It is Friday night and here in Eastern Ontario we are heading into a weekend of severe weather conditions, including freezing rain with accumulations, and snow. It is spring, but winter just does not want to let go.
I managed to get to two Tai Chi classes this week, it won’t be long until my membership runs out and must be renewed, so I am taking advantage of the opportunity to attend classes while it lasts.
I continue to use the elliptical machine most days, at least five days out of a seven day week, which for me is pretty good. I have been active indoors this last month, the moving of furniture has begun a process of reorganization that will be ongoing for quite some time.
Because we might lose power this weekend, I will be preparing quite a bit of food for the cooler, so that if a prolonged period without hydro occurs, it will be easy to heat things up on the propane camp stove, out on the back porch. Attila has filled the gas can, so that during a power outage the furnace can be run from time to time to keep the house relatively warm. I have candles, and battery powered lanterns, so we should be good for light. Although reading by that light would be difficult, a rousing game of mahjong, or scrabble, or cribbage, could fill the dark evening hours.
The new windows are still noticeably wonderful, every room is not only more comfortable, but brighter and cheerier as well, even during the overcast chilly spring days that dominate the weather.
I continue to crochet, still working on my second blanket. It is taking form ever so slowly, and I enjoy having it here beside me, ready to occupy my hands if they get restless. Currently two books are on the end table, Kristen Lavransdatter, by Sigrid Undset, and
The Paying Guests, by Sarah Waters.
A lot of my time is consumed with cooking and baking from scratch, and the endless cleanup that goes with such activities. My days consist of a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, taken up in between culinary processes in the kitchen. The days spent at home pass quickly.
All spring the “better weather” has been only two weeks away, according to the weather predictions, and so it is today, two weeks away. Those two weeks have taken a tedious few months to pass.
Our domestic holding pattern is holding. My anguish over the recent events has diminished significantly. That is not to say I am happy with things as they are. I am actively working on adjusting to this new reality, which seems to take up a lot of my time, at least for now. It is time well spent.
Worldly Distractions
Weather
5°C
Date: 5:00 PM EDT Friday 13 April 2018
Condition: Light Rainshower
Pressure: 101.3 kPa
Tendency: Falling
Temperature: 4.8°C
Dew point: 3.3°C
Humidity: 89%
Wind: NE 15 km/h
Visibility: 16 km
Quote
“You desire to know the art of living, my friend? It is contained in one phrase: make use of suffering.”
Henri-Frédéric Amiel
Hi Maggie…hope you don’t lose power! Winter has been hanging on here, too but suddenly we are having two days of summerlike weather! The temps will be dropping again on Sunday. Flowers are blooming here…I have hyacinths and daffodils and purple primrose in bloom and my lilac bush is getting ready to bloom. Hoping spring weather finally decides to settle in your area. Are the know-it-alls at your Tai Chi class minding their own business?
Eileen, flowers! How wonderful! Our bulbs are peeking out of the ground, about a half an inch of green, but will probably grow quickly as soon as warmer weather arrives. LOL, yes the Tai Chi know-it-alls have given up on me, much to my delight!
As I was reading your post and thinking that you seem more serene then I read your last paragraph. I’m glad. Sending you a hug.
Birdie, yes, I am closer to serene than I was, becoming accustomed to the changes. It isn’t easy of course, but the initial shock and awe of the situation has mellowed, some things have become familiar, making it easier to adjust to other things that are not. ((hugs))
I hope you don’t lose power and that you have a pleasant weekend. *hugs*
Mid April… snow and freezing rain for various friends, it’s just not right. Old Mother Earth is changing, and we are witnesses to it. Now that our loo is painted and done, I have to begin the nag-routine to get the yard-work begun and finished before lobstering season starts and my worker-man is unavailable for the entire rest of the year!
I keep forgetting to practise “compassionate abiding” at the times when it is needed! And thus I find myself still wanting to escape unpleasantness and my reaction to it, rather than transforming myself in any way. Maybe a string on my finger will help me remember? -Kate
Thanks Joan! We lost power sometime during the night, and the surge when it came back on fried the motion detector on the exterior of the house. It was old anyway, when we bought Mist Cottage in 2010, so a replacement was probably due anyway. This morning I am baking in anticipation of possible weekend power outages, I think we are just about ready. We will be fine even if we lose power, lots of blankets, hats, scarves, parkas, food, and light, so all will be well, if perhaps not wonderfully comfortable. 🙂 ((hugs))
I know Bex, rain and snow! Not unheard of in April in this neck of the woods, but not welcome nevertheless. Your loo looks beautiful, fantastic paint job, paint and fabric choices, and workmanship on paint and curtains! Fingers crossed all that yard work gets done down there at Crow Cottage before the lobstering begins!
Kate, compassionate abiding is hard, hard, hard! I do it, because there is no escaping it. But if I could avoid it, I probably would. I can say though, that experiencing the unpleasantness is a finite activity, and I always think well worth it when I get to the other side of it. It is the stuff between the decision to face it down, and coming clear of it, that I don’t like much. 🙂