I had a couple things on my list for yesterday that I could not, would not go without doing. I was going to replace the burned out light bulbs in my porch light, and I was going to pick up the trash in my yard.
The light bulbs were easy (sort of). I did have to get a ladder. But the trash took a while. I don’t understand why there is so much more trash in winter than there is in summer. Is it all dropped by kids on their way to school? I hope not, what with all the cigarettes and alcohol containers. But seriously, what the heck? I filled a whole black trash bag with trash. I feel weird even just throwing an apple into a ditch. I can’t even imagine throwing trash on the ground in someone’s yard.
I take comfort in the fact that at least some of the trash looks accidental. I mean, I don’t imagine someone would throw away ten dollars. And I wouldn’t think someone would throw away a sticky-note about hair. Otherwise, they might forget.
After trash-picking, I was on a roll. When I came back inside, I cut off all the dead branches from my calamondin orange tree. There were new leaves coming out, so it’s not dead. I have mixed feelings. I’m now caring for a sickly plant that hasn’t flowered in years. Is there a point at which it just becomes silly? Anyway, here are the before and after pictures:
BEFORE:
AFTER:
It’s that time of year where I’m flooded with gardening mail-order catalogs, and I love it! Usually it’s all cold and grey and dead outside, and the catalogs give me a window into summer. This year it’s warm and sunny and dead outside, so I’m just appreciating the pictures of non-dormant plants.
It’s getting harder each year to get something new for the garden. I’ve been experimenting a lot with annuals the last couple of years just because they die in the winter and leave room for new things next year. But my heart is still held fast by perennials. I love the cycle of new growth, flowering, dying, new growth, etc. There is something joyous about it.
So I’m making plans. Where will I put some new perennials? Will I make a new space? Will I take out an old plant? I can hardly wait for spring!
I’ve been having a lot of trouble getting work done at school lately. I have a morning study hall which should be the perfect time of day for me to do work. The kids are sitting quietly. I’m sitting quietly. But then the class period is over, and I haven’t done anything. I’m disappointed, but not surprised: I’ve been letting myself get sucked into the comment sections of political articles on the internet.
The articles themselves are interesting enough, but when people can write comments on them, then I’m really entertained. And that’s how I end up spending so much time. I really enjoy the passionate arguments some people make. I don’t think any of my own opinions have been changed by any of the arguments, but it’s very interesting to see another point of view. If the comments I read are any indication, political opinions seem to be more about emotion than reason.
But maybe I should cut back a little on the article-reading. I think The Internet was trying to send me a message the other day:
Happy Groundhog Day! If the current weather is any indication, I predict that winter will end three months early.
We have had such warm temperatures lately. I normally would say such a thing makes me happy, but it’s only the beginning of February! This warm weather makes me feel like spring is just around the corner, but it’s not. It’s a mile down the road, over a bridge, through a tollgate, and then around the corner. So instead of winter-cold air and some snow every once in a while, we have temperatures in the 50′s and 60′s and rain. And all the plants are dormant. There isn’t even the yellow cheer of daffodils. And I can’t wear my hat. And this is going to last for three more months?
Are warm temperatures nice? I guess. But I find myself wishing for winter.
I’ve been thinking about how my lunch has evolved over time. When I started teaching, I actually packed a lunch, and it had a variety of foods. After stopping that, I tried all kinds of lunches: frozen dinners and pot pies, soup, loaves of bread and something to go on it, crackers and cheese, crackers and tuna, Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink, Lunchables, leftovers…
On and off, I’ve been pretty good about bringing some kind of fruit or vegetable. They’re a hassle, because I have to buy them weekly if I don’t want them to be rotten. And they’re more expensive than just getting a box of granola bars. But they’re good for me. And when it comes down to it, I like to eat some plant material every once in a while.
Lately, I’ve been getting apples. My normal talent at picking mealy ones has been on vacation or something, because I’m finding some pretty crunchy apples. I’m glad. I wouldn’t have said apples are my favorite fruit, but they sure hit the spot when I’m hungry. I’ve even tried that at home… Hungry? Want to eat half a box of cookies? Have an apple. …and then eat half a box of cookies.
