We’re awaiting the winter storm that is going to arrive around 5 pm. 3 – 6 inches of snow and, because it will be mixed with sleet, it will be heavy, wet snow. So, we’re not going to get that first pretty, fluffy snow. We’re going to get a friggin’ mess.
We did what we had to yesterday, pulled the A/C units out of our windows, put them in bins and stacked them in the shed. Then Don went off to run errands and I worked outside (and it was cold!) for about three hours, emptying pots from the front porch, taking the cushions off the porch furniture, moving things into the shed. Don offered to help, but really, I’m the only one who knows exactly what to do out there as it’s my territory. There are a couple of plants that are still blooming, so I left them there. I am incapable of dumping a plant that is still alive. It’s simply not possible. Next week, we’ll take the adirondack chairs and a couple of other porch pieces to our storage facility and I’ll move the Secret Garden and Funky Patio chairs and tables to the porch for the winter. There’s still more to do out there, but the bulk of it is done.
Yours truly was tuckered out last night.
We fell asleep while watching a documentary about Henry VII last night. If you ever want to catch a nap during the day, watch a documentary. I like documentaries, don’t get me wrong, but the voice of the narrator eventually becomes white noise and you’re off to slumberland.
I finished the James Lee Burke novel last night and, since I’m in the mood for more, found another on my shelves from a few years back that I had barely started and never finished. I’ve read most of his Dave Robicheaux books, but I went through a period where I stopped reading them.
Time to catch up.
Oh, and I received the most wonderful, whimisical book about miniatures from an English author. I’ll share it with you after I’ve explored it.
I’ve officially moved into nesting mode, as I do every year about this time. Our cottage seems especially cozy and I find myself looking around, searching for things to change and/or tweak. I’m switching out the pillows on the loveseat, putting the cushions from the glider on the sofa (after cleaning them.) Some will go in storage, others will join the mass of cushions on the sofa in the den. And I’m reading, reading, reading. After the reading drought earlier this year, I’m so grateful to be immersed in a book!
Happy Thursday.
Wish I could join you. In that lovely house, and in the reading.
Thanks, Jan.
I love nesting! I’m doing the same thing right now as I continue to clear things out and simplify. My biggest job is my spare room aka craft room aka dumping ground for all the stuff! I’m determined to get it organized and made big strides in that direction yesterday. I’ll work on it more today. It is suppose to stop raining tomorrow so I’ll make a trip to the thrifts with a donation. Meanwhile I’ve been reading and like you find that the tv can put me to sleep. A new season of British Baking Show is on Netflix and I’m savoring the episodes one by one. Keep warm and enjoy your cozy cottage. Hugs!
I’m feeling the need to purge. Maybe I should start with setting fire to the shed! (There’s so much crap in there.)
Claudia, What a sense of accomplishment you must have, or is it “WHEW!”? I’ve been tending to half a dozen houseplants that refuse to die. I don’t really want them and asked around and none of my friends want them either. Since I, too, am incapable of tossing a living plant, i feel stuck with them, and not only am I incapable of tossing them, I’m incapable of taking care of them badly….so they thrive. The main reason I don’t want them is my current crop of cats. They are a curious bunch, so I have the plants sequestered in my tub/shower (there’s a huge shelf in there by the window). For once, I’ll like a tub/shower, not a jungle, in my bathroom!
Enjoy the nesting season. I’ve loaded up with books from the library Judith Flanders and Carola Dunn) for light mystery readin, and am determined to finish Master and Commander, with dictionary at my side.
We are plant rescuers, aren’t we? We can’t help ourselves. I ended up bringing in 5 more pots yesterday. They’re up in the office.
Your cottage looks very cozy indeed. And…what else is there after you’ve put the garden to bed, but nest? And this is the perfect time of year to do that. You certainly accomplished a lot yesterday…astonishing how much one can get done with a storm looming.
Hope the forecasters got this storm wrong. We are supposed to be getting a few inches and freezing rain on top of the snow, too. Oh goody…can’t wait. I’m just going to snuggle in for the duration. Enjoy your day! ;)
Oh, they got it wrong – but they underestimated it. We got over 11 inches of snow.
What? No!!
If only I was kidding. I’m not.
