Have you felt a difference in the climate of our fellow humans personality wise?
I am not a shopper and hubby definitely is not, however today we both wanted to go looking. There is nothing special, we were window shopping. Our little town has moved from downtown to the outskirts mainly northward toward the metropolis known as Atlanta. We don't have "shops" downtown so window shopping is a thing of the past. One doesn't get the feeling of warmth and stability from a strip mall and there is definitely no windows to shop. So I suppose we browse shopped.
The many many people we encountered were friendly, courteous and accommodating - no pushing, shoving, ugly looks, or nasty comments. At Hobby Lobby, the shopper behind me reminded me to use my 40% off coupon and offered hers as she already had it up on her phone! Pleasant - the whole shopping experience was just pleasant!
I don't think it is just because of the season as in years past I have avoided shopping during the holidays. Is it the idea of change in the government and promises of better governance from our political choices? Is it the fact that after 40+ days with no rain and no cold weather we received both in the same week?
I like it! More shopping may be in my future if the pleasantness continues.
Showing posts with label cold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cold. Show all posts
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The warm Spring like temperatures in Middle Georgia have inhibited my creativity as far as inside projects are concerned. Usually my writing and sewing are done on those cold wet days of winter we haven't experienced this year. I keep telling myself the cold is coming but the days are flying by and except for a night or two my toes are still warm!
So the sewing is still packed away in containers and Zeb (I do believe he is swimming around in the pool right now) and Lizzy (sunning on the back deck) are patiently waiting on the sidelines waiting for my next adventure. I thought to go back to the original stories and edit them into something resembling grammatically correct writing, but I decided to leave them be and let these be a teaching tool for young writers. I am sure they will get a lot practice correcting my punctuation and sentence structure.
I am getting a little antsy though, so regardless of the temperatures and sunshine, I may have to stay in and do some sewing.
I read Christopher Paolini's last book, Inheritance, over the last week. I know this is suppose to be the end of the series, but as with a good many books I have read, I hope there will be a sequel. Fantasy is fantasy and I can make up any ending I want to the story!
Over the past year I have continued to connect with those I not only graduated with, but also those shared the start of my educational journey. I have found it takes only a spark to bring forth the memories of those days so long ago. I know it is good for the heart and maybe it will keep my brain alert a little longer!
My writing time is up! Just an update - my parents are hanging in there and still getting around, albeit slowly. Mom gave us all a laugh at dinner on Sunday when she lost a cap on her front tooth and was afraid she had swallowed it. All our little ones were aghast when she smiled and had no tooth! The cap was found on her plate and she is in the process of restoring her beautiful smile. Dad really got a chuckle out of this one!
Time seems to fly at the times we wish it would stand still.
Happy reading!
Belle
So the sewing is still packed away in containers and Zeb (I do believe he is swimming around in the pool right now) and Lizzy (sunning on the back deck) are patiently waiting on the sidelines waiting for my next adventure. I thought to go back to the original stories and edit them into something resembling grammatically correct writing, but I decided to leave them be and let these be a teaching tool for young writers. I am sure they will get a lot practice correcting my punctuation and sentence structure.
I am getting a little antsy though, so regardless of the temperatures and sunshine, I may have to stay in and do some sewing.
I read Christopher Paolini's last book, Inheritance, over the last week. I know this is suppose to be the end of the series, but as with a good many books I have read, I hope there will be a sequel. Fantasy is fantasy and I can make up any ending I want to the story!
Over the past year I have continued to connect with those I not only graduated with, but also those shared the start of my educational journey. I have found it takes only a spark to bring forth the memories of those days so long ago. I know it is good for the heart and maybe it will keep my brain alert a little longer!
My writing time is up! Just an update - my parents are hanging in there and still getting around, albeit slowly. Mom gave us all a laugh at dinner on Sunday when she lost a cap on her front tooth and was afraid she had swallowed it. All our little ones were aghast when she smiled and had no tooth! The cap was found on her plate and she is in the process of restoring her beautiful smile. Dad really got a chuckle out of this one!
Time seems to fly at the times we wish it would stand still.
Happy reading!
Belle
Friday, January 29, 2010
Another Cold Spell
Doom and Gloom!
