9-66 (7/3/22) -- Grateful for Small Things

I was up way too early to move the car out of the driveway at 7 AM to make room for the work vehicles. The entire ground was covered in ice. Thankfully the road had been sanded well, but was still just ice. The walk across the street and back up the drive way was treacherous. The snow on either side of the walkway was soft enough so I walked there instead of along the pathway.  About 9 AM, I got an e-mail noting the job was postponed due to weather from the weekend and expected rain today. They have plans to arrive tomorrow morning. This means another very early day for me -- and anyone who knows me understands that I don't do mornings well. <smile>  I'm a definite night person and always have been. I returned the car to the driveway and put down salt along the walkway. The sun came out briefly then, which also may help to melt the icy parts. 

I never thought that I'd be looking forward to doing laundry <grin>. Maybe tomorrow. This got me thinking of how we tend to take advantage of daily activities and often complain about having to do them. I realized when I went down the stairs to the basement that hanging at the end was a washboard that my grandmother used. It hangs on the wall with a silk flower arrangement. I almost go to the point where that would be a workable solution. Then I realized I didn't have the wringer machine that she had either. The thought of wringing them by hand made my wrists ache. So, without being able to use the appliances in the house -- washer and dishwasher -- has helped me to see things differently. I will try to check myself when I get grumpy or start to complain <smile>. 

I stumbled across a song by an English indie band. The shared song has a new age-ish sound. I like the focus on mundane daily things -- including laundry <smile>. It just seemed to fit some of the thoughts today. 

These are the Things -- Black Box Recorder

9-65 (6/3/22) -- So Sleepy

It's been a grey day with snow turning to rain by early evening. More snow fell than I'd expected, so I spent time moving it before the rain got serious. I also cleared off the car so it is ready to move out of the driveway early tomorrow when the workers arrive to dig up the back yard and replace the sewer pipe. Hopefully, this will be a good start to the week. 

While I had a better sleep than the past few days, I was so tired during the day. Every time I sat down for a tea break, I thought I'd fall asleep. Instead, I stood in the kitchen to cook and challenge my brain to do three things at once -- turkey a la king, biscuits and fruit crisp. All turned out amazingly. <smile> 

I realized that when I sat down to watch TV or check online, that my eyes felt scratchy and my mind kept drifting away from the task at hand. Perhaps the sandman has taken up residence in the house in an attempt to keep warm and dry. Carrying wet sand around must be difficult -- dry sand would be hard enough. A goofy song from a few decades ago came to mind to describe my situation. I do like the arpeggios throughout. But, remember, I warned you it was goofy and may be attached to a possible ear worm. <yikes>   Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Mr. Sandman -- The Chordettes

9-64 (5/3/22) -- Spring Cleaning Starts

Another sunny day! I completed some heavy household cleaning activities. Lots of  'spring' cleaning is in the near future. I've also been working on decluttering. I don't plan to go the Marie Kondo route <smile>, but I do need to clear through things to keep, donate, and discard. Parts of this process require major emotional input since many things hold deep meaning. Revisiting those memories can create stress even if there is no thought of disposing of such items. I've tried to make a plan to start with some easier areas just to get some momentum started. Then I will try to alternate between contentious and less emotional areas. But first, I have to get started. I'm not sure if this is procrastination or major avoidance behaviour. Neither gets me moving forward well. It could be due to feeling overwhelmed with a number of different difficulties falling all around me. The epitome of avoidance is feeling the need to just hide from it all --not that this is possible. <smile> 

One up note for the day was news that the plumbing work should begin on Monday. This entails replacing a section of the sewer line from the house to the main. I fervently hope to be able to do laundry soon after that. Most clothing can be done by hand, but sheets and towels not so much. <smile> This is one situation that has disrupted my daily activities and routine in a major way. It is outside of my control, but seems to be moving in the right direction. 

While running the vacuum around today, it felt great to get all the dust bunnies of spring-shed fur. I've been picking them up daily recently -- a sure sign of spring beginning. A song from the past came to mind that fit this experience well -- even though a bit tongue in cheek. <grin> Gotta love that bass.  Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Another One Bites the Dust -- Queen

9-63 (4/3/22) -- Prisms

I moved a small bit of snow that fell overnight. The temperature was quite cold and the wind truly nipped at my cheeks and nose. After a lecture,I went for a walk to enjoy the prairie-like winter day. The bright sunshine of the day highlighted the crystal structures of the tiny snow flakes. They reflected the sunlight as colours -- mainly blue and violet shades. When shoveling, I realized that I was smiling since the day reminded me of home. When setting up for the virtual class lecture, the moderator, who is also from Saskatchewan, noted that when they were shoveling today, they thought of me, knowing the day would make me smile and remind me of home. So true. 

