Slush is predicted for sometime today. Is Mother Nature playing a trick on us? Is she bringing back memories of the worst winter I can remember? I'm one who normally likes winter....but last year, even I was complaining. I was thinking this morning, as I peered out the window....watching for "slush"...... am I ready for this cold weather to start? Are things around the house done...to prepare for this? What is left to do? Here's my list....with a few chuckles from me this morning.
Are the closets ready? Turtlenecks, thick sweaters, sweats, coats, hats, boots, scarves, winter robe, the list goes on and on. Did I mention scarves??? I'm always knitting a scarf....should I make more? Slippers and long nightgown. Heavy socks.
(All this heaviness of clothing reminds me of my children. The last one, John, was always dressed with thick clothes. He looked like the Michelin Man. He couldn't bend over. What was I thinking? Just wanted him to be warm. )
On with the list.....
(All this heaviness of clothing reminds me of my children. The last one, John, was always dressed with thick clothes. He looked like the Michelin Man. He couldn't bend over. What was I thinking? Just wanted him to be warm. )
On with the list.....
Reading material....are my fall and winter books stacked and ready by my fireside chair? Is my winter afghan on the back of said chair? Where is that heated throw...a Christmas gift from John last year? Fall candles, potpourri, fall decor etc.
I mentally move into the kitchen. The freezer is getting low. Do we have enough canned soup? Hot chocolate and marshmallows ready? My head cold things.....chicken broth, ginger and lemon tea, lemons, cream of wheat, jello.
Winter cookbooks are ready on the shelf....for comfort foods. Casseroles, baked vegetables, soups and stews, hot beverages....and some new recipes to try.
Winter cookbooks are ready on the shelf....for comfort foods. Casseroles, baked vegetables, soups and stews, hot beverages....and some new recipes to try.
We got our flu shot and I must stock up on cough medicine, ricola lozenges, and vicks. Toss out the old and start anew.
My head is spinning...
Now the bedroom..... flannel sheets, cozy comforter, extra pillows, heat adjusted, boxes of tissues. (Did I say flannel sheets? Last year I bought some sheets from QVC. They are a soft polar fleece sheet. I don't normally like flannel, but these are like Heaven. Can't wait to put them on the bed again.)
My head is spinning again....
There's still so much to do (fall cleanup too) and I haven't even mentioned the furnace and other mechanical things. I'll just let Joe do those things...I have to get busy knitting...another scarf :)
Balisha
Sleet here this morning. The ground is warm enough that it isn't creating any problem with walking or driving.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
We just had a few snow flakes. I guess it was to warn everyone to get ready for winter in their gardens.
DeleteOh my, I can't even imagine having to get ready for winter. It was a little cooler here today and are low tonight is to be 70 which will feel great. I'll turn the a.c. off before bed. Tomorrow it's only supposed to get up around 82 and be less humid which will feel wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI can just picture you make your nest all cozy for winter.
Love and hugs to you ~ FlowerLady
A friend of mine in Fla. said that the cooler weather is so nice right now. She's had lots of rainy days.
DeleteHope you can be out in your garden this week.
Balisha
It was so cold and windy here near St. Louis last night that I was worried about my mandevilla plants. It was too windy to try and cover them. They were fine even though it was so cold here this morning. That cold wind had me going through my winter clothes and stock up mental lists, too. I have to try and remember where I put my little spikey things that I pull on over my shoes when it is snowy or icy. I also need to stock up on Vicks, even though its fumes make my little Fuzzy pom cough. Anytime I feel like I am coming down with a cold, I slather on the Vicks It's good for aching knees, too. I also need to buy my winter cold season supply of Sudafed tablets, which makes me feel like I am going onto some sort of government watch list by the time I sign all of the agreements about it at the Walgreens cash register.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest project will be clearing out enough space in the house for my two mandevillas and two Kimberly Queen Ferns. My most dangerous/important project will be making sure there are no stinkbugs on those plants before I bring them in. Last year I unknowingly put my hand on a stinkbug while moving a plant. They don't call them stinkbugs for nothing!
I've used Vicks since childhood....something very comforting about that product. Memories of a piece of hot flannel on my chest rubbed with Vicks...make me feel good when suffering from a cold.
DeleteI brought a Mandevilla in once....the leaves came off, I never tried again.
I love the smell of Vicks!!! Reminds me of Mother, rubbing it on my chest and covering me up nice and warm.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound to me like you are preparing for hibernation! Don't you keep your furnace thermostat set warm enough? My thermostat is set at 73 degrees--summer and winter. I have many afghans, that hang all so inviting on the corner of the couch, but I never use them. Maybe it's my OTT light that hovers over my recliner chair, while I crochet, cross stitch, read, that send off enough warmth? I don't know.
And I didn't even get to wear a coat last Winter! At least four nice coats in my closet and one that was foolish because we haven't had that kind of cold weather in YEARS! I haven't been around so many of the things you mention since...I lived in Portland, Oregon as a child. Fond memories of those times. Sad too. Then later as an adult watching snow fall in Oregon while traveling in our pretty little Sea Breeze motor home... All the things you mention except the wonderful flannel sheets and collection of good books and the afghans over the backs of the chairs near the fireplace..and every other place. I even have them on the back patio lawn swing for outside Winter reading. I LOVED this post. It is probably the only place I will feel my love of Winter return..in memory.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Autumn and Winter, Balisha! In some ways I will always feel melancholy when Winter comes and envy those who get to experience it!
Hmm...Well I cleaned the dining room windows and curtains. That's it so far, lol..
ReplyDelete