Weekly on Wednesday

 

Bye, Bye, Birdies

Many years ago when I was much younger, my husband and I were looking at houses to buy. When checking out the kitchen, I opened a cupboard door. The inside was covered with pictures of birds, articles about birds, and information about feeders and seeds. We looked at one another, and laughed a little, because, obviously, this was a house that belonged to old people. Much older than us.

But now, I have noticed that I am very partial to birds. How does this happen? Is it a rite of passage to the world of Elderly? I think it must be. I notice that I am not alone. 

I enjoy a lot of British television, and I have noticed that birdwatching is often included in the plots. I did a little research and discovered there are three distinct varieties of people involved. They are the Birdwatchers, the Birders, and the Twitchers. 

The birdwatchers enjoy seeing birds in their natural habitat. They might like to take a little stroll and look for birds. Maybe they will take their cameras and binoculars, but basically they just want to enjoy the sights.

The birders want to take a little more time and equipment. They are ready to record every little detail, and maybe even report their findings to somewhere official.

And finally the twitchers. For these super explorers, it won't get much more serious. It sounds like they are on high alert most of the time, just waiting to find the best and most unusual of the species, and willing to travel miles to observe them. 

Of course, in my favorite British mysteries, someone is often likely to be murdered along the way!

In addition to the real thing, I notice lots of little birdies in my decorating style. When I look around my house, I see this:

I guess I started collecting pictures of birds without even knowing that it was happening

How could I resist this sweet little family?

I love these dishes. Unfortunately, I only have one lonely little saucer.

This charming little hat needed a bird. Many were endangered during the nineteenth century, when they became popular for millinery. The Audubon Society helped to protect them

More pictures!

Birdies hiding about the house.

There are many more, but I think I have proved my point.

Before we moved, we had two birdfeeders outside the kitchen window, and really enjoyed seeing our visitors. We left them for the new owners because our neighbor has countless feeders in his yard, so we get to watch them.

As with most items I keep, there are many legends about birds, and many stories about the things they mean. Goldfinches are bright and shiny messengers of good luck and optimism. Robins bring hope and synchronicity. Seeing a wren tells you that all is well and that your creativity is blooming. Sparrows signify love. Bluebirds are my favorite. They are associated with love, happiness, and harmony. They symbolize life and beauty. Cardinals often remind us that those we have lost are near.

Weekly On Wednesday

 

Weekly On Wednesday

Recently, I have been trying to put my life into a notebook. I feel like I need to have it written out, so that I can just look things up. The things I need to do, want to do, forgot to do, and will never do. Do other people get this feeling, or am I living just a little bit on the wonky side of life?

There was a time that I did many things. I raised five perfect children. I was the Queen of the Carpools. I kept everyone's schedules in my head and in my planner, and mostly got them all where they needed to be. I had a job that I loved. I made and sold creative things. I volunteered. I wasn't much of a cook, but I kept them all fed. Most of that was my husband's department. After all, we owned a restaurant. No one starved.

Now I have lots of time, and less to do. I feel like I am frittering it away because I don't know where the time goes. I just know that it goes much too quickly. That's why I'm working on the (book!) notebook. Throughout my life, I have kept several notebooks and journals, but purely in a disorganized, mismanaged way. Now I am going through these notebooks, and trying to make them all more coherent.  It may not happen as I plan. I have noticed that my thoughts haven't changed a lot in half a century of writing. I'm not sure if that is good or bad. I like the same things and I have the same faults and values. I am basically the same as I was as a young woman, except on the outside. (And that's another story.)

And that is one of the reasons I am going through all the writings. I  have mentioned before that I like to follow rules. But I have discovered that I am really not too good at following routines. When a routine changes, either for the better or the worst, everything falls apart. And then I need to make a new routine.

 I knew right where things were in the last six houses that I lived in. I love to label things and put them where they belong. In my favorite house I had the best cupboard ever. I bought it at an auction and it had 119 drawers. Unfortunately, it was too big for the room. We had to modify it into two pieces with shelves at the ends. And then we had it built in so I couldn't take it when I moved. That was supposed to be my forever home, but I have moved four times since then. I will always miss that house. I had over 300 drawers and several bookcases. I felt very organized.

