Snow

As I sit finishing up NaNoWriMo I'm listening to monks singing and chanting their evening prayers on the radio. It's beautiful. Just beautiful. This type of religious music is my favorite. It is so worshipful and peaceful. To know that these prayers have been sung for decades by probably millions of different Christians gives me shivers.

~~~

Yesterday morning we were surprised by snow! Even more surprising: it didn't melt by afternoon and is, in fact, still here! Huzzah for snow!

Snow!

Remember this post?

It snowed!

Yay!

So what does Abbey do when there's snow?
She builds things! But not normal things. Oh no. Normal people make snowmen. I make... well... just take a look:

They are a nice family of snow people that my mom and I made in 2002. We made them while my dad was at work, so when he came home, he could barely get his car into the driveway.

Perhaps some of you remember this guy from last year?

This year I was going to recreate this (from Calvin and Hobbes):

But then I decided, why stick at that?
So I decided to create the scene from The Old Man And The Sea where Santiago is losing the fish to the sharks.
Behold!

 

 

I wrote out a scene from The Old Man And The Sea to hang above it.

I was going to add a scene from Moby Dick in the background... but then it started raining.

 

 

Live long and prosper!



Snow?

No.

 

Only frost.

Snowfall! (And castles!)

This morning we woke to this....

 

Snow! I love snow. It always makes me think of the Peanuts and this song.... it is my favorite winter song, entitled (you guessed it!) Snowfall! I played it for my recital last month and it is one of my favorite piano songs to play.

Of course, all the snow is melted now....

I strongly dislike research, especially if I have to do it on the computer. And especially if it has to do with something I'm writing. I had rather make everything up.... But of course, that is not allowed.
I am, however, doing some research I enjoy for once. I am googling pictures of old castles because the King in Defenders of the Realm has to live somewhere!
There is a picture of the castle in the board game... Although I believe the picture is actually of the city itself, not just the castle. So, the castle is left to the imagination.... The first scene of my Defenders of the Realm story takes place in the high tower of the castle. But I need something to base the description of the tower off of....
I was having trouble deciding between my two favorite castles when I found out they were actually the same castle!
This castle is Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, which, I think, is the blueprint for every castle.

Although I'm not sure if I want it to be that big in my story.
Another castle I really like is Craigdarroch Castle... Though it is smaller and doesn't have any towers.

I have been to this castle, though not inside. My dad took piano lessons there when he was little (although really, he hid in the bushes until his mom came to pick him up).

Live long and prosper!

The snow day of a homeschooler

The monster hasn't been seen since.... Until NOW!

We had about 3 inches of snow this morning so my dad and I went outside and built this snow monster! It's the Ogopogo from Lake Okanagan in Canada. We had lots of people stop by to admire our work.... including a big black dog! Luckily he didn't knock it over.

The only thing I have left to say is.... beware of the Ogopogo... He can show up anytime. Anywhere.

Snow!

I was awakened from my slumber by the voice of my dad,
"Wake up."
"Hmmmff...?" I replied.
"I'm going to go take a shower now. We're going to leave for church in about 45 minutes so make sure your up and ready to go. And by the way, it's snowing."
"WHAT?!"
I jumped up in my half asleep state and hurriedly opened my blinds. Wrong choice. White light flooded into my face and I stumbled back. It took a few minutes for me to adjust to the light and also to being awake. Then I was able to slowly lift my face to look out my window.... Beautiful, large, snowflakes were falling down from the heavens!
Here is what my backyard looked like at about 8:30.

Here is my backyard after church around 12 noon.

And finally, here is my backyard at 3:00 after I got home from saxophone lessons.

It looks pretty much the same this morning but there's more snow on the way! So the weather forecast says....

We left the house at 1:30. I climbed in the passenger seat while Daddy put my instrument in the back seat. I was gushing about how cool the snow was, literally. As we slowly inched our way down the hill that we live on, the snow got less and less. As we continued to drive downwards, it disappeared all together. Although the change in elevation wasn't much, it was enough to ensure the snow would stop falling. But by the time we reached our destination, the mall where I had saxophone lessons, the snow had begun to lightly fall - it looked just like salt!
45 minutes later saxophone lessons ended and we were headed outside. It had turned into a winter wonderland! A whole inch of snow had fallen, turning the bare ground white. And flakes were still falling!
I almost wished that I didn't have to to a baby shower and youth group... Then I could just play in the wonderful, beautiful, amazing snow!

Although I had things to do yesterday, I did find time to get outside and take some picture of my doll Jess!
Here are some of the highlights. I love this first picture... I caught Jess falling over.


Dolls in trees anyone?

I love this last picture because of the contrast between the green grass and white snow. The neighbors have huge trees in their backyard. The branches overhang into our yard so the snow hadn't reached underneath yet. Now, however, there is lots of wonderful snow to be found there =D


Sadly, the snow means that we won't be attempting to get to piano lessons today... Oh well, it gives me a chance to practice my music some more.
As I have been writing this post it has began to snow again! =D
But enough about snow.... I want to tell you about something else exciting that happened yesterday.
Mom and I were watching TV last night. After our program was over a commercial came on for Sherlock! Sherlock is a British TV series by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). Currently there are two seasons and each season has three episodes. This Sherlock series is set in current times - the 21st century.
Anyway, on came a commercial for the first episode of Sherlock and what do you know, it was on next! I begged to be allowed to watch it and Mom let me. It was so good!
The story starts out with Dr. Watson dreaming about fighting in the war. The next day he's walking in a park when he meets an old friend. They get to talking and Watson tells his friend that he's looking for a cheap place to live but all the places in England are too expensive. His friend suggests splitting the rent with someone and Watson replies, "Who'd be crazy enough to move in with me?"
Watson's friend says, "That's funny. Your the second person to tell me that today."
Watson and his friend go to the other person to talk about splitting the rent.... And I'm sure you can all guess who the other person was!
Sherlock Holmes.
Soon, Watson is involved in a thrilling case concerning four serial "suicides" which actually turn out to be murders. He's amazed at Sherlock's powers of deduction and just can't stay out of the excitement.
As Sherlock's brother Mycroft said, "You're not haunted by the war Dr. Watson, you miss it."
I absolutely loved the show.... I can't wait until next Sunday when I can see the next one!
The first episode, titled A Study in Pink, is loosely based off of the Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet. I loved that the writers (one of them is actually one of the writers for the Tintin movie!) kept the original meeting or Sherlock and Watson so true to the book. There was also many things apparent from the books hidden in the dialogue. Sherlock was telling Watson that his brother Mycroft "Was the British government." I just read that line in a Sherlock Holmes short story!
I have mentioned Mycroft Holmes a number of times.... I loved that he was in this first episode. He calls Watson and tells him to get in a car or else threats will be made. Watson obliges and is taken to an old warehouse. Mycroft is there to meet him and tells him that he's Sherlock's arch enemy. Then, at the end of the episode he appears and Sherlock starts to talk to him. Watson, still thinking that Mycroft is an enemy, watches and is very surprised when the two mention, "Mummy."
"Wait, who is 'Mummy'?" Watson asked confused.
"Mummy - our mother!" replies Sherlock.
Then all is clear... Mycroft is Sherlock's brother and the two only have a petty, childish, brotherly, feud going on.

Well... I guess I should post this and go get ready for the day! and the snow! =D