Quiddity

While the Mountains are getting hammered with one snow storm after another, we're experiencing our own little deep freeze here in Denver. Bob and I run the four mile loop from the Cherry Creek North house through Cheeseman Park and back most mornings. The few inches of snow that fell in Denver before Christmas hasn't melted entirely, so the trails in the park are icy in spots, making for a lot of weaving and sliding. Also, the dog owners in the condos at the north end of the park have been lax during this cold spell about picking up after their pooches, so it's best to watch where you're placing your feet. Actually, Cheeseman Park isn't one of Denver's finest, but it's a nice doable loop from our house, and it doesn't have a pond or lake. Washington and City Parks have pretty lakes but also a terrible goose problem. The geese look beautiful silhouetted in their V formation against the blue sky or paddling languidly through the water. However, the goose droppings are everywhere and totally unavoidable. By the end of a run through one of those parks, the bottom of my shoes are covered with goose slime which absolutely cannot ever be cleaned off the treads of running shoes. That is my little nature lesson for this post!

Now...about quiddity. First of all, do you know what it means? Mary and I were introduced to quiddity a few years back, and it immediately became one of our favorite words. It's a word that doesn't come up much in casual conversations. Quiddity means the essence or inherent spirit of something. Mary and I mostly use it when we're out in Nature and see or experience something nearly indescribable. We'll look at each other and say "quiddity." It's really a great word, don't you think?

Quiddity...just open your eyes and heart. Maybe you'll see or experience something soon that will make you whisper this magical word to yourself.

Why is Waldo Smiling?

Since I didn't leave the house for 2 days due to minus temperatures, I felt compelled to get out and exercise today. Yesterday, it was minus 15 and windy. Today, my thermometer reached a balmy 24 degrees around mid day. The Weather Channel, which I consult frequently on my iPhone, said that the windchill actually made it feel like minus 1.

I drank coffee and puttered until around 10:30 AM when I finally forced myself to start shoveling the front of the driveway where the town plow deposits a heavy berm of snow. It was snowing with gusty winds when I went outside. After about an hour, I'd cleared the front of the drive as well as the porch and steps. My fingers were freezing, feeling like they were being hit with a hammer. Inside, I ran cold water over them until the needle pains of returning circulation started. I watched the snow blowing like a veil through the forest and debated sitting by the fire all afternoon. After about half an hour, my hands felt warm again, so I put on four top layers plus my snow pants, gaiters, fleece cap with ear muffs, and heavy down ski mittens into which I dropped Hot Hand packets. I strapped the snowshoes on indoors, so I wouldn't have to immediately expose my hands to the cold.

Once outside, I examined some tracks on the back deck. Wind had obscured them somewhat, but the one-foot-in-front-of-the-other straight pattern indicated the fox. However, I couldn't determine how he got over the fence. There was no snow disturbed on the railing. It looked as if he leaped from the snowbank on the ground completely over the fence to land on the deck. The tracks came within inches of the low dining room window. Then, his tracks led to the gate, which I assume he leaped over onto the ground. From there, the tracks continued to the bird feeder, where he circled twice before trotting into the forest. Now that I know he has easy access to the deck, I won't be surprised to see his amber eyes staring at me through the window.

The back trail hadn't been skied or snowshoed for a couple days. At the point where I had to turn either left or right, a single skier had passed along the upper trail so I decided to follow the ribbons of his tracks toward Peak 10. At the first creek crossing, the skier went straight across the beaver dam. I decided to veer left and keep climbing to the second creek crossing, where I was the first person this winter to cross the snow bridge over Lehman Creek. Through a small patch of open snow, I could hear and see the water still running . I was cautious climbing the steep grade toward the ski area. It hadn't been tracked and a huge ball of snow had rolled down toward the creek making me fearful of avalanche. However, I navigated the short distance carefully and was rewarded with some beautiful seed heads of Angelica near the top. By the time I got to Flapjack Trail on Peak 10, I could hear snowmobiles approaching up the ski trail. The ski area guys pulled over when they saw me to see if I needed help, but when I raised up my mitten thumb and gave them a smile, they continued on their way. Peak 10's Falcon Lift isn't open yet, so the trails were deserted. The noise from the snow-making guns was loud at that point, and I was glad to finally drop off Flapjack onto our ski-home trail for some peace and quiet.

