Tending

As usual I've been keeping myself moderately busy, but not always with the most important things. For example...I have been spending (Ah-hem, wasting) time on FB. Unbelievable, yet true. This is not to say that I am completely lost. I have managed to maintain the laundry and dish chain. I also have managed to read approximately one dozen books (not all of those were frivolous fiction) in the last two months. Part of me would like to think that my patronage of the county library system is helping to keep a few people gainfully employed--that's ego for you.

Through the usual course of events, I was thrilled to become a Master gardener and five minutes later become an Advanced master gardener--thanks to procedural and paper lag. The end result is still the same and I am still pleased. Also along these lines...

I am pleased and fretful about the children's garden plans. I received a green light to move forward making the initial plans, garnered some support and enthusiasm from fellow gardeners, and now have to figure out the nitty gritty budget to present to the "executive board". This is a bit intimidating as I was not expecting to do this part at this stage and without any other obvious support/help. It's one of those situations where you have to ask the obvious question "How did I get into this mess in the first place?" The obvious answer then is "I jumped without looking." (Head thump.) I'll work it out. I hope.

While the garden outside has lain sleeping, I have not been idle. Mentally, I have been growing, pruning and finding a path back to myself. I know a few would ask---where have you been? It's complicated, but I think that finally I am coming out of my mourning. I told a very special friend that I feel I am coming back to myself. The fact that she said she had noticed my 'coming and going' fills me with both sadness and joy. Sadness because I will never fully know how my mourning affected those closest to me. Joy because I have such a wonderful a caring friend still there after I've come out of the rain.

Snowy again

A little while ago I finished digging us out from about 6 inches of the white stuff. My arms feel a bit like jell-o, but I'm good. I guess this is one way to begin "spring training", right? It was/is gorgeous outside with the sun shining.

I think the girls have had a pretty good snow day today. They played with their toys, on the computer, had a friend over and are out in the snow right now, soaking up the sunshine. Not bad. I think this their 5th "snow" day this school year. (I'm not counting delays.)

The List

This January, I have been pretty busy doing a lot of little things that add up to a lot. So since I haven't had a blog entry in a while...how about a summary list to catch you all up.

1. Staying home out of the cold and the snow (mostly) while kids have delays and snow days.
2. Doing the daily unending domestic chores that keep us all moving on with our lives.
3. Finishing a children's garden plan for the master gardener association.
4. Going to a delayed holiday party for nature center volunteers, that was so funny and wild I came home with a goose-egg and a good humor about it.
5. Reading a lot and listening to some books on CD. (Something I, usually, don't do but am finding it useful)
6. Helping both daughters here and there with fund raisers for band and girls scouts.
7. Finishing up little old projects here and there.
8. Getting into the new year by playing with a new Facebook page--at friends' and family urging. (Laughing at my young neighbor telling me her mom is too old at 40 to have a Facebook page.)
9. Finally, loaded my new iPod shuffle with a few favorite albums. I feel accomplished now--after all I have had it since Christmas Day. (eye roll)
10. Volunteering with joy at the Lilly Nature Center--it helps keep the winter blahs at bay.
11. Kicking back of an evening and enjoying the company of my family.
12. Beginning to plot and plan my attack on the yard and gardens for the spring and summer.
13. Trying to decide if I can afford to go see one or more of my friends out West this year. Seriously, I've looked at dates and plane tickets more than half a dozen times since Christmas.
14.Generally, being happily introspective and joyful for all my blessings in this rotten economy.

BRRR!!

I knew I should have bought thermal underwear this year. I failed. What was I thinking?! This week the weather people have me running for cover (preferably under my feather bed) with the temperatures they are projecting for this week. Thursday they are predicting a high temp of 2 degrees. Wow. While I am glad I don't live in Minnesota this week, my heart goes out to our friends who do. One question: I love you, but are you insane or what?

A New Beginning

Okay. I didn't get strap-on skates from Santa, but I did get Yak-Trax from my good ol' mom and dad! Thank you so very much!!! (Nothing like having chains for your sneakers even if ya ain't got 'em on your car. Yep.) I even had a chance to road test them earlier this week when all the newsy people were freaking out about our 3rd ice storm this season. (It was hardly worth putting them on, but ya gotta try 'em to know if you are gonna like 'em!) It was hardly ice. Just a super light glaze. You could get more glaze on a Krispy Kreme donut. Pu-lease! But the Trax they worked very nicely--just do not try them on dry concrete indoors as it is very easy to do a 'Bambi maneuver'.

The holidays were pretty good. Very exhausting. If they lasted any longer this year, I would have been dead. Thank goodness for some small mercies.

I am thrilled to say the children are all back in school and getting reacquainted with their routines. (So am I!!) I feel a little more peace settling over my soul with the increased serenity at home. Too much togetherness makes me nuts.

Also in the makes me nuts category...too much coffee (lol) and too many projects due all at once. I have 99.9% (to infinity) done on my children's garden design project. It looks great on paper and will be a pain to layout in reality. (I have not done this project by half measures.) Dream big was the theme. Unfortunately, I was really disappointed that my MG meeting was canceled this week due to icy weather. I had really psyched myself up to sell the ideas to the group. Now I have no idea when I will have to present this project plan. (Note the pout.)

I am trying to get myself organized this year, as I expect it will be very busy on many different fronts. I have committed myself to continue some volunteer efforts I began last year and I have added two or three new ones this year to the list. I am also continuing to commit myself to greater completion of home improvement projects in the coming year, old crafty projects and generally trying to tie up whatever loose ends I come across. I would like to re-add a fitness component to my resolutions this year, as I was sadly very lax in the last two years.

Man this seems like a lot! (I know I will probably add to it some more.) I hope these resolutions don't go the way of most and wind up as just guilty failures. It would seem pretty awesome if they didn't and I actually managed to do it all. Wow. Just imagine that.

A Gift Idea

As of this morning, I am asking Santa for a pair of strap-on ice skates! It now seems that it will be the perfect gift for me this year.

I had to go to the store very early this morning. The main roads were pretty decent despite yesterday's snow, snain, sleet and subsequent rain. But beware of sidewalks and parking lots. Most are water covered ice.

I am very fortunate that I did not fall on my rump. I slid gracefully down our front walk and out our gate to the public sidewalk beyond this morning and marveled at my good fortune. Good luck to all in the mucky midwest!

Exciting Garden News

Exciting for me, that is. You ask "what could be so exciting in December in a garden"? I'll tell you...the children's garden design/plan I was working on for the past month got the green light!!! This a plan for a 'permanent' children's garden at the Tippecanoe County/Purdue Extension office. It will be right in there with the All-American Seed Selections garden, the community garden plots and more. Free for the public to come, relax, enjoy, learn and take away ideas for themselves.

So now even more work begins (after Christmas). Final design, sketches, supply and wish lists, begging for help in the spring...I better start making a list to keep all the lists straight.

Happy Holidays!