Another Cold Snowy Day: What to Do?

Each day I find myself feeling more focused, calmer and while not quite accepting what is, at least being able to get through the day with some level of enjoyment. Happy? Sometimes, but more often meditative. There is still a hard pain in my chest that does not go away, tears always seem at the ready (who knew we could have so many?) and stress over little things is not far away, but I am finding a footing again. Day-to-day routine, conversations with family and friends, and memories get me through.

Today is another snowy, cold, windy day, perfect for being indoors. Larry, of course, had to go to town--he can't stand but so many days at home while I can't stand the idea of going out. So go he did, the usual rounds of feed store, library, grocery store and post office. A few minutes ago he called--he's stuck! In his 4-wheel drive, of all things, on the bad hill that we never drive in this kind of weather. We have two ways to get home; the bad hill is shorter and my favorite route, but in the snow we just don't do it, because we could so easily get stuck. What was he thinking? Only a man would know--there is something about a challenge, I suppose, that drives them to do so many of the things they do. He's on his own--I can't help him. So it looks like he'll have a cold 2-mile hike home and the lovely prospect of trying to get the truck out at some point.

As for me, I am cozy at the house, feeling sorry for him but also, I have to admit, amused in that what-the-heck-was-he-thinking kind of way. I just hope that 1, no one else tries to go up the hill and get stuck because of his truck being in the way, and 2, that he doesn't tear something up getting it out.

I've been busy, too, continuing my pattern of doing small routine tasks that keep my mind occupied. I baked the last of our butternut squash, a big one that was full of seeds. The seeds are now drying out in hopes of planting in the warm weather.

Tipper's blog the other day reminded me that I had not yet tried cooking our leather britches beans, so I have some soaking and intend to give them a try. I'm following her instructions; so far they just look--dry.

We're still not using the dryer, but on a day like this I'm not hanging anything outside. Instead I've put up the drying rack behind the woodstove and have a load of clothes hung up to dry.

Thank you notes are another task for today, a bittersweet one that reminds me that in my sorrow I have many companions and comforters. The log room is a good place for writing, with the fire burning brightly and music playing while the snow blows past the windows.

I've also been cleaning lampshades. Years ago someone told me that snow is great for cleaning rugs because it's actually grainy and acts as a scrubbing agent. I tried it and it worked and I've been doing it when it snows ever since. Today I noticed that my lampshades were really dusty (courtesy of that dryer probably) and I thought I'd try cleaning them in the snow. It works! I just rolled them around in clean snow, used a stiff brush to scrub them, knocked off any excess snow, and put them back on the lamps to dry.

The lamps look brighter, and this was exactly what I needed for those twig shades that are so difficult to clean. Add another good use for snow besides cleaning rugs, snow ice cream, melting for water when the electric is off...what else do you use it for? With so much of it around this winter, there must be other things we can do with it.

So that's my day. I expect it will be a while before I see Larry, poor man, and even longer before I see the milk, seed potatoes (I'm an optimist, aren't I?) and other things he was bringing home. In the meantime, it's back to writing thank-you notes for me, with music, fire, hazelnut coffee, and my cat for company.