Heavy, Wet Snow

After days of warm weather - it was 72 degrees here earlier in the week - winter broke bad and dropped six inches of snow on the ground in about five hours yesterday.

The snow began a little after 2 p.m. and tapered off about 7 p.m. The flakes were huge - some as big as saucers. The snow stuck surprising well on a ground that had to have been somewhat warm.

I took these photos this morning, just after sunrise.

Thursday Thirteen

Yoga is a popular form of exercise, though some circuits in my area eschew it as a religion. I tend to think of it as a lifestyle moreso than any kind of religion, but what do I know.

My experience with yoga has been limited to videos and Wii Fit. Which is the same thing as saying I have practically no experience with it. I would like to become proficient at it and admire the people I know who practice yoga on a regular basis.

Anyway, here are 13 different types of yoga; any swarmy commentary is mine, of course, and is just me trying to be amusing.

1. Hatha Yoga. Probably the most popular type in the USA. It is used to achieve a balance of mind and body. It uses traditional yoga poses and encompasses a lot of different styles.

2. Ashtanga Yoga: Yoga on speed. It involves fast-paced sequences of postures that increase in difficulty.

3. Power yoga: Yoga on steroids. It is like Ashtanga except more like a workout, with an emphasis on body toning.

4. Forrest: Yoga for the trees. This contemporary yoga involves deep breathing, core strengthening exercises, and holding postures for long periods of time. It is supposed to purify and strengthen and promotes the release of negative emotions and pain.

5. Viniyoga: Yoga for the drinker. This is a gentle yoga. Breathing is synchronized with the poses.

6. Bikram: Yoga for the structured. This is a series of 26 poses, all done in a really hot room so that you sweat.

7. Kundalini: Yoga for the Energy Drinkers. This yoga is supposed to stimulate the energy located at the base of the spine. The released energy is supposed to bring about well-being and awareness.

8. Bharata: Yoga for the straight and narrow. This yoga helps align the spine, increase mobility, and improve posture.

9. Dru: Yoga for the peaceful. This is a series of poses that, when performed in sequence, are supposed to help you find tranquility and strength and a sense of well-being.

10. Ananda: Yoga for the thinker. This series of hatha yoga poses is supposed to prepare you for meditation. It promotes growth and self-awareness.

11. Anusara: The word literally means "to step into the current of divine will." It is supposed to promote awareness and well-being along with body alignment.

12. Swara: Yoga for the asthmatics. This yoga is a series of poses that deal with breathing and proper breathing practices.

13. Laughter yoga: Yoga for the comics. Unconditional laughter combined with appropriate breathing practice and movements.


Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 277th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

Wordless Wednesday

Rippling Muscles

I could scarcely believe my eyes when my brother posted a photo of my nephew on Facebook yesterday.

His son has been working with a trainer and keeping to a strict muscle-building diet for quite some time.

He is big into wrestling at his high school.I had no idea he was so ... rippled and muscular underneath his clothes. I mean, look at that picture! You can see the individual muscles.

He first won gold several years ago.

It is hard to believe he's all grown up and is a young man now. He turned 18 just before Christmas. It seems like yesterday he was just a little babe in arms.

They do grow up fast. I am very proud of him for sticking to his diet and work outs. I can hardly wait to see what life has in store for him. He will graduate in June and his life will take on new twists and turns as he begins that phase of growing up.

Way to go, nephew! Huzzah!

Monday Q&A

This is The Woman's Work meme from 2008 which I found on Sunday Stealing.


1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing? Sometimes.

2. Favorite late night snack? Crackers.

3. Do you own a gun? Yes.

4. What’s your favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty coffee shop? I don't go to speciality coffee shops enough to have a favorite.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Only certain ones.

6. What do you think of hot dogs? I try not to think about them very much.

7. Favorite Christmas song? Anything performed by Karen Carpenter.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Tea with a little honey in it.

9. Can you do push-ups? Nope. No upper body strength.

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding band.

11. Favorite hobby? I love to write, but that has been my job in the past, too. I also play guitar but not so much these days. I still read a lot, though. So I'll go with reading.

