Tuesday, January 25, 2022

winter doldrums and 'big news'


I'm rarely in front of the TV when the news comes on but I was last night because I had spent the better part of the day on the couch reading. It was a degree or two warmer than the day before but still cold, overcast and wet and dreary and I did not step foot outside once. Well, twice. Once to fetch the bird feeder that's about 15' out the back door to refill it and again to hang it back on the shepherd's crook.

So one of the big stories was 'gun violence is on the rise'. No shit Sherlock! Seriously, this is news? Have they not been living in this country for the past 20 years? What the fuck did they think the all guns all the time for all people, no restrictions on buying or carrying, the whole gun worship culture was going to lead to? Less violence? When there are more guns than people, as there are in this country, when the worship of or the reliance on the gun becomes ascendant and it becomes the first and only response to whatever pisses you off as it has in this country, when the only response to this epidemic of gun violence by lawmakers is a shrug as it is in this country, when the myth of the 'good guy with a gun' overcomes common sense as it has in this country it leads to more gun violence... more mass shootings every year than days in the year, more vigilantism, more anger fueled murder because that gun is at a fingertip. We aren't safe anywhere now, not at work, not in stores, not on the street, not at an entertainment venue, not at school, not in our cars, not even in our own homes sleeping in our own beds as a recent visitor from London found out when a stray bullet went through his brain. All this coupled with the Republican politics of hate...division, racism, bigotry, repression, stoking fear of the 'other' as a means to garner support combined with their refusal to accept any common sense regulations on gun ownership has brought us here. More guns have not made us safer and we have more to fear from our fellow citizen who might be having a bad day than any outside terrorist. "Gun violence is on the rise". Yeah.

So what else is going on? Sunday I got out and dug up the sow thistle in the big backyard, well, most of the big backyard.


these things can get 4 or 5 feet tall

Still have the section behind the back flower bed that the poppies bloom in to do but I did fill the garden cart. 



Overcast again today and the wind is from the north with temps staying pretty much in the 40˚s and 50˚s which seems to be our forecast for the next week to 10 days. Did the weekly grocery shop, walked the dog. That's about it. Actually made some progress in my book and I'm ready to finish it. Gotta make a meatloaf later for dinner. Winter doldrums. I want to start the new models but I'm not the least interested in going over to the unheated studio though I have an electric space heater I could take with me but the dreary weather is robbing me of motivation. I even passed on yoga last night which I rarely do. Tomorrow the sun is supposed to show up but then it was supposed to show up today too. 



23 comments:

  1. Oh I hate that weed! We get them here and you're right -- they get TALL! And they have long tap roots with lots of 'feelers' to keep them in the ground. Nasty things... It's been cold here as well, and both my gas and electric bills are proof. I think it's colder this winter than it was last winter. Not nearly as much snow, however, although we could sure use the moisture. Take it easy and stay warm!

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    1. I think we're probably having a typical winter unless we get another artic vortex like last year.

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  2. We did have sunshine all day and it was lovely, though the temperature only went to ten or so.

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    1. Finally got a bit of sun today so hopefully it will still be out tomorrow.

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  3. We're getting sunshine and what a difference it makes to your spirits, even if it's cold. Those are some Texas sized weeds you got there.

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    1. I totally agree. I could never live in the PNW with so few sunny days. Sow thistles are horrible. You dig them up and next year there are just as many.

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  4. Same-same here with weather. Just plain dreary. I don't know why I get out of bed. I think I'd just as soon go back.
    Republicans won't be happy until every American (white American) has a gun and has had covid.

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    1. The sun finally came out late this afternoon. I've decided that the republicans are the agents of chaos meant to bring this country down.

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  5. Yeah - big surprise about the gun violence (insert rolling eye emoji here). I was looking at the dead wildflowers yesterday thinking I should chop the stalks down to make room for the new ones, but who wants to do that when it's 40 degrees outside? Not I! (To be fair, I NEVER want to do it, but still...)

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    1. Too early still for cutting back the dead stuff. Little creatures are hibernating in it.

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  6. Winter doldrums here too. Foggy foggy foggy, so foggy that it makes the news. I am so looking forward to spring. I celebrate Imbolc on February 2nd. Halfway between winter solstice and spring equinox, it's the true first day of spring for me. Coming soon, and I hope with some sunshine for all of us.

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    1. The sun finally came out late afternoon so hopefully it will still be around tomorrow.

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  7. We have sun but it is -5F here so no going outside today! No weeds to worry about as my yard is covered in snow!
    Your rant about guns and republicans is so true! I worry about our future but want to hope that sensible minds will prevail somehow.

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    1. I think it's far too late for sensible minds especially if Republicans get control of Congress again. that's the only good thing about winter here, no snow.

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  8. Today was so grey, I never even switched my desk lamp off. All day. Currently on my 3rd pot of tea.
    At least you don't have freezing wind. Enjoy the weeding, it serves a purpose!

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    1. The promised sun did not appear until about 3:30 in the afternoon. Earlier in the week the wind was all but freezing.

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  9. Of course you're right about guns. You could eat that sow thistle, you know! Whether you'd want to or not is another question entirely -- I tried one that grew in our garden and it was very...prickly. Not a good mouth feel. Apparently it's a relative of the dandelion.

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  10. Your rant (if I may use that word) on guns is right on point. We are awash in firearms and it gets worse every day. Every day brings news of another school shooting or similar mass casualty event and one wonders "surely this will be the one that makes the country wake up, won't it?" But it hasn't and I fear it won't......

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    1. This country will never wake up. It's too divided and something has gone very rotten. this morning I got a bulletin from the Wharton Chamber of Commerce about an 'active shooter' seminar. What to do in case of. That's how this country responds to the killing crises, not by actually addressing the cause.

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  11. You still have garden chores in winter, thinking I like my colder weather. I saw on the news a woman threatening the school board members and teachers with a loaded gun if they did not agree with her...!

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    1. Up until winter finally settled on us it was very warm and the spring weeds all popped up early so I don't usually have to do this until later.

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  12. On the days when you feel uninspired to go into the studio, rest assured, you are still creating. All art requires thinking time.

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.