Also, Tatoulia,I'm thought this at the beginning, but then forgot to write it after my long explanation -

I hope you beat the garbage,

And I am impressed with your valentine writing! I don't think I know 30 people who I would send a valentine to!

Good morning!

Tatoulua, the quarters and cross quarters mark the physical progress of the earth around the sun, so they divide the year into 8 equal parts. The quarters are still marked publicly - solstices and equinoxes, but the cross quarter have fallen into disuse.

Humans have been tying religious observances and celebrations to them for (ever?) for me, they both help mark the progress of the year and divide it into chunks of manageable, but not too short, size. Also, I have a strong biological response to day length.

At imbolc ancient people celebrated beginnings and renewal - right about now is a good time to start the first seeds indoors. And the daffodils are poking through the snow. It is the beginning of lambing season. Ancient people celebrated the goddess Brigid in her maiden aspect, and the early church tied the feast of St. Bridget (no relation) to the date to help win over nonbelievers. I'm not sure where candlemas came in (CM might know), but they were so successful that even though our calendar has drifted from the solar year a little, Imbolc is now celebrated on feb 1/2. - the pagans followed the church.

I am so tired that I will be doing my little bit of "celebrating" (journaling, reflecting, planning, planting a few seeds) today and spread over the weekend. Willows are also tied to the ancient festivals, but I don't cut my willow starts until the 13th. I've tied that to my grandfather's birthday as a remembrance.

Hello!

SubC you cracked me up, take a chill pill!

I confess I don't know anything about cross quarter.

I think you are doing great. I know how much the kids love you!

I did do some things today. I just wrote out the second batch of valentines (another 30), I got something packaged up for my brother, and I write out a check I've been procrastinating on.

I gathered up the garbage and kitty has a clean box.

I am woefully behind in laundry. And I should've changed my sheets today. I now do Thursdays because my cleaners are now coming on Thursdays. So since this is an ?off' week, it's up to me to do.

I don't know how I feel far behind. I'm just holed up on my couch all day.

I have some Valentine's packages to wrap up too. Need to get a box.

I'm essentially back to phase one in my life. I only have a few short months til I get vaccinated.

Okay I'll go out the stamps on my valentines. I also have to get up early tomorrow to get my garbage out. I fell asleep after work. It's ready, I just need to beat the collector.

I was over optimistic about how much energy I would have this evening.

I ate dinner and did chores.

I did have a really good day at school today.

My parents and my aunt and uncle all got their second shots today.

And the mobile vaccine unit is coming to do my school next Friday!

And my boss sent me a copy of my proposed schedule for next year. I requested one additional class (beyond the schedule - which is actually one more class than I have this year) we'll see.

Ok, I'm up, I did yoga and chores, and the dishwasher and laundry are both started.

I only put away 36 things yesterday, but I have done 12 so far today.

I was so tired last night I forgot to set up the coffe, so I had to make it and wait for it this morning.

It turns out good emotions are also exhausting.

My parents are scheduled to get their second shots today.

Bean is also scheduled to go to the doctor and get shots today, but obviously different ones.

It is the cross quarter. I know Candlemas and Imbolc celebrated a few days ago, but this is the actual astronomical cross quarter - it hits right as class ends today. So this evening I will take a look at how I did at my first set of goals and refresh for the second half of the quarter. So far the February goals aren't getting very far.

Time feels so strange these days.

Dh got very heated when I was responding to the vaccination question last night. He had taken a message while I was driving home, and he said "tell her you want the vaccine. Tell her you aren't interested in working with anybody who doesn't take the vaccine. Tell her you aren't coming in if there are unvaccinated adults in the building." Good grief! I'm going to be SLEEPING NEXT TO an unvaccinated adult for months! Chill pill dude!

I figure children are likely to be asymptomatic, so if my coworkers want to keep their risk elevated and be canaries in the coal mine to expose the possible presence of infection in the building - ok. I'm going to keep avoiding my coworkers no matter what. And I'm going to keep wearing my mask and avoiding others, because from what I know of the vaccine - while it reduces MY chance of being very sick, it increases the odds that I could get infected and not know it, and may not reduce my ability to infect other people. So potentially, it makes me more dangerous to others. Honestly, Dh should be WORRIED about me getting vaccinated, because I'm not going to start wearing a mask in the house.

Ok, going to exercise and get ready for school.

I LOVE having my kids back.

Hearing them laugh in the hall....

They are so much more themselves.

It's like when the wizard of oz turned color.

I only did 36 things today.

But I put a bunch of random items in bags for a school project. about 70 little bits and pieces that didn't have homes. I'm handing the bags out to kids tomorrow.

Today our health department contact asked my school for an exact count of staff who want to be vaccinated, so maybe we'll have a date soon.

