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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Holmes had Moriarty. I have February.

It was pointed out to me (by my conscience in Arkansas) that it's not fair that I censure my musings.  True.  It wasn't fair - but I DID give you cute goat pictures/pictures of my cute goats. 

A few facts:  I live in upstate New York, a wintry area December - March.  I live here on purpose.  I like winter, although I am finding I spend a lot more time in recent years trying to convince myself I do.  And I find that I like winter most when I a) don't have to drive in it; b) don't have to go outside too often; c) don't have to deal with water buckets, heated or not; d) don't have to wear six layers of clothes.  Even when the sun is out (such as it is, poor weak thing), so much of my body surface is buried under layers of silk, wool and down (in that order) that I get no benefit from the natural source of D3.  Just to reinforce the fact that I just may be out of my mind, I plan on one more move and it's probably going to be...north.  Yes, that's right.  Lock me up.

I am fully in mid-February funk.  In January.  It's like funk jacked up.  I have been staring at my seed catalogs without opening them.  I have my garden graph all ready for the Big Plans for Spring.  Nada.  It's been too cold to walk the dogs.  I hate my commute.  I have had murderous thoughts concerning one female Guinea hen.  My fuel bills are astronomical.  My income is not.

Okay, that was cathartic.  Now that I've thoroughly depressed the lot of you, let's look for something sunny in all of this.  February.  Hmmm.  Valentine's Day!  Oh, right.  NOT.  It's a short month!  Okay, that's better.  Then it's Farch!  So-so, on the good news.  The egg count is up - I now average about 4 a day, instead of two.  Not that that makes a dent in paying the feed bill, but it's something.  (Think good thoughts.  Think good thoughts.)  After Farch is April!  There we go!  It's very easy, when you only have dogs to converse with, to drop into the doldrums.  I am not a happy camper when I am forced to remain inside for days (and that includes being inside my car and inside my office).  I chafe, I winge, I whine (obviously).  And I tend to think that all liquid consumed should contain a mild sedative - Irish Coffee anyone?  All kidding aside, by February, I am my own worst enemy.  There is a lot to do inside - I did finish painting the living room, but I need to tear up the carpet and re-floor it, then there's finishing the guest bathroom (which only has taken six years), start on the master bath, skirt about 50 fleeces, sell my floor loom, organize every room, etc., etc.  Instead, I knit.  A lot.  Which, in turn, has greatly aggravated the arthritis in my hands.  Oy.  I used to bake for therapy and now I don't.  This is a good thing, as I've lost 15 pounds - which is in jeopardy because of February.  I crave comfort and it usually involves cheese.  Sigh.

So, aren't you glad my Conscience in Arkansas guilted me into this post?  (You know who you are...)  But, just as Holmes always bested Moriarty and came out on top, so will I emerge from February (is it over yet?), tattered but intact.  Hanging onto my sense of humor by my fingernails.

22 comments:

The Maine Gray Zone said...

I can totally relate....was thinking evil thoughts about my animal friends this morning as G whined at the door at 4:30 and I walk out to F doing his tsunami thing. We shall wash the blues away soon...

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

I feel ya Sister! Right along with you :)

Tombstone Livestock said...

I take it your move further North will not be anytime real soon as that would probably add to your commute time ....... Hang in there let's hope old "Pux Phil" says we will have a early and very long spring.

Michelle said...

Another move??? Do tell of your long-range plans!

I'm glad you shared; it was amusing reading as usual, even if YOU'RE not having much fun. :-) The weather here is leaden, grey and wet, wearing on the soul but without your sub-freezing work load. For some reason I am NOT knitting even though I want to. I think it is guilt over all the things I SHOULD be doing right now....

Susan said...

Sylvie - It can't be TOO soon! I had to laugh at the tsunami thing with F. What a character!

Susan said...

Jane - It's a good thing I am not living next door to you and your homemade vino. Wait. Ever consider moving north??? :)

Susan said...

