Joyfully Green: snow

Snapshots from a Non-Skier in Vermont (plus a change of heart!)

Much to my family's chagrin, I don't ski and have no desire to start. So whenever we head up to Killington, Vermont (which we've been doing regularly for the past three years), there's an awful lot of "encouraging" (some might call it "pestering") that is aimed in my direction.

"But Mom...you would LOVE the views! You would go crazy taking pictures!"

"Mom, don't you miss us all day? It would be a lot more fun if we could all be together on the mountain!"

Truth be told, I do enjoy the days all to myself, exploring neighboring towns with my camera. (It should be noted that "neighboring towns" in Vermont are sometimes an hour's drive away. Luckily, those drives are scenic.) I had good fun going back to Manchester, which has one of my favorite places to spend a whole afternoon, Northshire Bookstore. I also discovered Woodstock during this trip, which is a thoroughly charming town with lots of galleries, antique stores, very old homes, a covered bridge, little boutiques, and (you guessed it) a good bookstore.

It was about five days into the vacation when my husband hatched an "evil genius plan." He bought me a gondola ticket so I could ride up (in street clothes) to the peak lodge at Killington and have lunch with him and the kids at the top of the mountain. They all wanted me to see exactly what I was missing.

At first, the plan seemed to backfire. We were completely fogged in and the "view" out the window was non-existent.

But then...(dramatic pause)...the fog lifted.

And I could finally see what my family had been so excited about. The views were spectacular, no way to deny it.

So, will I try skiing? Okay already--YES! Especially after my husband suggested that he and my daughter would learn to snowboard and my son (who is already a snowboarder) would learn to ski, so we would all be novices together. (Genius, I tell ya!) My family is feverishly planning our next trip to the mountains before I change my mind.

I hear the view is great from the bunny slope!

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© 2017 by Joy Sussman/JoyfullyGreen.com LLC. All rights reserved. All photos and text digitally fingerprinted and watermarked. Please do not use any photographs without asking me first for permission at [email protected] and then clearly linking back to this site with photo credits. Site licensed by Creative Commons.

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Posted on 03/03/2017 at 09:02 PM in snow, Vermont, winter | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Killlington skiing, Manchester, Northshire Books in Manchester, ski Killington, The Strand bookstore in New York City, Vermont, Vermont bookstores, Woodstock

Lessons in the Snow

As somebody who has lived in the northeastern United States my whole life (four different states, but still: the same region), I can get a little bit jaded when it comes to snow. This might have something to do with not being a kid anymore and therefore needing to drive occasionally in the aforementioned snow (not fun) and sometimes shovel it (only fun when followed by hot cocoa with mini marshmallows).

It's very easy for jaded adults to forget that snow is one of Mother Nature's greatest and most astonishing magic tricks.

Kids never grow tired of snow, do they? It's always new and fresh and the best surprise ever! Even if hot cocoa were subtracted from the equation, children would still adore it.

One of my favorite children's books, Snow by Cynthia Rylant, captures the pure poetry inherent in every snowfall. Her words give me warm shivers, taking me back to my childhood memories of snowy days in Connecticut. She writes: "Some snow falls only lightly, just enough to make you notice the delicate limbs of trees, the light falling from the lamppost, a sparrow's small feet."

It's true. Snow opens our eyes to the world again. Waking up to a hushed morning and peering out through the curtains to find the world covered in a sparkling white blanket--surely, that's a form of magic, isn't it?

I'm currently reading Nine Essential Things I've Learned About Life (because I'm a sucker for "life lesson" books!) by Harold S. Kushner and came across this fitting passage today:

"I would tell the teachers in our religious school, 'I don't want to hear that on the day of the first serious snowfall in winter, you called the children back from the window to return to page forty-three in the textbook. A young child's gasp of delight at the beauty of the snow will be as authentic a prayer, and as religiously grounded a response to the wonder and beauty of God's world, as anything in your lesson plan for that afternoon.' "

I love that. There are life lessons suffused in the snowflakes, lessons about wonder and delight and never losing sight of natural magic.

And then there's this lesson, again from Cynthia Rylant's book: "...the snow, while it is here, reminds us of this: that nothing lasts forever except memories."

