I am itchy. It’s truly winter finally and mournfully. Snow on the crunchy ground, the air painfully crisp and a lot of dry skin. Shoveling snow, chapped cheeks and hazardous driving for the next four months, oh my!
Alocasia
Yes, these upper midwestern frigid winters do make one appreciate summer, yet the cold still bites. And we have no choice but to go through it. So how do we do that?
Bring Summer inside. Buy a plant. Give yourself something to nurture, something that needs the sun as much as you do. Fill your window sills. Buy a cheap indoor greenhouse. Yay for those of us who don’t invite people over? Admittedly a plastic greenhouse in the living room isn’t a feature in most homes. Many plants can be overwintered, in particular pepper and tomato plants. This year I have a Thai pepper plant in the greenhouse, as I cannot easily purchase them in stores over winter. I figure bringing grow lights into my living space might do me some good too.
Distract Yourself, Treat Yourself. Plan a garden. Read a book. Turn the news off. Make a checklist of little things to do for yourself or others. Something you put off doing because it takes too long? Do it now. A time-filler and just the fact of getting something done is great for one’s mood. In my case, I don’t have the budget to get my nails done. I have a gel nail kit, yet I put it off because it takes a chunk of time, can be tedious. But I love having a nice manicure, so now I make the time, and I adore my festive nails. It just feels good, you know?
I have a book from work I have been meaning to read: The Firekeeper’s Daughter. Now I am getting it read. How long has it been since you have visited your local library? Not only do they need our support, might be a beneficial activity for your mindset as well. How about some literal self-care? This time of year, it would do me well to spend some time moisturizing after a bath or shower. Why not take to time to do a thorough job? I know my skin will thank me for it. How many of us have skin care products, or candles or pretty linens laying around waiting for a good time to use them? I think now is a damn good time.
Feed Yourself, literally. One of the wonderful elements of Thanksgiving, or any special meal, is that one dish you only make once a year. Why wait? In our home, there are a few dishes I only make once a year. Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce. Lil’ Pig Souffle. Parfait Pie. Cranberry Pineapple Relish. Lil Pig Souffle I now make twice a year, and I freeze half of the cranberry relish, serving the rest around Christmas-time. Its bright red color a perfect holiday table addition.
The Meal — 2024
Buy the Little Thing you normally wouldn’t. For this past holiday meal, I needed a ripe pineapple for the Cranberry Relish. The normal yellow pineapples were too unripe, and I did not want any of the pre-cut packages. In the tiny specialty section of the grocery store were six pink pineapples. I always wanted to try one, although the reviews say they are all hype. The regular unripe pineapple was around $3. The perfectly ripe pink pineapple was $10. I purchased the pink pineapple. Something I would never buy in the Before Times. But seriously, for seven extra dollars I made myself very happy. I really enjoyed the flavor and the color of the fruit. It definitely had a different flavor note than the yellow pineapple. And hey, there won’t be tariff on it!
Cranberry Relish Prep
Another purchase I made recently was my Chihuly Weekly Planner. $15 dollars. The peace and joy, momentary as it is, each time I open a page is so worth the price.
Reach Out and Touch someone. Consensually, of course. Wait, we are decent people here and don’t need to be told that, isn’t that kind of wonderful? To surround yourself with like-minded folks? Whether church, co-workers, family, even social media sites...find your people. My people are here.
I spent most of my childhood in the 80’s. Back then, I spent a good deal of time at my grandparent’s home. A core memory, that thing gone that I think I wish wasn’t gone were drop-ins. My grandma and I would walk around the block to see if Lynette were home and able to have a conversation over coffee. Always we were invited in with a smile. Or maybe we would pop next door and visit Lola. Sometimes there would be a quick phone call first, but most often, it was a no call drop in. I have no Lola. No Lynette.
There is no universe today where I would just go over to someone’s home and knock on the door without a previous confirmation that my presence was pre-approved. To take responsibility for my own behavior, I do not keep up my home, or care enough what anyone thinks of my housekeeping to be ok with anyone dropping in to visit me without a warning. I need a new couch, for starters. I can’t have people sit on this raggedy thing…
I sense some work on my part.
