Head, Cold
Eden models the braided hat mommy finally finished.
It is zero degrees Celsius today, freezing point.
At 7:40am the taxi driver buzzes our front door, and Cate skips downstairs, bundled in long johns, a turtleneck, a hooded sweater, a fleece jacket layered into a ski jacket, a knit hat with earflaps and a pair of gloves. Ironically, she wears neither her rain boots nor her snow boots, opting instead for her brand new “professional sports” shoes – glorified sneakers that may or may not be waterproof.
Eden and I leave for our 15 minute walk to her school a few minutes later. We too are clad against the weather. Eden points out that in Denmark, you could wear a neon t-shirt covered with puff paint and sequins and it would not even matter, because all anyone ever sees is your coat. (Thankfully, I have a large collection of vintage outerwear – not that a true Dane would ever be seen in any of them. Not a single one is black.)
The streets have thin sheet of black ice, which reminds Eden of the time she and Rosie slid around on black ice in front of her old school. (She is ever so knowledgeable about its dangers.)
Our sidewalks here are crystalline now, powdered with something that falls between snow and hail. Eden is captivated by the swirling ice patterns on the car hoods – for some reason the ice has frozen itself into a peacock fan on each one. By the time we get to school the church bells are ringing-out 8am, and we are rosy-cheeked from the weather.
It was sunny on the way to the skole, but as I walk back home the clouds roll in. By the time I hit the front door, hail is coming down in angled sheets.
Now, after a long cold day, it’s 18:00. The Mediterranean White Bean Soup is on the stove, the pull apart rolls are in the oven, and everyone is reading in the living room. Outside the window, in the light of the streetlamp, I can see that the snow is blowing exactly parallel to the streets, and I am glad to be inside surrounded by warmth.
…and here’s a funny photo to warm the cockles of your heart :-).
5 comments
Here’s to rising your rolls on your radiator! That’s cool, so Euro and old-worldy!
Thank for the midmorning happiness break. Instead of stopping for coffee, I stop for a Google Reader check.
I was grinning all the way through you post, line by line, the final image hidden from the screen and when I scrolled to it, well I could feel my face stretching into a full smile — as you knew it would!
I love the blue, I love the description of Cate wearing so many clothes it’s a wonder she could walk let alone skip, and I love the winter picture you painted with words.
Thanks for sending some warmth our way.
Rachelle, what was the final situation with the girls’ schools? And how does Paul like his job? Miss you miss you! I’m headed to Carkeek today and was remembering hanging out with you and Paul and Cate last summer…
Rachelle, sorry I’ve been so absent in comments in forever. I stop in from time to time, but usually only have brief moments. I LOVE my “new” position (it’s been 6 months, but after FIVE YEARS of 3rd shift, it still feels new!) but I totally miss my internet/blog time. I’m so glad to hear things are going well and that you’re all adapting to a new, old world! LOVE the gorgeous blue hat! And yes, your sweeties bring smiles! Those rolls look yummy too! It’s been quite the winter in the midwest and it’s snowing again as I type. Fortunately, there’s little wind today and the temp’s in the low 30’s…by the weekend, it’s supposed to be back in the low teens with wind…brrrr! Keep up the great posts…love your words of wisdom! :D –Karla
Lovely photos. I love the shade of blue of that hat.
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