PLANS?

[A little trip into Nostalgia Country.....]

Last week we had our first "snowstorm" of the season--after a 2-3-day fall, snow reached 6-8 inches on the ground. Then Spring came (sorta-kinda) and it all went away. A few days later, temps soared into the 60s.

Well, it was a taste of Winter, right? 

That was what I was going to write about last week--then the computers (both of them) had the audacity to go off on a wild fling (I can't figure it was anything else), and leave me high and dry. We have now made up, though I'm keeping my eye on them.

And, I was going to look at some of the Things We Can Do On Snowy Days. For instance:

• Catch up on projects that have gone by the wayside. Do you have any of those? Some people don't--they just abandon said project and pick up something new.
• Figure out a new fun thing to do--skating, skiing, snowboarding, making snow angels with the kids. Afterwards, tanking up on hot chocolate and thick oatmeal cookies (or your favorite snacks).
  
  
  

For those of us who appreciate a little alone time:

• Disconnect the doorbell--turn off the phone ringers (yes, cell phone, too!)--give yourself, and your family, some quiet time.
• Binge! Your favorite tv shows (old or new)--movies--documentaries you've been meaning to watch.
• Or, if you're really into Quiet Time, dig into that pile of books by your favorite chair--sample a few of them--pick the one that resonates this very day (you'll recognize it, it's the one you read to page 45 before you remember there are more to check out).
• For the cooks--make up every recipe you've been wanting to try. For this one, you have to have the ingredients on hand--no shopping. Don't have everything you need? Then improvise--make something new out of something old.

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Since the Big Snowstorm didn't last long enough, we had to do our regular stuff. But we also managed to clear out some drawers of clothing, raid the various closets for too-large, too-small, wrong color items that could be treasured by a local charity shop. We felt successful. And we have 3+ boxes to deliver tomorrow.

I did start a book I always read around Christmas time, Winter Solstice, a 504-page blockbuster by the late Rosamund Pilcher. In case you're wondering, yes, I remember the story, the characters, how it all folds together and ends satisfactorily. And because I remember, that's why I reread it nearly every winter.

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Next week we in the US will celebrate Thanksgiving. On a quick drive through my town yesterday, I saw enough pumpkins to fill a ten-acre field. Then we turned onto our street, and a new neighbor has already decorated for Christmas! But we're ecumenical here--over a block or so the Halloween 15-foot tall skeleton is still swaying in the wind.

Wherever you are, whatever your taste, I hope you enjoy the changing seasons. They may not be what we'd order, given that chance, but popular wisdom tells us--if you wait five minutes, the weather will change! Just be careful making plans.

Blessings,

Thursday's Child