So Very White & Cold

My paperwhites are fully bloomed right now and just a bit too fragrant.  I know there are people who enjoy their scent.  I'm not one of them.  It's 9 degrees.  The sun is shining and the streets are plowed. I guess I will have to take the dog for a walk.  He's been very patient.

I am considering starting a second blog; one just for gardening and how to's and helpful hints and that sort of thing.  I could give the link to the people who come to the greenhouse classes.  And they could ask questions etc. It seems interesting to me right now.

I did my first session on the Pilates machine.  I have to work on some "flash cards" with exercise instructions because the DVD player idea didn't work very well at all.  Hard to see and hard to pause while I did my 10 reps.  I got through it all and experienced no pain (lots of confusion).  The reps on QVC mentioned that : you will feel it in one day, see it in one week.  I thought they were talking about feeling muscles you didn't know you had etc.  What I did feel, all day, was a deep peaceful calm.  Quite lovely.  I am doing the exercises as best I can.  I may need to tighten the cords to get more of a "pull" when I extend my arms and legs.  We'll see.  At the end, I was tired.  I also can see the need for one of those yoga bra/tops. I was constantly tugging at my shirt which was annoying.

I am halfway into a book of short stories.  Which I read while sitting with my back straight and shoulders wide.  Better posture.  And I slept well and my bones didn't hurt as they usually do while I am trying to fall asleep.  I didn't overeat yesterday or snack on pretzels late at night.  When G asked, I had to admit to having a better day than usual.

My neighbor called, (she is unemployed and looking for work) to tell me she is traveling to New York for a job interview.  I mentioned that I wasn't as happy to be home (not working) this winter and that I was surprised by that, as I usually enjoy being home.  She asked if I was making art.  I said I was not feeling the creative energy (as I had hoped to).  Whatever I am doing, it fills the day.  I don't feel that time is dragging.  I don't feel sad.  I just don't feel "interested" in anything.

I think I may just have to schedule a time period to be in the work room with the fabric, new sewing machine needles etc.  Finish up the clearing away, stitch the placemats I arranged months ago for us to use when we eat meals (wabi sabi), cut felt to use as a middle layer in collages.  Just be there.  And in the dining room, have simple supplies handy for a small drawing or watercolor.

I got everything but the dog walk done yesterday.  Today I need to make Pilates cards, do my exercise, walk the dog, take a good long shower, fold the white laundry and get a dark load together.  It would be a good day to pull together the lasagna I had planned to make last week or make chicken soup for G.  We have little in the way of leftovers in the fridge but plenty to work with in the freezer and cupboards. I just remembered that today is Saturday.  January is nearly done.