Winter Musings

Winter Musings

There's a first time for everything right? I'm combining Tuesday Four and Wednesay Hodgepodge! Life's been busy this week and I thought, let's just do one post! So here it is! 

It's time again for Tuesday 4 hosted by Anne from Cottage by the sea. Published each week in memory of Toni Taddeo, it's original author.We keep Toni Taddeo's original idea alive here with 4 questions each week to get you blogging, visiting and  learning about yourself and other bloggers.   The more people join in, the merrier and the better it gets. We are always looking for topics, subjects and ideas so feel free to chime in if you have idea.

It's cold in these United States.  Everyone seems to be chilly and some have blizzard conditions to contend with.

But I think winter is a time for us, as well as animals, to hibernate and takes things slow and easy.  I think many find themselves a bit more sleepy than usual and maybe we are supposed to take the time to rest... Let's talk it over okay?

1. Do you find yourself a bit more lazy or tired as the nights get longer or does it not seem to do much to you? I don't see myself as more lazy or necessarily more tired. I just really try to do things that help me be positive and motivated. Does it always work? No, but I try.  In general how are you doing this winter? Having some sunny, dry days scattered throughout our typical Southwest Washington wet winters helps my moods. Thankfully I'm naturally a more positive person, so even though I do not like rain, I can usually find the bright side. I also listen to music, audiobooks, keep the house cozy and try to keep my immune system up!

2. Do you appreciate the extra hours of dark that allow for more sleep, more leisure, less travel and hurry or not? No, because I still have to go to work and get things done and having light is helpful to it all. When I work later, I arrive home after it's dark and I just don't enjoy that. I think if I was retired, or just was able to stay home, I wouldn't care so much. It's weird...it's like when it's dark at 6 I don't even think about going shopping or stopping at a store on my way home...haha, but during lighter months, I totally would. I know...weird. 

3. I know I love a hot drink on a chilly evening and the quiet of the streets outside as people stay inside more on cold nights.  I feel more relaxed in the winter.  How about you?Hmmm...I don't know if I do or not. I love being cozy, but I don't know if I feel more relaxed.

4. Do you ever gaze out of your window like Miss Kitty in the picture just watching the world go by? Well, I live on property and so the only world that goes by outside my windows is wildlife I might see walking, flying or hopping through the yard. I do enjoy looking out the window when it's snowing or during a wind storm. How do you find yourself relaxing on a chilly evening? I will make some tea or decaf coffee, take a bath, and read. 

It's time for Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce, who blogs at From This Side of The Pond.  Each week she'll pose some questions for us to answer. What a great way to journal life.

1.  It's been said January is 'the month of opportunity, inspiration, and change." Which of the three do you need most right now? Elaborate. I'll say inspiration...I need inspiration for fitness and perhaps navigating a few changes that might be taking place (I'll know more this week) that may free up some time and I want inspiration to know how to fill that time with things that I could do or enjoy. I'll share more next week. 

Along with this though, I have heard that January is NOT a good month to set resolutions, intentions, goals, etc..we're coming off a busy season, it's in the darkest time of year and may we should take a lesson from nature and "hibernate". Use the winter months to rest, to reflect. Sure, maybe jot down ideas, inspiration, etc, but wait til spring to set some serious goals, intentions, whatever you want to call them. 

2. Do you consider opportunity as something that comes to you or something you create for yourself? I think a bit of both, but mostly looking for opportunities myself.

3. The British Museum opened on this date (January 15th) back in 1759. Do you like visiting museums? I think it would depend on the type of museum. Do you have a favorite? I don't have a favorite. I do like museums that share the history of an area I'm visiting or live. 

4. It's National Oatmeal Month (yes, apparently it gets a whole month as opposed to a single day). Do you like oatmeal? I do like oatmeal. How often do you eat a bowl of oatmeal? Not that often. Maybe once or twice a month. How do you like yours? I like hot oatmeal, but also overnight oats. I like brown sugar or maple syrup, banana, walnuts or pecans and a little bit of natural peanut butter. What about an oatmeal cookie? No thanks Is that a sweet treat you enjoy? I am not a fan of oatmeal cookies. I'll eat it if that's the only option but it is definitely a cookie I have no problem passing on. 

5.What's something useful you learned in high school? Hmmm.....well...I cheated and looked at Joyce's answer because I was drawing a blank...and I agree...typing. Also, I was on the yearbook staff and it was fun learning how to layout pages, etc. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. I'm working hard to get back into a groove of exercise and being intentional with eating, etc. Not working hard in an obsessive way or beating myself up, but really trying to keep remembering the value of being healthy. I just purchased a program from a yoga gal called fit and flexible. I have never been flexible and the older I get the more I realize that this will not serve me well in the future. I'll try it out and see if it helps. I've been using the treadmill more and am actually walking on an incline while I type this...I have a little desk that attatches to the top so I can walk and work at the same time. My goal is to have 3-5k before I go to work or get too far into my day. This has been helpful to ensure I get my 10,000 steps a day without wearing out the floor at the end of the day pacing or jogging in place to get them done before bed. There have been several weeks in the last month that I came up very short of steps. I didn't beat myself up, but it did make me realize that if I'm not intentional, I will end up about 3k short. 

Well, I have an organizing project and some errands to run today so I'll leave it here! 

We purchased these from Costco. I'm hoping they work for organizing the current storage drawers in the photo below. I think I'm going to have to get rid of some things but I probably need to do that anyways. That is my chore for today.

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin