Philadelphia

It's really been hard to blog anything, because for the past several weeks, it's basically been about one thing: snow.

I'm getting tired of it. I think we've had well over 80 inches total snow fall this season, which is beyond record-breaking for our region. So it's a bother. Roads aren't cleared well. People just don't know how to handle this much snow. Not to mention being in the city and not really having anywhere to put it.

This past weekend I was supposed to go to Boston for a little conference. I was really looking forward to the fellowship of some good friends, as well as getting to go somewhere by myself over (one) night for the first time since becoming a mother almost five years ago. But, wouldn't ya know, we got a nor'easter. It snowed without accumulating all day on Thurs, blew terribly and accumulated on Friday. Perhaps it wasn't as bad for us as predicted, but still, more snow. (and Amtrak was prohibitively expensive, don't think I didn't check that option!) So I was pretty disappointed. Majorly disappointed, actually. My mom, who was going to come help with the kids while I was gone, came anyway. It was nice to have the company. Maybe I was a little less mopey.

Our previous residence was basically on a state park, so when it snowed we had a wonderland all to ourselves complete with hill for sledding. Now we're city dwellers. We've spent some time on the front sidewalk, while the parent shovels. But yesterday we ventured out to the backyard, which is a postage stamp. I've been reticent to go out there with Marlowe, because every time it snows we seem to get multiple feet, and you know, M is a little guy. At first, M couldn't leave the bottom step, but eventually, the snow got packed down enough, that we were all able to have a really good play time out there, and M could walk around.

Ellis enjoyed jumping off the steps into the snow, and Marlowe basically ate snow the whole time we were out there.

CHEESE!

The backyard worked out great. And I got some time to sit and look at it, and mentally scheme about spring. (We don't have good windows looking out on it, so I don't have the opportunity to gaze out into the backyard much.)

There is nothing so simultaneously soothing and invigorating as taking a walk. Ellis had school again today, for the first time since last Tuesday. It's snowing out, but only about an inch or so. Not feet. I forgot to send along something he needed, so Marlowe and I decided to take a wintry walk up to school. M loves to be outside.

And he loves his snow boots. The mere mention of outside, and he runs to get his boots. He says, "Yaaaay!" Then he says, "Hat?" And I say, "Yes, you can wear your hat." And he gets his hat out. He tolerates his arms being shoved down puffy coat sleeves, and flat out refuses mittens. I don't force the issue unless he is going to play in the snow. It's actually pretty warm out. Around 30F, just cold enough to snow.

We didn't see any dogs. Marlowe knows where they all live, which yards may house those barking wonders. We did see dog pawprints in the snow. We didn't see any airplanes either. We heard them though, over (or in?) the cloud cover that is so graciously bestowing us with more snow.

The sidewalks are not fit for strollers, so i wore M in the front in my Beco. He is getting to be a bit big for the front carry. But the back carry would've been awkward with that whole wearing a coat thing. And clearly M was comfy enough.

In February I'm blogging things I love. Join me if you like and I'll link you.
For more love visit:
Gentle Home
Through a Glass, Darkly

I had to think hard about this. Do I really love snow? But, then, I decided that, yes, i do love snow. What I don't like is the occasional inconvenient side effects of snow. But snow itself? i love it. It's so beautiful and magical...all 25 inches of it. Again. My favorite kind of snow is waking up to inch in the morning. Enough to make the world pretty without the inconvenient side effects. However, we have been blessed twice now this season with snowstorms that have dumped colossal amounts of snow on our ill-equipped city. It is like a natural wonder of the world on top of us, temporarily. It is so amazing and awesome. So much snow!!

In February I'm blogging things I love. Join me if you like and I'll link you.
For more love visit:
Gentle Home
Through a Glass, Darkly

I love me some ambiance, and Philadelphia obliges heartily. Brick sidewalks are so cool. I have a weakness for geometric patterns, and there are so many possibilities using just the shape of the rectangular brick. Not to mention that shade of red. You know, "brick red." That was my favorite crayon for awhile when I was a kid.

There's only one drawback. Brick sidewalks can be the enemy of the stroller. Get a jogging stroller with inflatable tires, and the brick sidewalk will remain your friend. ($20. Craigslist. Rock on!)

I'm blogging things I love in February. Join me if you like.
For more love visitMary Kathryn's blog.

