In one of those endless waits yesterday (airport lines, delays, holdups -- that kind of thing), Snowdrop told me that one reason she loves getaway vacations is that they break up the routine for you. Pull you out of your regular schedule. It's funny because I share that view, despite the fact that neither she nor I dislike our routines. In fact, I'm really fond of my days of animal care, of writing, reading cooking, school pick up. Of breakfasts and dinners with Ed. Of couch time afterwards. And yet, that break was heavenly. Just to shut off and redirect the mind. A restart when I get home again.
Coming back from Europe is easier on the body than going there. You wake up early and go to sleep earlier and that's just fine. Well, except for the first day when the number of sleep hours is halved and your energy levels are quartered. Still, I was with the animals at the usual hour, admiring the snow, the deer, the paw prints, the first rays of sunlight.
Breakfast? Ed had an early morning call and I did not want to wait for him to be done. That coffee isn't a luxury on the return, it's a necessity. I could not move forward without it, so it was just me and the cats. And the forced bulbs that started blooming in my absence.
(We have an Eiffel Tower loving cat...)
Getting the farmhouse in order after being away is a job! I don't mind doing it. Putting things away makes you feel like you're done living out of a suitcase and that's just such a relief. Nonetheless, it takes time. The fridge is empty, the laundry has piled up, the plants are dry (I forgot to tell Ed to water them) -- it all needs that TLC to keep things looking presentable. Well, except for the hole in th kitchen ceiling and in the bathroom wall. Hardly presentable, but we've grown so used to it that I'll miss both when Ed finally does get around to patching things up.
The deep freeze came and went -- I missed the entire dire event! Today, the temps climbed up to freezing, which is just perfect for cross country skiing. The snow cover is good, the trails are modestly groomed. It's a wonderful way to return to winter in Wisconsin.
with love...
