Tag Archives: winter

dispatch from a northern weekend

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Seeking the snow last weekend, our first stop was my mom’s house – almost 4 hours north, on the west side of the state. Snow was knee-high (conservative estimate). Brandon and I woke up Saturday morning to run the Betsie Bay Frozen 5k, which is one of my favorite events. It hasn’t been run since 2020, before the world shut down. In the olden days I would have posted a full separate race recap with my time but in today’s world, post-50 years old, having survived a pandemic, menopause, teenage kid years, the Orange Menace and his Nazi cohorts attempting to ruin democracy as we know it, and various other life events, just getting out there and running it is enough.

We then drove 2 hours further north, to the village of Walloon Lake, which is most famous for being young Hemingway’s Michigan playground. We found a historical marker, and there’s a statue of him somewhere around, but the wind was blowing fine snow into whiteout conditions everywhere so we gave up looking. Instead, we skied at Boyne Mountain (the kid snowboarded) and enjoyed our perfect little Vrbo. As we get older, my ability to stay in a hotel has decreased significantly. I hate being cheek to jowl with mass humanity, having to either pay for every meal and snack or rely on hotel coffee and crumpled snack bags. Give me an AirBnB or a Vrbo every time. I know they’re wreaking havoc on small communities but selfishly I want exactly what we had this weekend. Which was a cozy cottage on a private lot with a fireplace, hot tub, separate bedrooms for us and the kid, a beautiful living space and kitchen, fully appointed. We cooked, we had good coffee, we had a fire, we watched movies, read books, I knitted, and we had privacy. I threw caution to the wind and ate what I wanted to eat, drank Horny Monk from the Petoskey Brewing Company, and made a fool out of myself on the slopes. (I fell. A lot.) The snow was almost claustrophobic – piled higher than street signs and just continually sifting down. The drifts outside the Vrbo were up to the windows with paths cut into them to access doors and the driveway – if you don’t have a snowplow or a snowblower running constantly, you would have big trouble.

All in all, it was a perfect swift getaway with my two favorite people. The world is hard right now and being away for a bit is a luxury. We don’t have a lot of travel planned for the year, so the times we do have together will be all the more important.

carnival of sorts – friday five

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  1. Inauguration. The Trump train rolled noisily into Washington with their toots and whistles and backfiring pickup trucks and a predictably low class display of capering. Like a carnival of the bizarre and deeply stupid, in its wake it trailed a dribble of toadie weirdos running the gamut from Proud Boys to Nazi tech bro oligarchs glitching out from their boutique drugs to MAGA fembots wearing lingerie to the Rotunda. The yokels outside with faces pressed against the glass were festively adorned with their cult leader’s name and face on their polyester (made in China) shirts and hats and waving their lil flags. God Bless GW, Bill and Hillary for a few unguarded moments of uncontrollable merriment over some of the more gauche and ludicrous aspects of this spectacle (never in a million years pre-MAGA did I think that I would ever have cause to utter the words “God bless GW” but here we are). It’s going to be a long four years watching this gang of thieves mugging for the cameras while they grab all they can with both grubby fists. Luckily, if the Orange One’s prior administration is any indication, they’ll start turning on each other sooner rather than later and then there will be something to see besides bullies and tackiness.

2. Seems like a good time to pull this out of the archives.

3. To round out my political content, it feels like there are a lot of folks out there who could use a reminder about what throwing a Nazi salute actually means.

4. Moving on. In other news. Polar vortex – the beginning of the week was pretty freaking cold. The kid didn’t have school for two days due to wind chills (what do they do in Alaska, I wonder? Or Minnesota?). I got my office days out of the way early in the week and it was really good to stay in my shearling slippers and fleece leggings the remainder of the week. I usually feed the wild birds and squirrels once a day (and keep a heated bird bath full of clean water available) but when the weather is this cold I fill the feeders as often during the day as they empty, and throw out lots of peanuts. The little guys can use as much help as they can get.

(This not so little guy needs not as much help.)

5. In lieu of watching the news (see number 1) we have been diving deep into the DVR. Brandon always has a massive selection of old movies to pick from. Among other things, we watched a silent film from the great Buster Keaton, “Sherlock, Jr.” It was a masterpiece of comedy and the quality of the 2015 restoration was incredible – crystal clear. I am not usually drawn to movies that old but this one was an absolute gem and what he was able to achieve with film at that time is nothing short of genius. And while I know that his path was a difficult one, may I say that in my estimation, young Buster was kind of a hottie.

Onwards. Keep the faith and as my higher power reminded me this week in a moment of meditation, render unto Caesar.

