The weather has brought us another cold snap, which is supposed to be short lived. Since my knee seizes up when the temperature dips below freezing, there is no chance I will be going for walks in the great outdoors. Oh well, at least I have the elliptical machine.
Since Attila and I have been together we have always waited until the last week of January to take down the Christmas Tree. Last weekend we slowly removed the ornaments, and lights, and carried our much enjoyed tree out the front door and around to the back yard. The tree will be used as part of the hugelkulture raised bed, which will be built this spring. I am sentimental about trees, and cried this year when the tree was being disrobed for its journey out the door. I miss the tree, and the lights, but am happy to have more floor space in the house. The tree meant walking sideways and stepping over furniture to get around, the house is that small.
My birthday falls in the winter months. There aren’t a lot of things that I can do out of doors in the winter, so celebrations focus on indoor activities. This year I asked for, and received, a flour mill for my birthday. It is an extravagance, a toy, a hobby type item for the kitchen. It is brilliant. All I have done so far is to run long grain rice through it to clean it, the rice flour looked amazing, but was discarded as there were traces of metal and oil in it. The machine is clean now and ready for action. I am currently trying to source wheat berries, and other grains, at reasonable prices. No luck so far, but the search has just begun.
I think my writing has changed over the last year. There has been little in the way of whimsy in my existence during 2018, and my confidence in the future has been at an all time low. I think this is reflected in my thoughts, feelings and writing. Change, sudden and drastic, was the order of my days in 2018.
2019 however has begun on a much more positive and hopeful note. My health is excellent, that is such a blessing. My relationship with Attila is steadily improving, which I did not expect. Attila is in good health, another blessing. My children are healthy, and my Grandchildren, which is also a blessing. My Mom, and siblings, and their children, are all doing well, another blessing. I enjoy my friendships online, and even occasionally get to see people face-to-face. The ability to pursue interests and hobbies continues, which keeps me endlessly entertained. And although I know the world out there seems to be going to hell in a hand-basket, I have no intention of following the public furor into hysteria. It is best not to lose perspective during a time of crisis. Here at Mist Cottage Attila and I carry on, occasionally struggling through a day, but mostly enjoying what good fortune we do have.
Worldly
Weather
Snowfall Warning
-18°C
Date: 1:00 PM EST Monday 28 January 2019
Condition: Mostly Cloudy
Pressure: 102.4 kPa
Tendency: Falling
Temperature: -18.0°C
Dew point: -26.3°C
Humidity: 49%
Wind: NE 27 km/h
Wind Chill: -29
Visibility: 24 km
Quote
“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
1749 – 1832
You shed tears at the exit of the tree … that is an image that will stay with me, Maggie, giving depth to my idea of you. -Kate
Maybe you could put a string of lights up somewhere to add a little brightness? We had a string of Christmas lights up in our bedroom at Christmas and seriously considered leaving them there. In the end, we only put them away because they would have been too bright to leave on at night. But then could be that a set with different colors or smaller bulbs might work. We’ll have to look around next Christmas.
Glad to hear life is looking much more positive for you.
Kate, well, it took me by surprise that I felt so sad about the tree coming down and going out to the yard. I’ve always felt a little off about killing trees for decoration, that is why I felt better about the trees we had at the country house, they were under the hydro lines, where everything was obliterated every few years. I don’t have the same feelings about artificial trees.
Good idea Teri. I’ve been looking at various sets of “fairy lights”, there are some interesting ones out there. At the country house I left a string of Christmas lights up all winter, I loved it, the Grandbabies loved it, Mist the Kitty loved it, and I think Attila did too.
When I was a child, I used to feel so bad when Dad would chop up the Christmas tree. I’d save a small piece of each tree for several years. I think the tree pieces got lost in a move! We have a garland of colored lights up year round, it is very cheery.
Your collection of tree pieces sounds so sweet Joan! I hadn’t thought of a garland year round, now you have me thinking about it!