Happy Leap Day!

I decided to make Leap Day a holiday. I've been calling it Frog Day. We have a lot of froggie things going on around this house today. It's likely the last Frog Day when my children will still be children. Four more years and my youngest will be 13. Too old for silly fun. So I bought chocolate frogs from V Chocolates, little plastic frogs, frog whistle lollipops with red tongues that blow out, frog stickers, a frog garden ornament for a center piece, a frog cake decoration, and of course the leaping frog helium balloon. I also bought green cups. My son wants green eggs and ham for breakfast. We're going to have frog races with the origami frogs he made out of green paper. I hope you have a very happy Frog Day! 

Cyclamen Again

These caught my eye and reminded me of a friend.
So I bought it to give away.
But I wanted to take a picture first.
Maybe she'd rather have the picture.
Some people don't like the responsibility of plants.
But I'll give it to her anyway.

Walking to School

Today I walked my son to school in the snow. 

The air was refreshingly cold. The sky was a quiet grey.

I nearly hit my head on this branch that drooped over the sidewalk.

When we were within sight of the school he said, "Bye, Mom."

He wanted to walk the rest of the way alone. 

The crossing guard was close.

I let him go. I said, "Bye" and left with a smile.

February Flowers

A little clump of these flowers surprised me this morning. I lifted this one to the sky. What are they? The shape and size of the stems remind me of snow drops and the flowers remind me of small irises. These and the tiny wrens in the tree brought me joy today. Spring will come!

It's Better to Look Up

Four inches of snow last night. So far this winter, that's the most we've received at one time. I made a snow angel. White on white, the angle, and a not-so-great camera means you can't see it. Instead, here are pieces of my view and a serious-looking me. I could worry about a lot of things. But more and more I'm reminded that most of what I worry about today won't matter a day, a month, a year, a lifetime from now. I know it's better to let go of the worry, relax a little (or a lot), and look up.

Valentines Present

This is going to be the centerpiece on our dinner table tonight. I wish I could bring the sunshine, clouds, and blue sky into the house too, but my new glass pitcher (a gift to myself!) and ice balls will have to do.

I'm not a member of Pinterest, but I have visited a few times. On that site, I saw variations of ice balls in rainbow colors (for outdoor fun) and learned they use food coloring and water in water balloons (freeze them) to make the balls. 

I thought a single color in a glass container would make a unique centerpiece. 

Blue might also be very cool. 

I love ice. It has enormous potential as artwork. Why don't more people work with ice?

Did you know the ice castles moved from Midway, Utah to Silverthorne, Colorado? Here's the link to their new site.When I visited the Midway ice castles last year, I asked Mr. Christensen about adding color. He says they don't do that. I like the natural colors and I think it would be cool if they had a small area where they tried using pops of color just for fun. Or they could make a color cave. Seems like inside it would melt less. Even if it melted and colors mixed into the snow, that could be beautiful and interesting.

February Pansy

Yeah, it doesn't look very happy, but I would have never guessed I'd see a blooming flower in the middle of February. It was 59 degrees outside yesterday. No wonder we're all a little confused.

Walking in Sunshine

He talked me into a thirty-minute walk. I was busy, but went anyway. He's been talking me into good things for twenty-three years as of tomorrow. I'm glad he values sunshine, exercise, and time with me. 

"We've been through a lot together," he said. 

It's true.

Utah Love

Just found this picture somebody took a few years ago. I think I'm the little one in the middle at the base of the arch.
It's been a cold day and I want to remember that sometimes Utah is very warm.
I have a lot to look forward to this year. Among other fun events, we'll probably have a friend from New York come visit this summer. Maybe we'll go to Arches. We've also talked about the Grand Canyon, but this would be closer.
Today, I love life! I'm looking forward to the future.

Mid-road

I have felt discouraged about my lack of progress, like a turtle in the middle of a road-- slow to move out of a potentially dangerous place. Don't worry, it's not literal. I'll be okay. I just need to figure out which way I want to go and get moving!
I miss my New York bike rides and being outside in the wild. 

Draper Utah Temple

"Commitment brings life to life." -- marriage advice to our friends Amy and Steve from a sealer in the Draper Utah Temple 2-4-2012

Cute Beasties

I don't know why, but the way my daughter stacked her stuffed animals made me laugh out loud. Maybe I relate to the polar bear.