All of that visual input today made me think of prisms. A prism takes a shaft of light and deconstructs it to show all the colours within. Life does this with our minds and souls. Being a qualitative researcher, I disconnect the whole into its component parts and then reconstruct the information to show all the 'colours' I discovered in the process. Perhaps this metaphor fits our continual growth as humans. We or some outside force breaks us into parts that we then have to work at to make things somewhat whole again. The process is painful, but the outcome can be very rewarding. Change is part of life. Adapting requires much effort. It can be exhausting, but if we don't do that work we will feel less than whole. 

The music for today comes from an art-pop genre. I chose it for its way of describing snow -- the thing that got me thinking today. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

50 Words for Snow -- Kate Bush

9-62 (3/3/22) -- Searching

We have had light snow from afternoon into evening today. The storm tracked a bit south of us, so local accumulations were less than predicted. I did move some of the snow into the evening once snowfall was tapering off.  

I have felt overwhelmed by many things this week. Sleep and clear thinking have been disrupted. I was planning to look at lecture notes for the class I'm speaking with next week, when I realized the date was actually tomorrow! <sigh> Good that I was checking things on the calendar and noticed this one. <smile>. It feels as if the world around me has turned upside down with so many things outside my control not going in a way that would make me feel calmer. Finding the positive moments in each day can help a bit with some of this. The time outside moving snow or going to pick up bread provided great mental breaks by getting me out into nature. Supper of red beans and rice was a nice treat. I listened to some great music while working in the kitchen. Small things can mean a lot. I just need to pay attention more some days. 

While shoveling a song played through my ear buds. It fit the way I felt -- searching for something. It has been part of this blog over the years, so some of you may find it familiar. Take care. Enjoy! 

River of Dreams -- Billy Joel 

9-61 (2/3/22) -- A Transition Season

It has been a mostly grey spring-like day with some moments of sunshine and blue sky. Precipitation consisted of a  snow-rain mix -- not a lot of either. I pushed the inch of slushy snow, which was heavy work so I was pleased there was not much there. Forecasters tell us to expect another 10 cm (4 in) of snow tomorrow followed by a hard freeze, so ice may prevail. The heartening aspect of this weather is that the snow won't last long at this time of year. My other outing was a trip out to Main Street for milk and a couple of other items. The walk was pleasant. Carrying heavy items made it a shorter walk than usual but still a good workout. 

The day had me thinking of spring -- a time of hope and perhaps promise. The sun is warmer. The ground is less frozen. The furry one is shedding more this week than on the weekend. All are signs of seasonal changes. Mixed precipitation, which is common at this time of year, represents the ups and downs of this transitional season. The back and forth nature of spring days take us from winter to summer with extreme swings in temperatures and slowly eases us into the next season. Many people want 'spring' to arrive but seem to define this as summery days. Understandable. We are all pretty much over winter by this point in time. <smile> The transition is necessary. So, I try to find the hope and promise of the change. An elderly friend used to tell me not to wish my life away. Sage advice. 

I chose a classical piece to share today. I like the uplifting nature of the music. Take time to listen and relax. Keep safe. Enjoy!

Spring -- Vivaldi (from the Four Seasons) 

9-60 (1/3/22) -- Unexpected Findings

The day was filled with sunshine and blue sky. The plumbers arrived and found a larger job than expected. They need to dig to replace a collapsed pipe -- likely done with the auger used to dig post holes for the fence around the grave yard on next to this property. Permits will take a day or two for some unknown reason and the work should take a day or so. I think that means no major water use in the house until the end of the week. So, it will be like camping indoors -- not my fave but it will have to work. Doing some hand laundry and washing dishes in the sink will have to do until I can use the washer and dishwasher again. There are work-arounds for the bath or shower, too.  

Laissez les bons temps rouler! It is Mardi Gras today. While the plumbing problem wasn't the easy fix we'd expected, I did my best to look up to the blue sky and sun during my walk to look around the neighbourhood. I ate etouffee for supper tonight. I tasted spicier last night, but has mellowed during the day. I was wondering if I had put in more cayenne or perhaps the scotch bonnet sauce. I was not too hot even last night, but the flavours melded better while sitting for a day. It was very yummy.  

Looking out the window when up early this morning to greet the plumbers reminded me of a song -- well that and the lyric calendar on my wall <smile>. The lyric also fits my walk to look around this afternoon. I share the song with you all. Keep safe. Enjoy! 

Dear Prudence -- The Beatles