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Note to Joyce: Thank you for your dedication to the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Please don't take my cranky answers personally. xo
1. Where do you go when you need some inspiration?
Scripture. Prayer. Music. Books. Wine.
The books pictured are a small sampling. The music that inspires me ranges from John Rutter (96%) to Bing Crosby to James Taylor.
2. What's under your bed?
Not a thing, except carpet. Or is that supposed to be a metaphor?
Another bleak Wisconsin winter landscape
Last week, on the way home from Madison
We're in the February dreariness.
3. Thursday, February 22nd is National Chili Day, National Margarita Day, and National Cook a Sweet Potato Day. Of the three which would you most like to celebrate? Is that likely?
Who makes up this stuff anyway? I don't celebrate any of these 'national-fill-in-the-blank days,' but I would most likely bake a sweet potato. There are four of them sitting on the kitchen counter.
4. What are you 'snowed under' with right now?
Snow. Just snow. And plenty of it.
5. Tell us three to five things that make you feel balanced?
What May looks like, most years.
What May looked like in 2013
Blizzard=18"
6. Insert your own random thought here.
XOXO
Really, it's just February. In January we're still riding the wave of Christmas, and it's usually very sunny (though beastly cold). I love sunny. And in March, although it's two months yet before the flowers poke through the soil, the daylight is longer and the temps are working their way upward, which usually means the roads are clear for taking walks. There's just something so tough about getting through February. Snowy, bleak, miserable, gray February. Good thing it's the shortest month, because it seems like the longest. And I know I'm not the only one suffering from February blues. Feel free to complain in a comment. :-)
But there is one good thing about February:
Daughter #1
Happy Birthday! (next week)
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35 comments:
Judy, One day somethings can appear bleak then when the sun shines on it, it's so pretty. Your daughter is a beautiful young lady. Blessings, stay warm, xoxo, Susie
It appears your daughter gets her good looks from her Mama. Happy birthday to her. I am so much nicer in the Spring, Summer, and Fall. I am a big fat crab in the Winter. Have a good week.
Oh gosh. Our Februarys can be bleak with little sun but it's usually rain that's the common weather feature. I could not survive somewhere with all that snow. It's pretty in the sun but I'm sure the shine wears off. But we can't always choose where we live so I guess we just have to find ways of dealing with it. I'm sure birthday celebrations help. Hope you get some sun soon.
If I lived where I was literally snowed under for most of the year, I would be cranky too Judy!! Hang in there. Our daffodils are blooming and the red bud trees are putting out buds so the season is turning!! It may take a while to work its way up there. When we lived in Louisville Ky it was always May before we saw any signs of spring.
my two sons are both Feb babies. youngest will be 51 tomorrow on G Washington's bd and Valentines day the older was 53.. i am so attuned to weather, rain and snow and cold make me cranky. but i also get cranky when the temps go to 87 in Feb here in paradise. i love FL but this new FL is scary. but i am happy when sun shines so safe on that. reading the question about balance on another blog, i skipped it, but since your answer i will comment. what is up with all this stuff about leading a balanced life? i don't get it. Life has its ups and downs and is LIFE... live it right and balance occurs. live it wrong and everything goes crazy and i have been there done that both ways. what i say is take responibilyt for the things gone wrong. not all but most are caused by our very own selves.
John Rutter's music is such a joy. Both my husband and I love it.
I'm with you about February. It really is a very long month. March is always hopeful, but even it can hold surprises. I do love April and May. Usually no longer cold, and not yet too hot to handle.
The photo with your husband and the kitty is precious.
Good morning, dear Judy! My oh my, it's been way too long since I popped in for a visit...forgive me!
I hope March brings warmth and sweet sunshine to your place. The snow can grow quite old right about now. We had a very wild winter with no snow and for the last couple of weeks we have been getting snow storms. Go figure! It will like snow well into May here in the mountains-HA!
Hugs to you!
Hi Judy,
I love the look of that meal you shared. Perfect looking salad. :-)
I have not met daughter #1 .. I hope to someday. Please wish her a Happy, Happy, Birthday!!
UGH! I'm right there with ya sister! I struggle with the winter blahs through February and March and sometimes half of April. Spring doesn't begin to think about coming until around the 15th of April. I'll be 'snowed under' for at least 1 full month...maybe more.
I understand your feelings about the grayness of the month. I used to feel that way during April in Colorado. Much of the country was getting flowers then but Colorado was getting heavy wet snow. Always got me down.
But as you said, at least February is the shortest month, and underneath your self-described crankiness, I see a great sense of humor. Hang in there!
I'm so glad we don't have that much snow. Yesterday was blue skies and in the 70's. That gave us a much needed break. Today is cooler (but still not too bad) with grey rainy skies. But at least we had that beautiful day yesterday. Hope you get some blue skies real soon.
We had rain yesterday. Not a Spring might be coming, but a cold nasty Fall/Winter rain. I don't like it this early, the rain has no place to go except in the basement as the ground is still frozen. But on the cheery side, I see bulbs poking up! Even though we would see flowers for another month and a half it is exciting!