12. Do you have A.D.D.? I have A.D.D.T.S. - Anita Does Dumb Things Sometimes syndrome.

13. What’s one trait that you hate about yourself? I think too much.

14. The last disease you contracted? Um. Like a cold or something? I had some kind of terrible sinus/chest/sore throat thing in October.

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment. Why am I doing this? My head hurts it must be the change in the barometric pressure. I wonder if anybody actually reads these things.

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water. Tea. Infrequently a root beer.

17. Current worry right now? I need to have some expensive dental work taken care of in the next few weeks.

18. Current hate right now? Everything political. It's crazy insane out there in the world and I want the madness to end.

19. Favorite place to be? In my house.

20. How did you ring in the New Year? Slept through it.

21. Like to travel? Sometimes. Depends on where and who with.

22. Name three people who will complete Sunday Stealing this week: I have no idea.

23. Do you own slippers? Yes. Several pairs.

24. What color shirt are you wearing? I am still in my nightgown. But it is white with little pictures of Micky and Minnie Mouse kissing on it.

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I don't know that I ever have.

26. Can you whistle? Yes. But not loudly.

27. Favorite singer/band? It's a tie between Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow. Although I am also very partial to Stevie Nicks.

28. Could you ever make it 39 days on the show Survivor? Nope. I probably would be tossed out first time my team went to tribal council.

29. What songs do you sing in the shower? All of them that I know depending on my mood.

30. Favorite girl’s names? Susan, Arianna, Camelia.

31. Favorite boy’s name? James.

32. What’s in your pocket right now? Nothing.

33. Last thing that made you laugh? My husband and I were watching a movie last night and we both thought of the same Jeff Dunham (a ventriloquist comic) routine at the same time and started laughing aloud.

34. Like your job? I did, yes.

36. Do you love where you live? Yes. It's a beautiful county in the midst of lovely mountains.

37. How many TVs do you have in your house? Three. One is dedicated solely to the Wii, though, and isn't hooked up to the satellite dish.

38. Who is your loudest friend? I am not naming names here. That would not be polite.

39. Do you drive the speed limit or speed? Both. It depends on my mood and if I am late.

40. Does someone have a crush on you? I hope my husband does.

41. What is your favorite book? I don't really have one. I like all books. But some of my favorite authors include Tamara Pierce, Janet Evanovich, Jane Smiley, David Baldacci, Anita Shreve, Lois McMaster Bujold, Ann Rivers Siddons, Juliet Marillier, and Adriana Trigiani, and many others.

42. What is your favorite candy? A Milky Way Midnight bar.

43. Favorite Sports Team? I don't have one.

44. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Sleeping.

45. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up today? The weather. We're having 70 degree days in January when it is supposed to be about 30.

Deer Today

The crazy weather we're having - it's supposed to be 70 degrees here in Southwest Virginia today - has the deer moving around this morning. I grabbed the camera when I saw this nice buck.

He is the first buck of any size I've seen in months.

The does were also moving around in the fog.

The buck was alone for a while but soon headed for the females of his species.

The does really didn't pay much attention to him.

I wonder what they're thinking as they stand there.

Soon they all moved on.

Sunrise, 01/10/2013

I do not really have a good place to take shots of the sunrise unless I put on a coat and shoes and trudge away from the woods that are in back of my house.

But some mornings the sunrises are so spectacular you have to take a shot of it through the trees when you're too sleepy-eyed to bother with the dressing and all.

Lenora over at A Journal of Days has a terrific shot of the same sunrise. Check it out.

Thursday Thirteen

Here are some tips for better health. I took the first 10 of these from the AARP Bulletin (January-February 2013). Yes, I am old.


1. Be social. Connect with friends and family. People who socialize are less likely to have a decline in cognitive abilities, such as memory and reasoning. I am very introverted and don't get out enough.

2. Have a pet. Apparently even fish count. People with pets, especially those with dogs that must be walked, have healthier hearts and go to the doctor less. I have 40 cows and apparently this doesn't count. Maybe they have to be a little closer to your house.

3. Eat dark chocolate. The chocolate should be 70 percent cacao, and that is pretty bitter. I don't know too many people who actually like their chocolate like that, though I suppose some do. Most folks I know like milk chocolate. I like dark chocolate at about 60 percent, like Hershey's Special Dark chocolate.

