A Slim View

American Robin

It is snowing steadily here in upper western Vermont (11:28 AM EDT). It is one of those snowfalls that gives me reason to shovel the deck for the birds. Thus far I have shoveled twice. It is time for another clear off but I'm pacing myself. 

You see, yesterday I ate too many salty crackers as in water retention as in my bad knee is swollen from the saltiness issue thing. 

About the bird feeder area. I add branches for the birds to have more cover and places to sit. I imagine that if I was a bird, then I'd be very pleased with the cozy area to snack and chat with my fellow feather friends. The dry area under a lawn chair is a favorite.

On the downside, this year the birds fly off at the slightest movement from inside. I have to sneak around my own home to keep from startling them. I put up a barrier piece of plywood. There is a slim space where I can see them through the floral sheers. I haven't tried to pull the curtain back to take pictures.

Unlike myself, the birds are out there very busy pecking away, flying by and getting out of the way of a territorial mourning dove.

Viewing area
Sparrow on the right

P.S. There's more bird activity out there now at almost 5 PM EDT than I've seen all day!

The Night Sky, Energy & Dancing

A planet at 7 PM EDT
over Vermont

This winter is presenting as a winter’s winter, cold freezing temperatures with snow squalls and storms passing through the beautiful Champlain Valley of Vermont and Upstate New York. I be pleased. It is a relief to not see white sky dull light day after day, week after week.

The energy to continue blogging is nurtured by the sunshine I am grateful to see on many days this winter. Catching up on reading the many lovely blogs I follow is slowly returning as well. 

Engaging in social interaction online through blogging or the other social media platforms is important, I feel, to ones’s mental health when it is balanced with exercise and in person experiences. 

Exercise. It is not easy to be enthusiastic to layer up and get outdoors in freezing cold weather. Dancing, even in a chair, is the indoor fun that makes me smile.

The Night Sky

Earth’s satellite, the Moon 
7:00 PM EDT Vermont
facing up westward above Vermont
stars? lower left under Moon

 Last night I hurried out to empty the trash (forgot earlier). Coat zipped up. I braved the cold by the glow of the parking lot lights and scurried across the network of might be icy spots.

On the way back, I notice a very bright star in the West. It isn’t a star. The bright planet is Venus! Or is it? To the southeast, another bright object. It is a star called Jupiter, Mars or Sirius! 

Browsing online for night sky stars and planets is frustrating. Often I struggle to plot what I see with the information and photos that are posted online. I’m such a grump lately. (I shall not post on the subject of why.)

😎

Anyway, the night sky is full of marvelous lights. If you can get outside, and have clear skies, then consider having a look. 

Plot your location and the hour when taking photographs. Later, draw a night sky map to label the stars and planets. Note that some planets and stars are visible after sunset and before sunrise. 

Thoughts in February

 

A View Out a Winter Window

Well, here we are in the first week of February in the Northeast aka New England, maybe wondering when a blizzard will show up. I’m feeling late this month or mid March. 

Silly me.

Convoluted. An interesting word that has been showing up in my thoughts the more I watch television dramas. In acting, trying too hard, lines that are stiff like a first grader learning to read is uncomfortable to watch. Maybe the months of my not watching TV brings it out more now that I’m watching more. Some story lines regurgitate dialogue like too much sweet birthday cake sloshed down with tequila shots.

On the other hand, the television sitcoms I’ve viewed are of a much better quality. Monday night’s CBS comedy, “Poppa’s House,” is hilarious! I might use closed captions to read because I laugh so much I sometimes miss what they are saying. 

Any time if year is good to explore things for laughter and rewarding mental health opportunities. Community events can be especially comforting. Reading an in hand paper newspaper has a special feeling as does a visit to the local library.

I think we all need someplace to go besides the grocery store and dumpster to take out the trash. Our minds need other places as well.

I’ve even watched a fun game shows like “Hollywood Squares,” and “Rage the Cage.”

Alarming Actions!

 

Federal Workers locked out of computer system

If you don’t read anything for the rest of your life, please, first read the article on the link above.

Take a moment to fully grasp what is happening.

