Friday, April 08, 2022

You Are Not Alone

Good Morning. Forecast says today's high temperature will be 90 degrees Fahrenheit, or 32.22 Celsius. It was at least the same, yesterday. Fortunately, it all cools down, again for the rest of the week. The hot days are uncomfortable, emotionally, as well as physically. I was about to link to the article, out this week, about the new IPCC report and how people are a factor in climate mitigation. Oddly, though the subject is urgent, pressing, I can't even bring myself to read more than the headline. News Flash: The Earth is in crisis and we, People, aren't doing enough to turn things around. It's too hot to rally. Also, I've alloted myself 25 minutes to sit in the cool, dark office, musing about any old thing, before I go back into the kitchen with the special spray bottle of UnGoo solution. Last night I tackled about 45% of the cabinets and both windows, unGooing all I can.
Pictures from my brother's BVI vacation keep loading into my computer. I guess that's something Whatsapp does? It's ten degrees cooler in Road Town, British Virgin Islands than here at the Bird House... in case you were wondering. What I have been wondering is... will we take a vacation this year?
I feel the draw, the wanderlust, somewhere in my being, to travel, to get away, but home still feels like the safest bet. I won't deny I am (have become moreso) increasingly cautious. Overcautious? It's not something I am enjoying... being worried, trying to think of every possible red flag for possible concerns. I think my over-thinking is a red flag. A warning sign that we should definitely take a vacation, switch things up, make an adventure, get away.

Oh, hey, the comments, on the last post, those were helpful. I was really touched by them. They felt like an open window, a stirring breeze. Thank you. I should take key words from those comments, and have them embroidered on pillows, framed and hanging around the home, so I can be reminded... of their wisdom, encouragement, and that I am lucky enought to know some caring, supportive people. Thank you! I have been re-reading your wise words, and kind, encouraging messages. I want to take them to heart, and be mindful.

Imagine these neatly stitched on soft linen, framed, and hung on the wall beside a shelf of fresh cut flowers. The shelf might be dusty, there could be a stash of laundry on the floor beneath, but take these words to heart, and...

Be Gentle With Yourself

You Are Not Alone

It's The Lovely People In Your Home That Family Are Coming to See

And this. This advice resonates with me. It's simple and I can appreciate that it would work for me, and it also pushes me to level up to match my thinking with my actions, by being consistent, diligent, even if in small increments. Laura Bray wrote, "For me, the trick to my homemaking has been to keep myself from doing too much at once. I put on a timer for one hour, two or three days a week, tackle one area, and when the timer goes off, I walk away. I just keep cycling through my home, focusing on one area each week, so I know I will get back to whatever I didn't finish. It's surprising how quickly things become "ship shape" this way." This! I want to adopt this habit, internalize this practice, and as I re-read it over and over, it is feeling like an affirmation, encouraging, wise, good.

Bird House Notes: My blogging timer is up, now I am going back to wiping down cabinets and degunking surfaces. And I am setting a timer for those activities, too. So, the question remains... what restful, distracting, amusing, engaging activity will I enjoy between window cleaning, and tackling laundry? April 8, 2022

9 comments:

Ruth said...

Your entryway looks so inviting and pretty now. For what it's worth, I try to do one odious household task a day. It doesn't work that well, because it's all pretty odious, to me anyway, but you know, as we get older, we wait until the offensive substance is looming larger than life and is visible to the naked eye, then we sweep it up with a paper towel attached to the bottom of the foot (to reduce need to bend over). It's the total effect that counts.

Katie said...

Your flower gardens are so lovely. I can't wait until my own come alive for the year!

You got some great advice. I love setting a timer and just doing what I can in that time period, as well. And you are absolutely not alone - your last post reminded me so much of my own struggles with trying to keep a clean house.

Nicole said...

Oooh, look at those FLOWERS!

90 degrees is pretty hot for April, isn't it? We have the opposite thing going on here, this week is going to be barely above zero, with nighttime lows of minus 8 or 9 Celsius. Wouldn't it be nice if we could split the difference?

I'm glad you have found those words helpful. It's one of the best things about being part of the blog community - there are so many wonderful people out there.

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Thank you, Ruth.The entry has been due for a refresh, and I am glad you appreciate the difference. Yesterday Alex hung up a plate rack for me, and I think it is looking even more inviting. An odious job each day... like the timer tip, sounds simple and wise. I just signed our tax returns... does that count??

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Katie, I just went in that big garden bed to deadhead flowers, and pull weeds... it's as thick as a jungle in there! I love it, but I have to admit there is some appeal to having a season of snow, when no weeds, no mosquitos, and no gophers are anywhere in sight!

Your profile pictures shows that sweet baby, and I am guessing you are a young/new mom? I think if I were starting over, with babies, and some inkling of how that all goes... I would clean when possible, but absolutely worry at least half as much about it, because there are only so many hours in a day, and if you are lucky, you can enjoy as many as possible with the little ones!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Oh, Nicole, I think 90 degrees is hot for any month. For April? It's ridiculous! But maybe I am better prepared for 90 degrees than freezing! Wow! I am sorry Spring is coming so slowly to your part of the world. All I can think is that you will be so very ready to appreciate every bit of sunshine, warmth, new leaf bud, and flower that appears, and I hope that is all coming to you very soon!
And yes, cheers and gratitude for the wonderful people we find in the blog world.

Laura Bray said...

I am honored that my advice resonated with you. Let me know if it works for you. I completely understand what you are saying about vacation. I'm in the same boat. In fact, I'm even struggling with going out in general. I think my introverted self is really fighting the idea. Today, I have a writing date with a friend at a local French cafe nearby. Wish me luck!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Laura Bray... setting a timer and tackling jobs a bit at a time is helping. What I need to do is keep the plan, the discipline, fresh in my mind, and remember to apply it regularly, diligently.
How did your writing date go? I hope it was good enough to inspire you to make more dates, see more friends. Regular, small steps, right?

lilysgrannie said...

I miss your blog posts and hope all is okay.