WTG SubC! Well done!

I finished my 100 things and a few more last night.

Looking online this morning - by the end of the day, the US will have more people who have gotten their first shot than people who have gotten infected.

I get to teach kids in my classroom all day!

I am feeling better. Still really tired by the end of the day, but wanting to do things.

Tatoulua, good job on the valentines.

Our snow is at that perfect stage of on the yards and off the streets.

We had teenagers in our building today. I walked in and was absolutely giddy! My teenagers laughed at me. I just wanted to hug them! I DID jump up and down.

I have put away 75 things. I am going to do another 25 before bed. I know there are 5 towels in the dryer.

I gave Bean a bath in the sink yesterday. We have a big farmhouse sink, so I put towels in the bottom to make it soft and not slippery. Then I filled it up to his belly button and put the chime ball in. He had a great time kicking. I hold on to him so he doesn't topple over, but he's gotten to be a good sitter.

My school is supposed to be notified by the end of the week if and when we will get shots. So far I have not been able to find an open appointment on my own, but one of our teachers got vaccinated this morning.

My parents want to come here in April and meet Bean. We are hoping that I will be vaccinated and Dh can quarantine for two weeks. Dd said she will bring Bean and drop him off to me for the day and she will visit from across the yard.

Today I worked a little on the scullery counter and keeping up with spaces.

Hello everyone! Sending love to Tillie! Tillie if you need anything please just tell Cory and I can Venmo or PayPal the $$ to him. No strings, not a loan.

So I'm busy and having a good day. Our snowstorm was a dud. Definitely slushy and snowy but not a lot of either. I'm so glad we have a company doing the shoveling. I used to do it.

Okay back to work. Ttyl. Just a check in!

That is the cutest thing about Bean laughing at the dolls! That's so adorable and refreshing! I love that! And he's sleeping. You have hun today!

I write out and mailed 12 valentines today. I've done two loads of laundry with only one left to fold and out away and garbage/recycling out. I've shredded my mail. And of course, my kitty has a clean litter box. Oh and I printed out my work for tomorrow in the remote event we lose electricity the storm. I generally do paperwork in Tuesdays. I've left my printer out because I'll need to scan my work tomorrow.

So that's what I've done today. Not bad! I feel good about getting some valentines mailed.

Tatoulia, my kids think the dolls are horrifying. Well, dd2 is indifferent, but dd1 and ds refer to my "scary doll room". But Bean loves to go look at them. He laughed when he saw them all on the bed. (He is here today, but napping right now.)

I never did my pj's either, but it is February and I have enough goals. I just keep wearing the new ones and one other pair.

Dh's favorite pjs ripped when he pulled them over his head this morning. After only 37 years! Appalling!

Goid luck with your coffee mugs!

Good morning! Coffee clinks!

Cm good to know that you are here! I am sorry about the struggle.
SubC those are great February goals! Lila we set goals each month. Whatever you feel like doing or if goals aren't your things you don't need to do that.

SubC I must confess that the bed full of dolls is terrifying for me, is that okay? I had some madame Alexander dolls as a child and I loved them so. And I remember a doll I got for Christmas. So I have fond memories of dolls so who knows where any of that comes from.

I am happy with the whittling down I've been doing. I'm proud of my accomplishments in the past month. My house definitely feels lighter. I didnt sort through my pjs as I had planned.

My goals for February are to work on the bedroom closet. See what can go.

Actually that's my goal in general; see what can go. I seem to have gotten more coffee mugs along the way and that needs to be taken care of. Get rid of the excess. I'd been really good but the numbers creep back up.

Okay back to work. We are expecting BIG SNOW so I will have a tiny cat napping next to me.

CM, thanks for checking in!
Introspection can be good, but I'm sorry about the struggle.

Tatoulua, I hope you and kitty are keeping warm.

I think about everybody and wonder how you are doing. Lila?
Our rare visitors too....

I'm doing the best I can with the winter depression.

I got the changing table set up, and the cupboard moved, but the bed is still covered in dolls.

February goals:
Put the dolls away
Class evaluations
Clean off the scullery counter for my class
Start seeds for my garden
Order my rose.
Keep up with the spaces that are in good shape.

This weekend I dropped the broken Christmas lights at the recycling drop.

A time of struggle and introspection for me here. I do check on you all even if I don't feel much like posting. Wish we would hear some good news about Tillie. Take care all.

A lot of stress dreams, SubC. I'm sorry! Yay for the quick cuddle with bean! I'm excited to hear that your parents are getting their second shots!

It's been bitterly cold here. Really astounding. I bundle up warmly and I don't feel it outside. But inside, my poor drafty house!

Kitty has slept all day by the fire. Hasn't asked for a thing to eat in 12 hours. My poor old cat.

