Hibernation

Thank you for your kind words about Pedal for Paws. I've been sending and delivering letters to lots of local companies in the past few weeks, and I'm hopeful for a good response.

Every year about mid-to-late January, I hit a bit of a wall. The sinus headaches start, I'm really tired all the time, and don't concentrate well. It's frustrating. Before I recognized it was a seasonal thing, I used to worry that something was really wrong, and even had the doctor check my thyroid, iron, and Vitamin D levels. Now I know there's nothing to do but accept it, enjoy hibernation, and wait it out. I feel better this winter than I usually do, probably because of the indoor bike riding, working on the charity ride plans, and the cozy fires in our fireplace. But spring with its warmth and sunshine won't come too soon!

You would think that I would be doing lots of knitting by the fire, but because of the above, my knitting motivation has left the building. Here is my first wristwarmer; the pair is taking so much longer to complete than it needs to. I'm not happy with the thumb, but decided to go ahead and knit the second mitt first to get some sense of accomplishment, and then go back and fix it.

Thankfully, I have been spending more time in books. The Mysterious Mr. Quin by Agatha Christie was a fun collection of short stories, tied together by the characters of Mr. Quin, a god-like figure and harlequin (Harley Quin), and Mr. Satterthwaite. Mr. S is a senior gentleman of the upper class whose taste for human drama and wisdom to analyze it draws him to all kinds of adventures beyond his comfort zone. When Mr. Quin appears out of nowhere during Mr. S's travels, he knows instantly to pay attention -- there is a murder to solve or a wrong to right. We're not sure exactly what Mr. Quin is, which only makes the stories more interesting.

I'm now reading Pride and Prejudice -- Elizabeth is very interested in Mr. Wickham, and her cousin Mr. Collins is very interested in her. The upcoming ball should be very telling! Chris and I have been watching the new Emma on PBS the past few Sundays and we like it a lot more than I had expected we would. Are you watching it? If so, what do you think?

A big thank you to Musings from the Sofa, whom I know a little from real life. She had a book contest/giveaway on her blog a few months ago, and gifted me with this:

 

I've not read it before, and only saw a snatch of the movie, but it's a book people keep recommending to me. I guess it's time I read it! Thank you, Ms. Musings!!

One of my New Year's goals is to work on some home projects. Hibernating gives you more time to decorate and spruce up your cave! One project I've wanted to do for a long while was to have an electrician install my chandelier. It came from an antiques shop and used to hang in the dining room of our previous home. When we moved to our current house, there was no electrical fixture in the ceiling for it, so it's been stored in a box in the attic until now.

In a few weeks, we are planning to finally paint our kitchen. It will be a light green, somewhere between sage (yellow) and mint (blue). I've been talking about it for a long time, I know, but it's a huge project and we needed to find just the right time when Chris had extra days off and it wasn't during bike racing season. I'm glad that these New Year's goals are working out so well! Now, if I can just get my knitting inspiration back!

Comments

[Barbara-Kay]

Love the chandelier! It looks like one that was converted from an oil lamp. It would have been hung on a pulley and I suspect that circle in the bottom of the filigree allowed you to pull it down to light it.

[Bubblesknits]

I think we're all in a bit of hibernation right now. It's just so darn cold! Sucks the energy right out of me.

I'll have to look up that book.

[jillian]

Love that wristwarmer!

When I lived in the midwest, about late Feb-early March I would get a funk every year, not feeling good. On my doc's recommendation, I went to a tanning booth (with sunscreen) once or twice each year, and it really helped. Now, this was over 10 years ago, and tanning beds would probably not be recommended now. But those UV lights may do the same thing? Just a thought ;)

[Robin]

Not sure if my comment went through or not - the wristwarmer looks great! That's the spirit - move on to the next one and fix the other one later (if you end up deciding to!)

[Yvonne]

I am watching Emma too! I've also seen I Capture the Castle. Both have the same actress as the main character. I was a little disappointed with I Capture the Castle, I felt it was a little disjointed. Hopefully the book is much better!

[Chris]

I have to confess that I'm reassured to read I'm not the only one who suffers sinus headaches at this time of year...

[Beth]

Your wristwarmers are beautiful! I love the color. I forgot about Emma being on. :( How many weeks are left?

[Sydney]

My sinuses are a problem this time of year too. I think the cold encourages hibernation. Hibernation just feels so good during the winter.

[Karen]

I agree, January is a really tough month. And I know spring is still pretty far away, but I found I already felt better yesterday just knowing January was gone and February was starting. (I bet it won't last long though.) I'm glad this year has been a little better for you than past years.

Love the "sprucing" you've been doing on your house. I've felt the urge to get some long planned home improvement projects going too - and also get our bathroom finished up since we've only been working on it for about two years!!! The thing holding my back now is that I know we have some lead paint in the house, and now that we have K.C. I'm not sure how to go about with the wall prep. I have to make sure she wouldn't breath in any of the lead paint dust and I'm petrified!!!

[Robin]

I loved I Capture The Castle and in fact just lent it to my 13 y.o. god-daughter to read, along with her first Jane Austen, Sense & Sensibility. I also lent her the movie so she could watch it first to help her follow the story while she tunes her reading ear to the nuances of early 19th century fiction.

Lovely chandelier, how nice that you took it out of it's own hibernation.

[keri]

The wristwarmer is beautiful - love the colors in the yarn and the little cuff detail!

I hope you enjoy your hibernation, I've been feeling a bit of that too with the cold and the snow and the rain. It's definitely a seasonal thing for sure. February is here and before you know it the sun will be back out again and the plants will start flowering. =)

[madalyn]

I think the wristwarmer looks lovely! And Pride & Prejudice is one of my favorites of all time!

[Dorothy W.]

I'm glad you're doing better this year, even if winter still is hard. It's February now, which makes me feel like we're getting near the end, but it also makes me more impatient with the bad weather we get. I'm tired of it! But spring will be here soon (only a few short weeks until races start!). Becky's book selection is great; I haven't read it but I've heard good things and would love to know what you think.

[Sarah]

Hibernation blues :( Glad you're meeting it with a great attitude!

So glad you're reading Pride & Prejudice!!

[Jess]

I loved the movie "I Capture the Castle" and the book is great too. Happy reading.

[Pam]

I loved the book I Capture the Castle -- & I adored the new version of Emma - made me go back & read the final chapters of the book again.

Love the light fixture!