Seems there is another cold wet spell headed to the sunny south. With mixed reactions I am stocking the cupboards with the makings of comfort food in mind - plenty of coffe, hot chocolate and lots of soup makings and of course some light sweets to replace the energy that seems to evaporate in the cold air.
The heating and air man is here checking out the system. The electric bill soared this past month and I still froze. However, I know I am not alone. My little bill of just over $400 was mild compared to the $700+ that one lady had to pay. We Southerners are just not equipped to handle the icy weather of our Northern counterparts. Heat pumps are not efficient in prolonged below freezing temperatures. Hope this maintenance visit helps our units to perform more efficiently and I will stay warm as toast with or without my fleece.
Like most of the residents of the sunny south, I enjoy a glimpse of the beautiful white fluffy stuff as long as it doesn't continue for more than 2 days and I can stay inside. The ice is another story. I don't like it and it doesn't like me. Cold and wet there is little beauty in iced over trees struggling to stay upright in their heavy coats. The roads become impassable and dangerous, but still have the ability to entice the foolhardy and adventurous out to see if they can best the elements. I would move north if I wanted to experience mountains of snow and ice. I am thinking of moving to Florida to escape the whole ordeal.
My daughter and her family are in north Georgia on top of a mountain. For the first time in her life I heard her complain that she was cold during the cold snap of the past few weeks. She couldn't get off the mountain for several days and I'm thinking it is time for her to come south.
The coldest month is yet to come. February, the month of snow and ice, is still a few days away but already I am dreading its icy fingers creeping into my bones. Yep, I firmly believe that old is not made for cold. Ya'll keep warm and stay dry.
Until next time . . .
Happy reading!
Belle
Seems there is another cold wet spell headed to the sunny south. With mixed reactions I am stocking the cupboards with the makings of comfort food in mind - plenty of coffe, hot chocolate and lots of soup makings and of course some light sweets to replace the energy that seems to evaporate in the cold air.
The heating and air man is here checking out the system. The electric bill soared this past month and I still froze. However, I know I am not alone. My little bill of just over $400 was mild compared to the $700+ that one lady had to pay. We Southerners are just not equipped to handle the icy weather of our Northern counterparts. Heat pumps are not efficient in prolonged below freezing temperatures. Hope this maintenance visit helps our units to perform more efficiently and I will stay warm as toast with or without my fleece.
Like most of the residents of the sunny south, I enjoy a glimpse of the beautiful white fluffy stuff as long as it doesn't continue for more than 2 days and I can stay inside. The ice is another story. I don't like it and it doesn't like me. Cold and wet there is little beauty in iced over trees struggling to stay upright in their heavy coats. The roads become impassable and dangerous, but still have the ability to entice the foolhardy and adventurous out to see if they can best the elements. I would move north if I wanted to experience mountains of snow and ice. I am thinking of moving to Florida to escape the whole ordeal.
My daughter and her family are in north Georgia on top of a mountain. For the first time in her life I heard her complain that she was cold during the cold snap of the past few weeks. She couldn't get off the mountain for several days and I'm thinking it is time for her to come south.
The coldest month is yet to come. February, the month of snow and ice, is still a few days away but already I am dreading its icy fingers creeping into my bones. Yep, I firmly believe that old is not made for cold. Ya'll keep warm and stay dry.
Until next time . . .
Happy reading!
Belle
Monday, January 4, 2010
It's Here
It is freezing outside! So cold that even my demonic animals are inside by the fire (and it has been gong constantly). The wind is sending daggers of cold right through the body making all barriers useless. The promise of snow later in the week brings a smile to my face until I open the door and slide into the frigid air.
In 1984 we hosted a New Year's Eve party in 4 degree weather. Everyone was gathered around the fire and still froze. Worst party I have ever had the pleasure to attend much less give. At midnight, everyone rushed to their warming vehicles to escape the angry weather making it the shortest party ever for this celebration. Strangely enough it warmed up a great deal with the departure of the guest. Believe me cold doesn't always mean snow, so there was no reason to keep opening and shutting the door to "see if it's snowing".
