We're all trying to make the best of it. We brag: coldest February on record! Still negative temps, despite the sun! It's so cold that your nose will fall off if you stay out too long! Maybe even your ears and hands! We complain: no relief in sight! They say it wont get near normal (and you know how cold that is in the Upper Midwest!) until March! I don't even know what puddles look like! The roads are all white -- snow and/or salt, take your pick!
And so on.
But honestly, that brilliant sunshine boosts the spirit every time.
Even for my poor hens and rooster -- the day is made better because of it.
Breakfast? In the front room.
The sun remains strong, the skies are so very blue that for a brief moment, you forget about the brutal reality. As we reach what must be the day's high (3F, aka -16C), the cheepers step cautiously outside and then huddle together facing the light, as if sun bathing at an Alpine winter resort.
I smile at them: we're gonna make it! The worst is behind us!
I turn my attention to Lily, my silver new old car. Ed and I have been analyzing its shutdown and I now know a great deal about battery cells, alternators, spark plugs, fobs, etc etc. (It was, by the way, a new battery and so hardly the culprit here.) I suppose it's useful stuff. You never know when I will be called upon to fix my own car.
Recharged overnight, Lily is ready to go. I'll pay close attention to her various lights and signals. Maybe she'll do well with some pampering and oversight. I love her enough to give her many second chances.
My drive for today isn't far -- only to little Snowdrop's home for an afternoon visit.
She has so many great moments, so many stretches, smiles, babbles...
...that all thoughts of a long cold winter slip away.
I drive home, Lily's engine purrs... Maybe it was me -- some switch left in the wrong position, some small oversight... As we make our way along country roads, a song from my Snowdrop playlist keeps running through my head.
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine...
And so on.
But honestly, that brilliant sunshine boosts the spirit every time.
Even for my poor hens and rooster -- the day is made better because of it.
Breakfast? In the front room.
The sun remains strong, the skies are so very blue that for a brief moment, you forget about the brutal reality. As we reach what must be the day's high (3F, aka -16C), the cheepers step cautiously outside and then huddle together facing the light, as if sun bathing at an Alpine winter resort.
I smile at them: we're gonna make it! The worst is behind us!
I turn my attention to Lily, my silver new old car. Ed and I have been analyzing its shutdown and I now know a great deal about battery cells, alternators, spark plugs, fobs, etc etc. (It was, by the way, a new battery and so hardly the culprit here.) I suppose it's useful stuff. You never know when I will be called upon to fix my own car.
Recharged overnight, Lily is ready to go. I'll pay close attention to her various lights and signals. Maybe she'll do well with some pampering and oversight. I love her enough to give her many second chances.
My drive for today isn't far -- only to little Snowdrop's home for an afternoon visit.
She has so many great moments, so many stretches, smiles, babbles...
...that all thoughts of a long cold winter slip away.
I drive home, Lily's engine purrs... Maybe it was me -- some switch left in the wrong position, some small oversight... As we make our way along country roads, a song from my Snowdrop playlist keeps running through my head.
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine...
I think little Snowdrop is very precocious with her smile! What a cutie!
ReplyDeleteShe's still tentative with it -- has to be in the mood! -- but it is there and I choose to see it as a sign of spring! :)
DeleteLooks like a smile to me... and a wave too! She's glad you're there!
Delete"You Are My Sunshine" was the theme song of a bunch of us girls in high school... we'd ride around in someone's car in the evenings, looking for the boys, and singing out the windows at the tops of our lungs..."You are my sunshine.... my only sunshine..." Harmless enough.
ReplyDeletePaul, when he drives "my" vehicle, tends to forget to turn off all the switches and knobs... he will leave the parking lights on, for example, or the radio... he's just not used to the car, and invariably the battery will have drained to dead by the next morning. Having to recharge using AAA is a pain in the neck so he has a special recharging battery stored here to use on such occasions. He's driven "my" car enough now that he's gotten more used to it and it hasn't happened for a while. It's really "his" spare car now that I don't drive it... and he pays all the bills on it!
Yes, on the one hand, this fancy "new" 07 Mazda has all these protections and warning to preclude forgetful behaviors like that, but on the other hand, its electricals are SO MUCH more complex, that it's easy for me to not fully get what it is that I have to do.
DeleteYour high school years sound so classic American! So different than in Poland! Even now, with the full blast of capitalism and market economies, I don't think the car culture (driving around in one in high school, for example) has permeated the fabric of that society. Cars and American coming of age -- now that's a symbiotic relationship!
