As some folks may know (especially if you follow Gardens to Gables on Instagram and are privy to my frequent venting about the weather), the snow in January and February – and that snow’s refusal to melt and disappear – has resulted in my children missing 12 days of school since the New Year (14 days if you count two holidays). That’s tough when you are a working parent, and although our rural school district provides child care on some snow days, the disruption to routine – and the intolerable cold and snowy landscape – wrecks havoc on one’s mental health. The first snowfall after Christmas began on January 5. That was followed by ice, and then more snow. Eight to ten inches eventually covered the ground, and stubbornly stayed in place through very cold temperatures for the next 20 days.
The first snowfall coats the road.
The first few days were tolerable, but as each phone call arrived cancelling school, even hot chocolate (and tea) after sledding could not revive my spirits. This was not based on the quality time I spent with the minions, but the fact that they had been out of school since December 20 for Christmas break, and I exhausted my supply of vacation days the week of Christmas.
Hot beverages help in many ways!
The rain arrived and dispersed the snow – but that led to flooding and school was closed again. My husband and I were able to sneak away for one night to Cincinnati to see the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and guest violinist Gil Shaham, which was amazing. (I am already plotting how to return in November for Yo-Yo Ma playing Elgar.)
Circa 1893 view of the Music Hall. Image from the
Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library. Joseph S. Stern, Jr. Cincinnati Room.
The Cincinnati Music Hall, built in 1875, is a National Historic Landmark and a gorgeous space that nearly moved me to tears. Sadly, I didn’t get a photograph of the exterior due to…the weather.
The Cincinnati Music Hall is a National Historic Landmark and home to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
Fortunately, we wandered around downtown (in the rain) prior to the show, and as always, I delighted in the range of urban architecture. I ran and skipped and took lots of pictures, my energy levels restored by old buildings, old books (the Ohio Bookstore was a treat!), and breathtaking music. The trip was fortuitous, because more snow arrived and…you guessed it! The following week my children were in school just ONE day.
Even the chilly drizzle could not dampen my architectural joy.
The sunshine is out today, however, and the forecast looks favorable for five whole days of school this week, so naturally I decided to order some seeds. I’m focusing on starting my own vegetables this year from seed, rather than relying on purchasing seedlings. This means I will spend less money and time on flowers, but I’m putting faith in reseeding.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange has a delicious variety of tomato seeds.
I spent several hours in the sunshine yesterday afternoon, curbing my desire to start cleaning out garden beds. I’m waiting until we have several days of temperate weather before I start to remove spent perennials, cut down the Miscanthus “morning light,” and all of the other pre-spring tasks. I don’t want to disturb any over-wintering pollinators, though they do have lots of undisturbed habitat on the farm.
My spirits are much brighter with the return of the sun and the promise of blooms (I bet the first jonquil blooms this week!) and I hope to spend more time tallying the positive and joyful rather than fretting about lost work hours and my turning-to-feral offspring. Hope springs eternal…