Do you have some family members who support you in how they vote, how they may have been a good influence or teacher, do they check up on you? Check in back.
Earlier this year I got on Vistaprint and created two different designs of blank cards, from some of my favorite photographs. Not only did I open these gifts to myself with a big smile on my face, it was only $20 to do so. Now I get to send them out and let people know how much they mean to me.
A spendier dahlia. A tuber or two makes my year. Penhill Watermelon
Gratitude. Even with the coming cold dark winter, we can be spoiled. At least I know I am. Recognizing what we do have is one of many ways of recognizing the power we possess, right this very minute, when it feels like we don’t have much.
AnnieJo did a fantastic deep dive on this very topic last week. Check it out!
AnnieJo and Gratitude - An SMGB Diary
I admit, the past few weeks have been hard. An all-encompassing storm has clouded over sunny skies, browning the once verdant future. Yet one can’t, nor shouldn’t, stay in the shadows for too long, as you will get swallowed by it all, and may find it hard to return to the light.
Look around. There is light here. I have a warm home. Family, most of whom are not maga. In a deep red state #justiceforcricket, that matters a great deal. A holiday table. Look at all that food! I cooked it. Not only that, I grew a great deal of it. I have family members who are differently abled. The abilities I have to communicate and advocate for myself are gifts not all of us possess. How shit is it for me to wallow endlessly when I am blessed with so much power to do for others?
We are the Helpers.
Lights in the dark
Gratitude exercises? What about Actual Exercise. Yoga. Calisthenics. Body Weight Exercises. Walking. Kick something. None of these require more equipment than you already have. Won’t catch me outside going on walks once it gets to be single digits, however. Speed records are broken when I take my sweet dog outside for potty. I pace around my little house instead. Walking in the house. Did you all know a short jaunt around my living room and kitchen is 20 steps? Five rounds is 100 steps. That said, if one can get a few minutes outside to bathe in the winter sun, do it.
Drop and give me 20!
Grab that stick and RUN
Share All The Pretty Things. After All, Spring Will Return
Dahlia — Valley Rust Bucket
Seedlings — Pepper
Iris — Easter Candy
Herb Spiral Flowers
Emerging Artichoke, Snowy Background
A pepper made of peppers. These are Aji Dulce iirc
Harvest, some past summer
~
In other more mundane news, today is dahlia processing day. My plan is to lay out an old tablecloth in front of the TV, dump them all out and get to inventorying, dividing and storing the tubers. Then comes bi-weekly checks, taking them in and out of the garage based on outdoor temperature and a lot of stress. But with tubers being ridiculously expensive and the auctions to procure some varieties a fruitless nightmare, trying to save the tubers is the best option for my situation, thanks to the flood decimating half my inventory.
I used to wonder why so few people here grow dahlias. I get it now.
Some of my Dahlia Varieties 2023 Couple of roses too.
Weather. Dry, cold, finally getting sub-zero windchills. No surprise for late November.
Winter is Here. yay not yay SOURCE: National Weather Service screenshot November 29th, 2024
My garden is planned. My graphing notebook is already loaded with sketches and info. You?
My Personal Video of Vertical Garden — Under 1 minute.
No lies were told. I will be coming back to this short little taste of summer often.
MIGardener is having a sale. The seeds are cheap and lower in number, perfect for home gardeners. The code MERRY20 will get you 20% off each packet now through Monday. With the discount, you’ll need to order 13 seed packets, or 26$ in seeds, to get free shipping. Seed packs are $2 each. I’ve only had one issue with them (seeds were wrong) and they refunded me my 2 bucks with no questions asked. Friday I ordered 13 seeds packs and only paid $20. So needed seeds (beans and peas mostly) are purchased and done. Not affiliated, just sharing.
MI Gardener Link - MERRY20
Now I only have wants left to buy. Dahlia tubers and some coral/peach/apricot strawflowers.
Out Out Garden Porn! Curse all you temptress catalogues! Must stay on budget!
We love new people, hearing about experiences and seeing photos you may have taken of all your precious growing things. Jump in!!
I love you too! Tomato is Mushroom Basket. Largest I have grow thus far, 24 ounces.
