Here We Go Again

Feb11

This tiny video might not look like much

But please, let me tell you why I left it here.

You may have heard of 2019’s polar vortex?

Well, here in the mid-west, we appear to be right in the middle of it.

I’ll bet we’ve have had more snow in the last month, than in the previous ten years.

Snow is one thing. But then there’s the ice. Hidden discreetly underneath that beautiful layer of snow.

Here is what happened yesterday;

I went out to shovel an inch or two of fluffy snow off the drive. (It’s a long drive with quite a bit of slope)

Shoveling along, and forgetting there were long patches of ice on one side. (At the top)

Boom. Flat on my back. Standing up was a trick, because it was solid ice, and about a half an inch thick!

I finally got back up, determined I was unhurt, and proceeded shoveling where I knew there was no ice.

When suddenly, Boom. Down to my knees. (Half way down the slope) This time I couldn’t get up, so I had to slide further DOWN the hill, so that I could find a not icy spot to get UP the hill! (Glad we live where we do so I didn’t have an audience!)

You know, sometimes, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry. So laugh I did. And I quit shoveling for the day.

Now my husband, who hates snow, and just had shoulder surgery, thought it was all pretty funny.

Here’s what HE did;

He replied on Facebook to our daughters post talking about how thick the ice in her drive was. She was talking about wanting to make “snow angels”, he told that I was in the drive making “snow angels” of my own.

My reply to that was that it was more like “snow sprawl” and “snow crawl”.

This quickly de-generated into a much less flattering comment from him. Some about doing the “croppie floppie”. Oh. Brother.

Can I say that even for someone who loves snow as much as I do, that I am done.

Well done.

ANother batch of undetermined size is just beginning here now.

Complaining about it of course won’t help.

And if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.

Re-blog – Time Management for Bloggers

Feb8

I read a blog post this past week about blogging and time management.

(I’ve included a link below.)

I found it interesting due to the fact that I’ve been studying managing my time for quite a while now.

I have a “Numbers” chart. On it I my blood pressure, blood sugar, number of steps and what I eat. (Well most of it)

I have a “Daily” chart. It is broken up into hour squares so that I can keep track of the things I actually DO every day. Some days are really FULL of progress, and other days, I’m quite humbled by my LACK of doing anything.

I’ve started listing every article or post I’ve read on this page as well. That way, I can reference back to important ideas that I otherwise might have lost. Today’s re-blog is one of those.

Third, there is the regular calendar. You know the one, the one where if it isn’t written down, it’s not going to happen. Yes. That one. It also shows me at a glance which days I have posted a blog post or a YouTube video, complete with titles and tags.

Lastly, I have a chart on my kitchen table, and on my desk, that have time slots allotted for each activity. (You can see it in the photo with yellow high lights) When I feel like I’m putzing a little too much, I can refer to it and get back on track. It has time set up for each activity, kind of like an appointment time. It is not carved in stone, but it can be very helpful on my more ditzy days.

This chart gives me a “way out” when I’m asked to do too much, and it gives me much flexibility because I can shuffle it as needed. I even have time for a daily nap, should I choose to take one.

It may sound like a lot, but once I got into the swing of it, it is very easy to do.

2019-02-05 12.41.17-1

So I want to share with you a post that I found chock full of good ideas and advice, all in one place.

After reading this post, I felt as though I have been doing something right, for quite a little while. I simply need to keep showing up, and doing it.

I know that you will find it useful as well.

Thank you CRISTIAN MIHAI.

Click here to read about Time Management for Bloggers.

 

 

Red Sky at Morning

Feb5

Have you heard the saying “Red sky at morning is a sailors warning?”

2019-02-05 06.42.39.jpg

Beautiful, right? But what it does, at  least for me, is to make me check the weather forecast. Today, unfortunately, it means we’ll have ice. Lots of ice. Making travel quite treacherous, and cancelling a lot of well laid plans.

So what’s next? We check our resources, and make sure that we have what it takes to be inside our homes for the next little while. Food, toiletries, books, movies. All set.

But what of those who do not have the resources we have? What we prepare for, for our comfort, they must prepare for, for survival. No doubt, the shelters are preparing as well, in mass.

Fortunately, the town that we live near, has well planned out spaces for just such circumstances. Not only paid staff, but volunteers that give of their time and talents and hearts to make sure that these folks are safe throughout these times.

20171214_065723.jpg

What do you do when stormy times are approaching? 

Now to switch it up just a bit – What about “Reg flags” in the morning?

When you wake up in the morning on “The wrong side of the bed”, when you are getting out of bed and just want to crawl back in? When you still feel tired, or when your mind will not focus. When the noises your body make sounds like bubble wrap?

What are the resources you use to get your day into order? Can you do it?

For me, coffee is always the first place I go. That first cup of coffee is like starter fluid. But even with starter fluid, the day can be rough. So what’s next? I have a couple of ideas that help, when I do them!

Both have to do with “Quietude”. A cup of coffee and a peaceful place to sit. (I do have a chair for that.) No words. Quiet music, but no words. If there are words, my brain latches on to them, and away I go. Not quiet.

Now, this quiet time might be ten minutes, or it could be an hour. That all depends. When I’m ready for words, I’ll take out my Bible, and read a chapter, or two. More than that, and too many thoughts start going around in my mind. Not quiet. But out of that chapter or two, I’ll have a sense of something to focus on for the day. Many times that will get written down in my journal.

Daily devotionals, journaling, morning pages; seem to have a calming effect, and are often very helpful.

Let’s face it though, sometimes that “Red sky” or those “Red flags” are pesky and want to stick around. And you know what I’ve found? That is OK. Sometimes we just have to lay low, and care for ourselves in a different way.

For example, yesterday, I did all the things. The starter fluid. The “Quietude”, the Bible reading, the journaling. I ended up having to just do my list of work around the house, and not turn on any (Well not much) media at all. A little book reading and a really good nap in the afternoon. A much needed disconnect.

Today seems much better. What about your “Red skies” or “Red flags”? Share with us – what resources can you volunteer?