Happy Earmuff Day

 That's right, there is a day to honor the invention of earmuffs.  Zed and I took a nice walk this afternoon.  We went down the street and up a side street, then turned around and came back.  It was about three miles round trip.  On the walk back I started to notice that the people driving by were staring at us, well, probably me and the earmuffs.  I don't wear earmuffs often, but when I do I go big.

With the sun in my eyes.

With the phone shade.

It was hard not to laugh at myself and the looks I got.  Other happy things for today:

• Not only did the earmuffs provide comedic value to passersby, my shadow presented a bit like Princess Leia.

• I planted more Johnny Jump Ups today and look how big some of the other plants are getting!

Zucchini.

Indian Blanket Sunflower.

☮

Currently reading: The Burgess Book of Nature Lore, by Thornton W. Burgess.

AND

The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

Stay Safe.

Plant a Flower Day

 Bel and I hiked up to but not up the fire tower nearby.  The trail was busy enough that we didn't stick around to take our turn on the tower itself.  Instead we walked over by the abandoned RV trailer that is up there.  I have seen it, but I don't think walked over to it before.  It has obviously been there for many years.  Not only is it falling apart, but the ways for it to get out are pretty much grown in.  

Getting some time with Bel before they leave in a week or two is just what I needed.  Other happy things from today:

• Among the many shoe, dog, and horse footprints, we think we saw raccoon footprints in the mud on the trail.  

Raccoon?

• The sun setting did not light up the sky with many colors but it was beautiful going through the trees and shining on the hills beyond.

• I still love the turret house (what I call it) at the base of the trail to the fire tower.  It is a welcome sight even when the hike hasn't been long and arduous.

• Some of the geranium seeds have sprouted!  I am so happy that there is at least some sign of life from the seeds.  I just need to keep them alive and growing now.

Someday they will grow up to be geraniums!

• It is Plant a Flower Day so I decided to try a new method I heard about with some Johnny Jump Up seeds.  This new-to-me method is using a plastic milk jug as a mini greenhouse.  Here is a link to how it works.  I chose the Johnny Jump Ups because they seem to be a hardy plant and should overwinter well.

☮

Currently reading:Currently reading: The Burgess Book of Nature Lore, by Thornton W. Burgess.

Wash your hands.

Up

 This morning Gideon had another ski lesson.  He had a great time and got to go down the level 3 hill after the time on the bunny hill.  I wasn't there and don't ski.  All I know about these hills is that they get harder. Gideon had a great time!  They are looking into picking him up some used gear to finish out the season and hopefully still fit next year.  Other things I am happy about:

• It has only been a day but the plants I put into pots yesterday seem to be doing well.  This is good since there are more to do tomorrow.

• Yesterday I took a long walk with my friend Amy and I wasn't sure how I would feel physically today.  Thankful that I felt well and took a walk, a little over 4 miles.  I took a turn that brought me through some parts of town that I hadn't been to yet.  There is a commercial/light industrial area that I walked through.  I knew I would end up on a busy street and most likely won't repeat that walk often because of the traffic along that road.  `

That is me in the corner.
The snow is sticking with the t-shirt weather today.

Up.

• Keziah and Zed brought home a delicious cheesecake for dessert.   

☮

Currently reading:Currently reading: The Burgess Book of Nature Lore, by Thornton W. Burgess.

Stay safe.

International Day of Awesomeness

 It was my suggestion.  Whether it was a good idea or not will be learned tomorrow.  My friend Amy and I walked along one of the rail trails today getting a little over a five mile walk.  For some reason this seems like a huge amount today.  Perhaps because I am so tired now.  It was a good walk with awesome company.  We haven't seen each other since before Christmas.  We used to try to have socially distanced walks every few weeks.  Maybe I won't be too sore tomorrow.  Other things I am happy for today:

• There were plants that needed to be in larger pots.  I got that done.  Most of the soil Keziah picked up yesterday was still frozen.  Hopefully the temperature change wasn't too hard on the plants.
• Keziah has been working hard on making some new things for the cats to play on.  She put up a bridge and is in the process of making some hanging tunnels too.  