Beautiful photos - you can see some wonderful things up close. You have a talent.
I will agree it does look bleak there - but when it is not - it is a gorgeous life.
My inspiration is Christian Music - I just get so inspired.
Love the cow, cat and hubs photo especially!
I am sure there must be some dust under your bed too - there is under mine!
Love, sandie
PS Happy birthday to your daughter!
Mine is next week too.
Oh, that snow!!! Hang in there, February is almost over. Now I'm feeling bad for complaining about 80 degree weather in February... (I prefer 60-70 degree days) If it makes you feel any better, the sun has been taking its time coming out each day. Lots of overcast mornings.
Kathy (Reflections)
Well I won't mention any more about our warm February...OOPS, I guess I just did! Sorry! That sweet potato makes me want to go home and make myself one...and the salad looks yummy!Yes, I agree...your daughter is a true beauty, like her Ma...Happy Birthday to her! Hang in there, sweet friend. ;)
Happy birthday to your lovely daughter! That snow looks just awful. I remember February in Ohio was always the longest month to get through. Here in Florida... it is spring and the trees are blooming and the strawberries are ripe! We have 88° today.
Oh goodness that's a lot of snow. Happy birthday to your daughter. xo Laura
Bless your heart! I don’t know how you do it!
The way you feel about Feb. I feel about August and Sept.. In southern Ca., I've had enough sun that I just can't take high 90's for two more months. So I crank that air conditioner down and enjoy sewing. Not what the Edison Co. Wants to hear but it's the truth. Patty Mc
I'm with you regarding February gloom. I took a picture recently of a gray bird on the roof of a gray car with a background of gray skies. Sigh...
I like your inspirations. February for being short in number seems way longer than most months. And who am I to complain since we doin't have any snow at all here in the Puget Sound. Hope the sun comes out a few days left in February. Happy early birthday to your lovely daughter.
I agree, Feb. is a bleak month, I'm glad it is almost behind us. WE will be heading to Florida for a week to unwind and relax in the sun.
Cheers!
Lori in Blue Ridge, GA
I hear you, dear Judy. Our daughter lives in New Hampshire (or New Hamster as the youngest grand called it) and is so ready for sunny days. She says it's nothing brighter than the sun shining on the snow. Hopefully the sun will come your way soon. Take care, my friend. xo ♥
I, too, have been known to say that about February (the shortest month that feels the longest) . . . and I live in Maryland! Some Februaries feel endless. This one has not been extremely cold, but it has been gray, gray, gray. Lots of clouds and rain and drizzle and mist and more clouds.
Your daughter is beautiful!! Birthday blessings to her!
My dad always payedI Bing Crosby's music, and I really like it. Oh, and you are the second person with nothing under the bed!
A daughter is a nice February present! And this is off topic, but have you seen Darkest Hour? I enjoyed it. xoxo Su
That’s one beautiful reason to love February! ❤️
Three days ago, as I skidded across my driveway to put down sand, I wailed out loud to my neighbor, who was also employed in the business of sanding, that it would take weeks to get rid of all that ice. Would you believe that I can play hopscotch out there now on the dry spots where there is no ice at all? When warming comes, it can all change so quickly. We must remember this!
How is it that you are the only woman in North America with nothing beneath her bed? You should give yourself a cookie or a sweet potato immediately for that. 😉
Not cranky, just the facts:) Enjoy your day dear friend! I hope you have a sunny day! HUGS!
We are dealing with our own non-snowy bleak this week in the south. We have had rain, rain and more rain and more rain on the way. But, that's alright, I love it and the more thunder, lightning and bleak we have the more I like it. Of course, we don't have half a year of that so I realize there is no comparison. But, I do love seeing your pictures and hope that you get a beautifully warm, sunshiny day real soon. My only grandson will have a birthday next week also - Feb 28. Happy Birthday to your pretty girl.
Judy, you're not cranky; you are simply correct! Nope, commenter Vee is wrong - you are not the only woman in North America with nothing beneath her bed - I *hate* stuff under a bed and wouldn't be able to sleep if I had stuff stored under the bed!
Your daughter is so beautiful! Happy Birthday to her! I hope the sun comes out and warms things soon! Hugs!
The pictures that you describe as bleak are, from a different perspective, patient promises of a new Spring. I think most of us who live in the north aren't cranky per se but are suffering from "cabin fever." Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter.
Die! Winter Die! Come on Spring! Enjoy your week!
James Taylor and wine sound perfect to me! I'm having some baked sweet potatoes tonight. Yes living in your climate isn't easy during the winter months. Happy Birthday to you daughter. Enjoyed all of your photos.
I'm so late reading this. This February is moving slowly for me but not for the same reasons. And we've had nearly summer weather and spring is in full bloom. A year ago we had snow on top of spring so we'll see. Your last thing made me wonder how your daughter is who was suffering with her back. is she better?
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