Well, for those of you who think we must have 3-5 days of freezing temperatures to kill the insects - we should not have any bugs, insects or anything else for the next year or two after this weeks temperatures. Do you think it will drive the armadillos south again?
Those beautiful palms that I refused to put in the ground year before last and now in the ground and will probably perish after this front finishes dumping its icy temps. I look for them to jump out of the ground and run back to Jekyll and the warm soil of the coast. I think it will be safe now to prune the trees and shrubs and shape them up for a beautiful spring. Surely the sap raced down the stems to escape the wintry blasts.
My grandchildren are on the way and I am so happy! I will fill their little tummies with good gooey chocolate pies and fruity strudels. There is so much I need to share with them and I will have only a few days in which to catch up and build memories. I so need to see the sparkle in my daughters eyes and hear her joyful laugh.
I know I have rambled a bit tonight. I lost a most important and longtime friend this New Years. I had things to tell him before he left us and so many things to thank him for before asking God to take special care of him. Life was not always good to our friend, but then God knows that and will grant him peace. Hubby and I spent a day in remembrance and thankfulness for our friend - so many years takes a little bit of time - but we enjoyed the journey and we enjoyed the friend.
Thank you for returning to check on me and my thoughts. They will come back together over the next few days and maybe the writing will be more sensible.
Remember, you can't build a future if you live in the past. Move forward, thank God and be nice!
Happy reading!
Belle
In 1984 we hosted a New Year's Eve party in 4 degree weather. Everyone was gathered around the fire and still froze. Worst party I have ever had the pleasure to attend much less give. At midnight, everyone rushed to their warming vehicles to escape the angry weather making it the shortest party ever for this celebration. Strangely enough it warmed up a great deal with the departure of the guest. Believe me cold doesn't always mean snow, so there was no reason to keep opening and shutting the door to "see if it's snowing".
Well, for those of you who think we must have 3-5 days of freezing temperatures to kill the insects - we should not have any bugs, insects or anything else for the next year or two after this weeks temperatures. Do you think it will drive the armadillos south again?
Those beautiful palms that I refused to put in the ground year before last and now in the ground and will probably perish after this front finishes dumping its icy temps. I look for them to jump out of the ground and run back to Jekyll and the warm soil of the coast. I think it will be safe now to prune the trees and shrubs and shape them up for a beautiful spring. Surely the sap raced down the stems to escape the wintry blasts.
My grandchildren are on the way and I am so happy! I will fill their little tummies with good gooey chocolate pies and fruity strudels. There is so much I need to share with them and I will have only a few days in which to catch up and build memories. I so need to see the sparkle in my daughters eyes and hear her joyful laugh.
I know I have rambled a bit tonight. I lost a most important and longtime friend this New Years. I had things to tell him before he left us and so many things to thank him for before asking God to take special care of him. Life was not always good to our friend, but then God knows that and will grant him peace. Hubby and I spent a day in remembrance and thankfulness for our friend - so many years takes a little bit of time - but we enjoyed the journey and we enjoyed the friend.
Thank you for returning to check on me and my thoughts. They will come back together over the next few days and maybe the writing will be more sensible.
Remember, you can't build a future if you live in the past. Move forward, thank God and be nice!
Happy reading!
Belle
Friday, July 10, 2009
The Morning The Cow Lost Her Tail
Nobody can tell this story like Mom - but I will give it a try.
Dairy farming is hard at the best of times. Milking those angels early in the morning and again early afternoon, cleaning and more cleaning, planting, harvesting, feeding, then more cleaning. The milk barn is always cold and wet. A lucky farmer will have dependable help and believe me it makes all the difference. Sometimes it talks some false starts before you find just the right person. One who can get along with you, your animals, and do things the right way.
On most mornings, us girls never knew any of this was going on. We slept in our nice snug beds and dreamed our wonderful dreams, got up and had a warm nourishing breakfast, cleaned to the kitchen and then went to work or school. We didn't participate in those early morning milkings, but we worked the rest of the day. Summer and winter, wet or dry, warm or cold, it didn't matter, there was always work to be done.