Folke trying to convince Winston that it is safe to cross.

Nanni, wide eyed, watching from the safety of a box.

Winston eventually went over the bridge.

• The sunset was lovely tonight.  

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

Currently reading:Currently reading: The Burgess Book of Nature Lore, by Thornton W. Burgess.

Stay safe.

Happy Barbie Day?

 One of the things I am doing with the YouTube Downsizing channel is to find something about the day to make note of as part of the title/intro card.  When I saw that in 1959 Barbie dolls were first introduced, it seemed like a good time to go through my Barbie dolls.  It was a box that I knew where to find and I knew I was just procrastinating about it.  TF and I talked about it and she was going to pull her Barbies out of the attic and we'd set aside some time to play with the dolls and say goodbye.  It didn't work out the way I thought it would.  We had a good time though and unless something changes (like someone wants the dolls) they are all going away.  Other happy things from today: 

• I did laundry today.  I know, that doesn't seem like a happy thing.  What this means is that tomorrow I can wear jeans again.  I've missed them.  With so many people in the house, sometimes there is a line to do the laundry, sometimes the machines aren't used for days.  
• The geranium seeds have been planted-well, about half of them have been planted.  I also washed a bunch of seed starter trays that were found in the shed here.  I ran out of time and energy to wash the pots I need to transplant the zucchini and sunflowers into.  That can be a task for tomorrow. 

• The spinach seems to be growing nicely in the upsidedown bin.  Winston, the orange tabby, seems to like it too.

• At least one problem was solved with my exchequer tasks today.  
• It was a lovely day but I didn't spend very much time outside.  I did get a picture of the sunset through my window though.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.  I haven't been taking as much time to read as maybe I should.  I just finished chapter 1.  It ended on page 83, so it wasn't a short chapter.  

Stay safe!

Seeds Burst Through

 Our guest joined us in the Dungeons and Dragons game tonight.  We might be able to defeat the evil forest after all.  Since we knew we would be in the forest, Zed pre prepared tree puns.  He's so funny!  Other happy things today:

• Some of the seeds I planted are growing!  I may be transplanted some of them very soon.  

This morning when I turned the lights on.

This evening when I turned the lights off.

• I went for a walk and wrote this:

All I could hear were my boots going crunch-crunch under my feet.  There were the faint sounds of birdsong occasionally finding their way through the rhythmic crunching.  I found a tree stump that seemed dry and rested.  Soon the sounds of birds became more noticeable,  but still not very close.  It is too soon for leaves and the undergrowth that provide safe havens for them.  So I sat listening to their distant sound a few minutes before resuming my crunching walk.

• I also took some pictures while outside. Some of the trees are starting to bud.

• Checking the mail after my walk I found that the geranium seeds have finally arrived!!  Tomorrow I plan to plant them, today was my night for dinner making so I didn't have the time.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

Stay safe.

Reflections

 Sundays have become editing days for the YouTube downsizing thing that Zed and I are doing.  This week we did one day that will take a bunch of editing above the slicing and splicing that we have been doing anyways.  That is still being worked on as I write.  Downsizing is hard, but I feel like putting it out there, even if no one watches it, is helping to keep me going with this.  The more I sort through these things, the better I am feeling about my life.  Other things I am happy for today:

• Free media online that can be used on the YouTube videos.  These are such a blessing- thanks to anyone who does this.
• Folke and our guest were sitting on the rocking chair porch with the sun shining.  They were singing.  I could see Folke through the window and her reflection and got some neat pictures.

• Bel set up a new outlet in the cellar for me to use for the plants.  This puts the power closer to the plants and no longer behind the banister. 

• Bel, Folke, our guest, and I went out back for a walk.  The ground is a mixture back there.  Some places it is muddy and in others it is ice or snow.

☮

Currently reading:Currently reading: The Burgess Book of Nature Lore, by Thornton W. Burgess.

Stay safe!