I took Lola to walk this morning and it was snowing. If you look closely you can see snow on her coat in the photo above. It flurried, off and on, all day. Pretty to look at but way too cold, even for me. This is supposed to be Hot-Lanta. I can live with the heat. I'm used to it. Hate this bitter cold and wind, though.
Of course, the ground was so warm there was no way that snow would stick. We have daffodils up in the front yard, and camellias blooming. Always seems weird to see blooming flowers in the snow. Then again, last week we didn't need coats.
When my brother asked me what I wanted for Christmas a few months ago, I said BIRDHOUSES. Four of them. He got me four lovely cedar birdhouses. I was walking Lola last fall and one of my neighbors had put two of these tall green plant stands out for the garbage and I took them both. I knew I wanted to hang birdhouses on them. We love to feed birds but unfortunately since there's a creek behind the house, huge rats come up and eat all the bird food literally right out of the feeders. It's horrifying. So we can't really feed birds. So the houses are what we can do. We have a couple of older birdhouses in the yard and every year there are baby birds living in the houses, which is awesome. [BTW, the firepit in the photo is only there temporarily]
The last few days have been tumultuous.
Sunday night I killed a palmetto bug in my room, much to my horror. I HATE those things. Huge roaches. UGH. The exterminator guy is coming out Thursday. I had a hard time sleeping Sunday night because the dang bug was just a couple of feet from my bed when I killed it.
Michael learned some very sad news Sunday, late morning. One of his buddies shot himself. Michael was SO upset. This boy was a good friend. Not a super close friend, but a good friend. I talked really hard to Michael about going on to work, because it was Superbowl Sunday and he works at a sports bar. So he went on in to work and was there from 3-11, on his feet, which is a long shift for him, as a host. Michael is not dealing with it as well as I would like to see, but he's dealing. I suggested he journal his feelings, and put a blank notebook and pen on his bed. He is just staying gone all the time, hanging out with his buddies. He didn't get in until very late last night. I cannot get him to understand that I sleep very badly when he stays out so late.
I made a blueberry cobbler yesterday and Michael has eaten most of it, which is fine. He goes for hours without eating, then tends to eat junk food. Blueberries are pretty nutritious, compared to most of the junk food he likes. I just worry about him not eating right. We have healthful food in the house, but it's hard to get him to eat it. He's rarely here for dinner any more.
Today is Shrove Tuesday and Mom and I had pancakes and sausage. Very yummy. Totally off the diet. Ate some carrots later in the evening because I actually missed having a vegetable!
I have not decided what, if anything, I will do for Lent. You don't have to only give up something. You can also take on something, like an additional obligation - working extra hours, doing something for a neighbor, etc. It's supposed to be a time of reflection. If the weather were better I would try to do some major garage cleaning, but it's too cold right now.
I was hoping Mike would come home for dinner, and strongly suggested it, but he's off with his buddies. He will probably not get in until late and then he will just demolish the rest of the cobbler.
That's all I know to report. Stay warm!
