Breezy, a bit cold, wind chimes doing their thing. In short, a morning in March.
But it’s sunny. So I’m okay with it.
We’ve had a fairly low-key weekend. I didn’t end up going to Michael’s yesterday. But I was restless. What for, I’m not sure. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that winter is getting ready to depart, yet I can’t really do anything outside. I’m in a sort of limbo. I imagine I’m no different from many of you. So, I just have to patient. I usually am, but yesterday? I wasn’t.
I did finish Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and loved it. I’m still thinking about it today. I remember the NYC of the eighties, the NYC in which 85 year old Lillian takes her walk. As someone who is in the city fairly frequently, I also know how the landscape of the city at that time would change during the next thirty years. The old National Biscuit Company factory, where squatters live in the novel, would become Chelsea Market. The Twin Towers would collapse on 9/11. The areas of the city that were dangerous at night would become much safer. I found the story fascinating on so many levels.
I’m about to start In Miniature – How Small Things Illuminate the World and I’m also about to review (tomorrow) How to Know the Birds, published by the National Geographic Society.
We’ve recently changed our diet and have cut way down on sweets, too much cooking oil and fat, as well as salt. We feel good about making that change.
But, Don was also restless yesterday. We were both a bit down. We strayed a bit from our diet, which, I think, is fine as long as it happens rarely. We drove a mile to one our of local orchards and bought one of their apple pies. After all, it was Pi day last week and we missed it, so we had to atone, right? But I’m already thinking I might have one more piece today and then leave it. Or I might not have that piece. I feel better without sugar in my system.
Now, to get some exercise. This week, I’m going to start hitting our rail trail again. We need to walk, something that is not easy to do around here in the winter.
Music, reading, watching films, listening to Don play his guitar and ukulele, dreaming of my gardens. It’s all good.
Happy Sunday.
It is hard to be patient this time of year isn’t it? And this morning…the birds in the marsh…oh wow! There are. Cranes, geese, red-winged blackbirds, and others…it was deafening for awhile this morning…now it’s all quiet. I personally think they were celebrating the receding waters (yes….we had flooding again!), and the sunshine. It’s the promise of spring.
I cut way back on my sugar, too…no chocolate or dessert…with the exception of one day a month. It’s then becomes a treat. I feel better, I have more energy..now I’m adding more exercise. I’d like to be outside doing anything…but it’s not warm enough, and it’s too soggy out there.
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, sounds interesting. Have you heard of a book called Where the Crawdads Sing? It was highlighted on CBS Sunday Morning today…sounded good.
Guess I’ve rambled on a bit this morning…enjoy your day! ;)
How wonderful! The sound of those birds must have been a slice of heaven!
I’ve heard of the book, but don’t really know anything about it. I’ll check it out. Have a great day!
I also finished Lillian Boxfish last night! It was a really good story! Now I’m reading three things about Elsie. Also very good.
Wasn’t it great? Glad to know you enjoyed it, too!
I like the lamp in the photo, Claudia. I have a lamp with a similar shade, but in a different style. The lamp has hooks that fold open so one can hook the lamp over a headboard. The shade, which is shaped like a banker’s desk lamp, is made of a paperlike material and the light it gives off looks similar to yours. It hung on my headboard as a child and my Mom had put it on the donation pile when I found it a year ago. I’m going to hang a thick rod on the wall so I can use the lamp when I work at my grandma’s dressing table, which I use as a small desk.
Sounds like a lovely reading lamp! I love this kind of shade – almost like a mica shade used in the Craftsman era. I would love to find a larger shade to replace the doily-covered shade in the kitchen. Hopefully, I’ll find one someday!
Glad you rescued it from the donation pile!
I need to start walking again too, if only the weather would cooperate. This season is indeed frustrating. And I get those restless days. Sometimes they just happen — and maybe a good thing! Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day — off to make my soda bread!
