Snow falling on Cedars

There is a large, overgrown cedar outside our bedroom window. It looks beautiful these days, dusted with snow. When we first moved in our neighbours (whose driveway it hangs over) hinted that they would not be at all upset if we took it down. It is a bit on the ugly side, but looking out our bedroom widow one can imagine that the house is deep in the woods somewhere. We are due for another winter storm tonight and The Music Man and I (not so) secretly hope for a snow day tomorrow. It snowed all day on Saturday, my birthday. It was snowing when we woke up and was still snowing, a gentle steady snow, when we went to bed. I think it was my birthday present from God.

I had a lovely birthday. It was a relaxing, at-home sort of day. The Music Man made chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. The three of us played outside in the snow and Monkey was reacquainted with his sled (which still has a bow on it from last Christmas). I worked on some Christmas goodies in the afternoon. The Music Man made supper. We watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". Then, to top off the evening the three of us went out to a little coffee shop in town where I drank a perfect cranberry apple cider and ate Nanaimo bar. After Monkey was in bed, we watched the first part of "Love Actually", which we've seen a gazillion times and is still great, and which we first saw in the Cinema on my birthday when we lived in Edinburgh.

My birthday gifts seemed particularly noteworthy this year as well. We had a party with my family last weekend. My dad's birthday is two weeks before mine, so we often have a party in between. My parents gave me a new Paderno muffin tin (which I needed) and a cookie sheet (which you can always use). They also gave me socks, a Christmas ornament and three little bubble baths from Fruits and Passions. My brother, bless his heart, gave me "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" (which I need for my application to be a La Leche League Leader. More on that another time). Now, just take a minute to imagine your own brother going into a book store and buying you a book about breastfeeding. Exactly. What a wonderful brother I have. Monkey and the Music Man gave me a beautiful hand-knit poncho. It is a perfect shade of red and so cozy. And a box of chocolate truffles. I feel so blessed.

So here's hoping the coming winter storm is a whopper and that maybe, just maybe we'll be snowed in tomorrow.