The First Snow - Monday Morning Check-In Post

How Are You??!!

I saw it in the weather forecast that morning, snow.

SNOW!

Twenty-one winters have passed since we have lived in a snowy climate, and our pack of three has never experienced snow. I was excited, and I told them all about it. I said the word “snow” over and over to them so they would understand what I was talking about when it happened.

I went to pick up dinner on Wednesday evening right as the first flakes started falling.

“Crap! I hope I remember how to drive in the snow,” was my first thought as I sat at the intersection watching the icy pieces blowing in the streetlamp's light.

It turns out that I do and the snow quickly turned back to rain. It only snowed while I was driving near the river to the restaurant and by the time I headed back toward the river with our food, it had turned back to light rain.

We’re constantly crossing the Chicago River any time we go pretty much everywhere, and I love it. It has multiple branches and one travels on an angle running northwest, so every time we head west and most times we head south, we cross this body of water that begins at Lake Michigan, runs through the city, joins up with the Des Plaines River (the river that also runs 2 blocks behind my childhood home), and then continues south as it joins with the Kankakee River creating the Illinois River which converges with the Mississippi River and runs all the way into the Gulf of Mexico.

I am happy every time I live near a river. We called Guerneville home for a couple of years and spending time on the Russian River there was some of our most magical moments in California. The Russian River reached flood stage in some areas this past weekend, an unusually early time in the season to be doing this. When we lived there, we had one major flood. Living on the rim of a canyon, we were warm and dry in our home above as the road beneath us became impassible and other parts of the community were underwater.

More climate catastrophes happen as seasons shift and weather events like atmospheric rivers sit atop a land mass giving off more moisture than the land can accommodate.

Okay, what was I talking about? Ah yes, snow. Well, Mercury stations retrograde today and my thoughts here apparently are as meandering as some of the rivers I have been discussing. Just a bit of a clue as to how this particular Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius may go.

When we awoke on Thursday, there was a dusting of snow on the ground and the air was filled with soft, fat flakes. It was the best kind of snow, sweet and gentle, the kind that quiets everything.

I opened the back door and invited the pack to explore it. Sookie immediately started talking about it, loudly, to me, Zoey, Teddy, and the snow itself while also jumping in it and playing. Zoey played in it as well, her excitement and happiness at this new adventure was obvious, while Teddy ran around inspecting.

I captured most of their introduction to it here

We then had to go back out again and again as it accumulated on the ground, each time creating more fun and adventure as suddenly their world opened up. Sookie was obsessed, Zoey had more fun, and Teddy, well, his anxiety took over and he finally chose to stay on the porch after the first adventure all documented by this doggie mama here

I had a client that afternoon and sat in my office, channeling, while gazing out the window at the big flakes falling from the sky, magical faerie dust in the form of ice crystals. All in all, we got 4 inches of snow, which is the perfect amount for a first snow, just enough to enjoy and not too much to make life harder.

Later that afternoon the temperature warmed, rain began to fall, and by the next morning, the snow was gone. Jon was the first up and let the dogs out. Sookie ran out excitedly looking for her new playground, and her disappointment was obvious as she discovered it was gone.

We let her know there would be more and she seemed to understand. It’ll be fun watching her once it happens again.

On Saturday I headed to the first indoor farmers’ market of the season. The weather was still pleasant enough for it to be both indoors and in the parking lot of the Lutheran church that hosts it every year. It was wonderful to see the farmers and their workers who I have gotten to know going to the weekly markets which stopped at the end of October. While only happening every other week, this indoor market will be bountiful with organically grown vegetables and other treats. Everyone was in a festive mood, enjoying the day and the market, and for many moments I forgot all about the election.

In fact, my attention is less and less on politics right now. Perhaps I am just giving myself a much-needed break or perhaps there are other mysterious workings happening that facilitate me in not feeling like I need to know what is happening at all times.

Whatever it is all about, I plan on being in the moment as much as I am able, like Sookie, Zoey, and Teddy with the snow, especially as we head into the holiday season. Jon and I will be cooking up a vegan turkey (he went on a mission on Friday to find one) with all of the fixings and then will be spending time with our friends here.

I am grateful for you all, your support, and your presence in my life. I am grateful that you take the time to read my ramblings and respond here in all the ways that you do. I wish you much love and joy as we move forward along this path.

How are you?? Please drop me a comment below and let me know.

Jon is working on a new series of pieces, channeled and Reiki-infused music with subliminal affirmations. The two new pieces, “Deep Sleep” and “Health and Well-Being” are now available on my site along with the previously released, “Self-Love”. You can listen to samples and get them here

Our annual Winter Solstice Transmission is on Thursday, December 19th. Register here for this magical event

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