John and I moved more than a year ago. We plan to be here until we are even more old and feeble. I love this house. It is a good place for us. We downsized a lot, which was a good plan. However, I am still looking for things. I used to know exactly where my Irish tea set was. And the battery charger to my dremel craft tool. And my spare set of car keys. And the notebook that listed what was in all my little drawers and boxes.  And all of my craft supplies. But now, there is chaos. Our lives have slowed down a lot but the days haven't and every day ends before I feel that I have conquered that chaos.

I still have a few of my labeled drawers. One is metal and I know John doesn't like it. But I think it's charming in an industrial sort of way.

Most of my things are in small boxes and drawers now, and I spend way too much time trying to find what I need. 

My dream is still to find the perfect cupboard again even though I know my dream should be to get rid of the things I like to put into drawers.

And It's May!

 

And It's May!

 

Sometimes I feel like I barely turn around and the season changes. May is only minutes away, but I feel like it shouldn't even be Spring yet. Time goes by so much quicker than it used to. I always thought that the days were supposed to stretch out as we got older. Maybe that is true if you are alone. John and I spend a lot of our time together, which is very nice, but I'm sure there were many more hours in the day when I was by myself for several years. We have been married for more than five years now, and it feels like only a minute. We've recently had a few health related kerfluffles, which always makes me feel like the Grim Reaper has my address. Nothing serious, but it makes me think about the future. I've decided to start curating info about vibrant, interesting, and active old people, and stop reading obituaries of unfortunate souls who are younger than I am. I don't know why, but my mind is jumping all over the  place tonight. There was a time when a friend told me I was on her list of unfortunate souls. Fortunately, I snapped out of it.

Changing the subject, I finally got the Easter (and Valentine and St. Paddy!) decorations put away, and a new wreath made for the door. This was quick and easy fabric strips puffed and tied on a wire frame. I added a lace and fabric bow, and glued on some carefully opened seed packets. I didn't want it too permanent because I plan to use the fabric for another project.

We sprinkled the seeds in various places around the yard. It's not exactly a flower garden, but I want blooms for cutting. The additional flowers and a small container for herbs will probably be the only additions this year. I am still hoping that my sense of smell will come back, but I am starting to feel that it won't happen. That takes away a lot of my enthusiasm for gardening. We do have several small areas of flowers. I've already brought in daffodils, and some beautiful pink ones that I haven't been able to identify. It is fun to move to a new house and to see what the previous owners left as a garden surprise. This will be our second summer here.

I just realized that it's May Day, and I should have made May baskets. I guess that is another example of time getting away from me lately. I am actually trying to incorporate a schedule into my life again. I used to live by my calendar. I'm really glad not to have to be so regimented, but I feel like I barely get things done and then the day is over. Right now I could be making baskets or I could be going to bed. An easy choice tonight. Goodnight all.

UNDECORATING

 

UNDECORATING

 The Twelve Days of Christmas are officially over on January the sixth. This is the traditional official time to put the holiday away. According to Irish custom, everything should be back to normal by that day. If it is all packed away by Epiphany, that brings good luck. I am all about the customs that promise luck.

I've been undecorating for the past several days. I saved the tree for today. I know a lot of people do it earlier, but I think it looks a little forlorn,  now that it is ready to be put downstairs in the storage area with all the boxes. Some want everything gone by December 26th. Since our celebrations are usually later, I don't think I could ever handle that. And to me, it just feels like much too soon. I really enjoy the decorations. I also enjoy the undecorating. I like packing every thing away in small boxes and big totes. I wrap a lot of the ornaments in tissue for safekeeping, and because it feels like a surprise when it's time to unwrap them. I enjoy that I have such a variety of ornaments, ranging from handmade for my first tree over fifty years ago, to ornaments from friends, and from places we've traveled, and ones that John and I have collected. This was our sixth Christmas together. Our decorated tree contains a lifetime story.

One thing left to do on January 6th is to put all the small nativity sets away. The Epiphany is the day to celebrate the arrival of the Three Kings. They are also called the Magi or Three Wise Men. It just doesn't seem right to put them away any earlier.

