BRRRR.... COLD -- AGAIN!

 

I'm feeling pretty much 'holed' in on this cold day.  Not much ambition . Things not going as well as they might.  Hanging in for the rest of the day and trying to make the most of being cold, being surrounded by cold, dirty snow; and trying to make do without sunshine.  I am glomming on to the 'all will be well'  from Julian of Norwich.  It is a good prayer to remember and has seen me through many a bad spell.  THIS is not a bad spell.  It is just a little low point, and life does deal us those once in a while.

"All shall be well,

and all shall be well,

and all manner of things shall be well"

 

IN PRAISE OF BUTTER

 

There is something to be said for butter:  TASTE.  It is just plain good.  Wonderful, in fact.

When I awakened this morning there were memories of oleo floating through my brain.  Remember oleo?  That was the forerunner of margarine.  It came in a one pound block  -- white.  Lardy.  Tasteless.  Included with this was a little packet of "color."  The oleo was put into a bowl and allowed to soften to room temperature, then mushed around with a spoon until it was malleable.  Then the "color" packet was v e r y carefully opened.  If it spilled anyplace but on top of the oleo it was a horrendous mess and almost impossible to clean up.

One worked the color into the oleo.  Slowly.  It had to be smushed and shoved, pressed and pushed, worked and reworked for a very long time.  The color had to be completely incorporated leaving no streaks.  Just one smooth, continuous color.  After all, it was supposed to look like butter.  I don't remember how it was packaged and put away for use.  In fact, I don't remember even using it on toast or anything else.

After the block of oleo with the color packet came a revolutionary new coloring method.  A soft pliable envelope type -- oblong -- could have been plastic (?).  The container, whatever it was, was left out to get to room temperature, then squished and squeezed until pliable and THEN on one side was a little capsule, that when pinched, released color into the oleo.  More squishing and squeezing to get the color uniform.  Again, I don't remember how this package was opened or stored or how its contents were used.  I think at this time we referred to this as 'margarine' or maybe even oleo margarine.

The margarines that saturate the market are too numerous to now consider.  Some are touted to be more healthy than others.  Many claim to taste just like butter.  Others have additions of "good" oils and vitamins.  They don't taste like butter. 

Butter is best!

 

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

  
Our Billy at five weeks is working on charachter building.  His in particular. 

And it is very hard work as you can see.  First one has to make a little fuss and wake up and get the attention of everyone around.  And it wasn't hard at all because we were all just waiting for his eyes to open so we could see him in action.

Then one has to concentrate on just what kind of an individual one would like to be.  Hmmmm.  a character character.  Someone with clout.  Someone with opinions.  Yep, opinions.

Well, that was hard work.  Time out for some rest.  He really is sweet when relaxed.  Peaceful little guy.  Can't wait until our next visit to see how much he has changed.

OUT OF THE SNOW

 

We are emerging from the snow. This must be what it is like for the animals that hibernate. We are coming into a new, warm world after being buried beneath the snows of winter. Everything slowed down. Activity seemed very limited. We were not able to move about at our accustomed pace nor get to the places and activities of our liking. It was life slowed down to a minimum of living.

There may be more snow, but it won’t be like these have been. We have melting now. We have sunshine. We have the promise of a new world and a new day. Renewed life. Thanks Be To God!

BLEAK MID WINTER

 

It is gray.  VERY gray.  The icicles are not even dripping.  Activity is at some kind of standstill.  There is a mist in the air.  Not rain.  Not sleet.  Not snow.  Just a fine, fine mist that is settling onto our world as a very slippery glaze.  The temperature hovers between 28 and 31.  It is a dreary world for me.  Depressing!

I am taking down Christmas and that is depressing also.  Dusting off all the little creche figures and wrapping them in tissue.  A hope and a prayer for the coming Christmas when they all come out again.  Hmmmm...  Why don't we leave the creches up all year?  Why is it such a "Christmas" thing?  I'll have to think on that. 
 

We do have this reminder on the cradenza.  Mary and Joseph, a gift Jeff brought back from one of his travels.  The angel a gift from Jacquie.  So when Christmas is all put away I will still have daily reminders of the people who know and love me in ways that are important in my life.  I guess I really don't need to be depressed after all.  The grayness of the day is outside.  Warmth and love are in my heart.
 

IT'S FRIDAY

 

This has been such an out of the ordinary week that it hardly seems possible to have Friday here already.  First off, Monday,  I was tied up the whole day trying to get the church newsletter done and then, because we had so much snow, Tuesday afternoon work was cancelled and I continued on with the newsletter until the end of the day.  And then all of a sudden it was Wednesday and school was cancelled again as was our evening church event.  So I was still home and trying to catch up on the first of the month bill paying and whatever else I let go while doing the newsletter. 

 Thursday came and went in a flash.  Because I hadn't been into the office since the Friday before, I was doing my best to catch up on who was in the hospital, who was out, who was coming in for appointments, filing, and on and on for the day until suddenly it was time to go home.  AND oddly enough at five it was quite light and bright outside.  That felt really good.

And so Friday got to be on top up me and it doesn't even feel like I have worked up to it yet.  Oh well, I'll get through it all and then have the glorious weekend.

 

WINTER BLAHS ...

 

I'm lovin' the snow but I just needed to stop and have a spring fix.

A little color, ya know?