Outside in January

 

I look at this bucolic winter scene and think of how lucky these kids are to have this area as their recess playground. 

On my way to town yesterday, upon seeing all the activity just east of the Selle Valley Carden School, I made a quick turnaround. 

Twas a fabulous photo opportunity on a sunny January day. 

Kids were walking, running, throwing snowballs and skating on the frozen swale. 

Such memories they will have some day when they think back on the opportunities they enjoyed while attending this country school along Selle Road.

And, such memories those of us adults driving past the school on any given day will have also. 

It's been fun and inspiring over the years for those of us in the neighborhood to watch the continued growth of this school, from pre-school and kindergarten to full-fledged elementary and now middle school. 

School administrator and founder Stacy Rief and her dedicated staff have continually added to the offerings of academic and experiential education ever since they opened the school 17 years ago.

Yesterday's scenes on a sunny winter day truly reflected the wholesome and adventurous atmosphere the school provides for its lucky, lucky students. 

It was a beautiful sight, as were many others yesterday, thanks to sunshine and a bit of warmth. 

Unless you've put on ice skates, walking is becoming a bit more dicy as snow from a week or so hardens and gets polished off.

I will say that our dogs don't mind because they can now walk on top of the snow. This opportunity liberates them from being confined to the narrow, shoveled canyons which not only served as their means of travel but also their "lavatories." 

Both their walking and relieving areas have expanded, thanks to that hard surface on top of the snow.

While driving back from the grocery store yesterday, I took the Shingle Mill route and saw horses soaking up the sunshine next to barn sides with southern exposure.

Here at the Lovestead, my horses have worked openings and pathways nearly halfway across the barnyard, thanks to distribution of their outdoor hay helpings. 

AND, they're starting to chew on fence boards, a common equine delight during boring winter days.  I'm hoping that it's possible to get the electric fence going before they eat their way out of the barnyard.

Over by the house,  a chirping chorus of Chickadees could be heard from our service berry bush.  

Though I haven't heard any "cheeeeeeeezeburger!" talk, their conversations provide a hint of spring now becoming possible, even though a long ways off.

We all know our calendars, and when they turn over to January, there is still the acceptance of winter but always a glimmer of hope that it might end earlier than anticipated, but, at the very least, take a break. 

Yesterday was that kind of day.  After pulling myself away from the theater of the blend of both circus and Shakespearean drama playing out on the floors of Congress, I spend some quality time outside with my dogs, just strolling around, snapping some photos with my Iphone and, for a while, talking with a friend. 

The fresh cool air was both exhilarating and mesmerizing, enough so that I did not want to go inside----big change from a few days ago when everything outside was done quickly in order to get back into the warmth of the house. 

Anyway, days like yesterday cast January in a better light in my mind.  I hope we enjoy more such days.

This January day will be topped off by a LATE ZAGS game. 

It's at 8 p.m. tonight on ESPN2, so that means we all pray that the game preceding it doesn't go into overtime.  

Tonight Gonzaga's Bulldogs square off against the San Francisco Dons in their home gym. 

Should be a great game.

GO, ZAGS!

Happy Thursday.