a snow day | time together in cincinnati
last weekend, the boys and i drove up to cincinnati to surprise my sister with a baby sprinkle. she is due february 21 with her second little baby (the gender is a surprise- which i love, love). quality time with loved ones is one of her favorite things so my mom, one of her dear friends and i planned an intimate brunch with a few close friends. i plan to share the details of the event with you all soon (it was wonderful). while visiting, we also enjoyed staying in a hotel (parks loved watching the cars and trucks go by from the large window in our room), time at the spa with my mom and sister / 21c museum hotel in downtown is incredible (possibly my best massage of all-time), we gathered for delicious ethnic takeout food, the boys and my niece played together for hours, and we had coffee chats.
we woke up sunday morning to a winter wonderland; soft, fluffly, white snow. when nash woke up in the early morning hours to nurse, i opened the blinds and saw what i was hoping for- a new landscape; the heart of the season. i remember doing this as a little girl- hoping for no school (which took a lot). but i have lived in the carolinas for over eleven years … so it took me a few moments to remember that the city would still be awake that day- that people would still be out and about.
i spent the day savoring the gentleness
as i felt my soul rest
and whisper to breathe slowly
and dream
and be still.
the floral compote for the baby sprinkle table
gia and the blooms . over-the-rhine in cincinnati, ohio
i always love to come in and take in this shop when i visit
isn’t she lovely
snow day scenes //
everything had the sweetest touch that day
my sister’s neighborhood is historic and the homes are all older and unique
we played outside for a bit before enjoying lunch from carl’s deli
he was mesmerized by the sound of a woodpecker in the trees across the street from my sister’s house
my sister, jess, had this photo by her computer
of my dad’s mother, leona
(her daughter’s beautiful namesake)
and i couldn’t help but think about my darling grandma
she passed thirty-one years ago this upcoming monday, the 28th of january
(we found out about baby boy nash last year on this date- so special. and i couldn’t imagine anyone else to be a part of our family)
i took a moment to remember and to pray for her
-i think of her often-
and how i wish she could have seen me grow up
and become a woman
i was four when she passed
but her gentle touch and softness
has stayed with me
during all of my days
he brings my heart and life so much utter joy and happiness.
Snowy Night
Last night, an owl
in the blue dark
tossed
an indeterminate number
of carefully shaped sounds into
the world, in which,
a quarter of a mile away, I happened
to be standing.
I couldn’t tell
which one it was-
the barred or the great horned
ship of the air-
it was that distant. but, anyway,
aren’t there moments
that are better than knowing something,
and sweeter? snow was falling,
so much like stars
filling the dark trees
that one could easily imagine
its reason for being was nothing more
than prettiness. I suppose
if this were someone else’s story
they would have insisted on knowing
whatever is knowable – would have hurried
over the fields
to name it- the owl, i mean.
but it’s mine, this poem of the night,
and i just stood there, listening and holding out
my hands to the soft glitter
falling through the air. I love this world,
but not for its answers.
And I wish good luck to the owl.
whatever its name-
and I wish great welcome to the snow,
whatever its severe and comfortless
and beautiful meaning.
by mary oliver
(may you rest in peace – thank you for your lovely pieces of poetry. i will always cherish)
thankful for this winter song
Comments (2)
Unknown
January 25, 2019 at 4:37 pm
Love this post! Thanks for reminding me about Monday. Even though I have a picture of grandma on my desk and see it everyday, thanks for giving me the chance to stop and take time to just sit with my memories. Love you
nelle monaco
January 28, 2019 at 3:22 pm
love you! thank you so much for leaving this special note – you are a wonderful cousin/godmother. the best … and thinking of her lots today. xo
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