I imagine we’ll go through several of these restless days until we can officially work outside in the garden!
that book and “where the crawdads sing” (i saw that cbs portrait of the author this morning, too) both sound good.
so does both cutting back on sugar AND allowing treats. since the beginning of the year, i’ve told myself “only with family” will i have dessert (i live alone). messed up twice on hard days, but am otherwise doing really well in not missing sugar. we celebrate seven birthdays this month and there will be more cake, but i feel determined to not eat dessert at other times.
and i agree about walking … i love to walk and run (though i am very slow)! because my last two pairs were beyond done, two days ago i bought a new pair of running shoes and today will be the day to start with them! :) ready for things to dry up … we’ve had flooding around here … and must watch out for lots of potholes. as i write this, i am at a tire shop getting a tire replaced … it has a big bulge in it, reportedly from hitting a pothole.
anyway … have a good day, everyone.
kathy in iowa
I haven’t inspected the trail yet to see how muddy it is. That’s why I’m waiting a bit, giving it a chance to dry out after our big melt.
Oh, those darned potholes!
I don’t know if I can give up sweets Claudia. However, I am ready finally to give up cigarettes. After only 50 years, yikes! Exercising will be much easier without them. I’m looking forward to mud free days to start.
I couldn’t settle into any one book lately so I have gone back and am re-reading the Gamache books. He always hold my attention. I want to live in 3 Pines.
The sun was shining a minute ago, and it was snowing like mad. Happily it is too warm for it to stay on the ground. Isn’t that nice.
P.S. I just bought my first Wallace Nutting picture!
Good for you! Yes, you must give them up, Trudy. I know it’s hard. I did it over 30 years ago and so did Don. I used to get bronchitis every year and never got it again after I stopped smoking. We will all support you, Trudy!
I want to live in Three Pines, too. Wonderful about the Wallace Nutting! Good for you!
Yes! Quitting cigarettes is hard…I quit about 10 years ago. But, you can do this….I’m rooting for you ! ;)
Just wanted to say Hello! I think your home is adorable. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much, Rose!
Yes, I think we’re all restless and wanting to get on with the next season. I too am anxious to get out and do more walking and just open the windows and let the breezes in. Meanwhile, we’re stuck in the house. Husband is obsessively watching basketball, which is driving me nuts. But he’s also fighting a horrible cold and feels lousy so I’m leaving him alone.
C’mon, spring!!
Yes! C’mon, spring!
It is a hard time of the year for sure. It looks deceivingly lovely outside, until one steps out of the door. At least the rain stopped for the next several days so the flooding can recede. It is also the season of muddy paws for the dogs. What a mess!!
I just KNEW you would love Lillian Boxfish. I thought of you when I read it, knowing you knew of all the places she encountered on her journey.
I need to cut back on the sweets, also. Carbs are my downfall. Sugar is evil, and I know that. I just need to be stronger!! Good luck to all of us on this quest!
Carbs are our downfall, as well. I love bread and potatoes and sweets. Good luck, Chris!
Great lampshade!
We have a pair of them! Thanks, Lynda.
Yesterday and today were sunny here, too. I looked out my front door longingly in the morning, coffee in hand, saying to Brian that I can’t wait until I can sit on the front porch with my morning coffee again! Still only in the 30’s. I feel like a caged animal.
We rarely eat sweets – at least not anything with processed sugar. I will occasionally bake something using organic pure maple syrup. I’ve found some good recipes on Pinterest and just by doing a Google search. When we gave up eating processed sugar a few years ago, our health improved. We both lost some weight, our blood pressure went down, and the eczema I had on my knees since I was 16 cleared up! I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised since sugar is so inflammatory.
I need to step up my exercise game again, too. I take a yoga class and do it at home, plus a little walking…but not nearly enough. I’m starting to get back on track now that the weather is nicer.
Yes. I’m ready to give it up and have eliminated almost all of it from my diet.
Hopefully, I can get going on walking more sometime this week.
I spent Sunday flying home from Calif and boy was it good to get back. The wedding was lovely. In a Japanese Tea Garden and they wore kimonos and it was just beautiful. I’m a happy Mama. I haven’t read in days but I’m ready to get back to it. I watched some films on the plane I had been wanting to see, A Star Is Born (loved it), Bohemian Rhapsody (also loved it), The Wife (it was OK) and Can You Ever Forgive Me (also just OK). Helped pass the time on the plane for sure.
I have been considering reading Lillian Boxfish for a while and now I know that I definitely will read it!