Ellis running ahead on our way home from school. Again, Philly's pretty brick sidewalks.

The trolley tracks down Germantown Ave.

Ellis had speech therapy in the city today. I took Marlowe for a walk to get coffee, since he's too distracting now. I love this shot, because a brick sidewalk to so Philadelphia.

The Art Star Craft Bazaar is big ol' annual craft show here in Philly. I don't really know how or where to find craft shows, but this one is pretty huge, and I love going. The first year I went it was sprawled through some parking lots in east Philly somewhere. Now it's on Penns Landing, with live music and a festive waterfront. Actually, the live music sounds like a great idea, but after awhile, I found it loud and annoying. I couldn't hear myself think or the people around me. It was just constant noise.

The funny thing is, I kept running into random people I know. First, there was a whole group of people I know from Covenant. They were more friends of friends while I was there, but I knew them well enough to spot them in a crowd eight years later and give hugs and "so what have you been doing"'s. And what's more, none of them live in Philly, but had converged for the weekend. So that was kind of fun. Then we ran into a couple that we actually met in New Orleans, though we're both from here. They live in center city, and we really need to keep in better touch. Sam and Sarah joined us for a little bit, too, which is always fun. (Sarah took some fun pics.)

It's so much fun and so inspiring to see people's work in real life. I wish I could do a whole report on my favorites. I did buy a cute zipper pouch from this seller, who made really awesome bags with bird designs, and who was sharing a booth with this seller, who did really cool Tshirt repurposing work. Both were really inspiring.

Putting "fun" up there there next to "February" is what you have to do in order to not put "deteriorating sanity" up there next to "February." We do have Valentine's Day and President's Day, but we don't have Mardi Gras up here in the cold north, and that makes February decidedly less fun. But we cope the best we can.

Ellis had a half day on Friday and yesterday off. I picked him up from school, and we went to the new Please Touch Museum, meeting our buddy Caleb there. This was our second time and we found nooks and crannies that we didn't find the first time. The boys loved the room where you could make flying contraptions out of foamy parts, crank them up a pulley, and then watch "fly" down (falling gracefully, more like it). Evryone played like crazy, including Marlowe It was a great way to burn of energy on a gloomy Friday.

Last year for Valentine's Day I felt downright inspired. I had a kid's party, with lots of crafts and cookies. And then I made a dinner that was the best approximation of our favorite food from our favorite Lebanese restaurant in New Orleans and we watched Paris, Je t'aime. This year, I was not so inspired. I thought, why change a good thing? So thanks to Trader Joe's, we had a simple, totally yummy meal of lamb and salad and Mediterranean dippy things with pita. The lamb was exquisite. It turned out perfectly. And then we were so tired that we went to bed. I think I actually fell asleep on the couch first.

Then in the morning I made heart pancakes, and we decided to turn a few errands into fun shopping, and even got popcorn at Target. We mostly just enjoyed being together as a family.

But it really is all about getting through February as gracefully as possible. It's a rough month for Ellis, too. He hits developmental angst at its worst in February. Must be so hard to be changing and growing so quickly. Not to mention the fact that he is a Boy and we have a tiny apartment and it's winter. Yesterday when he was home all day, we needed to diffuse some angst. It was above freezing, but still cool. I bundled us up and we went for a hike. I think the fresh air did us all good.

Could yesterday's weather have been any more yucktastic!? We were out in it all day. We got to the train station in plenty of time, and the trains were really backed up because of the ice. The power was out (and thus the heat) in some of the cars, and the seats and aisles were full of glum people with wet shoes. Ellis was a trooper tromping through all that heavy wet snow.

He had a great appointment! (Read about it on Ellis Island) And then we began the meandering way home, by way of french fries and coffee (me)/chocolate milk (him). The thing is, though, every time I checked the train schedule, we had either just missed one or could catch the next one if we were a normal, walking adult. Since I have an inquisitive preschooler, I opted to take the next hour, which put us back even more, because we had to switch trains. Needless to say, we were all quite tired when we got home. Oh yea, and did Marlowe nap? no. Even though he was happily ensconced in the Beco all day.

But the slushy day was ameliorated by yummy soup and bread I made for dinner and the pleasant company of new friends from across the world. And we all went to bed with smiles.