Have a magical weekend, dear friends, and I'll see you back here in two weeks!

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P.S. I've just finished teaching my newest (and quite possibly my favorite) online course, Soul Focus: Finding Peace Through Photography. I loved every single illuminating day with my students and can't wait to run it again! Make sure you're signed up (below) for my free monthly newsletter, Writing with Light, to get the first notice for all of my e-courses plus the Early Bird Discounts...

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Posted on 02/16/2017 at 09:02 PM in peacefulness, snow, winter | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: appreciating snows, beauty of snow, Cynthia Rylant, Harold S. Kushner book Nine Essential Things I've Learned About Life, online photography classes, Snow book, snow days, winter appreciation

Bowie Days, Snowy Nights

There's something about getting deluged with over two feet of snow, courtesy of Winter Storm Jonas, that makes a person slow down and become more reflective. That, and losing one of the world's greatest musical visionaries--the person who, long before the dawn of MTV, created an entirely new visual format for music.

I still feel quite low about David Bowie's death; he figured heavily into the soundtrack of my high school and college days. I guess this is how many people felt when Elvis Presley died. Mourning a stranger who seemed so familiar, ever-present, and full of life.

On these chilly-white days, I've been poring through David Bowie's expansive body of work. Three things surprised me:

1) His sound through the decades is still almost shockingly current. I listened to a song that I thought was relatively new and was surprised to find it was from 20 years ago (from the Outside album).

2) He had so many good songs that I'd never even heard before--a bittersweet discovery. Twenty-five albums? I didn't realize he was that prolific!

3) He really grew into his own skin in the 1990's, kicking all drugs and alcohol (even wine), finding love with the exquisite Iman, and finally becoming comfortable with performing as himself. In a few interviews, he spoke of his different theatrical personas (like Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke) as a way of getting over his intense shyness and fear of being on stage. To armor himself, he'd "disappear" into the characters he created. That's why it's especially wonderful to have just discovered his A&E "Live By Request" concert from 2002 in which he's so authentically himself: joyous and free, funny and kind. My favorite part is when a 5-year-old fan calls in to request "Ashes to Ashes" (at the 1:18:13 minute-mark of this concert).

It's a five-way tie for my all-time favorite David Bowie song: "Ashes to Ashes", "Changes", "Heroes" , "The Man Who Sold the World", and "Under Pressure" (with Freddie Mercury, another rock legend, who idolized Bowie). My son loved "Under Pressure" so much that a couple of years ago, he asked his violin teacher if he could learn it. (Note to parents with kids who are just starting violin lessons: Do not try this at home.)

I'm sad, and the world is a little colder now, but my goodness, the soundtrack around here lately is out-of-this-world.

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© 2016 by Joy Sussman/JoyfullyGreen.com LLC. All rights reserved. All photos and text digitally fingerprinted and watermarked. Please do not use any of my photographs without asking me first for permission at [email protected] and then clearly linking back to this site with photo credits. Site licensed by Creative Commons.

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Posted on 01/28/2016 at 10:33 PM in snow, winter | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Bowie's death and depression, David Bowie decades of work, David Bowie on Live By Request, getting over David Bowie's death, Iman and David Bowie, Snowstorm Jonas

Joyful Reads & Finds for the Weekend, Vol. 64: Winter Snowstorm Edition!

Hello there, and Brrrrrrrr! Those of us in the northeastern U.S. are bracing for the first really big snowstorm of the season this weekend. (While it was somewhat pleasant to have an unseasonably warm December, I still find it a wee bit worrisome that it's late January and we still haven't had any real snowfall. The kids certainly aren't happy about the lack of Snow Days, that's for sure!) Anyway, looking ahead to the white and windy weather, I thought I'd stock you up with some cozy reading material. Even if you won't be snowbound where you are, I think you'll enjoy these finds:

How to make your own hot cocoa mix

36 fun snow day activities

Ethereal underwater portraits with live sharks

A kind hotel staff takes a little girl's stuffed bunny on adventures

10 ways you are exactly like your computer

Homeless man saves his dog from death row

Oliver Sacks on gratitude

The next four winter posts are from Yours Truly: How to get outdoors with kids as the weather gets colder
Overcoming SAD in the gray days of winter
Good books for bad weather: A winter reading list
5 remedies when you're sick of winter

And finally, this heartfelt tribute to the amazingly inspiring David Bowie really resonated with me: Put on Your Red Shoes and...

