It’s Wednesday here still. In other places it’s Thursday already. Every week the story repeats. Every day a similar story is told. I am not one for annual resolutions, but I can relate to those who are. I do my best resolving in the moment when the inspiration, necessity, or courage descends. When it’s time, it’s time. Time for change, as so many will attempt to do tomorrow. Or time for a walk, or time for a bloom.
It’s 37° F here and has been all day. The They People say it feels like 23. After the walk I took earlier, I’m inclined to believe them. Wrapped snugly with a baby, two jackets, a scarf, gloves and hat, my daughter and I set off to walk the dog. The dog? He was quite stylish in his green, grey, and brown sweater rescued from the Goodwill. (He’s a large dog such that they don’t make sweaters in his size, but short haired with little body fat and a big shivering mess when it’s cold, so there you are.)
No one was out. A few cars rolled by, but not a single person was walking, or raking, or checking their mail. The birds were hunkered down on power lines and in bamboo stands alike. The squirrels were happy to leave you wondering where they went.
Ah, but the wind. The wind blustered and billowed. The wind cut through sleeves and ripened cheeks. The wind made no mistaking why no one was out.
You may think we were out walking for the dog’s sake, and while he does enjoy two walks a day most days of the year, he would’ve been more content, I’d wager, curled up on his new Christmas bed by the fire. No, this walk was for her. Our little runchkin who was rather angry that she’d forgotten how to nap today. There are a few magical tricks in our parenting bag that work when “nothing else does” and the best bet is tucking her into a wrap while I walk around the neighborhood. Even that doesn’t always work, and when it doesn’t (like today) it takes a little humming and she’s fast asleep.
So I enjoyed the abandoned yards and still constructed (or half-removed) holiday decorations, because it meant no one would interrupt her precious nap, and no one would hear my humming of two verses of Little Drummer Boy for a mile and a half.
And when we got home, and she’d woken up again, we visited my current favorite volunteer plant and had a seasonal surprise.
Happy New Year, near and far.
plumdirt 
Oh my gosh! I too had several tomato volunteers come up. Pulled them all along with a couple of avocado that took root. Danggit if we aren’t just a few degrees further to the south. LOL
Happy New Year, Plumdirt. A nice walk in the coolness with a baby and dog in tow sounds divine. We are hunkered down in 30-degree weather enjoying a toddler and a baby for a change. I’m in [warm indoor] heaven!
I tend to have a soft heart (and empty pot) for such determined flora.) I couldn’t tell you the number of avocado trees I’ve given away, never mind mine that is taller than I am now. I saw an avocado tree in Lake Jackson that was nearly thirty feet tall and had been topped four times. The owner said it rained avocados each year. He has the most amazing yard full of citrus and such. Tis where we picked up Bill the Persian Lime.
I really do need to get with the *empty pot* program. And…are you KIDDING? I can’t believe what a few mile’s difference a coastal climate is! Avocado in the ground — where we are — would freeze dead at least once every year. I must find a home for one of my volunteers along the espalier this spring and see what it does. I’m very curious now…
Tee hee. “Bill.” Precious.
We are in a freeze down-lol. Below zero for days with windchills -30…..so good you are warm + the little one is doing great:-) ( long sigh) blossoms….soon for me, too:-) All my cole crops are up and growing( under lights!) + I am eager to get outside, but the wind is howling right now-YIKES…doubt it will happen yet.
Sounds like you are enjoying your new home + I bet more people will be out when the weather warms up!
Happy Be-lated New Years:-)
My son gave me “Apples to Apples” for Christmas + all us old parents played it on New Years Eve and had a blast! Best Christmas present ever:-)
I played that game with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. It’s a great game for four generations.
Want to try try “Cards Against Humanity” now since this one was fun + it has a perfect rating on amazon for revielws!
That one is REALLY fun in the right company. If the group has differing ideas on humor, it can go south rather quickly.
p.s. my oldest daughter, that lives in Stockholm is having twins-a boy and girl in April! Enjoy your little one….she has a 2 yr old boy + they were a bit surprised! I had my kids a bit further apart-.this multiple babies all at once— I admire her, I could not do it. It was a surprise to them but they do run in our family. Enjoy-they grow up fast!
+ she is a gardener:-)
My friend had identical twins with a two year old already last spring. She’s had her hands full for sure! Best wishes to your daughter and the entire family. It’ll be an adventure!
🙂