A quiet winter’s weekend

"Trees in January"

I’ve spent a quiet weekend burrowed inside from the cold. I ventured out only twice, once Saturday and once on Sunday.

It rained all day Sunday. It’s supposed to get warmer through the night, then the arctic air hits Monday (today) and we’ll have wind chills below zero.

It won’t be nearly as bad as many of you in other parts of the country and the world have it, but it will be very cold for this area of Virginia.

Over the weekend, I read a lot. In fact, I finished my first book of 2014, a mystery by John Sandford. Sandford is the pen name for John Camp, a writer who won a Pulitzer as a journalist.

I read the first of the Lucas Davenport series, Rules of Prey. It was not only scary and intense, but well written.

I also took some naps, sat by the fire with Chase Bird, played with him, did some household chores and watched some TV with Larry.

I didn’t do much adventuring this weekend, as you might guess.

I’ve had to come to the realization that the holidays are really over. The extra time off from work, the changes in schedule for the past two weeks—it’s all done, over with. Now it’s back to the usual.

That thought doesn’t appeal to me. But I’m pushing through my reluctance.

I’ve got work to do for the newspaper.

And I will get my business license for the freelance editing this week. I tried to get it last week, but I had missed a step in the process and had to take care of that bit of business first. I look forward to telling you when I’m officially in business.

And there are some other writing projects percolating.

I’ve just got to shake myself out of my semi-stupor and get back into the routine, with my new sense of adventure.

Are you ready to get back into more of a normal routine? Or has that already happened for you?

Random 5 Friday: Snow and a writing partner

I’ve been mixed up on what day it is for the last two weeks, with the holidays messing up the usual order of work and time off. But I checked the calendar, and it’s time for Random 5 Friday, a great meme run by Nancy of A Rural Journal. Click here to visit Nancy and find more bloggers participating.

We do get some snow. This is a snow scene from March 2013. This is our backyard, looking towards Larry's shop and shed. 

One

To all of those caught up in snow and windstorms, I hope you are safe and warm. Our part of Virginia will get flurries or sleet mixed with rain, if anything. The way most weather fronts track in this area, we don’t usually get the big snows.

Since Larry and I both love snow, we’re regularly disappointed at the weather forecasts. My solution for this is to move to Wyoming. Larry doesn’t think so.

Two

As I sit and write this Thursday evening, I have a partner helping me: Chase Bird. He doesn’t usually sit in my lap while I work on the computer, but tonight he is. He’s purring and licking my hand.

Maybe he sensed that I was feeling a bit low this evening and needed the TLC. Maybe he wants to use the Internet once I’m off. Whatever, he’s a welcome partner.

Three

Anyone know what “cvhgds” means? That’s what Chase Bird just typed as he put his paws on the keyboard.

Four

As I drove up the driveway today, I saw a feather swirl in the grass beside the car. I haven’t been taking many photos outside lately, so I went inside and got my camera and came out to explore a bit.

I thought this might be a turkey feather. I’ve seen some wild turkeys in the area. Anyone recognize what it is?

Five

It seems so dark outside in the evenings now that most people have taken down their Christmas lights. Too bad we don’t all leave some lights up through the rest of the winter. Inside, I’m going to keep plenty of candles out.

What do you do to bring in more light during the winter?

Happy New Year to You!

Happy New Year to you, dear readers and friends! I wish you all the best for 2014. May you find peace and joy in each day.

 

Tree stump at Mountain Lake. November 28, 2013.

“Instructions for living a life.

Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it.”

― Mary Oliver

I want more energy

I didn’t realize what I was craving until I said it out loud.

I was doing a phone interview with a mental health expert about making New Year’s resolutions: whether or not to make them, tips for making helpful resolutions, and other such information.

We had veered off course a bit, talking about resolutions we had made in the past and what we might want for 2014.

“I want to have more energy,” I said.

It was one of those unplanned statements you make that you realize right away is so true.

Yes, I want more energy.

I’ll need energy for the things I want to do, for the adventures, for service to others.

Right now, I’m sitting at my home laptop after a long day at work.

We laid out the paper a day early because of the upcoming holiday, and we had an earlier than usual deadline.

On days like this, I come home feeling so tired. My bones and muscles ache. I pour down the caffeine, but I can’t seem to catch a second wind.

I have too many evenings like that and too many mornings when I’m already tired before I get started.

I get my work done. But how can I do it while feeling better, more energetic?

Better nutrition and exercise come to mind. So do following more of a routine and taking short breaks during the day.

It’s going to be an exploration for me in 2014, and I expect beyond, to find ways to feel more energetic, to feel less tired. I’m sure multiple things go into making me tired, and it will take multiple things to give me more energy.

I think all creatures have their rhythms of energy.

Sometimes Chase Bird wants to play.

He has his toy!

Sometimes Chase Bird is so sleepy.

I need to find ways to channel my energy more effectively.

How do you keep up your energy?