Okay I'll see you all tomorrow.

Well, the "plan to start back on the house" became "run the dishwasher and eat everything in the fridge that was put away in less than a single serving." Also cookies and ice cream.

My cousin normally posts on Facebook all the time, and yesterday she had her phone going straight to voicemail and wasn't posting - for 11 hours. I got worried, but she posted a bunch again last night, so I guess she is ok and was sleeping.

My parents had their appointment for their second shot rescheduled, but only by one day - they go Thursday now.

My grandparents had a house on an island less than a block from the beach. My cousin and I used to live with them for most of the summers. Last night I dreamed there was a tsunami coming and we had to escape. It replayed over and over - first we were going to shelter in the house, then we tried to drive off the island, then we switched to 4wd cars so we could go off the highway and drive through people's fields. The bridge is a choke point, and it kept getting longer and longer.... I'm pretty sure I know why my brain put that together.

I still haven't even put away the school stuff from yesterday. I'm tired of being a grown up.

Good morning.

There's a beautiful full moon on the snow this morning. The full moon always makes me think of Tillie.

Yesterday we got an extensive plan for the return of our teenagers on Tuesday! I will be so happy to have them back! My extra son stopped by last night to get some things from dh. He also wanted to talk to me about his rabbits.

Back at the beginning of January he and his partner were hiking when they came across three rabbits that had obviously been "set free in nature". 😡 They easily caught them, brought them home, and had the male fixed. Now he is worried because one of the females is pulling her fur out. I told him to give her a nest box because he is going to have baby bunnies. He said "oh great." I told him "the good news is that they will be ready to leave home just in time for Easter." He said "double great. That's probably where these three came from."

I also told him that if things don't turn out well, it is not his fault, the momma bunny has had a lot of trauma.

If he does get a healthy litter of bunnies, I may suggest letting me take them to visit school and notifying parents that they are available for adoption - that way they could possibly go to homes that are better vetted.

I have been a super slacker on the house the last couple of days. All of the changes and uncertainty around school are taking an emotional toll. Last night I dreamed that a bunch of the kids wouldn't wear masks and the admin wouldn't make them, so I quit. It was so real that I woke up this morning thinking about what I'm going to do in class today and then I "remembered" "no, wait, I don't teach today, I quit." I was lying in bed trying to figure out what I was going to do now that I wasn't teaching anymore when cognitive dissonance finally crept in and I realized it was a dream.

So, I'm going to teach today, and then I'm going to make a plan to start back in on the house.

Yesterday I had to pick something up at DD's house and I got to give Bean a quick cuddle.

Hello everyone! Special shout out to Tillie and Joan! And CM and SubC Anony and Lila! And everyone else! If I omitted you, I'm sorry. I'm a bit foggy.

I slept after work last night. I just needed to sleep.

I have multiple errands to run today and I am determined to do it soon, I need a shower but then I'll fall into the pattern where I don't go out so I'll just go now.

We got a bit of snow last night and it looks very pretty.

Good work SubC!

Only a couple of my older kids were able to come in today, but it was sooo good to see them! And one who has been withdrawing was much more engaged - I think having his classmates interacting on screen rather than each of us in our box drew him in.

And the guidance counselor is advocating for me to get an additional class that would meet twice a week. - a class I want.

And - I got 86 things put away before I went to school! Hair ties, loose change, pencils, random beads or stickers.... I ran a load of laundry and started the dishwasher as I left, so I will easily top 100 before bed.

Tomorrow is a long school day though, so I think I will skip the 100 game.

I hope everyone is doing ok.

🐰 for CM.

Oh I definitely like my jammies. This is not the first time I have worn them.

The light show sounds like fun.

Today is another school day. I have 72 more schooldays this year. I can't believe next week will be February!

I am doing ok with January. As usual not meeting all my goals, but ok.

I don't know if I can do 100 things today because I have very little laundry to put away and I did not run the dishwasher last night, but I have done ten so far. Maybe I will try for 50.

I showered, got dressed, then tonight we bundled up and walked to the Esplanade to see a light show at the hatch shell. It's here for four weeks. It's 15 minutes long and runs every 20 minutes. So I got three miles in. Boy I am out of shape!

Let me know how you like your new jammies!

Did you get dressed Tatoulia?

I am in my new pjs now.

I washed my sheets (and dried them, but I am waiting on Dh to help make the bed at bedtime) and I got back outside and finished the minimum that had to be done.

I moved the stuff that was where I want the doll cabinet to go (I didn't sort it out or put it away, I just piled it in another spot) and I took all the dolls out and piled them on the guest bed. I need Dh to help me move the cabinet. I found one little doll I can part with.

