Author: Nancy J. Moncrieff

Bat Mitzvah

     Last Saturday morning, I attended the bat mitzah, the coming-of-age ceremony, of a friend from French class.  Daryl, the friend, is eighty-eight years old.  Her friend Ellen, also a grandmother, had her bat mitzvah at the Shabbat service, too.       Shortly after the service began—in Hebrew—I was pleased to hear familiar words.  Baruch atah… Continue reading Bat Mitzvah

Spicing Up February

Last Friday, as Sue and I were out walking along the river with her dog Vesta, five student-types walked toward us.  They were distinctly underdressed for the weather—temperature in the low teens with a fifteen-mile-an-hour wind.  They were wearing shorts and shirts, although carrying warmer clothing.  They walked through the snow, right down next to… Continue reading Spicing Up February

Snow Play

     Last week’s perfect packing snow provided raw material for many neighbors’ creativity, which I’m still discovering as the dog and I take our morning walks.  Today, for instance, revealed a snow bear in someone’s front yard.  Blimpy Burgers used to be adorned with snow bears during the winter; they were smallish and charming, like… Continue reading Snow Play

Snow Joy

And the children of the land rejoiced.  We have several inches of snow on the ground.  Yesterday was a snow day with no school.  Furthermore, the white stuff is packing snow.  Out walking with the dog this morning, I saw a snow snail in all its glory.  About waist-high, it was detailed, with antennae, long… Continue reading Snow Joy

Umbrellas and Shreds

Daniel Pinkwater, forty-some years ago, wrote a children’s book called, Roger’s Umbrella.  It’s about a little boy whose mother makes him carry an umbrella to school.  When Roger objects that that umbrella gives him trouble, his mother tells him that umbrellas are all alike and you just have to know how to talk to them. … Continue reading Umbrellas and Shreds

Getting Through

Sometimes in the morning, setting off on a Bakehouse run, my husband drops Rascal and me off at a location of my choosing.  That way, the dog and I can enjoy territory too far from home for it to be reasonable to walk both there and back.  Rascal is elated by these extended walks, doing… Continue reading Getting Through

Cold or Cozy

     Children who live near us have been entertaining us again, brother and sister playing out on the court.  They’re elementary school age and, during this time of post-season games, the boy has been outside throwing a football around.  Coming home from walking the dog one day this week, my husband heard the girl ask… Continue reading Cold or Cozy

Jubilating

     Riding in the car with my husband recently, I got to thinking about jubilating.  We have the noun form, jubilation.  Why shouldn’t we have a verb form?  Jubilate.  It has a nice ring to it.  It sounds active.  It could mean either to be joyful or to make joyful.  Thus, it could be either… Continue reading Jubilating