(Post title based on this fantastic track.)

huzzah! christmas 2024.

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We had a really good Christmas Eve followed by our Christmas and birthday celebration for our Christmas babe Brandon but as usual I’m now ready for it to be done and put away. I’m going to squash that urge until New Year’s Day, however.

We watched three different versions of “A Christmas Carol” (Albert Finney, George C. Scott, and the Muppets). We ate tenderloin and burned Twisted Peppermint candles and the kid made an enormous birthday cake liberally decorated with sprinkles and buttercream and on Boxing Day we saw our big budget Christmas movie of choice “Nosferatu” (yep) and ate a square ton of buttered popcorn and I went to bed feeling sick and full as a tick.

(“Nosferatu” was interesting. I suppose I was expecting it to be a straight Dracula retelling but over our brewery dinner debrief, Brandon educated me that the original version was actually a ripoff of Bram Stoker, which explained the changes (England to Germany, different character names, some characters changed, amalgamated or removed altogether, etc.) I enjoyed all the key performances- Lily-Rose Depp gave an impressive turn in a role that was originally intended for Anya Taylor-Joy and showed she’s more than a nepo baby. I thought she was eerily reminiscent of Keira Knightley. Nicholas Hoult was also impressive (hard to forget, though, that he was the gawky kid from “About a Boy” and quite goofy in The Great (HUZZAH)) and Willem Dafoe always serves. Bill Skarsgård was a fine Count Orlak although in certain lights he sort of seemed like a demonic Omar Sharif as Zhivago and I’d kind of like to see him take on a totally different role next time – how about a romantic lead? I think he’s playing the Crow soon so that may scratch that itch.)

This morning we were up early to take Brandon to the airport as he’s headed out for a weekend with family. After I got home from the airport drop I got out for a three mile run. It’s mild and damp here in Southeast Michigan and the dark-eyed winter junco birds don’t quite know what to do with themselves. I came home with mud splattered up to my calves; I made more coffee, had a hot shower, got back into pajamas, and pulled out my old copy of “The Gentle Art of Domesticity” and my knitting.

I am looking forward to being full feral while he’s gone. There’s always the niggling feeling that I should be participating in some form of capitalism during this time off but for once in my life I’m going to ignore that. There’s a frozen pizza in the freezer, I have a ton of Vlogmas to catch up on, the kid has soccer and mall returns and exchanges, and I’d like to finish one more book in 2024*. I need to make progress on knitting my Christmas socks before I get sick of Christmas colors! There will be time to catch up on emails and bills next week, move into my 2025 Hobonichi, and feel dissatisfied that I haven’t monetized any hobbies. In the meantime, as Nicholas Hoult would say whilst playing one of his other acting roles, huzzah!

*Stay tuned next week for my Big Book Recap of 2024 which may or may not be interesting to fellow book lovers!

happy solstice

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I usually like to celebrate the winter solstice with some sort of outdoor activity- a walk in the woods, a run, a hike – but today we hosted my best friend and her husband for a solstice brunch. I’m officially off now until 2025 and ready to go into full goblin mode but seeing my best friend (since the age of seven) and exchanging our small heartfelt gifts was so deeply good for my soul.

I’m not the best hostess but this morning I think the brunch was perfect. I served this frittata (made with mushrooms, sausage, onions and cheddar jack cheese) and this baked French toast with fresh fruit, bacon, and scones and of course had pots of fresh hot coffee. We ate in the pale solstice light with candles and Christmas carols on the radio and laughed and swapped stories. It was a great way to celebrate the return of the light and the turn of that greatest old wheel.

the crazy between-time

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Thanksgiving came and went and we are plunged into that crazy time-between.

It was a busy week. Work is always hectic at this time of year. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it here, but my wonderful manager left Widget Central* in September and since then, I’ve been wearing many hats. As the “legacy” member of our regional team, despite my lack of interest in working more, being recognized or promoted, or “getting to the next level”, I’ve organically been slotted into a de facto leadership role. It’s not super comfortable for me but I’ve been in the department for sufficient time to know how certain things should go. I can keep the lights on and provide some stability for my younger team members from Japan, Mexico, and Brazil for the time being. This week was all about intense negotiations to conclude a major contract, researching some new opportunities that bear some potential risk, responding to many inquiries and requests, monthly reports, redlining new contracts and preparing for and presenting at a Committee meeting. My work and calls ended well after 5 yesterday. I have 9 working days left this year although I’m sure there will be emails and calls while I’m technically on vacation and that’s okay if it makes coming back in January less onerous.