I also exercised (Dh pushed me on that one) and took a shower.

I am very tired.

It's sunny here today so I have my drapes open. I'm going to shower soon. I feel weird staying in pjs all day.

That was pretty weird about the dishwasher. I now remember that I had run it while I was doing mom's groceries, and then I came home and had a salad. I didn't clean out sink when I went to bed, which is an absolute rarity these days. I clean out the sink and start the dishwasher as I go to bed. So my tired mind just assumed that I hadn't started he dishwasher last night. I am a creature of habit.

I'm going to shower then make some lunch.

Hello friends!

My barn coat is soaked, my jeans are damp, my legs are cold and my back is sweaty. I am grateful for my waterproof boots.

There are beautiful icicle garlands on the trees and I have finished half of my outside work - one step at a time. Put your boots on. Go to the barn. Get the wheelbarrow. I told myself every time "you can quit after this next step, just do this one thing and see how you feel. Let's see how much you can do."

And the answer was "about half." I got terribly thirsty, and I fetched my soda, but I was so good, I didn't slam it back on the way to the house. I focused on a glass of water. Once I got in I slammed THAT back, and now I am drinking my second glass. When my temperature has evened out I will sit on the couch, relax, and enjoy my soda one sip at a time.

Oh dear tatoulia, I'm sorry about your dishwasher!

It takes me more than 5 minutes because my dishwasher is in another room. Dh thinks that is silly, but I like being able to clear all the dirty dishes out of the common/company space and just leave them for later. Besides, I get my steps in - lol.

The cold wet is holding off, but the dark cloudy is here. I started laundry, brought in fire wood and went to the feed store, and now I am sogging by the fire soaking up warmth. I really need to get out and do some barn work. Mr. kitty is enjoying the fire.

Maybe I will go work and reward myself with a soda. Caffeine! I keep the soda out in the studio to discourage myself from drinking it.

Great work, SubC! Whatever tricks us into doing things works!

Lila I usually put on some music to get me motivated. I also do what I call Five Minute Miracles. So if I'm brewing a cup of coffee, I unload the dishwasher or wipe down a counter or get the recycling ready. And each time I am amazed that it all only takes five minutes, or less.

I think a lot about emptying the dishwasher. When I had too much stuff, it was such a chore. Now that I do not, I have a place for everything and unloading the dishwasher is easy.

Speaking of which, I had forgotten that I ran the dishwasher. When I woke up today, there were a few forks in the sink and then I was feeding the cat and I became confused so I may or may not have added some dishes to what turned out to be my clean dishwasher. I was unusually jumbled this AM. So now I'm running it again. I don't know what happened.

I went to bed at an okay hour last night, before 11, but was still wide awake at 3. I'm going through something. At least I went to bed pretty early last night.

So, I did my 100 things already!

It was super easy, because once I had emptied the dishwasher and put the clean laundry away, I only had to do 5 more items.

The best part is that now I feel like anything else I do today is genuine progress.

And I feel like I gave complained a lot more than if my lust said "empty dishwasher, put laundry away"

I am very blessed.

Sometimes I feel bad that I can't do better with so much support.

This morning I got up to an almost completely clean kitchen. That is nice.

Unfortunately I put off some outside things this weekend that won't really wait and it's supposed to be freezing rain this morning and then regular rain the rest of the day. No Bean because he saw his other Grammy yesterday. Dd says she isn't eating much, which is not good.

My state now has more people who are fully vaccinated than people who have died, so I guess that's progress. Since we are vaccinating the people most likely to die now, deaths should drop off soon? A little over 7% have gotten sick (officially) and just under 5% have received at least one shot. I don't know how much overlap there is, and one shot only helps a little, but maybe 8-9% immunity? I was reading that you should start to see a reduction in cases around 20%. We're actually seeing a slow reduction in cases here. Maybe things will keep getting better at least until Easter?

I do feel better today. Better enough I think to face barn chores in the freezing rain.

I'm also going to do my 100 things again. It should be easy because I have a dishwasher full of clean dishes and a dryer full of clean clothes. It's a good exercise though. Because it makes me realize how much stuff I deal with every day just to keep things from getting worse. Some days I comfort myself that it didn't get any worse - but that's a bigger accomplishment than it seems.

I did sign up for the virtual pottery sessions, so I have a little under 4 weeks to clear the scullery counter.

What a blessing for you to have a husband who does those things! What a treasure. I am sure he loves you dearly. If I died on the couch, my husband would never notice until the dogs were skin and bones from no one feeding them. Or would they eat me first?? lol.

I am supposed to go to that friend's tonight (the cleaning one, not the rude one) and I just do not want to go at all. I want to stay home and avoid people. But I will go at least for a little while because I said I would be there. But I do not want to.