😊Hibernating Mode😊

guess i should give up on having all of my post, centered.  i click on centered and they come out, to the left, like a regular book print.

there are bloggers who claim that this is the easiest to read anyway.

 this week between christmas and new years, is *supposed* to be quiet, with no *to do list*.  but it didn't work out this way, this year.  -sigh-  but i certainly plan on beginning january/february, *deep winter*, with as much hibernation mode as possible.

 nature is sleeping, at this time of year.  many animals are hibernating.  it is cold, with long nights and a general feeling of "going within" as much as possible.  🏡   of being snug in our homes.  and having soups and stews simmering on the stove.  hot chocolate if one can have it.   good books to read, snuggled in one's favorite comfy chair, with a warm 'throw' over your legs.   etc.  etc.  etc.

 i know, people still have to go out to work, and we all have work to do, around the home.  but if we can keep the hibernate attitude in our heads and hearts, even when out, or busy.....    and if we decline any invites which we really don't want to participate in, we can more easily slip back into a quiet mood, when work and home duties are done.

 i know some do this every year.  but if you haven't really tried this before, perhaps you would consider it?  it's a way to more enjoy this cold, dark season of the year.  if we look on it, as a time to bring ourselves quiet, time for ourselves, coziness and self nurturing....  wouldn't that go a long way, to banish the winter blahhhhhhhhhs?  😊 

if you have any resources on this topic of winter hibernation, would you please share them?  i can always use more!

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some of my paragraphs are centered and some are not, at least now, before i publish.  ???????????

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Both Sides...

 Not having grown up with it, I do not fully understand Royalty.

 

But I can enjoy reading about what the Royals, of different countries, are doing.  A safe hobby...  😊

And I certainly can appreciate people, doing their JOB, whatever it may be. 

And doing it well, without complaints.

 

 

As Prince William and Princess Catherine do.

(Prince William; "What is this thing and what do you do with it.")  😄

What I do not appreciate is Royals, wanting the perks of Royalty, such as living in a mansion with nanny for children, and paid people, taking care of everything, and major security, and titles, etc.

 

But not doing any Royal Duties.  Spending their time, moaning and crying, about all the suffering they have endured...   And blaming everyone but themselves, for everything.  (Please note her crying 😢, with an expensive Hermes rug on her lounge.😒 ) 

 

It would seem that 40 year old people should spend their time, doing something, other than....  Making $$$$$$$ off of television and a book....   Consisting of how other people have wronged them...   And how fate has wronged them....  And how everyone else is to blame for all their woes.
 

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🍁🍂Which do I watch???🍂🍁

 Who do I watch tonight?   Van Der Valk...?

Or Tom Brady and the Bucs?

Yes, I think that his wife Gisele is right.   He should have stayed retired.  But if he is crazy enough to keep playing, I'll watch some of his games, on tv.

But....  Tonight...  Both on...

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🌼🌱🌼What~think~you, pray tell???🌼🌱🌼

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 Not everyone who reads here, is "A Woman Of A Certain Age,"  old.   😉   But some of us are. 

"To Age Joyfully" certainly sounds like a nice idea.    Actually, to live one's life, as joyfully as possible, at any age, sounds like a nice idea.

But we all know, that such, is not guaranteed, at any age.

Soooo, how about trying to do, what we can do, especially when we are old, to help us live a pleasant life?

What do you think of the suggestions, in the above picture?

To me, they all sound good, except that "Have A Purpose" thing...    For older years...   Why have something which you need to *get up on a soapbox* about, in later life?  By old age, I prefer to let someone else holler and march and carry placards.  😉

But if you still want to be Active for a Cause in old age, tell us why.  No one way, is the "only right way," for all.

Soooo, what~think~you, about all the suggestions, in the picture on top of this post????

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😊 Mental Health Day 😊

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Taking a Mental Health Day...

Ever hear of those?   

"When you feel like your stress levels have reached their peak, it might be time to take a quick break to reset."

My stress levels have definitely reached their peak!  Betcha' a lot of us, can agree.  -sigh-

So much to worry about, in so many aspects of life.   

So little that worrying, can do, about any of it.

