of them wanted to get out and roam.
Me in my hoodie and wrapped in a throw
Had decided to go out and battle the snow.
I looked on the lawn and what really mattered
Was 8 inches of snow that everywhere scattered.
I threw open the front door and pushed on the storm
Which the north wind grabbed and almost tore off my arm.
The clouds they prevented the weak winter sun
from shining and melting what the snowstorm had done.
When, what to my wondering eyes drew attention
My front stairs were missing under 8 snowy inches.
The drifts they were higher than fence posts of old
And looked like a heart attack about to unfold
I knew in a moment I must show resolve
So out on the porch I stepped with no further pause.
The wind whipped the flakes all over the place
And scraped the dead skin from off of my face
Who knew that snow shoveling could hold something special
And give an old man his first natural facial.
I leaned over to scoop the first load of fluff
And wished I had worn some more heavy stuff
With the windchill somewhere in the minus degrees
I sure could have used some more thermal fleece.
In a few minutes times the steps to the walk
Were cleared and snow-free,but I couldn’t talk
My breathing was heavy, my arms there were weak
You know I’m exhausted when I cannot speak.
I plowed down the walk to the next set of stairs
And wondered to myself about who really cares.
I mean, snow supposed to fall and fill up places
And not be swept away, removing all traces.
But then how would visitors get to the house
So I felt really tiny like an itty-bitty louse.
I dug out a path from the cover of white
And uncovered the stairs, although just a might
Then onto the sidewalk I moved with a passion
And now there’s a walkway after a fashion.
It was then I decided to go back inside
To shave and to bathe and let the snow ride.
I thought, What would happen if I had an attack
And died in the snow with these clothes on my back.
I’m wearing long johns and old tattered sweats
And look like I’m homeless and worse than all that
I’ve not brushed my teeth or combed even a hair
And would I want EMT’s to see me in such obvious despair.
The answer is “NO!” so I dressed to the nines
And grabbed up the shovel when the sun starts to shines.
I put down the shovel and survey the scene
The sun willl melt the snow and that’s very green.
So I take off my coat and untie my boots
Set on the sofa and look at my loot.
Twas the day after Xmas and in my front room
I’m drinking hot tea and napping real soon.
Not a creature was stirring
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Sorry, didn’t remove the last line. But, not a creature is stirring right now.
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Bob, this is great. I love your poem and just read it out loud to Liz. We were cracking up. I have to admit, I had not thought of a windy snowstorm as an exfoliant before! I like that I can imagine you on your front porch in Kansas City because I’ve actually sat there before. Here in Minneapolis, the snow turned to rain late yesterday. It was so odd. It was 38 degrees. Then this morning, another inch or so of snow on top and it’s 18 degrees. This storm has been really something. We’re debating whether to go out to the studio. Still in my pajamas having coffee.
We’ve shoveled the last few days and it’s sure taking a toll. Like your poem mentions, it’s that wet, heavy snow. And we saw on the news last night how the ER heart attacks had increased along with back strain. Even in people as young as 30. That’s how heavy the snow was. Thinking about you today. Stay warm and keep drinking that tea!
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I finished digging out the stairs and the sidewalk. Put down that environmentally friendly stuff (they say) on the remaining icy spots. Got all finished and it began to snow again.
I still can’t believe my friend, Lois, is driving in from southern Missouri. I hope the interstates are in better shape although I can’t imagine it with the blowing snow and the falling snow.
I plan to do laundry and finish picking up the place for my visitor. Stay safe and warm.
I have enough provisions to last into next week.
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[…] the greatest Christmas gift was watching a family from up the street (who we had never met) stroll through the […]
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Bob, we bought a lot of food early in the week, too. We’re set for a while. Haven’t made it out of the house yet today. It’s snowing again here. Lightly. I hope your friend arrives safely. Can’t imagine driving in this stuff either. There has to be a rainy glaze underneath the snow here in MN. Have a wonderful time with your friend Lois. Is she staying through New Year’s Eve?
I feel lazy today. Counting my blessings though. Just about to go make ham sandwiches. Hmmm. That honey-glazed ham was so good.
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Oh Bob, you outdid yourself with that poem! Your first winter facial…LOL.
We got about an inch on Christmas Eve, but nothing yesterday or today. About 19 degrees, though–good fireplace weather.
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QM, went to the coffee shop again today. That’s three times in three days. It’s a new shop, so I’m trying to be supportive 8) . Hanging with friends, eating, drinking coffee. No writing there yet.
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[…] Friday night. Digging out. Digging deep. An old recipe. A new flame. Joy takes many forms. Clay dangling from red string. One new liver. Two hibernating black bears. Three things I am grateful […]
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