The boy cats had vet appointments (Emmett has a mild ear infection and has to have a dental cleaning and possible extraction in January) and on Thursday night I drove the kiddo and another young lady from our neighborhood to their EMS Cadet training. The kiddo has been very locked in to her schoolwork this year and has developed a strong interest in the medical field. She is participating in HOSA (an extracurricular organization for health care students). And the EMS Cadets are a fairly intense bimonthly training in which they learn the ins and outs of emergency medical care. Next year they will actually be doing ride-alongs with Superior Ambulance, although not in Detroit proper. She was named Sergeant of her Cadet class this week and issued her fluorescent orange polo, stethoscope, flashlight and blood pressure cuff and I almost died of pride right there on the spot.

I don’t mind taking her to the trainings because I log onto my computer, settle into the lounge, get an extra two hours of uninterrupted evening work done, and the EMS staff has a popcorn machine and they always make fresh hot popcorn for us…they are funny and welcoming folks.

Now on Saturday, the weather in SE Michigan is still cold and blustery. Brandon put up the Christmas tree last night and although tonight is the town holiday parade and tree lighting at the Governor’s mansion, we are all exhausted. The kiddo has been at a HOSA competition all day after a late night indoor soccer game last night. Brandon is on the couch sleeping in front of football and I’m just as happy to sit on the couch in the back room in front of the fire and watch Vlogmasses on YouTube. The cats have forgiven us for the vet visit and I am trying to finish knitting a pair of mittens to donate to Mittens for Detroit.

Wherever you are, I hope you are happy and healthy and surrounded by kindness and good people. xoxo

*Annual disclaimer that workplace name has been changed for general anonymity.

the hibernation time

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Collage / Pinterest

The clocks have been turned back and the days are growing short and dark. I have a lot of appreciation for this quiet, internal season and it doesn’t bother me – I find late winter to early spring much more difficult, and actually dislike the very long days of summer when it doesn’t get dark until 9 or 10 – but this time of year is hard for a lot of people including my kiddo. There’s an inevitable drop in mood and energy once the gloom of deep fall descends and warmer weather activities wind down. I think it’s important to lean into it and find the enjoyment as much as possible.

  1. We stock up on firewood and have frequent small fires even if it’s not super cold outside. We have multiple fuzzy blankets and lots of candles, both traditional and battery-operated pillars on a timer. I deeply enjoy the feeling of flickering warm light and indoor cozy as the dark presses against the windowpane.
  2. I use a “happy lamp” at my work from home desk and encourage the kiddo to use hers, too. Last year she didn’t use it as much as I would have liked so this year I’ll continue to gently coax her.
  3. We stay on top of our vitamin supplements and try to eat healthy, seasonal foods. I love root vegetables and all kinds of squash. I drink much more hot tea and stock up on several favorites. (Special mentions: Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Sunset, Republic of Tea Caramel Apple, Sleepytime, Constant Comment, Yogi Tea Positive Energy Sweet Tangerine, Tazo Glazed Lemon Loaf, Tea Haus Roasted Almond fruit tea, and lots of green tea bags for the afternoon lull.)
  4. We try to clean and organize our spaces before winter arrives so we can have the mental calm of being organized and peacefully orderly in addition to cozy. (This means the kiddo and I have to do a big decluttering of her bedroom.)
  5. Get outside. This is probably the most important one for me. No bad weather, only bad clothes. Going outside even when the weather is blustery or damp – this is medicine. I’ve invested in some great Smartwool outdoor accessories- headband and neck gaiter – and the proper footwear and some cozy mittens I knitted. Sometimes having a nice selection of outerwear can really help motivate me to get outside. I tell myself that I’m just going around the block and usually once I’m out I want to go farther. I love the look of early winter and love the feeling of being a singular small person in a vast landscape of grey sky. I love the dim, flat quality of the light and the smell of leaves and cold wind. I love the wheeling birds and the rain that strips the foliage from the branches. And I love coming home to a warm bright home when I am done.
  6. Get activity. This can go hand in hand with number 5 and running and trail running are my favorite ways to accomplish this, but I’ve also started incorporating more treadmill walks – even short ones – and short kettlebell workouts. I’ve never liked strength training but the kettlebell is fun and I’ve stuck with it for longer than I expected, moving up to a 20-lb for my deadlifts and swings.
  7. I invest way more time into the hobbies I am passionate about. I pick my knitting projects and have several going at once and have also started cross-stitching in recent years. I have lots of books on my library Kindle hold and make regular trips to my brick and mortar library too. I also make candles as Christmas gifts and for our own personal use.
  8. We have traditions to look forward to. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I look forward to running our Turkey Trot that morning. On Black Friday we ice skate at Campus Martius or go to the massive used bookstore in downtown Detroit, John King, followed by greasy fries and cold beverages at Checker Bar. We do Advent calendars during December and have a Christmas Carol movie marathon.
  9. Go on an adventure. I find this time of year to be very well suited for donning a woolen cloak and hood, strapping a silver dagger to my belt, packing a saucepan and bedroll and setting off on a sturdy, shaggy pony over moors, hills, and shire to battle the forces of evil or seek a fine reward.

