Off Kilter
I'm thinking that part of why I'm feeling a bit 'off'' is that my seasonal cues are terribly messed up.
I don't think it's right that I just spent a very comfortable 5 minutes standing on the deck cajoling Molly to just. pee. already. while wearing jeans and a t-shirt, barefooted and wet-headed. We've had no snow in a good month. We've hardly had the temperatures drop below freezing. It looks and feels like late March or early November. Christmas doesn't seem to have happened at all.
No wonder I'm not-so-subconsciously looking for bulbs to shoot up (not yet, thank goodness for their little green hearts) and branches to swell and start to bud (certainly happening to the silly lilacs, forsythia, crabapple and a plum, foolish things).
No wonder I keep resisting the urge to go and till things and dig holes for new trees.
No wonder I'm restless, still not wanting to be in front of the computer at-all-at-all.
Getting sick for the 3rd time in a month is also not doing much for my psyche.
Guess the only cure is to curl up with a gardening catalogue and a cup of tea, taking time hourly to repeat the mantra: It's only early January. 3 more months of winter. It's only early January. 3 more loooong months of winter.
I don't think it's right that I just spent a very comfortable 5 minutes standing on the deck cajoling Molly to just. pee. already. while wearing jeans and a t-shirt, barefooted and wet-headed. We've had no snow in a good month. We've hardly had the temperatures drop below freezing. It looks and feels like late March or early November. Christmas doesn't seem to have happened at all.
No wonder I'm not-so-subconsciously looking for bulbs to shoot up (not yet, thank goodness for their little green hearts) and branches to swell and start to bud (certainly happening to the silly lilacs, forsythia, crabapple and a plum, foolish things).
No wonder I keep resisting the urge to go and till things and dig holes for new trees.
No wonder I'm restless, still not wanting to be in front of the computer at-all-at-all.
Getting sick for the 3rd time in a month is also not doing much for my psyche.
Guess the only cure is to curl up with a gardening catalogue and a cup of tea, taking time hourly to repeat the mantra: It's only early January. 3 more months of winter. It's only early January. 3 more loooong months of winter.
Labels: Drivel
posted by Diana at 10:03 AM
25 Comments:
Strange weather indeed. If plants are confused and off kilter then so are we.
I hope you feel better though.
Some fresh grated ginger (if you don't like the feel of ginger, just squeeze some of it into the tea) often works wonders, maybe some cardamom too.
Take care
Oooh there is pure evil in a fake spring. It fills you with such hope and let’s you done hard. I’ve been there too many times.
One thing I hate about SF is that some years we go from early spring to late fall. No summer! That’s worse because we know we have to wait another 12 months for sun.
This winter (or lack of) has been odd to say the least. While I'm glad we're not having the horrible cold, I would enjoy snow. It is pretty and fun and white and fluffy (and can you tell I hung out with DM last night?) 3 colds in a row? That's not right. Just.not.right. Feel better soon!
Hey! I saw that subtle Dana jibe! But snow is pretty and fun and white and fluffy, now that I think about it!
You know, I almost said something about you not having any gardening posts to write now and no wonder you're feeling off a bit. How funny that you bring up the wanting to plant?
Colds are evil. I'm still having a lingering effect that I don't like to talk about.
"while wearing jeans and a t-shirt, barefooted and wet-headed."
"It looks and feels like late March or early November."
There are no words for my horror bcs I know you were TELLING THE TRUTH. Oh my God.
I know SO many people who are totally out of sorts this January thus far. You're not alone.
Hang in there!
When I last lived in Illinois, I did hear an explanation of the "January Thaw". Meteorological, it was logical. Here in Oregon, we just had a record high temp of 58 degs. It is now starting to look like it will snow next week. Just to prove that I am really a certified nut-case, I joined my wife and her DragonBoat team for an early morning paddle on the Willamette River here in Portland. Nothing like sitting in the middle of a river in the middle of winter to really prove your lunacy. I now have a totally new definition of cold fingers. But a good cuppa afterwards was welcomed. I might even do it next week, if it doesn't snow.
Love and happy New Year to all, The Ole RF-er
My friend and I were saying how weird it was that it was 50 degrees in MI in January just today. She said she might plant some of her bulbs that she never got around to doing in the fall. I wonder if that would work? It should, right? I think I have some in my garage, so I may try it. I miss the snow, too. Rachel got a sled LAST Christmas (05) and still has been unable to use it!! I can't believe you've been sick so much! Oh wait, you're a doctor, right? No wonder....but POOR YOU! Take your vitamins!
The buds on my parents' apricot tree are swelling... there goes another crop.
I just tried to send you an e-mail, and it bounced back to me...
Its so crazy. It was 75 degrees here yesterday. In January!! It is seriously screwed up. And it is messing with my head, too. We might actually have to get out there and mow the lawn soon. In January!!! WTF?
65 degrees here in Cincy yesterday. Rain and mud galore. No wonder everyones been sick! So sorry to hear of your never ending germs- I would come and give you a hug but,well, you know... you have germs. Hugs from here! Feel better!
It looks like March Break here too! No real snow yet and the Toronto paper had a photo of tree blossums out! I kinda wanted the snow but not for having to dress and drive. I'm thinkin' only 3 more months of winter! We were going to plant bulbs on Christmas Day!
Hope you're feeling better soon!
