The Week Draws Down

It didn't seem to be much of a productive week, not that it really has to be when one is retired, but I think it was just because neither of us felt very good.  We have not had The Flu in quite a few years but whatever it is that comes around the greater DC area appears to be a yearly occurrence. It is mostly a respitory ailment which seems like sinus trouble but not quite. Lots of people I know have had it develop into pneumonia. It is also one of those bugs that seems to keep you just plain worn down and out for weeks.  The evolution of disease I guess.

But looking at the photos I took last week reminds me that a lot more than snot and aches occured. That is one great thing about making myself notice. Notice not just the omnipresent boxes of tissues, but notice the way the house looks so clean after the cleaning elves come. Knowing that they are coming every two weeks makes me deal with the odd messes I've left about. The gray overcast days never depress me as they make me think of good days when I lived in England but when the sun comes out again after a period of grayness it's WOW. I love the afternoon light on the front of the house and in the living room. I have to remind myself to turn on the fire and sit there at about 3:30 or so. Lay on the couch and be still.

I'm still headachey and short of breath but here are a few of the good moments of the week... Hope your weekend is wonderful. It will be if you notice the good.

the pile of crumbs that attracts some sweet fat little birds

the Costco Christmas wreath still going strong and redecorated for Valentine's Day

the comfy couch and mohair throw, perfect for watching a movie or just thinking

the start to two meatloaves - food insurance in the freezer

a solo dinner and a good one

I forgot to mention...did you see that MOON this week? Holy frijoles, it was spectacular!

Noticing

5a.m. and the old boy Siamese was awake.

Awake and hungry? awake and feeling poorly? I don't know, but I do know he was awake and howling to beat the band when it seemed like night time to me. (We have great new blackout curtains.) The man of the house thundered out of bed to investigate but then again, he gets up at 05:30 usually. I just drifted in and out of sleep until about 6:30. Never totally asleep again, but happily in that half dreaming state.


There were vague notions of going to the gym, but they got vaguer as I got myself downstairs for the first glass of iced tea. It was time for noticing. Seeing the light shine in from the east is lovely. Seeing the smudgy sliding glass doors is not. So after taking some photos, I cleaned a few panes of the door and decided just to enjoy the morning, no matter when it started.

The gym? maybe tomorrow.

Noticing

Goin' to Jail

Tutoring day i.e.

I get out!! after 2 hours. Today, however, will be a new experience as I will be testing prisoners on their reading ability to see where they need to start. Many need the absolute basics...book one which goes over the letters and their sounds. Amazing, isn't it... I suspect they were never like these boys.


I wouldn't often comment here about a question but since it was dear BigCat who asked I thought I might just re post my answer to her re the Weekend Creative described earlier in case others had the same questions. Cat asked if YOU play along with me. No, not really tho you CAN play alongside. ;-)

Cathy...each participant documents his/her own life. While the instructions seem long, the basis is YOU document the ordinary of your own life - photos, words/journaling, receipts, life ephemera. Since I don't scrap, tho blogging certainly is an electronic scrap imho, I plan to make a little 4x6 book...just cardstock and gesso'd cardboard with perhaps two rings.

What I like best about Ali is she sees the value of simple, and real. No rules, no musts, just do it your own way...the doing is what matters. My philosophy to a T.

Gotta run...and document my life as it happens too. Tomorrow I have a new 12 part series starting. My almost favorite holiday is coming up!