Sunday, January 22, 2012

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

A snowy road
Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.



My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.



He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

My favorite bridge

The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.


The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep, 
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Amish buggy in the snow
I've begun another project. Two warm winter hats, knit at the same time on two circular knitting needles, using the same technique I use for socks.  I haven't had a lot of experience with color work, and so this project is a bit of a challenge for me!  I hope to have finished them by the time I leave for Germany, which will be in just a couple of weeks.   
Ogiku hats begun


Ogiku hats on the needles


Snowy me
Have I mentioned that I love winter?

When my cousin, Beth, saw this post on Facebook, she told the following story: " One of my favorite poems......when I taught third grade....I always presented a unit on Robert Frost. Whe Eric and I visited Vermont, we went up early for a Vermont Symphony Concert. It was being set up at Robert Frost's home. I was taking pictures of the house. When one of the men who was setting up noticed, he asked why I was taking pictures. I told him about my third graders. He asked if I would like to go inside....generally not allowed.....I said yes...very surprised. When I asked him why, he said, "If Mr. Frost knew you were teaching his poetry to third graders he would be thrilled." I still have those pictures. What an honor it was!
And, Becky, please add that after intially presenting the unit, one of my students....would walk in each morning and ask, "Can we please read one of Mr. Frost's poems today." Still brings a smile."


There are several books that I loved and always read in the winter to 'my' children when I ran our elementary-school library. I hope that you will share them with the children in your lives!




The Mitten, adapted and illustrated by Jan Brett
One of the teachers with whom I worked made and donated to the library a HUGE fleece mitten, big enough for several children to climb into, with a matching normal-sized mitten.  I would use it when I read the story.  I left it behind when I left the library to take another job. I hope it is still there and still being used!


Katy and the Big Snow, written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton
Especially good to read aloud on a very snowy day!





Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, written by Robert Frost and illustrated by Susan Jeffers
Ms. Jeffers used black-and-white illustrations with just the perfect touches of color, exactly the way a very snowy winter looks.