4. Drink coffee. This supposed to help with all sorts of chronic illnesses, and protect against cancers, diabetes, and Parkinson's. I do not drink coffee at all. I have probably had only 5 cups of coffee in my entire life.

5. Drink wine or beer. Apparently a glass of alcohol a day is supposed to be good for the heart. I don't drink alcohol, either, being a total tea-totaler. No wonder I'm sick all the time, I am not pickled enough!

6. Have sex. Well. I do this one! LOL. Sex causes your brain to release feel-good chemicals called endorphins. These chemicals kill pain and reduce anxiety. More sex means less depression. Oh honey! Sweetie! Come to mamma!

7. Listen to music. Listening to music improves your health, including heart health. It also helps with sleep, improves mood, and reduces anxiety. Now where are my LPs of Bread and Air Supply?

8. Nap. Taking mid afternoon naps, even as long as an hour and a half, are beneficial. Twenty minute naps are good, too. According to this AARP article, you should drink a cup of coffee and then take a 20-minute nap. When you wake up, the caffeine will kick in and you'll be rarin' to go. Just for the record, I seldom nap. Maybe I should try this. If you need me this afternoon, I'll be sacked out on the sofa.

9. Enjoy nature. Spending time in the woods or the fields or whatever you have close at hand that isn't asphalt helps improve the immune system, boost mood, and give you a sense of well-being. There is a new movement among the eco-folks that involves walking around barefoot in the dirt, something to do with grounding and charging your root chakras or some such. I read about it but I can't stand to have dirt on my feet (my own little issue, I know), so that one isn't for me. But I live on a farm, backed up to the woods. I don't know that I can get more back to nature, except I suppose I should take my shoes off.

10. Stop using antibacterial soaps. Apparently these things are contributing to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria. Many common household products (including air fresheners, furniture polish, and glass cleaners) cause asthma, increasing the risk of developing this condition by 30 to 50 percent. As someone with asthma, I assure you that vinegar and water cleans the windows just as well.

Those are from AARP. These last three are from me:

11. Enjoy your life. Do what you love, love what you do. Don't fret, don't worry, don't weep over lost toys. They are only things.

12. Get enough sleep. If you're having trouble with sleep, investigate all causes. Don't ignore this problem, as it leads to other issues, such as obesity, irritability, depression, listlessness, etc. Learn to control your sleep environment so that you can catch those ZZZs.

13. Keep a journal. Relaxing in today's world is a tough thing to do; finding time to explore your inner soul is important if you want to be more than a little automaton going back and forth to the office. Write about the things you love, the people in your life, the world you enjoy. You will learn what you should be doing and what you shouldn't be doing. You have all the information inside your own head, if you will only take the time to listen.






Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 276th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

Stalked by the Past

I am glad I was young before the Internet.

How nice it is not to have my past chasing me around every time I log into a social media site. How wonderful to know that it is okay to leave my cellphone in the car or at home and not worry about it.

I don't need to be connected 24 hours a day, and make a point not to be.

When I am out with friends, my cellphone stays in my vehicle. My friends deserve my undivided attention, and so receive it. If they are worth spending time with, then why not give my all?

How, I wonder, does one break up from someone now? If a young man has a girl and they decide to split up, how do they do that if they are still texting and reading each other's Facebook pages? Surely not all breakups are nice and they cannot remain friends.

If a young person suffers from unrequited love, how can there ever be resolution without a permanent, solid never-see-or-hear-from-you again break?

I am also glad that pictures of me doing crazy things when I was young and stupid are not following me around. I have a few young friends on Facebook and sometimes they things they post online are nothing short of appalling. From pictures to words to opinions that are better left unsaid, it seems nothing is sacred.

Old fogey, am I? I suppose so. I value my privacy. I am truly upset by the state of the world - the police state we've become, where our children are locked inside daytime prisons that should be happy times of learning.

I really need to stop paying attention to the news.

Dreaming

Last night I dreamed a friend chased me out of her life. I woke up distressed and wondering what I had done wrong. This friend and I are not arguing or fighting so I am not sure where this came from.

Earlier this today, just before lunch, I fell into a kind of stupor while I sat the computer. I think I began dreaming almost as soon as my eyes closed, though I am not sure I was asleep.

