I’m feeling a bit Monday-morning-ish today — there’s light there, yes, but there might be some climbing involved, and perhaps some digging as well. . . . (the photo is taken from my balcony, early morning, of the construction across the way, which is moving toward the final stages, with interiors being completed).
So please, check back later for my post on Solo Travel: Dining Alone, and meanwhile, I’ll get to work on searching out endorphins. For a start, I’ll bundle up warmly (several degrees of frost here right now, but blue skies and sunshine) and get out onto the terrace to sniff this obliging Daphne odora. Then I suspect a workout in the gym might do the trick, or a walk in the sunshine (being careful not to slip on the ice). Some knitting, some thinking-while-knitting, and then some writing, and I’ll be back in the groove. . . .
Are you battling some February gloom or Monday Morning blues yourselves these days? Have you found any antidotes?
I've been cranky:).
I changed the covers of the throw pillows in my living room, more springlike now, and I bought a purple pansy. Fingers crossed, for both of us. xox.
Purple pansies! — their little "faces" always make me smile and I'd just been thinking I'd like a pot on the balcony — but this cold snap will have to leave first. . . still, just visualizing yours. . . . thank you.
I'm still using up endorphins from our exhilarating weekend walks in all sorts of weather. There's no snow here (alas) but it is chilly. I like the brightness in place of all the dreary rain.
On the porch a couple of pots of spring bulbs are a cheery sight, as is a bouquet of opening daffodils in the kitchen.
But now, it's off to school – and I have lovely students this semester which makes everything brighter!
Daffodils! Guaranteed cheer!
Just a few rays of sunshine make me feel so much better. We don't have hard winters over here but, even so, the grey gloom gets to me. Daffs, snowdrops and pansies are lovely but it is the crocuses popping up which cheer me on. Such bright spots of colour emerging from non descript bunches of leaves – I must plant more for next year.
And they naturalize so beautifully — I love the crocuses as well.
The light is growing here now every day, which is helping to lift my mood. This is the first time I've been in the village I grew up at this time of year since I was 17, having then left for university and then work. So I am in a sort of delightful but profound turmoil of awakening hidden memories of this season in this place.
Since I'm back to working full time life is ultra busy. I did just have a flicker of Monday morning-itis this week, but I knocked it swiftly on the head by asking myself if I would rather be back in my old university job. Answer was a resounding no!
I get that — "delightful but profound turmoil of awakening hidden memories". Can be lovely by surprisingly wearing. . . .
I was just up in Kelowna for a memorial service. It was bright but -13. I find that grey and sameness gets me down. I do miss the brightness of Mexico and the richness of Paris. I have winter pansies and crocus in the parking lot garden. A boost of purple is good for cheer.
I never know what to think about that trade-off of sunshine for cold. I can handle about -10C, but have a tough time going much lower than that (my husband worked in Ottawa for a few years and I'd go for weekend visits — tooooo cold!)