Oh my yes! American Graffiti is the story of my teenage life! The sock hop on Friday night. The cruisin-in Saturday night. Except I never would have gotten in the bad boy's car. Wanted to, though. ;)
DeleteSo not a Polish experience!
DeleteMy little car lets the battery drain, too. We replaced the battery with a new one and now make sure to take it out once a week. That seems to have helped.
ReplyDeleteThe sunshine is certainly a boon in these cold days. I find myself noticing how the sun is strengthening and starting to melt snow on the road and roof, even in these cold temps. Stronger sun means it won't be cold too much longer - I hope, I hope, I hope!
"You are my sunshine" was a key song for me, too. I had a favorite teacher in high school, Miss Shine. She was the public speaking teacher, but my spare class teacher, just like study hall. She had a wonderful, outgoing personality and one day I just started singing the song for her "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine." And then, "Sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows. Everything, that's wonderful. That's how I feel when we're together." :)
She was a good friend and mentor. Sadly, she retired at the end of my junior year, so she wasn't there to direct our senior class play. She was wonderful, though. :)
It's cool how we remember the special educators from childhood years. But I couldn't muster up warm feeling for any of my high school teachers. I was in Poland then and the lycee (high school) system was more formalistic and stern. I wish I had had a Miss Shine in my school then!
DeleteI have just been a time traveler - traveling back in time to catch up with your posts. I've been off the grid - certainly never as wonderfully disciplined as you are with daily posts - wish I could be. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed each post so much. The levity and positivity of your days. And I always enjoy photos of Snowdrop. She's so present, alert, adorable. Love.
As always, thank you, Irene! The record by the vocalist who recorded You Are My Sunshine (ELizabeth Mitchell) for my playlist also included Goodnight Irene. That name, by the way, was also very popular in Poland as I was growing up. I knew several Irenka's when I was a kid!
Deletelove.
So glad you're enjoying Elizabeth Mitchell!
DeleteI've known few Irenes, but it seems everyone knows an Irene - or has a mother, aunt, or grandmother Irene - and because of that, I've been the recipient of unexpected/delightful kindness. It's uncanny the amount of unearned affection and smiles I've been given simply because of my name. :)
Deleteregan: I bought 3 of her albums on iTunes! That's huge for me! Both my big girl and I love to have her on when Snowdrop is discombobulated.
Deleteirene: Possibly not only because of your name... :)
for the discombobulated baby: Bob Marley. Cadence just melts. She must like the rhythm of the dancing that goes with it. You couldn't NOT dance!
DeleteJoyD: Bob Marley and the Wailers? Any CD in particular?
DeleteOn Spotify
DeletePaul Simon. "Was a Sunny Day". If the frigid week is dragging, make your summer playlist!
ReplyDeleteCorinne Bailey Rae. "Girl Put Your Records On" and "I'd Like To". and if you were in college in he early 70's, "Summer Breeze" by Seals and Crofts. I saw them at Kent State. So much weed, so many cops looking the other way :)
Certain things measure out the passage of a year, and then it seems that time has flown: Paczkis! I bought a box of paczki today! And doesn't it seem you were JUST reveling in the taste...and it must have been a year ago already? My mother pronounces "punchkey". and does the plural have an "s" or not?
Ah, I have Corinne Bailey Rae! And if I go back further, I'd pick out a Summer Song by Chad and Jeremy! But it's too removed from what we have now. Know anything about seeing the first crocuses and daffodils emerge? I can imagine spring. I can't yet imagine summer!
DeletePunchkey is a good imitation of the real pronunciation. No "s" in the plural. Paczek is one doughnut, paczki means several of them. I miss the real paczki. Everything in Wisconsin is very American, without even a hint of the flavor of a Polish paczek!
Last year, we came home from the beach during the last week of March and the daffodils were in bloom, a delightful welcome home!
DeleteThis year, no beach.. I'm longing for it! Just the daffodils will have to do.
See the best of every day - I make a conscious effort - and Ocean is so helpful with that!
Beach along the lake, or beach as in Florida or even more south?
DeleteI checked the blog and noted that our first daffodil last year bloomed on April 17. It better not be that late this year!
Florida Gulf Coast. White sand, tropical gardens, sunset over the gulf, heaven. I don't see any reason to go all the way to Bora Bora! Two hour flight.
DeleteAs for the daffodils - we are two growing zones ahead of you. i can hardly believe they will jump up outside my patio doors, where now I see several inches of snowblanket.
Just one zone, I think. We're 5. Last year, though, spring came 2 - 3 weeks late. It was awful, especially since the year before it came 2 - 3 weeks early!
Delete