My daydream went something like this:

I had been missing from the Hollins campus for several years - a very long time. But I am making a return - a triumphant one. I am svelte and small, not a big lump flopping along like I am now. I have on an assembly of stylish but artistically ecclectic clothing (not sure exactly what that looks like, but it isn't Alfred Dunner brand). My hair is perfect.

I am breathing regularly, not asthmatically. I have a healthy glow about me. I am fit and full of energy. I am not old, my hair does not have gray in it. My face is not wrinkled.

I am also the author of three - count 'em! - three books.

The campus embraces me with open arms. "You look so different!" gasps one of my old professors as she hugs me. People begin cheering me. Someone slaps me on the back.

I stop the dream.

I opened my eyes to stare at the blinking cursor in my word processing program. The words are tepid, silly, unworthy.

I hit delete, and they are gone.

Books: The Blue Sword

The Blue Sword
By Robin McKinley
Copyright 1982
311 pages


My first book read in 2013 is a fantasy, one with a smashing heroine.

This book, though 30 years old, is a great read if you love the fantasy genre. It is also compelling if you like female heroines, which I prefer.

Harry Crewe (Harry is short for a female name; I confess this threw me for some time and I wished for a better name) is an orphan who goes to live in a settlement as a foster daughter. She is kidnapped by a great desert king and she learns she has a magical gift.

That's the essence of the book. There is some romance here, though not much, and there is a great deal of character building.

This book won a Newberry Honor when it was published. It is billed as young adult fiction but I would not hesitate to recommend it to any reader.

As an aside, I was familiar with parts of the book as one of my creative writing professors at Hollins University used excerpts from it as an example of world-building and detail. But I had not read the book in its entirety.

Thanks to my good friend Inga for giving me such a nice Christmas present.

Twenty Questions

Another meme from Sunday Stealing. Hey, it's something to do!


1) What side of the heart do you draw first? I start on the top right, draw that half, then go to the top left, and draw that half.

2) Can you dive without plugging your nose? Yes. Well, I did when I was young. I confess I have not taken a dive into a pool in a number of years.

3) What color is your razor? Blue.

4) What is your blood-type? I don't know. It's red in color, though. So I am not an alien.

5) Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours? I've been tied to my husband for over 29 years, so he seems a likely suspect.

6) What is a rumor someone has spread about you? Hmm. I try to keep a relatively low profile. So I am not aware of any rumors about me. I can make something up for you, though, like I have a third eye growing in my head. If you know of any rumors about me, dear reader, please share.

7) How do you feel about carrots? I don't mind the baby carrots. When I eat a big ol' adult carrot, I tend to peel it and peel it until there is nothing left but this interesting skinny core. This core actually harbors the taste of the carrot, and it is sweet. The other part of the carrot tastes like dirt, so I discard that. It is basically a waste of a good carrot.

8) How many chairs at the dining room table? Three. One for me, one for my husband, one for my mother-in-law when she comes to visit. The other chair is ... well, I don't know what happened to the other chair. Maybe I should look for that. I am supposed to have four of them.

9) Which is the best Spice Girl? The one that smells like vanilla.

10) Do you know what time it is? Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care? If so I can't imagine why. We've all got time enough to die.

But yes. I always know what time it is. I wear a watch.

11) Do you know all the words to the Fresh Prince Theme Song? I didn't even know there was a Fresh Prince theme song.

12) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator? I would jump up and down until I was rescued, on the theory that if the elevator fell, I would have a 50 percent chance of being in the air when it hit the ground, and thus more likely to survive the fall.

13) What’s your favorite kind of gum? Bubble gum.

14) All’s fair in love and war? Nothing is fair. Life is not fair. There is no such thing as inherent fairness. It is all down and dirty.

15) Do you have a crush on anyone? My husband. If you can call a 30-year relationship a crush.

16) Do you know how to use some words correctly, but not know the meaning? I'm afraid so. It comes from reading a lot and being an overall smarty pants.

17) Do you like to sleep? When I am tired I do.

18) Do you know which US states don’t use Daylight Savings time? No. I could use a search engine and find out, I suppose, but where's the fun in that. I am guessing that Arizona is one. It seems like something Arizonians would do.