That’s a lot of hard work. Your living area looks like a green house. We had someone come today (in the nick of time) to clean our gutters before the storm, but he discovered that halfway down was ice so he was only able to scrape off the top layer of leaves. Hoping that doesn’t cause us problems. My husband used to love doing all the outside house stuff himself but at 86 he’s wised up about ladders and so on, altho I know he misses being master of his domain. After over 30 years in New England, I haven’t overcome my Southern California childhood of what change of season? Fortunately I’ve lived in apartments in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and here in CT, we have a forest surround with no special plantings. But every once in a while I get the urge to bring out the afghans and quilts and I look forward to putting the flannel sheets on the bed. I love seeing you switch to your flannel pjs and I’m glad Don encourages you to wear them all day. Snow days are perfect for that! BTW, I saw a great documentary the other day on Demand–Nothing Left Unsaid which Anderson Cooper did about his mother. Had no idea what a fascinating woman she truly is, nor about her marvelous artwork. I’d recommend it. Stay warm and cosy tonight and tomorrow!
I’ve read about that documentary. I’ll have to make sure I watch it! Thanks, Nora.
Claudia I purchased Ginger Nobs and LOVE them!
I too am in nesting mode. When the seasons change I like to do the same in my cottage!
So glad you like them! They’re yummy, aren’t they?
Your home looks so charming in the first picture on this post. Do you add rugs for coziness as winter closes in? Either way it is perfect.
No, we don’t add rugs, Brenda. Thank you!
I’ve haven’t read much James Lee Burke but I have always had a soft spot for him. I’m from Louisiana and Burke donated money for scholarships to the honor’s program at my alma mater. I won that scholarship twice, so I can say that James Lee Burke helped put me through college. He told the honor’s program director that he’d keep donating as long as his books keep selling, so I’m glad you enjoy his work and are buying his books!
How lovely of him! And how wonderful that you were a recipient.
He’s one of the best writers ever. Lyrical, gorgeous prose!
I hope the snow isn’t as bad as predicted! We are headed to the theatre tonight with friends for a musical concert. Excited but we are also expected to get snow starting around 6 pm. It rained today and our temps will drop quite a bit, so a tad worried about icy roads after the concert tonight. We tend to nest from now until Marchish and living in the country means we try not to plan things in the evening in the Winter. Just never sure if the weather will be warm and dry or freezing and snowy! Love nesting! X Chy
It was worse, Chy. Over 11 inches, with sleet. It’s depressing!
Nesting mode is good. My “nesting” goal lately is to just get rid of stuff. Now I’m home full time, I’ve made it my job to make the place more livable. This stems from the monumental work we went through emptying my mother’s apartment (where she and my father lived for over twenty years never throwing anything away) when we moved her to assisted living almost two years ago. I decided then to never put our own kids through that agony. The Swedish call it “death cleaning,” and the more I do it, the more liberating it is. I’m also displaying and using things Mom kept hidden in cupboards and her hutch, like good linens and silver dishes from their 25th anniversary year. Somehow she thought they were “too nice” to actually use. It’s a great way of keeping her close now.
I’m feeling the need to do the same. I love my things and my collections but I think this winter will be about getting rid of excess. We don’t have kids, so who would get stuck with all of this?
It’s been snowing since early this morning here…snow and ice taking turns making a nasty mess!…I was going to attempt to walk up the driveway to check the mail earlier but when I looked up that way there was a car that apparently slid off the road and jumped the curb and ended up off the road…I said the heck with that…the mail can wait!..lol…My son was in bed and I can’t risk falling with him not knowing I was out there…If you two go out in it please be careful!!
Terrible here, as well, Nancy. Over 11 inches with a layer of sleet. Now for the digging out.
what was the Henry VII doc, Claudia? And source — netflix? PBS? That sounds like my cuppa.
I’m with you on throwing out the living plants. I can’t do it either, so I either bring them inside and kill them or let them die a lingering death in the cold. Neither way is good but I feel better about it in some sort of sick, contradictory way.
It’s on Amazon Prime, Jeanie. It’s a British documentary. Thanks, Jeanie!
I just navigated the slippery, snow-covered streets to find it was our local PO’s turn to picket today. I really do sympathise, but it made for kind of a cold, pointless walk. I think I’ll take a leaf out of your book (no pun intended) and curl up after work with the copy of C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce that my daughter lent me. This might be the winter to catch up with my books-I’ve-always-meant -to-read list.
That’s what I’m planning on – reading, reading, and more reading! Thanks, Barbara.