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From my mini-melt-down yesterday, you can tell, I need a Mental Health Day.  -smile-

I don't regret what I said.   It has been a long-time-coming.    But neither do I want any of my Dear Readers to worry about it!!!!!!!   Please...  Please...  Please...

I love you all, just the way you are!     And hope that the feeling is reciprocated.   We are each our Individual Selves, and we have a perfect Right to be so.

Let's love ourselves.    And be gentle with ourselves.  

And continue to hold each other's hands, in our lovely 'Pretty Blog Land.'

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Now!  Go and love yourself! 😊   

 

And be gentle with yourself! 😊

And maybe, plan a 'Mental Health Day' for yourself.

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🌲 January...Stuff... 🌲

I love to look at pictures of 'After Christmas' decorating.  I would be delightful to have an accumulation of 'January Decor,' to take out.   -smile-

 

 But I don't...    I don't choose to spend that much money.  Nor do I want to have to store any more 'Decorations,' than I already do.    In fact I have gotten rid of much.  If it isn't used, it goes.   If it's too much, to bring up and down, it goes.  

 

One thing I am noticing in these photos is...   So much permanent background of white!    What if you don't live in a nearly totally white house?
 

These things, including the dog, are cozy and adorable.  But I don't have white walls.   Me-thinks these staged photos, are made easy, by placing them in all white backgrounds.  But, what good does this do, for normal people???  -grin-

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"Winter blues are cured every time with a potato gratin paired with a roast chicken." - Alexandra Guarnaschelli.

"That grand old poem called Winter." - Henry David Thoreau.

"Leaving a bookstore is hard, especially on a day in January, when the ice is treacherous, the wind is blowing, and the books inside seem to gather together in colorful warmth."- Jane Smiley.

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🌲🌲 A January Feeling 🌲🌲

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And now, I want to link you, to a lovely article, called  "A January Feeling"...

I copy a few sentences here.  In hope that you will use the click-able link, and go to it, yourself...

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"Of all the winter months, January unfolds like the deepest of slumbers. It closes in like the darkest part of the night; that utter blackness where dreams are found and then forgotten by morning. But despite it’s dark and sleepy facade, this month also brings us the gift of new beginnings. Explore what lies beneath us now and we will see there are the seeds of new life growing and unfolding deep under our feet."

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" Our bodies will require more rest at this point of the year than any other. Daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere are short and with less exposure to sunlight, we naturally have less energy. " 

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"Shiny new gym memberships, the latest diet craze, Facebook ads with fresh daily routines to ‘boost our productivity’, there are so many ‘healthy’ roads we can take, some of which could potentially yield positive results, but are we really being kind to ourselves or are we doing ourselves a disservice? "

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"In a season which encourages reflection, introspection and stillness,..."

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All these lovely words.....   They make we wonder about the idea of  "First Steps"<---Click-able Link...  Now.  Should we be *gun-hoooo*.... In Hibernating January?

-sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-

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"I don't think people understand how stressful it is to explain what's going on in your head when you don't even understand it yourself."  ~Unknown

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"Confusion is a word we have invented for an order which is not yet understood."

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“People don't expect too much from literature. They just want to know they're not alone with being confused.” ~Johathan Ames

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Addition:

We are in an Ice Storm today/Sunday. 

Ugh...Ugh...Ugh...

NOT what I have been wanting!

-sigh- 

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🌲⛄🌲 'Tis Deep Winter 🌲⛄🌲

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The bustle of Christmas is over.   New Years is a week away.  Some people call this, "The Week That Time Forgot."  Delightful days, in which to just sit back and relax.    Or to enjoy the new toys, both children's and adult's toys...    Read the new books...   Play the new games...  Nibble on the left overs of the Christmas Feast.

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And some, see this as the beginning of Deep Winter.   Yes, the days are officially getting longer.   But it will be awhile before this is obvious.   It is still dark, more than it is light.   It is still cold, more than it is even a hint of warm. 

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To me, this is the beginning of Deep Winter.  😊  Yes, a 😊.  Because I happen to like Deep Winter!

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Nature is sleeping and resting.   I welcome this Season.   Giving me the prompt, to Rest myself.    To have an attitude of hibernation.   To eat warm nourishing food and snuggle under a warm puff.   To be grateful for the warmth and coziness of home.