I am not a toxic positivity person so I also try to realize that it’s okay to have some down days, feel sad, depressed and / or uncomfortable. This is part of being human and the dark and light go hand in hand. I just also try to remind myself (and my kiddo) that we have tools in our toolbox to take care of ourselves and usher ourselves and each other through those times and hopefully make them a little better.

I hope wherever you are, you are looking forward to a safe and peaceful November, in spite of external factors like weather (and the US election if you are in the US). Be well and enjoy this season of hygge.

gentle january

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I read the post Gentle January on Joy the Baker and it really spoke to what I feel like I need this January. In Michigan, Januaries (and Februaries and Marches and sometimes Aprils) are hard. We gain back almost an hour of daylight this month, but the weather is at its grim best. The wind bites, the trees shiver under an endless slate-grey sky, and the sun doesn’t appear for days. Or weeks.

And everywhere, the holidays are over. There seems to be nothing to look forward to and everything that I put off in December has now come home to roost. What is cozy and hygge in early December, in the glow of candles and lights and presents and piles of good eats, is merely bleak midwinter in January.

All too often I’ve gotten up on January 1 and brutally forced myself to confront the real world, but one that is more harsh and full of deprivation that my typical ‘real world’. I go on a diet, I go on a budget, I set new work goals and exercise goals and then wonder why I spend January vacillating between grumpiness and despair.

This year, even before I knew about the concept of gentle January, I was organically embracing it. The truth is that I’m sick of lashing myself with a whip of self-directed “I really shoulds” and “I really need tos”. I would say I’m too old for that but that’s a thought that seems to go along more with my old self. Instead, maybe I’m just now at a point where I’m ready to meet myself where I am and be accepting, rather than self-critical.

Yes, I’m trying to get more movement but not only because of the number on the scale. It gives me joy and helps my mental health exponentially. I’m leaning into supportive and motivational online communities and using it as a time to be mindful and reflective. Yes, I’m back to work, and I’d absolutely prefer to be done with corporate life – but I long ago reconciled myself to the necessity of it and I try to enjoy the process and the people, and have gratitude for what it gives me. Yes, I am being more conscious of what I put into my body but I can do it in a way that feels rewarding and nurturing rather than restrictive and punitive.

We greeted this season as many do, by decluttering the holiday fluff. We took the Christmas stuff down and while we were at it, we “audited” all of our holiday decorations, garlands, lights and wreaths. We streamlined the number of bins and now we have a big pile for donations. This was a great idea that I got from Benita Larsson and her Scandi-enjoyable vlog. And the process gave Brandon major joy since he is the self proclaimed reincarnation of an English butler.

I’m embracing early bedtimes and hot tea. When I feel down in the mornings, I turn on my “happy lamp” for awhile and experience a perceptible pick-up. I’m experimenting with new recipes and mocktails. I’m using that feeling of wistfulness when the early darkness comes on as an excuse to get out for an eleven minute walk. Then I come home and take a hot bath with some scented Epsom salts and slather on a good thick lotion. Sometimes my walks are longer (like when I want to check out the offerings in one of the multiple Little Free Libraries in my area) and sometimes I do them at lunch, if there’s a chance I can get a glimpse of sunshine. (On those days, I always see other sun-seekers out, too. I never realized how many walkers there are in my neighborhood during the day. And when there’s sun, there are always a few of us paused along our routes with our faces lifted up to catch the light, eyes closed in full enjoyment.) Sometimes I can even convince a reluctant teen to come with me and share a bit of what she is thinking about lately.

The cold weather has also allowed me to develop a minor obsession with merino wool. I’ve known about merino wool for a long time, being a knitter, but I had no idea what a luxurious splurgy yet totally practical joy merino wool is in garments. IT’S NOT ITCHY! I am collecting it gradually and breaking my bank on it but hopeful that the pieces I’m acquiring – a headband, a neck gaiter, leggings, base layers for running, and of course socks – will serve me for years to come. I’d love to get a dress someday although I am very leery about ordering it online because my figure would definitely require try-ons. I do, however, love reading the challenges that people do where they pick a piece and wear it for 30 or 100 days (I love a good capsule wardrobe and checking out other people’s styles).

