First real snow of the winter, a look at the wonderful playyard where I work, and a special crow named Walter

Here, where I live, the  landscape has changed over just one day into winter. It  never takes long for me to  become accustomed to snow. I am not alone in this -  other people have described the same phenomenon, of adjusting to winter. There seems to be a sense of the familiar, and soon summer seems like a very distant memory. Maybe this is due to our winter lasting often up to 7 months, and at the very least 5 months.

I do enjoy the snow, and I believe this became instilled in me as a child when snow was the material I played in, shoveling, building forts, and snowmen, making snow angels, making footprint trails, digging out tunnels, and as well wonderful sled rides, and later as an older child tobogganing.

 This morning, I  witnessed the wonder in the eyes of my very young toddler aged children, as we set out to explore the snow.

 I am  privileged to be working at a daycare center with a wonderful and thoughtfully designed play yard.

 In the foregeround you can see evidence of the snow angels my children made.

This is a sheltered spot, and I have observed a small group of children, just 2 or 3, sitting here making up stories, and enjoying the privacy created. In a large center it is important to allow quiet spaces  where children  can "be away" from the group now and then.

This is a nice spot for kitchen play, and as well do outside art.In the summer canopies provide much needed shade.

A few larger tree stumps for children to play on, or create art.

This play house and slide is very popular with the older children.

This is a rural daycare center, and we are surrounded by large trees, and quiet.

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 We created footprint trails, and wagon wheel trails.

By afternoon these were covered, as snow continued to fall steadily.

The daycare center where I am now working, is carefully, and lovingly designed to create a nurturing environment for children. I have been truly beginning to feel settled and at home here, and able to do the kind of work I am capable of. 

I had some concern over the commuting I need to do, but my rides have worked out well. I presently work in a room with three other early childhood educators, and I am used to working more independently. It's a learning for me, to participate in a team, but it seems to be going well. Much of the success of this center comes from the strong vison of the leadership, and their ability to communicate their vision, as well as their ability to let go, and trust in  their staff.

So, at this point I can report that my new job is going very well, and every day is a pleasure.

On a completely different note, I found this lovely story, about a crow named Walter, on the CBC website. 

I hope you will enjoy this. I loved it.

Wishing you a good weekend!