19) Do you know the words to the song Total Eclipse of the Heart?

Turn around. Every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears. Turn around. Every now and then I get a little nervous that the best of all the years have gone by. Turn around. Every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then and I see the look in your eyes. Turn around bright eyes! Every now and then I fall apart. Turn around, bright eyes! Every now and then I fall apart! And I need you now tonight, and I need you more than ever. If you'll only hold me tight, we'll be holding on forever.

I think that is a "yes." Or at least I know some of them. Now I have to go look the song up on youtube!

20) Do you want a bright yellow ‘06 mustang? Um. No. But I would love to have a brand new 2013 Toyota Camry SE, white with a gray interior.

This One and Precious Life

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild & precious life? - Mary Oliver

I have been thinking about the way I live my life. It is not unlike the way millions of other people live - I wake up, I shower, I work at something or another, whether that's my writing or my new work of teaching or cleaning the house. I fix meals and eat them, watch TV, and read books and magazines. I love on my husband. I fret and worry what I think is an inordinate amount over things that are out of my control, but I know many others who do that.

As I approach the half-century mark of my life, I must ask myself: what are you doing? What is the meaning of it all, the point of being? The reason for being here.

As I look around at my life and the society I live in, I see a lot of good. I see people helping one another, I see love and compassion. I see hugs and kisses, smiles and happiness. I also see a lot of greed, envy, and evil. I worry about the consumerist attitudes we have cultivated here in the USA - why does it always seem to be about things instead of about who we are?

I only have one life. It is mine to waste or use productively - and it is up to me to define both terms for myself. I mean, really, who cares how I spend my time? So long as I am not hurting anyone else, what does it matter if I clean the toilet today or tomorrow? Deadlines are artificial and generally not relevant to anything except perhaps an orderly mind. Saturday is house-cleaning day because it has always been house-cleaning day. But the world won't end - I won't end - if I don't vacuum every Saturday.

The things outside of me - my car, my house, my possessions - will remain when I am gone. They may eventually corrode and turn to dust, too, but the cup from which I drink my tea will be here long after I am gone.

When I move on to the next world, whatever that may be, I will take me with me the things in my head. My love, my thoughts, my hopes and dreams - these will go with me into that vast unknown. So too will any knowledge I have gained, the memories of my life, and the feelings I harbor. So to me it makes sense, then, to cultivate these things, not the external. For the external items will always be - but not those inner workings. They are mine, they are me, they are precious.

I think for this year a focus on the inner workings of me, this one, wild and precious life, might be in order. Maybe it is time to answer that question: what is the meaning of it all?

Thursday Thirteen #275

Today I offer up a list of ways to improve your writing.

1. Own your words. By this I mean use active voice. Instead of writing, The laundry, which was very dirty, was done by me, write this: I washed the clothes. They looked like my husband had wallowed in cow manure. Anytime you can end a sentence with "by the man" you can consider rewriting. Examples: The painting was done (by the man). The cat was fed (by the man). The beagle was beaten (by the man). Fix: The man created the painting. The man fed the cat. The man beat the beagle (and then I beat the man for beating the dog).

2. Write in pictures (or show don't tell). Write so that someone can visualize what you're seeing. This means using appropriate verbs, nouns, and adjectives. Example: I saw a car go down the road. Fix: I cringed when the black BMW zoomed past me, moving so fast that I thought it stripped the leaves from the trees.

3. Toss out the lazy verbs. All forms of "to be," "to get" "to want" and "to go" generally can be eliminated and replaced with stronger language. Check your sentences for words like am, was, is, were, been, get, getting, gotten, go, going, gone, want, and went and see if you can rewrite them into more dynamic lines. Example: I have been sick. Fix: My throat hurt. Or: I puked. See how vivid that is?

4. Don't overdo the "ly's". Most words that modify verbs end in "ly." These are words like quickly, hurriedly, slowly, sadly, etc. These adverbs, if used to excess, can weigh down your sentences. Example: I ran quickly into the store. Fix: I raced into the store. Example: I fell heavily to the ground. Fix: I dropped like a sack of flour to the ground.

5. Enjoy your likes and ases. The use of simile can help you write in pictures by bringing something to mind as a comparison. Similes employ like and as to good effect. Examples: She felt like Howdy Doody after her haircut.  The soup was as cold as a Popsicle, yet her mother expected her to eat it.