I’ll be back tomorrow, but in case I miss you then, I want to wish you a peaceful and joyful 2014. Happy New Year!

Adventure

I’ll tell you about the boots in a minute. But first . . .

My word for 2014 is adventure.

This is the word that will guide me throughout the year, much as the phrase “letting go” was my guide in 2013.

I wanted the word for 2014 to come to me in a natural way, so I didn’t make lists of words or sit and think about it. I just kind of mulled it over as I did other things.

And as I was doing some housework within the last month or so, the word “adventure” popped into my head.

At first it didn’t seem right. It didn’t seem very Tina. It didn’t seem serious enough to provide me with a plan and goals for the New Year.

Some of the definitions of adventure in The American Heritage Dictionary didn’t help: “An undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature. An undertaking of a questionable nature, especially one involving intervention in another state’s affairs.”

But there were also these definitions: As a noun, adventure can mean “An unusual or exciting experience.” As a verb, it can mean “To venture upon; undertake or try.”

When I think of this word, I think of accepting each day I have as a gift, something to be enjoyed, not something to get through.

I think of taking chances, yes, of doing things that I need to do despite my fears. To serve others, to live my purpose, to live with joy despite OCD, despite anxiety, despite depression.

A D V E N T U R E

One way 2014 is already shaping up to be adventurous is that I am starting my editing business. Tina F. Barbour Editing Services LLC was born earlier this month and will be open for business soon.

This dream of mine to have my own business was a long time coming. I can read about something and think about something all day long, but take action? Well, there are all those fears. What if I fail? What if everyone thinks I’m stupid?

I got past those fears and did what I needed to do to create the business and prepare for the work. I’m still finishing up the details, but it’s all coming together.

Oh, and did I mention that I’m enjoying myself? That I love doing this?

A D V E N T U R E

For the first time in my life, I am in a place where I can even consider life as an adventure. During the past couple of years, I’ve let go of a lot of junk that was weighing me down. I got healthier mentally and emotionally. I gained a lot of tools in how to handle life with love and hope rather than fear. I have a much better relationship with my thoughts, which used to torture me.

I’m not happy all the time, but I have a contentment and joy that I’ve yearned for. I don’t take it for granted. I want to nurture it. I want to become a better person. I want to serve more.

And it’s going to be an adventure.

Now to explain why I have a photo of boots at the top of this post: I asked for boots for Christmas. I tried on several pair like I thought I wanted: plain, sturdy looking boots. Nothing seemed quite right.

Larry walked around the store and found another section of boots. They didn’t look like my type. But I tried on one. It felt comfortable. It supported my foot where I needed support. So I tried on the other one. I walked around the store. And I chose them.

I never thought I’d wear boots like this. The practical side of me loves the comfort. And the fun side of me that often gets pushed aside loves the style.

They’ll take me on lots of adventures, don’t you think?

Tomorrow I’ll talk about another way I’m approaching 2014.

Do you make resolutions for the New Year? Do you ever choose a word or theme to guide you?

The Christmas season: Joy and sorrow both have their places

The Joy

I hope you have been enjoying the holidays. We had a very nice Christmas.

Christmas Eve was spent with my mother-in-law and my stepdaughter and her family. Then we had Christmas dinner with my mother and one of my brothers and his wife.

And Santa visited the Barbour household and was very generous.

Chase Bird sniffed out his stocking after I laid it under the tree Christmas morning—I think he smelled the catnip in the toys.

He dragged the stocking around. Then we helped him get his new toys out. He seemed pleased.

I received something in my stocking that I’ve never received before: a bag of coal. I thought I had been pretty good this year, but apparently . . . Santa thought otherwise.

Oh, well, there was plenty of candy in the stocking, too. And actually, the coal is really candy.

The Sorrow

The ending of the Christmas holidays always leaves me feeling a bit low. But this year I’m trying to take a different perspective.

One of my mother’s younger sisters died last Saturday morning. It was not unexpected—she had been suffering from terminal cancer. But it’s always a sobering shock to hear of the death of someone who has been in your life—your whole life.

This week a person in our community who was probably known by just about everyone died. He was a good man, a public servant who served the schools and the citizens of the county for most of his life.

So how do we make sense of sorrow in the midst of the joy that we’re “supposed” to feel this time of year?

Somehow the sorrow seems to be in direct opposition to the holidays. But maybe it’s not.

The Christmas Story, whether you take it literally or figuratively, is one of love. Grace, peace, compassion—they are all there in the story.

Other religions teach love, too. As a Christian, I happen to celebrate Christmas.

For me, Christmas is a reminder of the love that we must share if life is to hold any meaning. Loving others is acting out the love of God. It’s love that we celebrate, and it’s love that comforts.

And if Christmas is a time of remembering this love, then that love should be lived out for the rest of the year.

Maybe the festivities are drawing to a close. But the love is not.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Barbours: Larry, Tina and Chase Bird! May your holiday season be peaceful and joyful.

*I won’t be blogging again this week until Friday. But I hope to be visiting your blogs.