The coldest day of the year and wet to boot, the milker called in sick. Yeah Right! No matter, the cows had to be milked. Dad got us all up. As we put on our layered clothes - long johns, sweats, two pair of socks, rubber boots, knit caps, and jackets - to stay as warm as possible. All those angels did not willingly come into the barn, some loved to play catch and slide in the mud and muck. Mom and Dad were already running the milking machines when my sister and I got to the barn.
What a mess! The cows had ice hanging from their tails and it was cold, really cold. Dad said we could go back to the house once we got all the cows in the barn and the feed hoppers filled. Sis and I went to work. I went after cows and she headed upstairs to fill the hoppers. There was nothing but frozen slush until you stepped in it - It wasn't frozen all the way through. Cows were in the barn, I was covered in - well you know, and Sis was down from the feed room.
Mom's head was covered in a hair net, her flannel pajama top was sticking out of the top of her sweat shirt and she was a sight. Mom was resting her head on the side of the cow as she took the milkers off. She turned around, dipped the milkers in the cleaning solution and put them on the next cow. She checked the cow she had finished milking, opened the door, and swatted her behind encouraging her to exit the milking stall. Most of the cows were hard to get out of the warmth of the barn when the milking was finished. The cow wouldn't budge, so she swatted her behind again. The cow jumped out of the stall and hollered as she ran out of the barn - without her bushy tail. A common practice in the winter, Mom had split the hair on the bottom of the cow's tail and tied it around the stall rods to keep the cow from swishing the tail in Mom's face while she was milking. Mom forgot to untie the hair when she let her out of the stall and the hair was jerked out of the end of the tail.
Mom starting hollering and crying, Dad was laughing, and Sis and I headed to the house. Poor cow! I don't believe she ever swished her tail again while being milked.
Dairy farming is hard at the best of times. Milking those angels early in the morning and again early afternoon, cleaning and more cleaning, planting, harvesting, feeding, then more cleaning. The milk barn is always cold and wet. A lucky farmer will have dependable help and believe me it makes all the difference. Sometimes it talks some false starts before you find just the right person. One who can get along with you, your animals, and do things the right way.
On most mornings, us girls never knew any of this was going on. We slept in our nice snug beds and dreamed our wonderful dreams, got up and had a warm nourishing breakfast, cleaned to the kitchen and then went to work or school. We didn't participate in those early morning milkings, but we worked the rest of the day. Summer and winter, wet or dry, warm or cold, it didn't matter, there was always work to be done.
The coldest day of the year and wet to boot, the milker called in sick. Yeah Right! No matter, the cows had to be milked. Dad got us all up. As we put on our layered clothes - long johns, sweats, two pair of socks, rubber boots, knit caps, and jackets - to stay as warm as possible. All those angels did not willingly come into the barn, some loved to play catch and slide in the mud and muck. Mom and Dad were already running the milking machines when my sister and I got to the barn.
What a mess! The cows had ice hanging from their tails and it was cold, really cold. Dad said we could go back to the house once we got all the cows in the barn and the feed hoppers filled. Sis and I went to work. I went after cows and she headed upstairs to fill the hoppers. There was nothing but frozen slush until you stepped in it - It wasn't frozen all the way through. Cows were in the barn, I was covered in - well you know, and Sis was down from the feed room.
Mom's head was covered in a hair net, her flannel pajama top was sticking out of the top of her sweat shirt and she was a sight. Mom was resting her head on the side of the cow as she took the milkers off. She turned around, dipped the milkers in the cleaning solution and put them on the next cow. She checked the cow she had finished milking, opened the door, and swatted her behind encouraging her to exit the milking stall. Most of the cows were hard to get out of the warmth of the barn when the milking was finished. The cow wouldn't budge, so she swatted her behind again. The cow jumped out of the stall and hollered as she ran out of the barn - without her bushy tail. A common practice in the winter, Mom had split the hair on the bottom of the cow's tail and tied it around the stall rods to keep the cow from swishing the tail in Mom's face while she was milking. Mom forgot to untie the hair when she let her out of the stall and the hair was jerked out of the end of the tail.
Mom starting hollering and crying, Dad was laughing, and Sis and I headed to the house. Poor cow! I don't believe she ever swished her tail again while being milked.
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