My Life

Happy Fall Equinox Everyone!

Happy Fall, everyone! Where did Summer go? Somehow, it just passed me by. The daughter didn't come home, we didn't even make any trips to St. Louis to the Zoo. Heck, I think the only time I even left the county was the 9-mile drive to my Mom's, which is just past the county line. I feel like we're in a holding pattern at the moment-- just not sure what we're holding for. It's quite odd.

Long Winter Days

The days have dragged this week. It was endless. And I'm in a funky mood, which I realized this morning feels like depression creeping in. I have a problem with it, especially in the Winter. I've detected enough of a pattern over the years to know it sets in about now and it's probably sun deprivation. As soon as we get a sunny early Spring day that I can go out and bask in I'll feel the shift. Knowing this doesn't make it easier, however. My mind scatters, I can't seem to move in a straight line, mentally, at all. Every hurtle seems bigger. But.... I have a chance to go to Florida next month. Definitely can't afford it, but it isn't an opportunity I care to miss. I'm going, even if I have to hitchhike! I'm just hoping that the Florida sun does the trick!

Dreaming of Warmer Days

I'm stuck inside today, loads of snow coming down. It's beautiful and the temperature is hoovering right at freezing with no wind. It would be a great time to go for a walk, before the arctic cold moves in. The son has already been out once already. It's been years since I've taken a walk in the snow. But... I tend to fall and break things, so the best thing for me to do is stay inside and admire it through the window. I did go stand on my deck and bask in the peace of it earlier. Anyway, as pretty as it is, I'm already looking forward to Spring. I planned on planting an herb garden last Summer but that didn't happen. My resolution (for lack of a better word) is to make it happen this year. I love fresh herbs, and saving bees is an added plus!

How Is It Already November?

I bought this lawn chair at an auction two months ago for $2.00. I used to have one that we got as a Wedding gift 25 years ago and I hunted and hunted for it in the garage until my husband told me it fell apart a couple of years ago. (I don't remember it falling apart--I bet it's up in the rafters and he just didn't want to get up and find it!) Anyway, I bought this chair. Almost every evening after work, I've sat in it, catching the sun shine that hits perfectly there at 4 p.m., popped a Corona, put in my earplugs and read for about a half-hour before going in and starting dinner. Well, I think we're done for the season and I see withdrawal in my immediate future. I usually look forward to early Winter, shorter days, cozying up with a blanket on the couch with a cup of hot tea watching TV or reading. This year I'm dreading it. I'm not ready for cold weather. I just want sunshine! I keep thinking I need to put the chair away before we get bad weather, but there has been the occasional nice evening. We got a new schedule at work, tho, so I'm going to be working until 6 p.m. most nights. (That's another story for another time.) I guess I'll fold it up and find a place for it this weekend. And probably cry a little bit.

Isaac Arrived!

Isaac hit us pretty hard yesterday. We seem to have hit an end to months and months of sweltering temps and no precipitation. For the last half dozen years or so we have had monsoon-like Springs with dry, hot Summers.  This year Mother Nature is doing her best to keep us guessing! My guage showed we had about 5" of rain in an approximate 24 hours period.  I was supposed to go to my Mom's yesterday for our annual Hog Roast. Several of the roads to her in the boondocks house dips down through the bottoms.  Quite simply, they flood. And she acted surprised when I said I wasn't coming.

In Otherwords, I've Been Busy

I think we need a new greeting. Everyone says "hi, how are you?".  They really don't want to know so we answer "fine, good.  How are you?".  Sometimes I'm having a bad day and I tell them. People are going to start avoiding me! I probably shouldn't find humor in making people uncomfortable but for some perverse reason, I do! Maybe because the people I do this to are the people that are so good at looking down on other people. They make comments about people on foodstamps (I applied this week, still waiting to hear if we qualify) or "homos" (they don't know about the people in my life) or "Obamacare" (I have major insurance issues). Hmm, somehow this post was going to be about the fact that my cousin and my brother and their families were home last weekend and it was great seeing them and also the fact that my daughter (finally!) got a summer job.  I am so easily distracted! Oh, and it rained! It's amazing how rain can affect one's mood. Most of the corn crop in our area is probably past the point of no return, but it may not be too late for the beans. When you live in an agriculturally dependent community, talking about the weather becomes more than chit-chat to fill empty space. Oh, whoops, got distracted again. I feel like the dog in Up when he sees the squirrel--my mind is all over the place lately. I've spent my extra Saturdays at the Farmer's Market trying to make a few extra dollars on some of my extra garden fodder and also unload some Homecoming memorabilia. And now my husband won't quit talking about Walking Dead so I guess I'll end here.  I can't think and type when he's talking!

13-Year Cicadas Invasion

The 13-year cicadas have arrived! I think they're fascinating. While driving down the highway Saturday, they were so loud that I could hear them over my radio and air conditioner--with my windows closed. I imagine for the people that live in the country it's annoying. My daughter and I went out "bug hunting" and took pictures yesterday evening at the Nature Center. We could hear them everywhere, but at first I couldn't find any because they were all up in the tall trees. I couldn't even find any shells. But up by the building the bushes were covered with them! They have red eyes and orange wings, which distinguish them from the regular yearly cicadas that we will get later in the summer. After this crop of cicadas finish singing and mating in the next couple of weeks, we won't see them again until 2024. Since we couldn't find any shells, I figured that they had all gotten knocked off during the storm Sunday, but we found a tree that was covered with them. I just think it's too cool!