Suffering in Silence

I love snowstorms, as long as I can observe them through a window . I'm very nervous driving in them so today's storm allowed me to stay home from school again and sleep. I slept the day away again in my very quiet house -due in large part to the new medication I'm on for pain....and then there is the Gravol I took for the terrible nausea the pain medication gave me. It has been a crappy way to start the new year but to look for a positive I have been able to sleep the past 3 days, something I haven't done much of since I fell on Dec. 24. For someone who is active all the time it has been very discouraging to not even be able to walk the dog. Yesterday, I did go to school -not a good idea -I felt dizzy and disorientated in the morning, nauseous all afternoon with a terrible headache. When I got home I walked with Nellie about 30 feet into the backyard and had to empty my stomach contents into the garbage can in the shed. That was it -came in and went to bed and have just got up now -it is about 3:30 pm. on Wed. Buses were cancelled in our school board today due to the storm so I didn't miss another day with the kids. I'm taking myself off the latest pain med. as I cannot tolerate the way it makes me feel. I think the pain in the ribs is more tolerable than this. I joined a Creative Every Day challenge and so far all I've managed are some doodles with both left and right hands, 2 knitted dish clothes and several inches on what will be another knitted purse. Really just busy work ,but I have managed to take some photos.... that does involve a little more creativity. I have to think positively...next week will be better.

Solstice Birdwatching

There were a great number of birds at the feeders today -distracting me from my tasks -I baked crescent rolls, cinnamon buns and created centerpieces -but I kept trying to take pictures of the birds through the windows. It snowed heavily all day but has almost stopped now -more shoveling!!! First picture there are Juncos, Goldfinches and Purple Finches.
Goldfinch and a female Cardinal lower left corner (blurry)

Male Cardinal


Female Cardinal

There were several female and several male cardinals together which is typical until spring -(family group???) The male is very flashy but the female is stunning in her colouration. My dad and I used to call each other all the time in the winter to brag how many Cardinals we could see at the feeders or outside in the trees. I miss that.....when the Cardinals start whistling in late Feb./early March -better weather is only about 3 weeks away. I know the habits of many birds so well that they have become indicators of seasonal/daily events. Blessings to all on this Solstice day -darkness has fallen as I post for the third time today....

Solstice II

At 7am, this is what it looks like from the back door -storm warning predicts 20 -30 cm of blowing snow, high winds. It will make the traditional Solstice gathering of greens for the house difficult, but not impossible. I know the trees I'm harvesting from, having scouted them out before -some pine, fir and spruce -they are all in a protected edge of the bush which is close the house -and Nellie will love being out in the snow. I use artificial greenery in the house but always bring in lots of real greenery on the Winter Solstice Day. The traditional Balsam wreath is made and ready to be hung inside. With our heated houses it is just too difficult to use entirely fresh greens to decorate. They quickly dry out and become a fire hazard. I mist the wreath a couple of times a day and keep the other greenery well watered and misted and it will be OK until the new year. The living greenery for me, is symbolic of the survival of life against the odds -the lack of light and the deep cold of winter. The boughs, that I fill crocks and pitchers with, make arrangements out of and the living wreath all represent hope and new life in the coming months.

Lindsay arrived home safely yesterday, several hours late but home. Nellie quickly bonded and now follows this lovely new person everywhere looking for attention -which she gets, because she is irresistibly cute.