Hopefully you are all finding ways to show love to yourself too, and be gentle in January at the start of 2024.

seasonal greetings

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some seasonal highlights

If I make any NY resolutions this year, more regular blogging and manicures will both make the list. I hope you’re enjoying your holiday season – depending on where you are, the dark season of short days, the hygge season, that weird time between Thanksgiving and the December holidays.

Brandon is home now for the remainder of 2023. He has been splitting his time between work weeks in Iowa and weekends back home, and the travel is pretty tiring for him. It’s hard for me to have him away, but I really try to just be supportive and love the time together. I think the biggest challenge for me is getting through a long week and having the weekend and Brandon arrive and being just drained of energy- he wants to connect and immerse himself in our relationship and family and I just want to be alone and still. But we have been together for six and a half years now and we understand what recharges each of us – and how those things are different- and make allowances.

And in the time he’s away, I’ve been trying to maximize time with my daughter. We go to the gym, get Panera for dinner, and watch trashy television in my bed. She is fifteen now and I know that these moments are going to become increasingly hard to come by as she grows up and away. She also suffers from a bit of seasonal depression (and currently some pitched battles with her Honors Chemistry classwork) so I think she needs and appreciates extra mom time.

As for me, I find myself just limping into the homestretch until I can take a week off between Christmas and New Year. The weather has been depressing – mild and grey, with no sign of snow, which rings alarming bells of climate change and global warming. At this time of year, work is very busy with many contract renewals and negotiations so I find myself speaking to / dealing with more people, inside and outside of my company, which drains my introvert battery. There are also more social obligations – holiday gatherings, dinners and lunches, band concerts, last-minute dentist and doctor and vet and orthodontist appointments. And the kid’s indoor soccer games every weekend.

I am knitting on a few different items and working on several cross-stitch projects that I pick up and put down. My Christmas shopping is more or less finished, but I do need to make a final candle to tuck into my bestie’s stocking. We are making our menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (which is also Brandon’s birthday). And otherwise just trying to light a lot of candles, go to bed early, and take it one busy day at a time.

friday files – weather and likes / dislikes this week

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We’re getting long stretches of mild and uninspiring weather here in SE Michigan – no snow, no sun, not much except a cool grey damp. Is this climate change in action? Winters of my childhood seemed much different, with snow so deep we could dig igloos and tunnels in it, elementary school lockers crowded with wet-smelling coats and mittens, clumping home in moon boots that leaked and had to be lined with bread bags. Regardless, it makes running outside feasible so I’m hoping my January running will be much better than the last 2 years (I don’t think I did more than 10 total miles in January in 2021 and 2022).

A few good things this week: The Elvis birthday movie on Saturday night was everything we hoped it would be – a true Elvis / Colonel Tom Parker stinker called ‘Spinout’. No real plot to speak of, disjointed and ill-timed music numbers (one of which was called ‘Smorgasbord’, which referred to all of the women that Elvis’s character liked to enjoy being a single swinger). We chatted with the theater owner for awhile after the show and recommended ‘Clambake’ for next year’s offering.

My boss and I were finally in the office at the same time this week and she gave me a Christmas present – the Five Minute Journal. My boss is pretty amazing and always thinks of me around the holidays, usually with a nice bottle of champagne. But for a journal geek like me, this gift was perfect. I’m really looking forward to spending some time with it. This will be the 3rd journal / planner I keep – I have a Hobonichi Techo for my personal / family life, a five year journal that I’m 3 years into, and now this.

Other likes: ‘Pale Blue Eye’ on Netflix, which we’re about halfway through – massive shout out that Edgar Allan Poe is played by Dudley of Harry Potter film fame which is an almost unbelievable transformation. My work pants still fit (barely). I’ve been watching a lot of homesteading channels on YouTube (recently just found Little Spanish Farmstead and Hannah Lee Duggan).

two weeks in a row of painting my nails!
I don’t even know who I am anymore!

Dislikes this week: I picked up “Livid”, the new Patricia Cornwell, off my library reserve list and so far it is a dud. I’m going to keep going with it but this is a disappointment, since I really enjoyed the last one. MTC on this but so far this is just an ‘everyone is part of a massive conspiracy out to get Scarpetta’ and those are so tiring. I have to go for an ortho consult on Monday because my bite is so bad that my teeth are loose and some are chipping and my dentist can’t do Invisalign out of his office, he has to outsource me due to the complications.

The weekend will be quiet with the kiddo preparing for final exams and Brandon still on a six day work schedule. I hope everyone is able to recharge and enjoy!