Arriving back in my yard after the 2 hour loop, I went to the side of the house to visit Waldo, my wood nymph. He came to live on the lodgepole just outside my dining room window this summer. The first thing I do in the morning, even before making coffee, is to check on Waldo (also sometimes known as Wally). He is always smiling. I try to give him a big smile in return. I've read research saying that even a fake smile can trick the brain into producing feel-good endorphins. When I'm not in Breckenridge and don't have Wally, I practice on perfect strangers when I'm out and about. Surprisingly, most people who see a smiling face smile back.

So, here's smiling at you. Both Waldo and I hope you're feeling good.

Brrrrrrrr

I've been in Breckenridge since Thursday, braving the cold and the elements. Today the wind chill is registering below zero. I've been snug in front of the fire, not even venturing out to shovel the front porch. Elvira and Solidad visited, bringing a lovely Christmas bouquet from the Borrego Family and also my Sunday NYTimes. I was afraid they'd get stuck in my driveway since the wind has drifted the snow. Even the town snowplow was late coming up our road.

On Friday I did 2 hours of shoveling in the front of the house, rewarding myself afterwards by putting the antique sled by the front door and hanging my bird feeders. I'm confident that our neighborhood bears are finally asleep in their dens. By yesterday, the birds were using the feeders. I spotted lots of Mountain Chickadees plus a Blue Jay and a Downy Woodpecker.

Yesterday, I did a 2 hour solo snowshoe looping the back trails. It was about 20 degrees, so I was able to unzip and even remove my gloves to take some pictures. I only met 1 other person when I was climbing up the Burro Trail. She was cross country skiing with her aging Golden who reminded me of my Breezy. We stopped to talk a bit and somehow got on the subject of books. She recommended a memoir, Merle's Door, about a man from Jackson Hole who adopts a dog he finds while rafting on the Colorado River. I told her to read Daniel Pink's book, A Whole New Mind, which I just finished. I added her recommendation to my ever-growing list of must-read books.

The forest was beautiful yesterday, with long blue shadows and large pillows of snow weighing the pine branches. I sometimes had to tap a clump with my pole before passing underneath or risk it plopping down my neck. The Burro Trail was used by other skiers and snowshoers, but when I veered off onto Rick's Trail, I had some hard work breaking through about 4' of snow. I was ready for a cup of tea and a cookie when I got home.

I'll be here in the mountains until Thursday, when Bob and I have tickets to The Jersey Boys in Denver. Bob biked yesterday, riding through Cherry Creek Reservoir to see Jim and Gregg who did the Chilly Cheeks bike/run. Today, I think Denver is getting some snow, too. There seems to be winter weather all across the US.

Keep safe and warm wherever you are!

'Tis the Season...

I've visited Santa twice in the past week. Hyun-Jung and I took Neve and Caden last Friday during the day when it wasn't overly crowded at the Mall. We tried to prepare Neve beforehand by going Thursday to allow her a look at Santa from a safe distance. However, at 28 months, Neve followed her (very good) instincts and screamed in terror when we tried to place her on the old bearded guy's lap. Caden, 17 months, sat placidly for the picture taking. Afterwards, Grammy and Neve needed a soft pretzel to calm their nerves. Obviously, I didn't mention anything to Neve about Saint Nick coming down her chimney to deliver toys.

Yesterday, Bob and I took Amanda, Ben, and Jack to the Mall after brunch. We thought since it was mid morning we might have a short line for Santa. No such luck! But by then, the children were very excited about the prospect of talking to him, so we stood waiting for an hour. Luckily, we made it to his sleigh just before his Noon break. (Who ever heard of Santa needing a break? Is there a Santa union?) It was actually worth the wait because they were enthralled, and we got a decent picture. I have a feeling at 5 1/2, this may be the last year Amanda and Ben "believe" in Santa. Or, maybe they'll be like Grammy and believe in him into their old age!

It's damp and dreary in Denver, calling for either rain or snow here in the city. The Mountains have been getting continual storms which make the ski areas very happy. I'm going to Jack's Holiday Program at Nursery School on Thursday and will head to Breckenridge afterwards. I believe there is plenty of snow on the trails behind the house now so I can cross country ski.

I took the pictures with this post over the weekend. The "Non Hippy Bus" was parked on Old Pearl Street and the Building Masterpiece was created by Ben.