No Cabin Fever

    Winter is the season where life moves indoors and more slowly. This winter has been cold and snowy for weeks. The Susquehanna River is frozen solid. The snow geese usually begin arriving at the Middle Creek Wildlife Preserve this time of year but they are late this year. The lake is frozen and the fields are covered with snow. How do they know to wait because there is no food or water available here?  

   This winter is a delight for folks who love ice and snow. Me? Not so much. It's a time to hunker down and enjoy some of the things there isn't as much time for in the other seasons of the year. Now I am speaking as a senior citizen living in an empty nest. I well remember that in the years when we were raising a family the winter was as busy as any other season. Driving children back and forth to school takes a chunk out of the day five days each week. There were seven lunches to pack every morning and a whole cake was gone in two days. Not to mention all the cleaning, laundry, and you name it that goes with raising children.

   Now the tables are turned. Our children are all married and capable of taking care of themselves, and help us with some of the heavy work like shoveling snow, making repairs in the house etc.  Does that mean I have time on my hands and get bored in the winter? No! I never run out of things to do. I still need to cook, clean, and do laundry. It's not in such large amounts, but I don't move as fast either. I won't mention how many days I took Leroy to doctor appointments. I still had time for all the "fun" things there are to do indoors in the winter. Here are samples of what is keeping me busy.

Writing short stories and historical articles.

Crocheting baby caps and blankets

1000 piece puzzles

Reading books

Scrapbooking

   I will never run out of things to do as long as my hands, eyes, and brain work. I embroidered a quilt top I intended to quilt this winter. I see the winter slipping away and am beginning to think it might have to wait for another winter. As someone once said, "The Good Lord is not going to take me Home until my work is done. I'm so far behind I'll never die." 😄The reason I can't catch up is because I keep getting ideas for things I should do. There's no cabin fever for me!

Snow Day

  January started out mild but then hit us with a double whammy of cold and snow. Today was the second Sunday in a row that church was canceled. The snow started falling during the night and continued all day, sometimes mixing with sleet and freezing rain. We had been duly warned of the coming storm and prepared in case the power went off. Thankfully, the power stayed on and none of it was needed.

   With all the resources available today, we were able to listen to my nephew preach a sermon that was recorded in the fall. We also listed to a chorus program. That served as in-home church today. We had a good warm lunch in a warm house.  And at the end of the day two volunteers showed up to clear the driveway. 

   Snow days used to be full of activities with people milling around, going in and out. There would be sledding, digging caves in the drifts, wet mittens, boots making tracks across the floor, hot chocolate, popcorn, and much more. Now only two of us slowly rattle around in the house. We don't set foot outdoors unless it is necessary and then hurry back inside. We like snow best with glass between us. He reads and naps. I crochet, listen to music, and chat on WhatsApp.

    While we were cozy in our snow day at home, Russians once again bombed Ukrainian utilities, cutting off power to thousands of innocent people on a cold winter day. This is the fourth year the Ukrainians have been suffering cold, powerless winters. If we lose power for a couple hours we don't know what to do with ourselves. They have been living with intermittent power failures for years. My heart goes out to them. I felt guilty being so well off while they suffer. It's not fair. Why should we have it so easy? 

Blue baby blanket with stripes of variegated colors

The storm has moved on and the sun is shining again.