Another Irish custom that I've discovered is Nollaig Na mBan. This means "Little Christmas" or "Women's Christmas". Since January 6 is the end of all the Christmas cooking and decorating and undecorating, it's time for the women to finally take the day off. Organize a women's party or just a cup of tea and a visit with a friend.

Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow

 For days this quote has been going through my head, and I'm not sure why. I am not taking dance lessons or planning war strategies, or even watching old movies. Maybe it's telling me that I should be doing something of the sort. The most likely would probably be watching old movies. I found 32 places using the quote. And there were many versions on You Tube. Now it's probably going through your head too. 

I always thought this was all about the foxtrot, but it turns out that "slow, slow, quick, quick, is actually well known as an ancient Mongol war plan, courtesy of Ghengis Khan. It stands for Prepare (slow), Deceive (slow), Distract (quick), and Surprise (quick). If that doesn't tell us something about 2020, then nothing I can think of does! I don't know if I am ready for any more surprises!

I guess this is how life seems to be going for many of us lately. Long, lazy days when I feel that I haven't accomplished anything, mixed with super busy times when everything seems to be going by too quickly. I don't remember a year when so many people were confused enough to have to ask what day it is. Now I seem to hear it from someone every time I go out. So many of us are working at home or not working at all anymore. Calendars that don't get used and appointments that are forgotten are normal. I am glad to not have children at home. I could never remember all the different forms of in-school, home-school, online school, no school options that everyone has now. 

So many of us have changed our plans and have put a lot of things on hold. The biggest difference for us was that there wasn't an Iowa State Fair in August. John's family have owned Lemonade and Foot Long hot dog stands at the fair since his grandmother started them in 1948, over 70 years ago. This was the year I would have been an official part of this family tradition. Hopefully, I'll get my Lemonade t-shirt next year.

Months ago I thought I would probably be going to England in September. Of course, that will not be happening this year. I can't go anywhere until I get my name changed on my passport. Just one more thing I keep forgetting to add to my mostly empty calendar.

My favorite happening this year was getting my cozy little cottage. I truly love "Second Story Cottage" and our own second story.

On a dare, I'll take this dance

Slow, slow, quick, quick, 

Magic and Wit

Now we glide across the floor

Slow, slow, quick, quick.

I wanted more.

Slow, slow, quick, quick

We were lucky to meet.

Now I feel complete

(words from one of the You Tube variations)

 

Second Story Cottage

 It's official! I have a name and a sign. Special thanks to my lifelong friend, Donna, for painting my sign. You may have noticed that this building is a one story structure. But for us, this is our second story, so it seems very appropriate. Last October, while on our honeymoon, we stumbled upon one of my favorite bookstores. It is in Laramie, Wyoming, and is called "The Second Story", because it is located upstairs in an historic building.  I wrote about it before, when I first fell in love with it. What could be more fascinating than an old bordello converted to a book shop. Shenanigans and Stories, how perfect is that? We went back in December and visited again. This was when we had to retrieve the car which had been in Wyoming since the transmission failed. Really, it was a total bit of serendipity that made this name happen. Sort of like our whole relationship.

The Cottage has been evolving, and I am sure it will change a lot after I use it more. I still have several more pictures to hang on the walls. I have already changed out some of the furniture. I am trying not to have it be too crowded, but I'm not sure if that is possible.

At first I had a nice old 1940's style desk in this spot. I liked it so much that I wanted to put it in the front room of the house as my computer desk. It looks great in the house, and I use it every day. On our trip to Clear Lake for my birthday, we found this perfect drop leaf table. It's very narrow, but when a leaf is up, there is lots of space for crafting and writing.

I have a very fitting pillow for the chair. I also have a cute little dragonfly door knocker, and a pineapple Welcome flag outside. All gifts with special meanings. 

I have done a little sewing. I can keep an amazing amount of supplies hidden behind the curtains in the storage area. I am trying to use the cottage for writing, machine sewing and paper journaling projects. I want to keep hand sewing in the house. I do like to stitch while I binge watch tv.

And here's a little reminder from Jane Austen.  "Completely and Perfectly and Incandescently Happy" A few years ago I was sure that I would never be happy again. And look at me now. I am living my second story.