(182: Behind the waterfall. Ash Cave. Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio.)
(181: Princess Emma & the fairies at sunset.)
I have tons to do today. Naturally I’m sitting here procrastinating by posting instead of doing what needs to be done. But I did want to get a post up before I forgot about it.
This is one of my favorite photos from the past. The setting sun lit up the little insects flying around my granddaughter as she was looking out at the pond.
(180: Blowing bubbles.)
(179: Wednesday morning at the board of ironing.)
My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.
~ Erma Bombeck
I’m not feeling well today. I don’t think I can manage the heavy housework I ought to be doing, but I’m not unwell enough to spend the day in bed or curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, sipping tea, and reading a good book (as tempting as either option happens to be right now).
So I decided I will concentrate on the laundry. For only two people, M and I manage to accumulate a lot of dirty laundry over a short period of time. Just when I think I have caught up with it, another load or two is brought down to the laundry room and somehow, when I’m not looking, it multiplies, breeding vast piles of shirts, socks, towels, and other assorted and sundry items. I wish there was a way to neuter my laundry so it would stop doing that.
I buried a lot of my ironing in the backyard.
I’m eighteen years behind in my ironing.
~ Phyllis Diller
And then there is the ironing.
Ironing. Ugh. I’ve spent a lot of time and voice protesting the ironing. When I put it on a to-do list, it usually starts as “contemplate the ironing.” Sometimes contemplating is all I can do when it comes to the ironing.
I walk by, I contemplate, I turn away and find something else to do.
I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “I’d rather clean bathrooms than do the ironing.” It’s not the truth, but when I say it I think it is the truth. I put it off, put it off, and put it off. Like Phyllis Diller, I want to bury the ironing in the backyard (except that digging the hole would be more work than actually doing the ironing!).
There eventually comes a time when I have to stop contemplating ironing and just do it. That is when I wonder why I put it off.
Ironing is one of those chores that forces me to be here, now. I can’t go wandering off into the past or the future. Stress, anger, pain, sadness, happiness, joy, love… whatever I’m feeling at the time comes with me into the ironing.
And somehow, it’s transformed. It becomes me ironing. And that’s all. It’s the scent of hot, steamed cotton. The feel of the wet heat rising. The wsssshing sound of the iron as it moves across the soft, hot material of the shirt, the hissing of the steam. With my feet firmly planted on the floor, my arms and hands are in motion as one hand holds and positions the shirt and the other moves the iron.
Ironing brings me into the right now. Into my body. Into my senses. Allowing my mind to wander off could mean a burnt article of clothing or a burnt hand or finger (something I know from experience). The meditative quality of ironing permits my busy (monkey) mind to settle down and clear. All worries effortlessly drift away when I reach the point of being truly present in the moment.
Don’t get me wrong. Ironing is not about to become my new favorite hobby and I won’t be going into the ironing (or laundry) business. Today’s appreciation is likely to be tomorrow’s procrastination. But it is nice, every once in a while, to enjoy the work I do and to take the time to appreciate an aspect of the job I’ve chosen.
(Yesterday’s view of the pond at sunset.)
(178: Maple tree at sunset.)
. . . the shadows grow long.
Thanks, Kel, for another Art Attack prompt.
(177: Cat nap.)
If you’re following me on Facebook, you may have already seen this photo. I took it a couple of days ago when Izzy & Bella were napping in the sunlight that was spilling across the bed. I had to fiddle with it a bit to keep Bella’s white parts from completely blending in with the white of the bedspread. Bella is the kitty on the top.
No new news from here. We’re getting ready for a party and for houseguests so that means I’ll be busy getting the house in order and, weather permitting, finishing up in the garden. There is one small patch of the asparagus bed left to be weeded and it will be ready for mulching. After that I won’t have to look at the garden again until spring (at which time I will try to be a better gardener who keeps up with her garden rather than waits and tries to catch up with it).
(176: Honey bee on bok choy flowers.)
The weather here in the Bogs has been amazing. I’ve probably already said that a few times over the past week. And it’s true. Amazing. Simply amazing. This has not been November weather at all. No snow. Very little rain. Mostly sunny, mostly clear, most of the time. M and I both said a thank you to the sun for hanging around over the past four days.
While working in the garden yesterday I noticed some yellow flowers. They turned out to be bok choy plants that I was too lazy busy to pull once they bolted. There was a honey bee hanging out on one of the plants, enjoying the flowers.
It’s going to be unseasonably warm again today, but with a cloud cover. There is a weak cold front moving through, bringing mostly clouds and little rain. We could probably use a bit of rain although it would be good to see the pond levels continue to go down. We have decided not to try a drawdown (first mentioned here). We would have to run a pump constantly for 6-8 days to bring the pond down enough to kill the weeds at the edges. That doesn’t take into account the inevitable clogging of the pump which would set us back at least a few hours each time it happened. So, if the pond should naturally do a drawdown due to evaporation and a lack of rain, that would be a good thing.
