Keeping Busy

Things are perking up here and I have to make lists. I found that if don't write down a task or something that I want to do I don't get it done until the next day or several days after.  I call these my "to do lists." It seems to be working well for me. Silly things and important things are on those lists! Today I had BLOG on my list - so here I am! A quick photo shoot was on yesterday's list and I completed that. One was to show how awful it is that the daffodils are rising from the soil and it is way too early. I went through old images and never before have they poked up before April 3!

I want to show you how my Christmas Poinsettia is doing. I just could not throw it out as many others do, until I tried to keep it going. First, when all the leaves were wilting and dropping, I cut off every branch about 4" from the soil's top. I remember (there I go again remembering!) that once, a very long time ago I did this and it did survived well. I remembered that it has to have twelve hours of complete darkness and twelve hours of indirect sun. A dribble of water once a week is sufficient. The only thing I know about this attempt is that my room is too warm, and time will tell if this will cause a failure. Look closely at what is happening so far. At least I don't have to move it into a closet with a paper bag over it and then bring it out each day for some light, and then put it back in the closet at night. That is what I did in the past.

AND...Look at what found its way to me!  I bought myself an early birthday present. The reddish glaze inside this beauty and the shape and design on its belly got me hooked. It is 8" tall and feels really nice with the ripples and texture. It was made on the treadle wheel. There is a really neat process of how the potter got these effects. Happy me! Doesn't take much.

please tap on image to view larger

What's Up?

I have had several of my followers and friends ask me, Where are you? What are you up to? Why haven't you been blogging like you used to?  Well the fact is that I haven't been inspired lately. It was such a relief to learn, after several diagnostic tests, that I don't have cancer or major conditions with my body except one. That is a flare of intestinal issues and I will be having a consultation mid-February with a doctor before doing anything at all. Soooo I've been kinda relaxing and puttering around in here. Looking out of the windows is a constant activity and I do know what is going on in my neighborhood pretty much! Now for some boring activities that have engaged my efforts and time for a couple of past days. Beware! This is NOT exciting stuff. 

* I cleaned and polished all of the items on the fireplace mantle and then the mantle. * I G.I'd the humidifier really really well. * I moved my slacks from the small bedroom to the larger one. * I cooked a pot roast in the slow cooker, sliced it up, froze the slices. * I sliced and cooked batches of fresh carrots and frozen yellow string beans. * I made strawberry Jello and beat it with Extra Creamy Cool Whip for a sweet treat.* I put away the freshly-laundered clothes that are done for me bi-weekly. * I cancelled Schwan's delivery food service because I have decided not to order $60.00 bi-weekly just to have free delivery. I am only one person. * I wrote letters and paid bills. * I vacuumed the kitchen, dining area and bathroom. * I gave my four plants their weekly drink. * I dusted and polished the tops of two dressers including what was on them. * I had a helper come and take away and ship some items to cousins in three different states. * I filled the salt and pepper shakers, the sugar bowl, the cookie/cracker jars. * I took out the trash. * Each day I attempt to walk seven to ten laps from one end of the cabin to the other - a 30 ft. length one way - * I am forcing myself to drink water. None of this involves other personal care. Washing dishes, making bed, researching topics on computer of course are other time-consuming things that get me through the day. So far, no mood to read or create anything. I am waiting for warm weather!!!! Be sure I am NOT depressed at all. I know the rhythm of seasonal changes and just try to stick it out until it gets warmer. I'm not climbing walls.      

Until January 1...

More goodies - I HAD to freeze some of my cookie gifts!

Yard man's family teens made these!

I didn't know the meaning of mushrooms during this season. Mushrooms honor the reverence for nature and hopes for good luck in the coming year! A nearby neighbor who just dropped these dear little cookies off for me came from Lithuania and she was so proud to deliver them, saying "I made these!" 

I've been busy today catching up with files and other necessary things that I do every year. I'm working on a family collage instead of the usual annual list of things that happened in my life during 2022. 

Let me share my last photomanipulation of the year.  A gift was shared for three of us!

And........it is still very cold outside! I'm staying IN!

tap on image to view larger

Local Update

Kirk Van Zandbergen is the photographer who created these shots with his drone when in my town recently. They are amazing and so beautiful.  He is the owner at Van Zandbergen Photograph - Studied Industrial/Scientific Photography at Brooks Institute of Photography. The first photograph is named "Winter Solstice in Montrose Pennsylvania."  His prints are for sale by personal request. 

And now for my weather report. It wasn't as awful here as it could have been. The orchid photo is from yesterday. It is thriving well!

I took the thermometer pictures at 7am this morning. Quick shots! I trickled water from both kitchen and bathroom faucets to be sure although good heat tape is in action as usual every year. We didn't loose power! Today there is a windy situation, but it's not extreme. 

Well that's all for today. Maybe I'll just start my annual paper shredding project during the next few days. Old electric shredder long gone, so heavy duty scissors will be put to good use!

