Sixteen degrees now. Higher than my friends up North, not as warm as my favorites on the East coast. Still, it's 16 degrees. No comparison to my dear Tina in California. :) Supposed to be in the fifties on Friday. Can't come soon enough.
Stew simmering. Drinking a hot cup of Earl Grey. Pugs cozied up in blankets on the sofa. Big dogs indifferent, and chompin' at the bit to be let outside. Chickens survived the night, and we've been stuffing them full of warm food all day. Now they're eating some seed before getting on their roost. So glad they roost without direction. In the winter months, by about five o'clock, they're in the hen house, all snug and side-by-side. There's room in the coop for the five of them as adults to sit in a row. Figure that's warm enough. It was last night.
Honestly, I slept so poorly last night---kept thinking about them, fearing frost-bitten combs, but not so. They bounded out of the coop this morning at seven fine and dandy. Exhale.
So much energy is expended in just keeping warm. Do you find it so? It's exhausting. Makes me tense, but thankful we had no snow, and it's been sunny and clear today. It'll pass.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Saturday night
 |
| ~blueberry tea and cookies from middle daughter |
And went to see Mom again today and take her clothes with oldest daughter. A good visit. She'd been tired when we visited her last night, so it was encouraging to see her perky. Or as perky as she gets. She admits to having troubles related to the stroke. She knows she's not right in the head. I think that's a plus, just realizing that. I mean really, you'd have to be aware that life isn't normal.
She's working at it, and I'm glad of that. Has a goal of walking with a cane of sorts and not the walker. Goals are crucial. And gratefully, she said she wanted to pay for our groceries today, which was wonderful. A nice surprise, and her way of saying thank you. Our relationship continues to improve. I think we both want to let by-gones be by-gones----you know what I mean.
For those of you in the path of this coldness, hunker down and stay cozy. I'll do the same.
Friday, January 3, 2014
AnGstY
Not the day I thought it would be. You know those ones you're psyched up about, with plans to make happen, etc. Not today.
I got a call from my mom this morning, on her cellphone, and first off, I couldn't hardly hear her. Must be the volume was messed with when we helped her get it charged up the other day. When oldest daughter and I went there on Monday, Mom was all bent over trying to get the tiny cover off the place on the side of the phone where you plug it in and you could tell it was aggravating her. The easiest chore is suddenly very difficult. And so we take it and do it quick-time. Must be maddening. I didn't check to see if it worked afterward, so maybe she'd hit the volume control on the side. I have no idea.
Anyway, was thinking I'd bake today, and finish cleaning up from Christmas. I don't know. There's something about my mom's situation that just eats at me. When I'm at home, I try to put her problems aside, so I can deal with my own issues and busyness. When she calls, it's always for something (which I understand), but it's difficult because she doesn't ask anyone else for help. I'm the go-to person. She needs $20 for something which I'll take her later, and I need to pick up her clothes to wash, pay her bills at her house, make sure the pipes are dripping because of the cold, etc. I sound like an ungrateful daughter, but really don't mean to. It all just makes me cranky. Wouldn't mind if she asked my brother who visits her regularly to do her chores for a change. She does say thank-you, but still. Do you get where I'm going with this?
I think partly it's because I've read (and experienced now with her) that there can be a disconnect with what they say and what they sound like. Her social skills are sadly lacking, and she comes across more like a child who wants things done for them. Now. The other day, oldest daughter and I walked into her room, I put away her clean clothes into the dresser and immediately she says, "Where's my make-up?" Whoops. Of course I'd forgotten it. That's the pattern. Used to, she'd hint at what she wanted done. Like, saying the light was out in a room, meaning you needed to get on a chair and change it. She'd never be direct and ask for help. Now, she's bossy-sounding, but I'm sure she doesn't mean to. She calls, gets right the the point and is off the phone. Very hard to get used to. Social graces? Not there anymore, but not to say they're gone for good. Just missing now. Strokes sure have a varied path of destruction.
