ColorJoy is sometimes Noticing Small Things
It is fully winter now in Lansing. We awoke Monday to several inches of wet, heavy snow. One tree near our house lost a branch because of the weight. It was white on the ground and the sky was white from corner to corner.
In the morning it did not snow much, but things got pretty nasty just as people were going home from work. I had a list of errands to run and only accomplished two. Just stopping at a red light and then trying to start again without sliding sideways, was a big effort. Home was the reasonable choice.
Of course, kids were building snowmen and throwing snowballs in our neighborhood. I did not get any photos of that, unfortunately. It was great that someone could enjoy the weather!
Monday morning I knit with the 3rd graders, again. They are so excited to knit! At this point every child has learned, each child has his/her own needles and yarn, and they are very happy about it. Some of the kids are truly amazing. I have two girls and a boy who picked it up so quickly, even faster than some adults catch on.
The personalities are so fun in this room. One boy loves the idea of knitting and can do it properly when I watch, but he is doing all sorts of creative things on that needle when I walk away. He started with 9 stitches and now he probably has 30, even with much help. He likes asking for help, so this is no problem, at least not to the child.
Another couple of the kids are in a big hurry as if it is a race. Some are so strong they pull their hands apart when working, which makes huge loops and see-through fabric. It’s still knitting, so I’m good with it. All are delighted to be part of the magic of making fabric with yarn and “sticks.”
Since this classroom is quite international, some of the kids have not seen snow like this before. They are enjoying that part, too.
So here I present to you, two photos I took this morning from the front yard of the school. Make special notice of the bright colors of ordinary things, really popping out. In one there are red fire hydrants, the other yellow gates. The yellow is a bit hard to see in this small version. (You can click on these snow photos today, and it will take you to a larger version on my Flickr page.)
You should have seen how bright the orange construction signs looked on the way home! All color becomes bigger than life when the sky and ground are fully white. Of course, a photo cannot capture the immediate surprise and color of these things in real life. Even a street sign can appear electric green on a snowy day, where we might never notice it in midsummer.
I am prepared to take it one moment at a time… I will make a point of noticing small colorful bits and other small comforts (such as the hot water bottle currently warming my feet). If I need a blue sky, I will need to wait another week. Check out our weather as predicted through Friday Night:
I get the hint. Looking for small delightful things will be the order of the day, and the next day, and the next!
Where do you find surprises, color or otherwise, in your life? Is it a garnish on a restaurant plate? Berries on a bush covered with snow? A child’s laugh in the next room? Remember, any comment this week is one more entry in my Blogiversary contest, so don’t be shy!
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:25 am
It’s in all those things, for me. I often toss fruit and berries too far past happy human eating outside for our wild critters. They make wonderful colors against the snow. Our snow isn’t sticking quite yet, but the neighbors have started decorating for the holidays, and there are all sorts of lovley new colors reflecting from the wet pavement at night.
The cardinals always look lovely and bright against a grey day, too.
I hope to make your pumpkin soup and have it with home baked rolls or biscuits this weekend. I think it will look lovely with an herby garnish, or maybe thin slices of red, yellow and green bell pepper fanned out on top.
December 2nd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
One thing I do enjoy about the snow (in central New York) is being able to see outside at night. When the ground is covered with white, you can see so much more than when it’s a dark snowless night. Outside my favorite restaurant (we like to take a window table) grows a small tree that has berries now. I love to see the snow on the berries or even the drops of rain. I keep thinking I should bring my camera and take a couple of photos. Wouldn’t that make a great Christmas card?
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:07 am
I think I am a day behind I spend so much time thinking about your questions. The outfits my 4yo puts together often surprise me, especially after she adds play items to it. They are generally harmonious since I try to let her pick the colors of her clothes when I purchase them. Little girls seem to be genetically set to like pink and purple. The 4yo likes both with a greater preference for pink. The 2 yo I still pick the clothes for although she is starting to express more preferences. She likes purple, to the point when we were picking glasses frame for her she always wanted the purple ones. Fortunately they came in a size she could wear. The sunrise is starting and as I look across the street at it I notice how the christmas lights on the house there complement it.