“We’re expecting a cold front here tomorrow,” is what my dad told me over the phone and from the heart of Texas on Friday night. On Saturday morning, I heard it again from another Texas friend. It was Kelly’s (a.k.a. Miss Riggs) birthday, and when I texted her to wish her a happy day, she said it was 75 degrees out, but that they were expecting a cold front later that day.
A quick and curious check my weather app (this must be serious!) for Austin and San Antonio, TX revealed that the cold front there would entail a low of 42 degrees. Something about everyone bracing for the cold front in Texas just tickled me so much. I couldn’t stop giggling over how relative a term like “cold front” can be, and had I been living in Texas all this time, I’m certain I would have been begging for a fire in the fireplace and a hot cup of coffee.
But I had just returned from upstate New York and the Catskill Mountains where the lows were in the 20’s and we had a dusting of snow on Thursday night.
It was a retreat for the high schoolers in our local Classical Conversations community, and it was really wonderful. One of the families involved owns and runs a bed and breakfast in Windham, NY and offered our group a very special package deal.
(The name of the bed and breakfast is Albergo Allegria, and I’d highly recommend it if you are in that area!)
Upon arrival, our first adventure was to Kaaterskill Falls. I say adventure, because it was truly a beautiful drive and view of this two-stage waterfall which is higher than Niagra Falls, but also because some of the high school boys in our group were getting a little too close to the edge for my comfort.
Especially with these signs posted all around…
Back at the bed and breakfast, we all enjoyed a wonderful dinner, games, conversations, and a time of testimony and devotion in the parlor around the fireplace. We also watched a short documentary on Thomas Cole who founded the Hudson River School which was a mid-19th century art movement focused on landscape paintings. Art history is a big component of Challenge II, which is the equivalent of the sophomore year of high school in Classical Conversations.
Breakfast was heavenly, and Kayla and I were so spoiled with gluten free waffles, chocolate chip zucchini bread, granola, yogurt, egg scrambles and omelets. Lots of tea and coffee to choose from and I just loved this adorable antique stove for serving it all.
After breakfast, another time of Bible study/devotion, and check-out, we drove to the historic home of Frederic Church called Olana. Church was a student of Thomas Cole’s and even surpassed him in notoriety during his time. Planning at first to build a home overlooking the Hudson River valley in the French chateau style, Mr. and Mrs. Church changed their minds entirely after a trip to Turkey, Syria, and Israel. You can probably see the Moorish architecture and style easily just from this exterior photo. Lots of interior stenciling and Islamic patterns inside the home as well.
After a thorough tour of the gorgeous home, our guide led us on a silent nature walk through the incredible acreage. Half way through, she stopped us and directed us into even more absolute silence and instructed us in the skill of observation. Finally, we arrived at the carriage house, which has been turned into a classroom and art studio. Students (and adults) were given all of the necessary tools as well as plenty of time to imitate either the landscape art of The Hudson River School artists or the Islamic-style art which inspired Frederic Church’s home decor.
Can I just tell you how nice it was to enjoy such beauty all around and be forced into silent observation and thought? And to have uninterrupted time to work on something creative?
My soul was so desperately in need of that.
And here was another wonderful detail…
Those Arabic letters inscripted on the hearth of Mrs. Church’s studio indicate a portion of Psalm 39. Probably this part:
My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
O, Lord, make me know my end and the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! (v. 4)
It was cold that day, but our hearts were hot with musing. Musing about God’s creation and our purpose in this world.
And you know what? I think it’s great that we get excited about cold fronts, no matter what temperatures they involve. It’s a way to celebrate small things and new seasons. How fun that Texas got their “cold front” right before Thanksgiving. Changing temperatures definitely help mark the holiday season and cause our hearts to enjoy them all the more. Is there anyone living in New England who doesn’t hope for a white Christmas? It makes sitting on the couch in your pajamas in front of a beautiful tree and roaring fire all the more cozy.
And it was such a cool retreat! One to help us mark the season – the end of fall, a week of thanks, and the approaching Advent season. The creative silence did our hearts so much good, and I look forward to cultivating this a little more in my own life in the coming weeks.
Hope you’re enjoying your own “cold front” today!