Highly sensitive personnel information of Americans, Social Security and more stored on those computers systems is now controlled by Musk’s aides who do not have security clearance nor congressional approval. Federal workers no longer at this time have access to the computer system to know what is being done with American’s information. 

That is what your vote for president is doing to America.

Please contact your elected officials to beg that this insanity stops!

Thank you

If my alarm is misguided, then please inform me why.

P.S.

After Reflection Monday I will not post about current politics because it keeps getting worse. My mental health suffers over the horrors I read about what is going on in America. Leaving twitter is a good for me along with no political posts. Thank you.

Day 32 of Week 5 February 2025

A cozy bird feeder station
up-cycling a licorice plant

Hello February!

Last night in northwestern Vermont (in my yard), we have about 3-4 inches of powder snow. The landscape is a pretty. It is a cold 17°F (-8°C). What’s funny is in January folks were posting February will probably be snowy. 

Old Man Winter being cheeky dumping snow on day one of the 2nd month of 2025.

Skiers rejoice!

Old ladies with shovels at the bird feeders…meh…it’s snow.

Have a Wintery Wonderful Weekend!

Bake lasagna with meat sauce

Browse online best shampoos

Read about penguins

Draw a colony of penguins

Research Viking holidays

Read the US Constitution

Have a nice hot toddie

Take a news break

With Sympathy

One Out of Many
E Pluribus Unum

Thirteen letters for 13 colonies joined as one to create the United States of America. 

Think about that, Americans united as one.

There are few among us, I believe, 

that do not have the capacity 

to feel compassion and empathy

for those who grieve, suffer, endure

physical and emotional pain.

A tragedy is not the time to 

grand stand on the stage of

blame, what should have been.

😥

My heart wraps around the people

who lost love ones 

on the Potomac River last night..

My prayers and sympathy 

are deep and sincere.

😢

🙏🏻

A Lovely Glow

Rosemary Flowers 
2025

 

Chromatic Aberration

The flower's lavender color glowing out into the air is magical.

Rosemary blooming

Winter Skies

New word - Dysania - Extreme Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning (sleepfoundation.org).

Woe is me what a struggle it has been to push through a haze of dysania! I had Zero (note capitalized) desire to get off the sofa for nearly 3 days. 

What put me there, I feel, is the negative impact on my mental health all those executive orders brings on.  

Light exposure to the news is a great help. I don’t mean to drag on about it. It is that I believe sharing might help others not feel so alone. I think I am not the only American suffering through this era if horrors. 

So yesterday and today I am Up! Yay! 🥳👏😎

The sun is shining brightly!

The first task I took up this morning is an oil pastel color sketch and an acrylic winter late afternoon sky. The color of pale yellow on the horizon, sometimes the entire sky, can be fascinating in how the gray clouds and blue sky blend. The sky in the photograph is a favorite.

Last night’s sunset was a vibrant pink. Indeed, it was a delight to see. Winter skies are a treasure of color and shapes.

Things To Do & Not Do

 

Ice Fishing* on Lake Champlain 2025
Upstate New York

Planning warmer weather adventures in the winter is a nice way to spruce up one’s mood on an overcast and cold day.

2025 Warm Weather Excursion List

Subject to change

Picnic often

See the ocean (where it is meant to be)

Visit art shows and galleries

Plein air paint

Shop local for a camp blouse

Design & sew a pair of hiking shorts

Wear a dress once a week

Ride a bicycle

Consider sky diving

Will Not Do List

Rock climb

Kayak

Run, jog, speed walk

Hang glide

Hike more than 2 miles

Ah, there it is, a simple and practical plan to enhance my warm weather enjoyment and decrease anxiety. 

* I am not ice fishing. 

What Happened?

Gmail Question

Background

Saved emails are going missing. I’ve read the Help information. I did delete a lot of emails months ago. I don’t recall deleting those needed for documentation purposes. Recent saved emails after that purge are also missing.

I use my cell phone and laptop.

Cell phone features in gmail are different than the laptop. Cell gmail sends deleted emails to the All Mail folder. You then have to select them again to put them in the Trash folder to delete them. 

The All Mail gmail folder will show emails in all folders.

I have not set any date limit to keep emails. 

Questions: 

Has anyone had their saved emails disappear?

Is there an easy way to save emails in another place not gmail?

Thank you