Waiting for Real Spring

In the meantime I kept busy today - INDOORS! I awoke this morning to see that almost all of the dozen of daffodils I had cut as buds are open. In fact, later on they were ALL open and making me smile!

I went to work nipping the anthers out of the Easter lily as the pollen is affecting my nose! There are a total of five buds on this lovely gift and only two are open so far, so they have had their 'surgery.'

The next thing I did was shake the soil off of the amaryllis bulb. Unfortunately I found it to be soft and I think it is a goner. I'm drying it out more in front of the heater and will save it anyway.

The three hyacinth bulbs have now had the soil shaken off and are further drying in one of my special blue tubs on top of dry potting soil. Perhaps these will be ok - they are hard and the tops still need to dry more. 

So back to cleaning out a file or two. See YA!

Spring?

Well it is 15° at 11:00 am and snowing. I am sooo glad I don't have to go out. My neighbor calls it Wring. "Wring... when Winter refuses to yield to Spring." Her friend says "Wring is Wrong."  I fully agree with them! 

I have been coughing a lot every morning for a couple of weeks but at least that has now subsided and I won't call for a doctor's appointment. I thought it might be allergies to plant pollen from my gifts but also know that there is a possibility I have a touch of bronchitis or pneumonia. Having a pretty strong immune system throughout my life is a really good gift. It must be all the dirt I ate as a kid, ya think?

I had a very nice birthday over the weekend and am so grateful that the weather was cooperative as one of my daughters drove from NJ and stayed overnight. I hadn't seen her in person for seven years! My nearby daughter visited and the 'girls' exchanged their Christmas gifts as they weren't able to get together last season. I really enjoyed their interactions and bantering. Both sons called with loving messages. Many of my close and wonderful friends sent beautiful 'snail mail' cards and I sure did like them all. Internet greetings came my way as well. I never had a four layer mousse cake before. That was really a fine experience — especially when my daughters sang to me! (One is 66, the other 62 and need some more duet practice.)

I'm looking forward to the return of my golf car so I can take a ride and check out the lake and its residents and take pictures. Too soon yet because I DO NOT like to ride when it is cold. Old feels Cold. Yep!

The Oxheart tomato seeds I saved have been planted in their containers as usual. Missy will share the starters with several people and I am sure to enjoy a few of these favorites myself as the growers share back when they are ripe. 

In the meantime I must get moving more. This sitting around is wearing me out! 

Snow Here

Mother Nature gave us snow and promises more to come on Saturday. I must say that snow is nicer to look at than all of the mud out there lately!

Images #3 & #4—The crack in the ice under the snow covering, that goes from my dock to the dam, shifted and it looks like something left tracks. This has happened before and is an interesting sight. The snow cover is rippled.

Today.......

The next two images below were taken on January 6.

I really like this image! Used Zoom full out!

Please click on image to view full beauty.

Snow event on Saturday may be even prettier. I await the event.

Brownies Anyone?

I hope you like walnuts in your brownies! I'm not personally crazy about chocolate but I know some folks nearby who might like a couple of these this week. It definitely is not fun or productive to bake unless you have takers! These should be gone by Friday. One down... 23 to go! They are ooey-gooey and chewy and just perfect!

Tap image to wish you were here!

Today the temperature rose to 60°! Of course it is a muddy mess around here but Spring seems to promise its arrival soon because I actually saw a robin this morning. There was a couple walking by without jackets - bare arms! 

Sunday Thoughts

"I don't think people understand how stressful it is to explain what's going on in your head when you don't even understand it yourself."  ~Unknown

Well I  snatched this from a fellow blogger. It fits... I'll wear it. 

When I look in the mirror I see my grandmother's worn out rheumy eyes looking back at me. Crocheting did the damage. Lots of eyework. My eyes look the same but because of overuse on my electronic device.

When I  look at the ceiling upon first awakening, I see one of nature's best gifts to man - trees. Think deeply about that gift!

And at 8:00AM I see black ice. Up the road, down the road, in front of the cabin, shiny and shouting, "Danger! Danger! Danger!"

tap on image to feel the cold! 

Mixed Bag

Nasty darn day here. There even was a thunder and lightning storm early this morning and hard rain. Now it is just a light rain and 42° but still dreary. The roof didn't leak. That is a relief.

The destruction of the tornadoes in Mayfield KY is unbelievable. Shocking!  Mother Nature is VERY angry. The Blue Origin blast into space at least was successful this morning, and that is good news. Both events are scary and incredible to me! Awful and amazing. What is the world coming to? I'm glad to be old. 

Brother is getting good care and there is hope for his recovery. We have to take life's struggles just one day at a time, one baby step at a time, and maybe, just maybe we'll be able to breathe freely again. 

I'm reading an interesting book. Title: Folly. Author: Laurie R. King. First published: March 2001. Yard sale $2.00. It has me in its grips.

Got my Christmas cards in the mail. Cut back on number. I still like to send some.

Feeling lazy. Taking the day off. Bored. Kick me!

(all images from internet)