A week observed. . .

This has to be one of the best weeks I have had in a long time, thanks to Mike and Cindy for entrusting me with their offspring while the two of them indulge in a well deserved getaway. I am thoroughly enjoying the pace of teenagers and their schedules! The early morning bus time, packing lunches, having an excuse to be silly, and chauffeuring back and forth.

This is not the first time I have supervised grandkids, by any means, however these particular days of my journey have taught me some things about myself. As I observe today's young parents, I often comment in wonder at their ability to juggle so many schedules. Comparing that to my current "retirement" status, I have assumed my stamina for all that had long since waned. How pleasantly surprised I am to be experiencing a keener mindset and a greatly heightened energy level!

I am thankful to have had the presence of mind to cherish the years with youngsters of my own although I will admit to moments of frustration and brief longings for a time of a less hectic existence. The lesson here, as I see it, emphasizes a nudging from God that encourages us not to dwell on 'yesterday' or worry about 'tomorrow' but to be thankful for 'today' while we are living it.

Yes, this has been an invigorating yet pensive week filled with many blessings, a time I will cherish always.

..........................but I bet I'll sleep good next week!  😉

Consolation. . .

I am really missing my visiting family who are now back home in NC after a day's drive. My quiet house is full of little telltale reminders of their presence -- beds that have been slept in, objects where they placed them, lingering scents, and empty Cheese-it boxes under Daniel's bed. It was quite an enjoyable, laid-back visit but as always, over much too soon. To console myself, I did what any normal person would do: I bought new pajamas!

Some things don't change. . .

Perfect weather for working outside and here I am, stuck inside taking care of "business." My own fault for being such a procrastinator when it comes to opening mail. I don't know why I avoid it so. I think it might be because most of my household matters and my personal communication are processed electronically these days, making the handling of "paper work" seem tediously slow and inefficient. It makes me 'twitchy.' I don't even check my mailbox everyday but I do try to empty it often enough so the mail carrier doesn't have to struggle to cram more in. The bulk of it goes immediately in the trash while the important 'stuff' is carefully placed in one of the three slots in the wooden letter holder on the wall. I always start out by prioritizing 1, 2, or 3...but that doesn't last long. I can't be bothered. It makes me 'twitchy.' 

After while, some uneasiness begins to set in as I glance at the bulging letter holder each time I pass by. Then for a time I simply try to avoid looking at it all together. Finally, there comes a day (like today) when the stress level of "putting off until 'tomorrow' what should be done 'today'" offsets the mock satisfaction brought on by avoidance. Anxiety begins to hover and close in around me, compelling me to pick up my little (Civil War sword replica) letter opener and tackle the task at hand.

The stack of unopened mail in the photo below is the "important stuff" that has accumulated over the past month...or two...three? Maybe longer. Who knows what I will find in there? It's hard to say. Although I can say that the suspense is making me very 'twitchy.'

.

How am I dealing with this? Why, I am sitting here writing about it while the envelopes remain stacked, unopened, on my desk. Will I finally get down to business? Only time will tell. Am I going to vow, as I have so often in the past, to never let this happen again? No way! Not happening. I have come to accept that this is who I am and no doubt, the process will continue to repeat itself.

You know......accept the things you can't change......and all that. Besides, trying to change makes me 'twitchy.'

Candles and cello. . .

This is a damp and cloudy, moody and melancholy sort of day. Time for some candle-producing aroma therapy and a little James Todd cello on Pandora as I go about today's tasks. Unless, of course, it really 'gets' to me, in which case I will switch to some '60's political protest songs!

Okay...it must have finally happened.  My psyche and I have lost touch with each other. The dreams I had last night were too weird for words.  I'm sorry, but I'm not going to share them in order to protect my sanity from becoming scrutinized.   

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. . .

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!  I have been outside taking it all in and getting satisfaction from making "first tracks" in the fresh snow, an ongoing contest between myself and the deer.  Usually the deer win but I suspect they have chosen the warmth of their thickets rather than to forage for food in the below-freezing temperatures.  Although outdoors is awesome and invigorating, I took the safety precaution of staying out only long enough to retrieve yesterday's mail, clean the exhaust pipe to the pellet stove, and to do a little shoveling.  The rest of the snow removal can wait for J.D.  (I haven't ever used the snow blower and I am very content to keep it that way.)  To add an extra layer over my gloves, I slipped a pair of wool boot-socks over them.  The warmth was nice but I kept dropping my shovel and without thumbs, picking it back up was difficult.

This is the first I've used the pellet stove this season since the basement hasn't felt all that chilly to me, so far.  I always breathe a sigh of relief when I start it up and it does what it's supposed to do. 

through the window screen...

through the window screen...

This morning I got up before daylight and flung my bedroom window open to press my face to the screen and breathe in the freshness of the new snowy world outside.  I went from window to window to marvel at how the landscape had changed from the night before.  (I don't know why, after all these years, it still leaves me breathless...but it does.)  It's my goal to one day capture that magic in a picture but I've come to the conclusion that it's not quite possible.  I think the reason is because it's really more what I 'feel' rather than what I 'see.'  I'll keep trying, anyway.

That was all prior to coffee, believe it or not!  Once the coffee was brewing, a nice hot breakfast seemed appealing.  With my taste buds all set for bacon and eggs, to my dismay, I realized I was out of propane!  Dang!  What's up with this?!  This *never* happens!  I'm on automatic delivery!  So I had a toasted bagel instead.  By then, it was after eight o'clock so I called "Propane People."  First, I tried their 800 number.  A recording told me to check the number and try again.  So I did.  Same recording.  I tried their other number.  No answer.  I found a "home office" number online and tried that.  I spoke with someone on Long Island who tried to get through but with the same outcome as mine.  She said she would e-mail the dispatcher in my area and have him call me.  I assumed it would be today but the afternoon is winding down and so far, no phone call.  Oh well, at least I have heat.

I do love these snowy days with their soothing serenity. They remind us to pause and reflect and to be thankful for even that which we cannot see.

 I need my sunglasses on, inside!