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Okay, I'm going to post this before I over-analyze my feelings and become afraid I'll be judged as an overly sentimental, smarmy, mushy-mouthed old foob. Here goes.
There aren't a lot of people in my sparsely populated area who are interested in the same kinds of things that I am. That's why I totally treasure all of you friends I've made through blogging.
I learn so much from all of you on a daily basis. Each and every one of you is so much more interesting while sharing your knowledge than a book could ever be. You unselfishly take the time to send help and support. You make me smile and laugh (and cause my morning latte to come out my nose) on a daily basis. I regain confidence in humanity when I read of your faith, beliefs, and moral convictions.
You are a bunch of the most caring people I've ever come into contact with. Hand-written notes (who takes the time to do that anymore?), little handmade gifts, recipes and patterns shared and sent with love. I feel I could ask anything of any of you, and if at all possible, you would deliver.
I'm really not a proponent of the runaway pace of technological advances our society is currently experiencing. But I sure am glad blogging on the Internet came about because of this same technology.
I am truly blessed, because blogging has brought all of you into my life.
Well, I've been hit by the curse I've heard so many of you complain of in the past.
Blogger won't let me comment on your posts! It started yesterday and I had hope with a good night's rest, the problem would be solved this morning. Not so.
So I feel as if someone has slapped a big, ol' strip of duct tape over my mouth and I can't talk with you any more. Don't know how to rectify this problem. Hoping my computer guru daughter will be able to help. Until the situation changes, I'm still here. Just silent. :o(
Just wanted to share with you tonight that we've been getting snow all day. The temp was above freezing until late afternoon so all of it was melting as it hit the ground.
But as the temps started to drop, we have been getting a little build-up.
The huge propane gas truck just stopped about a half hour ago to drop off a part . . . we had expected him this afternoon . . . and he reported the roads are super-slick. He just had to get a tow truck to pull him out of a ditch to the side of a driveway he slid off of. Not the best conditions for anyone to have to be out and about in.
Our temp now is 23 degrees at 8 p.m. and expected to fall to the low teens before morning. Seventy percent chance of more snow tonight and 40% tomorrow. Then a cold front moves in.
Hope we get enough snow for some insulation on the ground. We'll take whatever we can get and be happy about it!
The above title is blatantly stolen from a book by one of my favorite authors, Julia Spencer-Fleming. Or I could have titled this post, "What's Wrong with This Picture?"
This is a shot of my raised garden beds taken a few minutes ago. January 10th . . . we should have two feet of snow covering the ground at this time of year.
Then here's my pumpkin patch. The left end of it is standing water and mud.
Poor field garden! Lying there close to bare nekkid in the elements. Good thing I covered my strawberry patch within the field garden to protect the plants from the freezing and thawing this winter.
Our temperature is 37.5 degrees now at nearly 3 p.m. Lots of melting and drip, drip, dripping going on out there today. We had sunshine most of the day yesterday which made for even more melting but also lent a feeling of spring to the air.
Today? Well, with winter activities such as ski and dog sled races, ice sculpturing, snowmobiling, outdoor hockey games and snowshoeing being cancelled left and right, it feels much as if we are in the bleak midwinter of drab landscape and dampness. On the other hand, there would be absolutely nothing wrong with these pictures if it were late March or April in the north woods . . . instead of January.
But whoa there, Nellie! It doesn't have to be snow-covered or sunny to be a good day! The paved roads are clear and safe for driving, there's no snow removal to tend to today and I can certainly find P-L-E-N-T-Y to occupy my time indoors with a small fire crackling in the wood stove. I could even go into my quilt studio for a couple of hours before dinner.
Hunh. Maybe this bleak midwinter isn't such a bad time after all.
Perhaps thinking about this is a lame excuse for wanting to escape all of the things my life requires me to do within the next couple of days . . . or it may just be a way of some playful daydreaming to get me through some serious house cleaning jobs. But here's a question.
Do you ever wonder or imagine or dream of what kind of a life/profession you would be suited for (and think you'd be happy living) if you didn't have the life you have now? Would it be something totally different than your current reality? Would it involve a skill you presently have but haven't pursued to its fullest extent? Or perhaps you'd have a profession or lifestyle you've only dreamed of. If your upbringing had been different, if you had had a mentor to take you under his/her wing, if you had received encouragement or financial aide at a certain point in your life would that have set you on your way along a totally different path in life? If you had your growing up years and education to do over, what would you do?
I was married at an early age; I was only twenty. (Ach, what a baby!) Being happily married, raising children (or a child) and being a homemaker was a life I'd always wanted. I've been very blessed in that I have that. But what if I'd never met the man of my dreams, never married, what if I had had to make my way in the world on my own? What kind of life would I have pursued?
One (only one of a few!) of the scenarios I imagine I might have found myself in is being the cook for a wealthy family. I suppose that's not too much of a stretch to imagine since I like to plan menus, try new recipes, cook good food and present it in an attractive manner. I'm especially fond of down-home cooking, such as preparing real food from the garden, meals that would appeal to a family on an every day basis with the occasional fancier culinary creations for special parties or holidays. Yup, that wouldn't be a bad way to earn a living. (Of course, I'd have my own lovely small suite of rooms on the third floor of the mansion owned by the family who employed me!)
So how about you? Where do your daydreams of another life or profession take you? Are they totally bizarre? Do they involve fame? Or earning a huge amount of money? Be wild, be crazy! Come on, share your fanciful dreams!
Starting at the end, this is what the pocket door looks like after installation from across the room.
Up close and personal.
The main reason for this door is to close off the bottom of the stairway leading up to Papa Pea's office area. If I wanted to watch a movie in the living room (where a TV screen will eventually be) while hubby was working in his office, we needed to cut off the sound from traveling up the stairway. That's also the reason we will be putting sound-proofing material on the living room ceiling before the finished beadboard paneling.
Across the little landing at the foot of the stairs is the door to my quilt studio.
Picture above is the same view but with the door to my hideout open.