I got a call from my mom this morning, on her cellphone, and first off, I couldn't hardly hear her. Must be the volume was messed with when we helped her get it charged up the other day. When oldest daughter and I went there on Monday, Mom was all bent over trying to get the tiny cover off the place on the side of the phone where you plug it in and you could tell it was aggravating her. The easiest chore is suddenly very difficult. And so we take it and do it quick-time. Must be maddening. I didn't check to see if it worked afterward, so maybe she'd hit the volume control on the side. I have no idea.
Anyway, was thinking I'd bake today, and finish cleaning up from Christmas. I don't know. There's something about my mom's situation that just eats at me. When I'm at home, I try to put her problems aside, so I can deal with my own issues and busyness. When she calls, it's always for something (which I understand), but it's difficult because she doesn't ask anyone else for help. I'm the go-to person. She needs $20 for something which I'll take her later, and I need to pick up her clothes to wash, pay her bills at her house, make sure the pipes are dripping because of the cold, etc. I sound like an ungrateful daughter, but really don't mean to. It all just makes me cranky. Wouldn't mind if she asked my brother who visits her regularly to do her chores for a change. She does say thank-you, but still. Do you get where I'm going with this?
I think partly it's because I've read (and experienced now with her) that there can be a disconnect with what they say and what they sound like. Her social skills are sadly lacking, and she comes across more like a child who wants things done for them. Now. The other day, oldest daughter and I walked into her room, I put away her clean clothes into the dresser and immediately she says, "Where's my make-up?" Whoops. Of course I'd forgotten it. That's the pattern. Used to, she'd hint at what she wanted done. Like, saying the light was out in a room, meaning you needed to get on a chair and change it. She'd never be direct and ask for help. Now, she's bossy-sounding, but I'm sure she doesn't mean to. She calls, gets right the the point and is off the phone. Very hard to get used to. Social graces? Not there anymore, but not to say they're gone for good. Just missing now. Strokes sure have a varied path of destruction.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Yeasty goodness
First day of my year-long challenge. No Julie and Julia moments for me. My life isn't quite that dramatic. Just a collection of successes and failures. And all served up as lovely bread. I'd love to plan on one new recipe a week, but we'll see how that goes.
First one: Pain au Chocolat
Back later.
First one: Pain au Chocolat
Back later.
Goals for the third of January
To try once again to get into Emily P. Freeman's book called A Million Little Ways---Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live. For the life of me, I can't get into this book. I even went to Amazon and Good Reads to see reviews to see if anyone else had posted anything that even smacks of a tiny bit of a doubtfulness. The answer's no. And when I ordered it, I was so excited. Got the book, read into it and it fell flat. Anyway, am setting myself a goal of a chapter a day, thinking that surely I'm missing something. Anything. Maybe it's not my style. I just don't know.
And am making Pain Au Chocolat tomorrow. That yummy French Croissant-style bread with chocolate in the middle. I wanted to find a detailed recipe the other day and one site said to get a croissant, slice it open and spread it with Nutella. Are you kidding me? Not even. And I found a recipe that calls for you to take four days to make it. No. Finally found one that takes a total of 3-4 hours. That sounds perfect.
Thinking I want a goal of making something during the year as a routine. I'm thinking bread. Of all the things I make in the kitchen, bread's my favorite. Maybe one thing a week. Maybe not, but as I said, it's a goal.
New things to think about. I'm liking that.
And am making Pain Au Chocolat tomorrow. That yummy French Croissant-style bread with chocolate in the middle. I wanted to find a detailed recipe the other day and one site said to get a croissant, slice it open and spread it with Nutella. Are you kidding me? Not even. And I found a recipe that calls for you to take four days to make it. No. Finally found one that takes a total of 3-4 hours. That sounds perfect.
Thinking I want a goal of making something during the year as a routine. I'm thinking bread. Of all the things I make in the kitchen, bread's my favorite. Maybe one thing a week. Maybe not, but as I said, it's a goal.
New things to think about. I'm liking that.