(175: Frost and seeds.)
I normally would have posted this over at Bountiful Healing (where I’ve been posting some more abstract and/or different stuff lately) but I haven’t the time to deal with two blogs right now. I took this photo prior to the mowing of the wildflower meadow, and then played around with it on Photoshop.
Because keeping up with NaBloPoMo and two blogs wasn’t enough, I finally went over to the dark side. Yes, it’s true. I signed up for Facebook. It was the last invite that did it. I’ve managed to resist all the invites in the past. When my sister sent me one the other day I finally decided that resistance was futile. Besides, it’s a good way to keep up with family. I suppose I ought to make a badge and post it here at the blog. I’ll get around to it eventually. In the meantime, if you’re at Facebook and want to connect, leave a comment or email me or something. I’m still figuring it all out.
M and I went to the Kent State University Folk Alley ‘Round Town last night. It’s part of the KSU Folk Festival (which is celebrating its 43rd year this year). M jokingly remarked that it’s similar to JazzFest in New Orleans, where people go year after year and have the t-shirt to prove it. I suppose you had to be there to appreciate the joke (or at least know a little about JazzFest and some of the JazzFest fanantics). The Folk Alley ‘Round Town is a free event with live music at over 35 venues (bars, local businesses, on the streets, and in the alleys). I owe the town of Kent an apology. A few weeks (months?) ago I commented on how Kent was pretty lame for a college town. It seems they have been making improvements since my last visit. Kent is not that far from us but we rarely find a reason to go there (due to the lack of businesses and things to do). It appears that has changed. They have cleaned things up, opened new businesses, and there are now things to do in Kent. M and I are going to go back soon to do a little exploring and, maybe, some holiday shopping.
The garden awaits and I should get out there. The weather here continues to be fantastic (sunny, clear, and warm). I don’t know where the snow is hiding out this year, but I’m glad it isn’t here right now.
(174: 13 November 2009, Today’s view of the pond.)
I have an extensive to-do list today and don’t have time right now to do much more than post today’s view of the pond. I’ll come back later with something nicer if I have time for it.
(173: Swimming in Lake Michigan. Chicago, IL. October 2009.)
M and I had quite a day yesterday. We rented a brush cutter (pretty much like this one) to mow the meadows. It’s been at least two years since the meadows have been mowed. They seem to benefit from a good cut every now and then. My only regret is having to cut down the wildflower meadow at this time. The birds and other animals chow down on the seeds throughout the winter months. The seeds are still there, on the ground now. That will make it a little more difficult for the birds to get to them once the snow starts accumulating. But, we had the brush cutter now so it had to be done now.
M did the majority (about 99%) of the mowing/cutting. I used the brush cutter for a little while to give him a break. It’s a powerful tool, grinding up brush and small trees. I had a little trouble turning the first time. I was near the pond and the look on M’s face was priceless. I’m pretty sure M thought the brush cutter and I were going right into the pond. I did have the good sense to let go of the drive lever a few feet away from the edge of the water. It’s nice to know M can move that fast if I (or an expensive piece of equipment) ever need saving.
I did most of my hard labor time in the garden, still trying to get it ready for winter. It’s taking much longer than I thought it would. I’ll be back out there today, if there’s time. We have a long list of things to do today. M is on his way back to Hartville to return the brush cutter and to pick up some lumber for some winter projects. After that we’ll be headed over to a friend’s house to pick up a desk she’s giving us. I don’t remember what other errands are on the list, just that it’s a good-sized list.
The weather has been perfect for working outdoors. Clear, sunny, and in the 50’s. It’s supposed to stay that way until Sunday. We’re not used to this much sunshine this time of year. It’s a wonderful thing.
I have not been taking many photos lately. I don’t feel like it for some reason. I didn’t even remember to take a picture of the brush cutter. I did break out the camera briefly yesterday to capture some of the wildflower meadow before it was cut, but that’s about it. I have taken tons of photos over the past year and barely had time to look at them so a break from taking more is in order right now. I also have to come up with a better back-up system. I’m running out of space.
That’s it from the Bogs for now. I’m hoping to get caught up with everyone tomorrow. Hope all is well out there in Blogland.
P.S. I was looking over my search engine terms and noticed that a lot of people are looking for “Amish washing machines.” Check out Lehman’s for all your non-electric laundry (and other) needs. For those specifically looking for washing supplies, you’ll find it here. Yes, it’s true. They still make wringer washers. All of which reminds me that it has been a while since M and I have made a trip to Lehman’s. We ought to do that sometime soon. It’s a great place to do some Christmas shopping. Someday I may even get one of these.
