Random Thoughts

I actually made time to sit down and write a blog post and guess what?  I am drawing a blank as to what to write about.  Is my mind full of its typical typhoon of thoughts and chores that I need to do?  Yes.  But for some reason none of the things in there seem to be interesting enough for me to share.  My head is in a February Funk: cold, gray, and muddy.

I have a pile of furniture waiting to be rejuvenated.  I have a garden that needs to be planned.  I have a half a dozen too many roosters that I need to re-home.  I have rooms that need to be repainted.  I have a kitchen remodel that needs to be designed.  I could go on and on, but frankly, it's overwhelming.

So, instead I will write about my random thoughts.  I've been very introspective lately.  Perhaps it's because I've spent my February doing a lot of reading - something I love - but haven't had much time for since becoming a mother.  One post on my son's school's family Facebook group changed that.  A brilliant mom suggested starting a book club and poof! I bought and devoured an excellent book.  It felt indulgent to treat myself to a big fat book when I could should have been doing a thousand other things.

The book was, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.  It was delicious.  It reinforced my belief that all of us humans have struggles to bear.  We all have hardships.  Some are much, much worse than others.  Some are obvious and some are invisible.  Some are our own fault and some are completely out of our control.  And despite all of the suffering and pain that life may hand us, there is ALWAYS something beautiful and joyful - be it small and simple or grand.  We just have to look for it.  We humans are incredibly resilient.  Many people go to hell and back - and live life to its fullest despite horrific experiences.

This isn't a book review.  I haven't even mentioned the topic or setting of this book, and I am not going to.  All I will say is that it made me appreciate all the things I have to be thankful for and not take for granted in my little life.  It made me hold my child a little closer, not be so harsh with others when they upset me, be more patient of the person ahead of me in the check out line, and makes me smile at strangers.

We all choose every single day with our thoughts and actions what kind of world we are creating for ourselves (and others around us) to live in.  I am choosing a kinder, gentler, peaceful and loving world.  I will strive to remember and practice this.

Snow Days

Growing up, snow days used to be the BEST.  Then adulthood came along with a job in a hospital and a 30 mile commute... and snow days? Not so fun anymore.  Next, came parenthood - and luckily for me no more job away from home that requires me to get there no matter the weather.  Therefore, snow days are fun again. Right? Ummmmm.... I though so, until this particular storm blizzard.

My job now is taking care of a family made up of 3 humans, a canine, a feline, 25 chickens and a few hives of honeybees.  This work doesn't give me a paycheck and, truth be told, very few "thank yous." Despite this, I am so very thankful to have such a big "family" to love and care for.  A little snow shouldn't be an issue.

The snow is beautiful here.  Looking out any window of my home I see a winter wonderland. Except for yesterday.  Yesterday all I could see was WHITE.  It snowed and snowed and snowed some more.  To top it off, the wind was brutal and created shoulder height snow drifts.  The highest drifts strategically located at all entry/exit ways to our home, including the chicken coop doors!

The view from the front of my house yesterday afternoon.

A drop of advice for anyone building a chicken coop in their yard: keep it closer to the house than you think you should - especially if you live in a cold, snowy region.

The path I shoveled to the chicken coop this morning.