Foot prints in the snow

Dear Diary,

Our coldest morning so far, -12F.  They are promising a warm-up on Wednesday, a more than 50 degree swing on the thermometer.  I can't wait!  I managed to get out to the side yard to photograph the old apple tree and all the squirrel tracks going from tree to tree.  It is amazing to watch them scamper over the snow, I sink in up to my knees!

I was so touched by all the wonderful comments yesterday on my 1000th post.  I actually made it to the first page of the Popular posts!  Another first for me.  What I have discovered with my Commonplace pages is that it is a wonderful exercise for practicing patience, my word for the year.  It is a slow and methodical process that can't be rushed.  It is very like those ancient monks who sat for months in their scriptoriums illuminating the beautiful manuscripts,  like the Book of Kells I saw in Dublin three years ago.

Not that my little efforts even approach those masterpieces but in a way it is similar; first the words and then the "illumination".  When I taught sixth grade I would do a unit on Medieval illumination and the students would create their own large illuminated letter.  While my efforts are a far cry from that ancient and beautiful art form I couldn't help but feel the smallest bit of connection to it as I sat by the fire yesterday slowly and patiently working away on my page.