I know how you feel; this is seriously weird. I checked the yard today: bulbs coming up and some little purple thing blooming. Downtown there are cherry trees in bloom. Normally at this time of year we'd be under a pile of snow.
Sorry to hear you're still feeling poorly as well. Serial illnesses suck.
Sanjay- That ginger/cardamom combination sounds divine, especially in some, say, rice pudding?
Gail- Yes. Pure evil, indeed. I'd certainly miss summer more than winter.
Beth- (You DO sound like DM! Now why would that be?) I want to curl up all winter-like but feel it's wrong as I look out the window...
Dana- And snow is so satisfying when it melts away and you realize that there's grass and stuff! And all these dog toys are revealed!
Johnny- I live to horrify you. You know that by now. Surely.
Cagey- We should form a club. A bitter, out of sorts for no reason club. Hang in there, too!
Dad- Good luck with that. Really. Better you (and Cathy) than me. We were supposed to have snow last night. But nada. Nada and still in the 40s.
Colleen- Heh. The bulbs will work just fine, PROVIDED WE EVER GET COLD! I think they need 4-6 weeks of refridgerator-cold temps or more to come up. Not usually a problem, is it? But then we shouldn't be able to get a spade in the ground in December, should we? Bah.
Teri- OH NO! Those wimpy, stupid apricots. Such a waste. (Damn e-mail. The thought counts. Loves you.)
Rebecca- Welcome! I'm not usually such a poopy person. You're catching me at a lull. Mowing?!? How horrifying a thought. At least our grass is still nice and brown.
Kate- That's insane. Well, at this rate, by the time I'm 80, even small pox will bounce off my hearty, buff immune system.
Ruth- NO! Not the Great White North! Charles and I were musing that if this continued, Hudson's Bay will become the next Riviera. Start buying up property, especially waterfront. Poor polar bears.
Listie- Oof. Just missed you! Really? Cherry trees in January? I'm flabbergasted! Off to the last of the Holiday Parties in an hour. Yeah. Soon it will be over. I'm getting ready to order hardy apple trees but am wondering if I should just plant oranges and bananas?
My parents (east of Toronto) say that there have neighbours who are laying sod. It's actually been warmer at my parent's place than it's been here in Vegas. Maybe instead of going north to find cold, people need to go south. It's so weird.
On the bright side 'though... if you've got any gardening chores that didn't quite get finished in the fall - now's the time to do them.
We planted the spring bulbs and garlic today.
Gods, but it feels good to be outside in the garden again. I bought tomato seeds today - in another month, I can plant them indoors!
Leigh-Ann- Oh, that's just too strange. I'd be a bit hesitant to lay sod, though. It's sure to get cold in the next few weeks, right? (Say "Hi" to the handsome T.J.)
Karen- Seeds! Yes! I never get them started in time. We can plant outside about the 2nd week of May, here. So if I get them going in about 6 weeks, that should be good, right? About 2 months for them to get ready to go into the ground? It's been ages since I did any real seeds, aside from the squash and beans last year, which really don't count as even I can plant them directly in the ground with a reasonable chance of success. I saved some seeds from those glorious heirloom tomatoes from last summer's farmer's market finds.
oye, you had to mention the lilacs...mine have buds already! I'll pull my hair out if they start opening.
we have had absolutely no snow here as well. the temps have dropped to the single digits for a three day period, but have been in the upper 30s to as high as 50 a majority of the time. it's a heat wave, and it sucks.
I would just like a little snow. just a little.
hope you get to feeling better!
Damn-I hate it when Blogger eats my comments.
Anyway, the weather as been "off" here as well. So I can totally relate to tshirts and jeans.
I will now help you chant--Only January, Only January, Only January. I don't think it is working.
As for the cold. I will say blech. I hope the 3rd time is the charm and there is no more illness for you.
I couldn't believe how warm it was when I was in Chicago last week. I think it was warmer in Chicago than in PDX. That ain't right!
Sounds like the trend is continuing. If you don't mind, though, I'd like one more week of good weather in the Midwest. B is going to Chicago next weekend and it would totally suck if there were 10 feet of snow.
Perusing gardening catalogs, though, always a good idea.
Amy- Idiot lilacs, indeed. We've been in the 50s much of the time, too. Just didn't feel like Christmas, did it?
Lauren- Thanks. I think it's working a very little bit, with your help.
Rozanne- What the hell: I wish for the not horrible (cough) "winter" (cough) weather to last until B is safe and sound back in PDX. Then let it stay away and just go to spring as if it doesn't, after what will be over a month of this, every living blooming thing will have already budded and will be beyond sorry if it does decide to winter. So there. Oh, the bugs there will be... (looking at the forecast looks like you will get your wish)
It snowed last night! Just a dusting, but snow! Real, live snow! And the parking lots were icy when I picked the kids up tonight. Winter! Glorious, glorious winter! :)
Oh Poo! Nothing our way. There's a chance for a bit at the end of the week, though, which is nice as I'll be home. If it happens. If.
Well just today, January 10, it snowed in Vancouver USA over an inch in the half hour it took me to cross over the Columbia to beautiful bright and sunny Oregon! Yup, you heard right, an inch in Vancouver USA and nothing 5 miles south of there! Ya gotta love the weather gods!
As for Madison, well the forecast is showing a high of 18 with a low of 3 next Monday January 15th! No snow, just bitter cold. Be careful what you ask for....
MG
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