TL - Yep, not for a while. The last thing I need is a longer commute time. Yes, we sure put a large burden on that rodent. Let's hope he comes through. And I am with you on the not-so-hot-summer wish, too.

Susan said...

Michelle - You've heard of fuzzy logic? My long-range plans are fuzzy-musings right now. But it will be north. I think it is an unwritten law that guilt is put on a shelf during winter. I love your knitting projects!

Carolyn said...

Now don't you feel better? :)

(ducks just in time to miss the coffee cup filled with Irish Coffee hurled at her head)

I'd say that I'm having a horrible winter...but it's 70 degrees right now. Global warming? Bring it ON!!

Since you're knitting like a demi-goddess, why don't you knit up a Punxsutawney Phil voodoo doll & give him the "what for"?

Candy C. said...

The mid-winter doldrums hit my hubby a LOT worse than they do me. Must be because my "job" keeps me in the house anyway and he chafes at not being able to do much of anything outdoors. Although our cold is NOTHING like yours I guess it's all relative. Come on April!! :)

Mama Pea said...

First of all, a gem of a post. Your writings read as though they should be published as a regular column in a newspaper or magazine. Yes, they are that good.

Second (of all), I don't think I have ever in my adult life been eager for winter to end and spring to begin. (Should I worry that something is terribly wrong with me?) As much as I love to garden and get out to play in the dirt as early as possible, winter is never long enough for me. What happened to all the days I was going to spend on the couch under a quilt reading? Heck, what happened to all the quilting I was going to do? I'm so into knitting again right now I could spend days on end doing just that . . . if I had the time. Then there's the cleaning and organizing I really wouldn't mind doing. I'd also like to spend more time in the winter (when the temp was above zero, thankyouverymuch) skiing and snowshoeing and snowmobiling and . . . and . . . and! Of course, if I had the commute on snowy, icy roads as you do every day, dear friend, I might feel entirely differently. So don't pay any attention to anything I say, 'kay?

Judy T said...

February... for all that it is the shortest on the calendar always seems like it goes on forever. I can never seem to get through it quickly enough.
Hang in there.

Unknown said...

Can you get out to a movie, dinner out, etc? Sometimes a change of scenery is good! And take extra vitamin D3!

kareninkenai said...

Susan - I love your blog and just became a follower. thanks for signing up for my "cowl" giveaway. I do not have an Email software on my computer; therefore, could not send a reply via email. You are welcome to communicate if you wish by sending me an email... smiles. I look forward to trying the miso soup and I do dry canning too... love mason jars for almost everything! Hugs from Alaska. Good luck on my drawing. Karen

Susan said...

Carolyn - It must be a burden to always be right... :) I bet your weather is changing today - what weirdness! You know, that is a very good idea. I wonder if I could come up with something that even vaguely resembles a groundhog/woodchuck....

Susan said...

Candy - I am not good at 'sitting' and I am also a great procrastinator. So being stuck inside with all the projects I've put off the rest of the year probably isn't helping my positive attitude! :)

Susan said...

Mama Pea - Would you be my agent? Pleeeze? I like doing fun things in snow - snowshoeing, hiking, bird watching, snow angels - but I do NOT like to drive in it. I'm pretty good at it, but there are so many idiots that I am sure I will never make it home alive most days. It's too stressful. And there are the flannel sheets - I LUV flannel sheets...

Susan said...

Judy - February must be hooked up to the week clock - the one that takes FOREVER to move. It sure isn't the weekend clock, which moves at triple-time.

Susan said...

Nancy po - I am making more of an effort, although I am not big on eating out alone. And I have definitely upped the D3!

Susan said...

Karen - Ditto, here! What an amazing life you must have - I am looking forward to reading your blog in detail! My fingers and toes are crossed - that twisted cowl is beautiful!

Erin said...

If you can hang on a few more years you can join our move north and we can have a commune LOL... with 2 teenage boys to do the heavy lifting! I love your honest posts, of course goat photos are nice too but it's nice for you to be able to vent!

Susan said...

Erin - I love it! Especially the heavy lifting help part! I can hang on...