The romance and practicality of winter

In the bleak midwinter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter,

Long ago.

--Christina Rossetti

Sometimes I forget how much I adore Christina Rossetti poems. Originally I stumbled across her in a Lit Survey book--one of the works was a poem entitled Goblin Market. Not long after that I found a Dover Thrift Edition ($1.00) of an unabridged version of Goblin Market and Other Poems on a clearance table at the local bookstore.

Her work always makes me feel as if I should be curled in some hidden nook watching the world from behind leaded glass and reading. Although I have no leaded glass windows, I do have a very snowy winter Saturday before me. Knitting and listening to an audio book sounds like a great way to spend the day.

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Well, at 8 am, light has finally come across to illuminate the overcast and very snowy morning. I shoveled the driveway around 7 am for the second time in 12 hours. Luckily it wasn't soooo bad this morning (meaning I had about three inches instead of six). However, since the snow continues I think it won't be another twelve hours before I must again shovel. The best news: it is a light dry snow and very easily removed.

Moon Report: 99% of full. full moon.

new journal

Ok...I know I'm a bit late on the new year hoohah...

I collect writing journals. If I see one I think is beautiful, I pick it up. That said, I'm covered for maybe the next twenty years.

I haven't kept one in a while, so I felt that it might be time to renew my journaling habit. Usually I have several going at once: 1) regular journal; 2) dream journal; 3) creative and interesting snippet journal; etc. But my goal is to keep ONE intact journal this year.

This is my journal. Isn't it lovely? You can find your own at Barnes and Noble. This is called a Scrittura Italian Printed Leather Journal with Tie. The lined paper is of a cream color and has a fleur de lis at the bottom of each page. I don't know how many pages it contains, but it is very thick for a journal--and smells (obviously) of leather.

There are also similar journals without ties: see this link, and here.

But, everyone must find the journal that speaks to them. It doesn't even have to be fancy. It could be just a cheap spiral notebook. I always think that a journal should be what makes you comfortable and safe. After all, aren't you going to be the best of friends?

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Right now I am listening to a free downloaded story called "A Study in Emerald" by Neil Gaiman. I think it should be an interesting story and I will have to listen to it again. There is something about a clear voice reading out loud. A soothing lull creeps over everything and everyone. I like the expectation and anticipation that comes with listening.

I have just discovered that, unlike the Harry Potter novels which I have read, audio stories that I have no familiarity with cannot be listened to while doing other things. I cannot surf the web. I cannot write. I cannot do things which require half an iota of brainpower. So, I will have to sit in the quiet and possibly crochet a scarf while listening intently to this new story.