On the Eighth Day of Christmas
Well, my to-do list isn't following through as I expected, and that's only because with the living room/dining room in disarray, plus the kitchen just feeling grungy, it was a toss-up to pick only one area. Wanted to clean behind appliances---I exaggerate, not 'wanted to' but 'need to' is more like it. That will have to wait until tomorrow---or even later than that. Today's focus was the living room, and putting up some of my Valentine's Day pretties.
Love how the house looks so fresh, though, after putting away decorations. Doesn't everyone feel that way? The rooms feel larger, and getting it vacuumed and dusted thoroughly feels good.
Not much else going on. Only would love it if I had the energy of a younger person and could get more done at a time. I'll have to accept my limitations, however, and be proud of what was finished. Moving the living room furniture is a treat, and seeing things from a different vantage point is a refreshment. The same old/same old is plain boring.
Now will shuffle around assorted boxes and shove things out of my way so's I can cook dinner. Enjoy your time off, if you still have some. We're not beginning school back until Monday, so all is well here.
Love how the house looks so fresh, though, after putting away decorations. Doesn't everyone feel that way? The rooms feel larger, and getting it vacuumed and dusted thoroughly feels good.
Not much else going on. Only would love it if I had the energy of a younger person and could get more done at a time. I'll have to accept my limitations, however, and be proud of what was finished. Moving the living room furniture is a treat, and seeing things from a different vantage point is a refreshment. The same old/same old is plain boring.
Now will shuffle around assorted boxes and shove things out of my way so's I can cook dinner. Enjoy your time off, if you still have some. We're not beginning school back until Monday, so all is well here.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
New Year's night
Thoughts on the fresh days ahead of me. I tend to go at my tasks in a slap-dash sort of way, not making lists and just hopeful that everything gets done in a timely manner. And by the end of a particular day, it seems all I've accomplished is LOTS of laundry and dinner. Seriously.
With us doing the clothes of the two boys who've moved out (once a week, they bring their baskets---which is fine, they supply me with detergent, etc.), and my mom's twice a week, plus our clothes, it seems the washer and dryer are running all the time, and the clothes lines stay filled. My goodness, that's almost a full-time job.
My goal this year, as I mentioned earlier, is to take better care of myself. When my mom was first in the hospital, one visit of the neurologist stands out in my mind. He asked her if she took a daily aspirin and she told him she did occasionally. He cut a glance at me, and told her that that didn't work, that she had to be diligent with it. So, today I bought the low-grade aspirin for myself. Got on the treadmill, and tried to settle my nerves, not with a snack, but with something more healthy for me. Food has been a drug for years, the go-to thing that's been the soother. Must. Stop. That. But it might take some time. First have to feel worthy of care and attention. Sad, isn't it?
And opened a new journal--the one my dearest Tina brought me back from Paris awhile back. I've already been pasting pictures in it, and now am adding words.
Now must go. These new ideas in my head are challenging, but all for the good. As always, baby steps.
With us doing the clothes of the two boys who've moved out (once a week, they bring their baskets---which is fine, they supply me with detergent, etc.), and my mom's twice a week, plus our clothes, it seems the washer and dryer are running all the time, and the clothes lines stay filled. My goodness, that's almost a full-time job.
My goal this year, as I mentioned earlier, is to take better care of myself. When my mom was first in the hospital, one visit of the neurologist stands out in my mind. He asked her if she took a daily aspirin and she told him she did occasionally. He cut a glance at me, and told her that that didn't work, that she had to be diligent with it. So, today I bought the low-grade aspirin for myself. Got on the treadmill, and tried to settle my nerves, not with a snack, but with something more healthy for me. Food has been a drug for years, the go-to thing that's been the soother. Must. Stop. That. But it might take some time. First have to feel worthy of care and attention. Sad, isn't it?
And opened a new journal--the one my dearest Tina brought me back from Paris awhile back. I've already been pasting pictures in it, and now am adding words.
Now must go. These new ideas in my head are challenging, but all for the good. As always, baby steps.
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