6. Make comparisons. Using metaphor, which is similar to simile, paints those word pictures. Example: This day is a circus, filled with color and sound, all because of the elections.

7. Do it in threes. When you're listing objects, making comparisons, or otherwise creating a set of something in a sentence, stop the list after three items. Then start a new sentence. Otherwise the sentences grow clunky.  Example: I listened as Sheryl played Bach, Beethoven, and Willie Nelson on the piano. Then she began to play jazz.

8. Don't repeat your words. It is easy to begin using the same adjectives or nouns in a paragraph or on the same page. Try to avoid such repetition. Example: He ran a little ways down the gravel road toward the house. The little shade allowed the sun to burn into his head, causing sweat to roll like gravel down his skull. In a little while, he knew, he would need to stop for water, but he wanted to reach the asphalt driveway first. Fix: He ran a short distance down the gravel road toward the house. The sun burned into his brain since there was no shade. Sweat poured from his crown to his neck. Soon, he would need to stop for water, but he wanted to reach the asphalt driveway first.

9. Cut unneeded words. Those "ly's" and other adverbs, descriptive adjectives that do not describe, etc.

10. Do not use cliche. Bummer. There goes the neighborhood!

11. Avoid the words "very" and "hopefully." Hopefully, you will see that these word uses can be very wrong.

12. Be concise.

13. Use a thesaurus.

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 275th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

Kakistocracy

This morning when I was reading my Facebook wall, I ran across a word I did not know.

Kakistocracy.

It means government by the worst persons or a form of government in which the worst persons are in power.

The comment was in reference to the current Congress, which I understand has the worst record of accomplishment of any Congress ever. What a terrible pronouncement upon these people who are supposed to be leaders of the nation.

Kakistocracy is right.

Another good word for the day is oligarchy. This is a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique, or government by the few.

That couldn't be the U.S., you might say. We voted and put these folks into power.

But if you look at all of the money poured into the elections, the power lies not with you and me, but with the folks with the dollars. These elections are bought and sold now, rather like a commodity among the shysters of Wall Street.

If you write your elected representatives, as I sometimes do, you will see from their responses that they are not listening. They respond back with form letters highlighting their (bought and paid for) party lines. You may as well not even bother to try to voice your opinion, for you are just shouting from the rooftops into the void. I do not believe any thing I have ever sent to a politician has been seriously reviewed. It's been looked at by some intern who glanced at the subject line and sent a form letter to my address.

The real sadness is that the electorate keeps voting the same people back into office. This is in a large part due to gerrymandering of districts, but also it is because there are no statesmen or women running for office. This is true even at the local level - the people who should be in charge are off doing other things, unwilling to get into a vicious public fight. I don't blame them. I have seen some mean and dirty stuff go on locally, and it is only worse at higher political levels.

Election reform remains at the top of the list of items that needs to be addressed if the country is to do anything other than continue its slide down to third-world status. Until we get better people in charge, there will be no substantive progress in any direction.

Kakistocracy is what we have, and that is what will continue.

I hope we try to change that in 2013.
 

Welcome 2013

Being old fuddy duddies, hubby and I slept in the new year. We went to bed at 10:15 and woke up about 6:30 this morning. We both slept in a little (he is usually up at 5 a.m.; I get up at 6 a.m.).

I had not planned to spend my day taking day Christmas decorations, but hubby was home and not doing much, so I put him to work. We rearranged the space in the spare room where I store things (which is also his office now), and we began the tedious process of putting glass in boxes and making sure precious cargoes are well-packed before placing things into storage for another 11 months.

Ah, it is so nice to have the space back. The tree is lovely but it takes up half of the living room.

At lunch, we had black-eyed peas. A friend insisted I eat these sometime today, so I bought a can of Luck's and heated them on the stove. I doused mine with ketchup and hubby doused his with pickle relish. He had two bowls so they must taste better with pickles than ketchup. I think black-eyed peas taste like dirt.