Stay warm and safe, friends, and may your hot cocoa be extra-marshmallowy!

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Don't get left out in the cold! This is the final weekend to sign up for my next online photography course, The Art of Photography: How to Take Your Pictures to the Next Level. (Spaces are limited.) Click here for all the details and join me online starting this Monday, January 25, 2016!

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Posted on 01/21/2016 at 09:02 PM in books, Joyful Reads, photography, snow, winter | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: cabin fever remedies, cold weather cures, cozy winter activities, good books to read in winter, good reads, homemade hot cocoa mix recipe, hot chocolate from scratch, Oliver Sacks on gratitude, overcoming SAD seasonal affective disorder, snow day crafts and recipes, underwater shark photos, what to do with kids on snow days, winter reading list

Monday Snapshot: Cold Snap

It's a sugar-white world outside my door, icing on every branch. When I've had it up to HERE with the relentless winter weather, I go outside with my camera and point it towards the trees. The winter here is cold and long, but it also just happens to be beautiful.

For those of you who need proof that winter won't last forever, here you go: Golden Summer.

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© 2015 by Joy Sussman/JoyfullyGreen.com LLC. All rights reserved. All photos and text digitally fingerprinted and watermarked. Please do not use any of my photographs without asking me first for permission at [email protected] and then clearly linking back to this site with photo credits. Site licensed by Creative Commons.

Posted on 03/08/2015 at 09:02 PM in photography, snow, winter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: snow in March, snow photography, snow photos, trees in winter, winter beauty, winter photography

Monday Snapshot: Marching in Like a Lion

Living in the northeastern United States for all of my life, I've learned to take the four distinct seasons in stride, not expecting too much too soon. So even though March has begun, I remember very well what last March looked like. And if I do forget for a moment, I have pictures like this one above to remind me: The month of March charges in like a lion, roaring all the way!

Hang in there, friends!

P.S. You might've missed these like-minded posts from early on:

Silence and the Snow

Winter and Frost

The Unpredictable Months

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Posted on 03/01/2015 at 09:02 PM in snow, winter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Snow Day? No Problem! 10 Fun Activities to Keep Your Kids Happy & Busy

Well, here we go again: The weathermen all predicted a veritable doomsday of a blizzard, so school was cancelled the night before, morning came and...there was barely any new snow! Somehow, this always happens on the days when I have the most to do. (Funny how that works, huh?) But I wouldn't let the snow day get the upper hand--here's how I kept the kids happily occupied, while keeping my own sanity...

1. Cooking up a creative meal together. The kids are slightly obsessed with the show "Master Chef Junior" (which I fully endorse, since it has the double-benefit of making them more helpful in the kitchen and more willing to try new foods), so we whipped up a french toast breakfast buffet, complete with pomegranates, clementines, powdered sugar, chocolate coins, and syrup. (Mornings are the one time when I don't mind if the kids eat some chocolate because it gives them a little wake-up boost but won't keep them up when it's bedtime. I just pretend that we're French, eating pain au chocolat!)

2. My son asked for a "proper camera" for his recent birthday, and we were happy to oblige! So, activity #2 involved a photo shoot of our breakfast. If your kids don't have cameras, why not lend them your phone to take some snaps?

3. Swimsuits on, bath-time for the dog! Delilah hates bath-time...

...but she loves it when we dry her off!

4. My daughter had the idea to make paper dolls. For added sturdiness, we pasted them onto cereal boxes before cutting them out, and then backed them with pretty decorative paper.

5. Legos! Need I say more?

6. Dress-up time with the grown-ups' stuff: Hats, jewelry, scarves, boots...the works!

7. Write and illustrate a book.

8. Musical instrument practice time!

9. This one involves pre-planning: When you hear forecasts for snow, make sure to hit the library for a new stash of books!

