Winter musings

Winter is on its way out. I know this because today I found myself thinking about prim and proper pressed springtime dresses with full skirts. This time of year I find myself mulling what I will wear to Easter service.
We go to Easter service at our old home church every year. Our first Christian congregation -- tucked away across the river from the heart of downtown Spokane. I listen to their podcast each week, devoting myself to the hearing of God's word from sixty miles away. In a way it will always be home to me. This year I am thinking white and navy blue depending on the weather. I am itching to sew my own dress, cut on the bias. Something pretty lined in a spunky color. Lime green. Hot pink. So the rest of tonight will be about dreaming an Eastertide outfit worth donning twice. A fine occupation for a chilly night that isn't quite sure of spring just yet.

Visitors

On Valentine's Day James and I slept in. Both of us had the day off and I decided on the spur of the moment that on a day normally devoted to the wishes and whims of females that we would do what James wanted to do instead.

It was not much different than what I would have wanted to do. We drove to Coeur d'Alene and began our usual routine. Driving around talking. Coffee. We went to Wal-Mart and laughed in the candy aisle about the box of chocolates cheerfully capitalizing on the moustache trend. Nothing says romance like a cartoon moustache, right?

Finally after getting separated three times in a health food store we made our way to dinner at a local restaurant that serves the best steak around.

After starving ourselves cranky their food was manna from heaven. Mozzarella sticks, salad and soup, and an enormous steak with loaded baked potatoes were our fare for the night. Tantalizing red velvet cake and a not-too-overpowering petit Syrah topped off our meal.

Later when a food coma had us nestled snugly in bed Molly began to bark. And bark.

Usually she barks at cats prancing by or dogs she longs to play with. Not this time.

We had visitors.



For the next couple of hours, three elk grazed on our lawn, unfazed by my photography or the dogs barking.
Eventually we tried to settle down and go back to bed, but Molly was just too unsettled and slept in the crate. She needed a cozy place far away from distracting elk.

And like any good guest they knew when to leave. By morning they were gone, off to torture more unsuspecting dogs and their sleepless parents.

Quiet.

It's a quiet night at home. James is off at work and I'm off for the evening. The lighting is soft and the house is still except for the dog snores coming from the foot of the bed and the crappy vampire movie that's playing on TV. (I don't particularly care for it, but it's good noise.) I have knitting on my lap and I am reading blogs and stretching out the dark rainy hours until James comes home.

 

The past couple of days have not been easy ones. There have been a lot of trials wrapped up in the last three days and I wish I could say everything's perfect now that those days are over but there's still a long road to tread.

 

 

 It's nice to forget the world and retreat to my bedroom. Outside there is so much effort. There are people to impress, to-do lists to complete, and job applications to fill out. Here  in my room there is nothing I don't choose.