This Week at Iten's Acres: First Days December 21, 2013

First official day of "Christmas Vacation":

First official day of winter as well: Warm and rainy. I love the rain. I love melancholy. The melted snow and abundant rain have swollen the streams of Morrow County, begun to fill the swamp, turned the Acres into a bog. It will be wet and sloppy walking the place today. Don't worry--that's never stopped me before. Perhaps Gus will join me. He's been "locked out" of his place again for a few days. Sleeping in my shed. Protecting my place with his nightly howls. You would think they would just call him and let him back in the electric fence. I guess they just don't care about the little guy. I'll take care of him as best I can until they decide to look for him. We will enjoy our walks. Perhaps Bonnie will join us. Back to the Outlaw Days. And I'm sure winter will arrive again (it has unofficially been her for a few weeks already.) We would have had a splendid snow if this rain had been a few days ago!
What will I do with my days away from school? Miss the kids. (Don't you dare tell them.) Teacher things--planning, grading exams--a little each day. Hermit things. Lots of walks. Lots of reading and writing. Learning my place in life again--it has already been made clear--again--who owns the rights to the green chair in the daytime. Yep, it's not me. A few backroads of Morrow County excursions. Maybe--don't faint (or hold your breath--never a good idea unless you're under water)--clean and straighten up a LITTLE bit. (I always enjoy making something little into something big.) There's enough food around so I won't starve even if winter sends a December blizzard. (Hope, hope!) Maybe the kids will drop by for a visit? I have a duck hiding in the freezer. I'm sure the days will do the proverbially flying. Ahhh well. Off for one of those walks. Gus and I will enjoy ourselves I promise. Water and all. God never gives us a day that is not beautiful if we will just bother to look for--and embrace--the good that is there. After all, there is never a day that I cannot celebrate the coming of His Son and anticipate the coming of His Son. Never a day. Hope each of your days is a celebration.