After that I have been piddling at the computer. What a time-waster this little box is. Between Facebook, reading blogs, reading email, playing solitaire, reading news articles, watching youtube videos, and listening to music, one need never leave a chair. If the thing would pop candy bars out for sustenance I suppose that would be all anybody would need. We could sit here and chat on Facebook for eternity, chowing down on Milky Ways.

I hope that you have a bountiful and beautiful 2013, dear reader. Thanks for sticking with me for the new year and what comes after. Hopefully I will post interesting things in the days to come.

Many blessings to you all.

Fare Thee Well, 2012

January 2012 rainbow

Last year came in with rainbows. I saw more rainbows in 2012 than I ever have in a single year. All were spectacular. How can you be anything but amazed when you see that line of color?

On this last day of  the year, I want to recap the highlights for me as I get ready to embrace 2013.

This new year will be a big one for me - I will turn 50 in June, and in November I will celebrate 30 years of marriage. So I am hoping for big things. At least a couple of celebrations, anyway.

This year ending was interesting. I graduated in May from Hollins University, receiving a masters of arts in liberal studies degree. I love education and going to classes was fun and interesting. Of all of my accomplishments this year, this one certainly stands out.

To graduate, I had to write a thesis, which I finished in late February. It was about 80 pages of creative nonfiction, which so far I have only shared with a few people. I am not sure what to do with it. Taking it out and thinking about some way to change it to a marketable piece is on my to-do list for 2013.

Other highlights: I returned to limited writing for The Fincastle Herald, the local weekly paper for which I used to write full time.This fall, I taught a class in journal writing through the local community college system. I also began revising a novel, a process that, alas, I stopped at Thanksgiving and did not resume. Perhaps this year.

My biggest concern for 2012 has been my health. I was frequently sick, and I developed arthritis in my feet that has kept me from exercising like I once was. I gave up on dieting, which was a mistake. My asthma issues preoccupied a great deal of my time early in the year, and in March my doctor and I tried a different sort of antibiotic therapy for my breathing issues which, remarkably, helped. My breathing numbers climbed 70 points on a peak flow meter, unheard of with other medications, and that was something to celebrate. I still have issues but not like I did, so that brought some relief.

I also developed a problem with my back, which I have not mentioned in my blog. I have a rib on my right side that keeps slipping out of place and stabbing me. This has resulted in numerous trips to the chiropractor to have the bone put back in. Finally in November I started seeing a physical therapist. This routine will continue into the new year and hopefully with some muscle building this will resolve itself.

And now I have a problem with my teeth, which inexplicably have started moving around and crowding. A molar is causing pain. I see dental work in my future for 2013. Apparently I will not turn 50 with any grace.

So looking forward, what does the new year hold, beside aging and a marriage milestone?

In late January, I will attend the Roanoke Writer's Conference again. I attended this last year, and I find it an interesting day. The event is held at Hollins University.

In March, I am scheduled to teach my journal writing class through the community college system again.

I plan to pick up some kind of fiction writing on January 2, and of course I must do my taxes between now and April 14.

Freelancing for the newspaper will continue, too, I suppose. I may attempt to freelance in other markets, perhaps writing creative nonfiction articles for different markets. We will see. To be sure, I would like to announce that I have found a part-time job somewhere. We'll see how it goes.

To the outgoing year, I say so long. You have been a somewhat painful reminder that I am no longer a sweet young thing, but instead am firmly entrenched in middle age and heading toward old. I am now the wise, ancient woman, and I hope to embrace this new role in the coming year. May 2013 be the year of the crone - the year the wisdom of the wise old women come to the fore.

The Christmas Rose

In mid-December, I noticed a rose trying to bloom on my bushes. It is very late for a rose to have any sort of bloom here in my part of the world

It had an odd shape, I presume because of the weather.

I did not expect it to bloom, especially after we had a cold snap that sent temperatures plummeting below freezing.

But on Christmas Day, the thing bloomed. It looked a little funny but it was there nonetheless.

Boxing Day Snow (12/26/2012)

Wednesday we woke to a ground covered with snow, sleet, and ice. It was our first snow of the winter season, only a few hours late for a white Christmas.

A mix of stuff fell from the skies still when I took these photos early in the morning.

You can see where the ice and slush gathered on the gravel driveway and in low spots on the ground.

Whose Woods these are I think I know . . .