10. And finally...get out there in the snow and go wild!

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Posted on 01/27/2015 at 09:02 PM in creativity, dogs, family, food, fun, outdoors, parenting, photography, snow, winter, YUMMY! | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: creative fun for kids, creative ideas for kids' snow days, fun things to do on snow days, homemade french toast, keeping the kids happy and occupied when you have work to do, make your own paper dolls, Master Chef Junior TV show, snow day activities, what to do when there's no school, winter fun activities for children

Monday Snapshot: White World, Pink Sky

We're really in the thick of it now: Snow Friday night. Snow Saturday. Snow Monday. Snow Tuesday. It's a snow-white world out there, with the occasional dusty-rose sky. Stark and beautiful, and very, very "January."

Stay warm and safe, wherever you are!

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Posted on 01/25/2015 at 09:02 PM in nature, photography, snow, trees, winter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: snow photos, trees in winter, winter photography

Joyful Reads for the Weekend, Vol. 42

Here are a few little gifts just for you...unwrap and enjoy!

From Creative with Kids: 100 ways to be kind to your child (#18 and #33 are my favorites!)

From Josephine Corcoran: In the wee small hours, someone's working

From Higher Perspective: How introverts interact with the world differently than extroverts. (Yep, I'm definitely an introvert according to this--especially the part about talking on the phone!)

From Women's Health: What nutritionists eat when they only have 5 minutes to prep a meal

Last but not least, I am completely awed by the amazingly positive attitude of my friend Dale at A Delectable Life, who lost her husband only last month: Good-bye 2014, hello 2015 and all your possibilities

Wishing you a wonderful winter weekend (or a sensational summer weekend, if you're on the flip-side of the world!)

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Posted on 01/22/2015 at 09:02 PM in friends, ice, Joyful Reads, nature, parenting, perspective, priorities, snow, writing | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: am I an introvert or an extrovert?, are you an introvert or an extrovert?, best blogs, good reads, healthy snack ideas from nutritionists, introverts versus extroverts, parenting with kindness, weekend reads

Winter: All That Glitters

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr! It's been hitting the single digits here for the past week, and everywhere I look, there's ice.

That means two things:

1. I'm walking around outdoors like I'm about 50 years older than I am, hobbling ever so sloooooowly along, so I don't wipe out. (I've done that, and it's no fun.)

2. I'm taking more pictures than ever. (I can't help it--I'm a sucker for things that sparkle!)

Confession time: I took the shot above while lying down on my stomach in the driveway (it's a photo of the ice on it). Yep, that's right, I'm crazy like that when it comes to getting the shot I want! Wet clothes can be changed whenever I come back indoors, but there are only a few precious minutes to get the right shot before the daylight changes. (Note to my photography students: Recognize the bokeh effect in the shot above?)

All of this glittery, sparkling wonderment outdoors is helping me notice things indoors that are catching the light in lovely ways, too.

Perhaps with some people, they'd just see a piece of toast and a pair of glasses, but really, it all depends on how you look at it, don't you think?

I put a vote on Facebook for my photographer friends: Should we be called "photoptomists" or "optimographers"--we of the breed who are making the best out of winter with our cameras? The vote was nearly unanimous: Photoptomists we are!

Sure, I wouldn't mind if it were a good forty degrees warmer. But right now, I'm seeing the world through very sparkly, frost-covered glasses.

How 'bout you? Are you making the best out of winter, or are you just barely muddling through? I'd love to hear!

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Catch my latest posts by subscribing (at the right), "liking" my Facebook page, following me on Twitter, or circling me on Google+. (That last one is my favorite place to share--check it out!)

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© 2014 by Joy Sussman/JoyfullyGreen.com. All rights reserved. All photos and text digitally fingerprinted and watermarked. Please do not use any of my photographs without asking me first for permission at [email protected] and then clearly linking back to this site with photo credits. Site licensed by Creative Commons.

Posted on 01/13/2015 at 09:02 PM in delicious, happiness, nature, outdoors, photography, snow, sparkle, trees, winter, YUMMY! | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tags: how to achieve the bokeh effect with your camera, nature photography, sparkling winter shots, what is the bokeh effect in photography?, winter photography