The View from Pope's Hill
Bounding into Spring
“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love.”
By Chief Sitting Bull
I would not have expected this lovely thought to have been said by Chief Sitting Bull. I only know that Sitting Bull and Chief Crazy Horse were the leaders of the Indians that killed Custer and his soldiers at the Battle of Little Big Horn. Chief Sitting Bull must have said the quote at this time of year when Spring is returning. Read more
Spring is, indeed, coming.
“Never again will I spend another winter in this accursed bucketshop of a refrigerator called England.”
Letter to Sidney Colvin From Rudyard Kipling Read more
The Weather in February
“February can be wild,
With her storms of sleet and snow.
Other times she can be mild
With a preview of spring’s show.”
“February” by Carice Williams
What crazy weather we’ve been having. Last weekend was almost spring-like. Then this week we are supposed to have snow on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Our outdoor cat, Louie, has taken to lying in the sun on the glider on our porch on the nice, sunny days. He enjoys the warmth. I am watching our trees. Pretty soon their leaf buds will be swelling, making it more difficult to see through the trees. Read more
Irish Pastoral Center event at ICC
“In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty winds made moan;
Earth stood as hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.”
“Mid-Winter”
by Christina Rossetti Read more
Happy Valentine's Day
The Valentines from our children are safely put away in boxes up in the attic. Most are red hearts with paper lace pasted to the front. Another card is one with an eye drawn on the front, with the words “I LOVE YOU, MOM AND DAD.†When the kids were little, they loved to give the Valentines that had a lollypop with each card to their classmates. When I was teaching, my students and I made a big Valentine’s box to hold the cards for the children. A bit of info: Americans will buy more than one billion Valentines this year. Read more
January and February from the Hill
January and February are the darkest months, and the coldest, and the snowiest. In our part of the world, this is the time when the rocks lose the last of their Autumn heat and the earth itself heaves with frost.â€
By Hal Borland Read more
Planning the garden
“When winter’s worst has lost its hold
(But still it’s very, very cold)…
When we are tired of fighting snows
And spirits seem to hit new lows,
That’s when the mail is sure to bring
Seed catalogs that herald spring.â€
“Fireside Gardening†by Cleo King Read more
December Snow
“This morn the world about us
Is carpeted with snow,
Not a single mark to mar it,
But ‘ere too long I know,
There’ll be prints of every kind…
How plainly they will show.â€
By Florence Steelman Read more
Holiday party hopscotch
Hubby and I did stay up till midnight to see the New Year in. We switched channels from the Times Square celebration to Boston’s celebration. We had some coffee about 9 p.m. but still had trouble staying awake until midnight. Hubby didn’t even bother to go to the fridge in the cellar to get a bottle of Welch’s Sparkling Grape Juice. We are getting to be such duds. I remember the years that we attended midnight Mass in at Arch St. This year, we attended the 8:30 a.m. Christmas Mass with daughter Sue at St. Ann’s. As we entered the church, we were delighted to see Sr. Read more
Wrapping Up 2009
“Even while we sing, he smiles his last,
And leaves our sphere behind.
The good Old Year is is with the past,
O, be the new so kind.â€
By William Cullen Bryant
Each year, on New Year’s Eve, Hubby and I agree that we are happy that we have survived another year. We will sit and watch the countdown to the new year on TV. Maybe we will crack open a bottle of Welch’s Sparkling Grape Juice and drink that with potato chips and onion dip. Read more
Councilor Feeney's Breakfast
“December likes to roar and hiss
And cloak the earth with snow
And then just settles back to watch
The snowmen as they grow.â€
By Craig E, Sathoff Read more
Post- Thanksgiving
“That chill is in the air
Which the wise know well…
This joy, I know
Will soon be under snow.â€
By Edna St. Vincent Millay Read more
Thanksgiving
“Wind has shaken autumn down,
Left it sprawling on the ground.
Shawling all in gold below,
Waiting for the hush of snow.â€
“Wind Has Shaken Autumn Downâ€
By Tony Johnston
Our yard was filled with leaves last week but now it is clean. Read more
October Irish Luncheon
“I like the woods in Autumn
When dry leaves hide the ground,
When the trees are bare
And the wind sweeps by
with a lonesome sound.â€
“Autumn Woods†by James S. Tippett Read more
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