I love my view out my front door, even when it is snowing so hard I cannot see my beloved mountains.

Nothing like the white on the green!

. . . He will not see me stopping here . . .

. . . to watch his woods fill up with snow.

Thursday we had a mix of sun and clouds. I took this shot and those that follow in the afternoon.

The sun was catching the gleam of ice and snow in the mountains.

It was magnificent.

Breathtaking, even.

*There are a few lines of Robert Frost's poem Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening in here.*

The Christmas Calf

As daylight broke Christmas Eve, my husband walked around the house (in the rain) with his muzzleloader. He is still hunting deer.

But instead of a deer, he found one of the cows had just recently given birth. He left to go get the tractor so he could take care of her, and I took these shots from the front porch before he came back.

You can still see the afterbirth. Sorry, not every picture from Mother Nature is clean and lovely.

The Fam at Christmas

Mother-in-law Eunice, Nephew Emory, Sister-in-law Jennifer

Nephew Chris

Sister-in-law Jennifer and Nephew Emory.

Chris and Emory. They are brothers. 

Chris, Emory, Jennifer

Chris

Nephew Trey

Niece Zoe.

Sister-in-law Dina, Mother-in-law Eunice, brother Loren, husband James

Same as above

We had several get-togethers over the holidays. My father and my step-mother came over Sunday evening. On Christmas Eve, I had visits from my friend Brenda, my aunt, Carolyn, and then my brother's family and my mother-in-law. On Christmas Day we gathered with the Firebaugh bunch over at the in-laws for presents and dinner. Almost need a day of rest from the cooking and holiday fun!

Thursday Thirteen

This is the last Thursday of 2012! Hard to believe. I thought I'd make a list of resolutions for 2013.

Some of these are carried over from last year, as I was not successful in everything. Actually, most things.

1. Write a big project. This might be a novel, or a nonfiction piece, or maybe my autobiography. In any event, something. Last year I wrote my thesis and received a master's degree. I don't have any such initiative going on this time around.

2. Teach another class at the community college. This fall I taught a noncredit class in journal writing. I enjoyed it and it was a big step forward in my personal growth, as it was something I had long wanted to do but had not. This course is actually already scheduled to begin in March. You can see the course listing here, and I suppose from there you can register. The easiest way to register is call Greenfield Education & Training Center - (540) 966-3984.

3. Consider finding a part-time job elsewhere. This could be a job "working for the man," as my husband calls a salaried position, or a strong return to freelancing, or adjunct teaching, or something I haven't even thought of yet. I had something similar on last year's list.

4. Lose weight. No need to say anything more about this. This was also on last year's list.

5. Find an organization to volunteer with. I spent 10 years volunteering as an appointed member of the county's library board, and I miss it. I enjoy doing things that help the community, so I will be looking for someplace to give of my time. We'll see what comes about. Also on last year's list.

6. Exercise. My exercise routine has been pathetic over the last year. For a long time I walked on the treadmill every single day, then I hurt my foot. Now I am lucky if I walk on the treadmill three times a week. Also on last year's list.

7. Keep my journal. This was on last year's list and I have done much better with it. So I want to continue this.

8. Write fiction. Maybe work on some of these half-finished novels and short stories. Also on last year's list.

9. Finish my local history things. I have started a couple of local history books and I have a local history blog. I need to work on all aspects of this. This project has languished for several years now and I want to finish it. Also on last year's list.

10. Organize the closets. We have lived in our house for 25 years. We have stuff crammed everywhere. I have slowly been tossing things but it seems more stuff comes in than goes out. I am interested in moving some things out of here, somehow. Also on last year's list.

11. Read the books in my to be read pile. I used to only have a couple of books in my to-read pile at a time; now I have shelves full of books that I want to read but seldom have time to get to. The pile only grew over the past year even though I read more than 50 books this year. I seem to have turned into a collector as much as a reader. Also on last year's list.

12. Learn website design. This is something I sort of know how to do but I don't know how to do it well. I would like to take a class or something. Also on last year's list.

13. Do something grand to celebrate the year. This year I turn 50 and I will celebrate 30 years of marriage. Seems like it would be a good year to celebrate, maybe all year long. Maybe I should do something one a week to acknowledge these milestones.

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 274th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.