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We only have a little snow, at present...   Not all this beautiful snow, in the picture above.    But it is cold...!   So it is Deep Winter.  😊

 

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Now I know, not everyone will agree with me!!!!!!   But it is a nice attitude to have, when one lives, in a part of the world, where it IS  Deep Winter, now.  😊    

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🍁🍂🍁Pondering...🍁🍂🍁

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We've *survived* Return-To-Nature's-Time!   -grin-  Started turning clocks back, during Sat.  I got up at the time, I want to.   Even earlier would be lovely.   But it's a start.

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"November is the month with the perfect fall weather for boots, leggings, sweaters, vests and scarfs.   ......   In November, especially around Thanksgiving, many families put up their Christmas decorations, lights, and trees. Essentially, November provides for a colorful and festive Christmas. Finally, daylight savings ends in November. An extra hour of sleep does wonders to affect how a person feels throughout the day, so falling back an hour for daylight savings is always appreciated."~Source

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There is so much about No-More-Flu...!   And the *maskers* say; "Because of masks!"   I say, because no one who is sniffling, coughing and hacking, goes out in public.   Not since this China/Covid began.   ~~~~     They are afraid of people coming after them, with pitchforks!   And rightly so!   

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"Burned" in my memory, from the past, is a woman, so sick with a cold or flu, that she should have been home in bed!!!   Pushing her cart around in grocery store.   Accompanied by her pre-teen children and husband.   Who were running off, getting items.    If they could do that, why couldn't she give them a list and send them...?    While she stayed home in bed?

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Because it was not frowned upon!   Except by me!

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 Plus now, most people clean off the grocery store handle, before touching it.    ~~~~   And are generally much more aware, of all kinds of germs-on-surfaces.   We carry our little 70% alcohol bottles with us, and use them!

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"November has a poetic soul: Dark, moody, and draped in the fading hues of autumn, November is a contemplative month with a great deal of beauty to the gradually dying embers of its seasonal fire."

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🍂 Hello November 🍂

Hello November...

Not the easiest month, to like. 

Dark skies...

Rain...

Wind...

Last leaves blowing down, in the wind...

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Sooooooooooo, I have to devote myself to finding ways to happily "Live In The Season."

Because...

Not only is this month, a dreary one, it is the beginning of Our Winter of Our Discontent.

More on this, coming....

Meanwhile, check your pantry, have a cup of something warm and soothing,  cozy-up your home, etc.   We have to learn now, how to live, through this coming winter.

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“It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.” 

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🌌 And now, for something different 🌌

"The approaching darkness.....

As the end of October draws closer, we begin to anticipate a new season.  It is a time of darkness, shadows, wisdom and magic.  As an introvert, this phase of the year is when I feel most at home, with the darker evenings offering opportunities to read, reflect and be still."   Source An email from Eleanor at Creative Countryside

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Like it or not, November is darker.  The clocks go back to Nature's Time (Yeaaaaaaaaaa!)  Everywhere you look, the natural world looks spent.    After all the growing of summer, and harvesting of Autumn, Nature is logically tired. 

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With the muted colors of November, and less time in the day, one could get a wee bit depressed.    And I know, it is a real problem for some people.  I do not make light of SAD.

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But for those of us, who could be in charge of our mental outlook, wouldn't it be wise to find the *Bright Side* of this normal, seasonal occurrence?

The Natural World takes a rest, in winter.  I like to try to follow suit.   Work for many, and household duties for all, do not magically go away.  But couldn't we plan on how to use our leisure, in a restful and pleasant way?  So we look forward to it? 

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By making our home cozy...  Planning on savory casseroles and simmering suppers...   Which fill the home with delightful aromas.   Lighting lovely fragrance candles...  Have a number of good books, beside our favorite chair....  With a warm 'throw,' there, to put over our lap/legs, when we sit down to read...    Etc.   Etc.  Etc.

The dull darkness, won't seem so upsetting, if we look forward to these things...   This month of November.

Yes?

No?

Maybe?

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"The perfect antidote to dark, cold and creepy is light, warm and cozy.  ~Candice Olson

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