“This Weather Not For Wimps“
Thus proclaimed the headline of our local paper.
Maybe true.. but when you are living the day with no choice in the matter, wimp or not.. you simply do what you have to do to get through and to stay warm. Sadly this is not always the reality. Two people died over the weekend related to the extreme cold. How do those without suitable shelter manage? I shiver at the thought.
And how do the creatures survive… the squirrels, the birds. I know that many are tucked away, hibernating through the worst of it. But not all. Charlie was out there yesterday .. bounding over the fence posts. It is beyond me how he manages to endure. He must have a warm nest somewhere. I wonder if my daily gift of peanuts is perhaps not such a good thing. I wonder if the thought of a daily feed is keeping him awake when he should be allowing thoughts of sleep to take over.
It has finally come to that freezing point where the dogs and I have put our daily walks on hold. I just couldn’t bring myself to walk into that north wind with temps hovering just about -30C. We still do the fetch game in the back yard but only in quick sessions. Even that is not without its weather related complications. The balls (wet from Sadie) quickly freeze and acquire a thin layer of frost. After a few tosses Sadie is hesitant to pick them up. Luckily I have two.. so I keep switching balls and sticking one in my pocket to help it regain some warmth. You know it is friggin cold when Sadie will not pick up her most beloved object in this entire world.
I am doing my best to keep busy to get this month over with. Yes I realize that in a way I am wishing this month away.. but that is what I tend to do in January.
Went to the movie theater the other night with my good bud BRD. We saw Juno, a film that I would highly recommend. Apparently it is regarded as an American production but interestingly the director is Canadian as well as many of the actors. According to the credits, much of it was filmed in in Vancouver, B.C. and the surrounding area. I am assuming the funding was American.
If you have teenagers, or better yet, can still remember when you, yourself, lived those years.. this film is a must. The acting is superb, the story line sensitive but handled with humour and honesty. It had me laughing and it brought me to tears. Rarely these days does a film touch me in such a way. Go see it.. and take your teens with you. There will be much to talk about afterwards.
January also tends to be a time of books. My current read is a surprisingly good one entitled, “Eat, Pray, Love” by the author Elizabeth Gilbert. This book was an unexpected gift from my friend, Jen. I had not heard of the title before and therefore had little in the way of expectations. To be honest my initial impression was that it would be a piece of fluff telling the tale of woman’s travels through Italy and other European parts following a traumatic divorce.
The story is of her travels, but the interlinked moments of personal thoughts, emotions and spirituality have me pressing my nose closer to the pages. I quickly found myself lost in her story being able to relate to much of what she writes, searching for similar answers in my own journey, I suppose. There is an honesty in her words that draws me in. I like that. This book may not be for everyone.. but now I find myself recommending it. Thanks Jen.
Well, my coffee cup is empty. It has been filled twice so far.. I suppose that should be my limit. I could easily just stay here in my cozy spot.. but life calls. As it is, there seems to be a bit of a reprieve in the weather today so I had better get myself in gear.
Wishing you all a good one.. a safe one.. and a warm one.
Oh, do stay warm. I just have no idea what that kind of cold is like. I watched the football game in Green Bay the other night and marveled at the people sitting there in the bitter cold.
I have a copy of Eat, Pray, Love, but I haven’t gotten into it yet. I’ve read mixed reviews, but I’m waiting until I’ve read it to pass my judgment.
Enjoy your day inside…January’s almost over.
Staying inside with a good book sounds like a fine idea under those conditions. It’s been in the teens here in Pennsylvania, and I wouldn’t put a milk bottle out in that weather.
Wild animals don’t complain about living in the cold, but our domesticated Good Cats do. After a minute or two, Caitie starts the hokey-pokey with her paws, trying to warm them by shaking off the cold.
Dixie does her cold weather hop when her paws get too cold. We are also not going out for walks these days.
Thanks for the book suggestion. It sounds like just the thing I’d enjoy. I will reserve it at the library today. Thanks also for the movie suggestion. I think I’ll take my daughter to see it this weekend. Books and movies are good things to help us through these frigid days.
It’s not nearly so cold here, but I find myself wishing for warmer weather. Don is a skier and likes the cold. I used to ski, but decided that the sport isn’t worth fighting the cold.
It must be awful when you don’t take your dogs out. You’re so dedicated to it. An I hope that charlie makes it through the winter.
Cas
How can it be a bad thing to feed the wild creatures around you?
I think I’ll give your book a try. Our book group is reading Middlesex, and I’m not excited about the choice. I’ll start it, but not finish it if it disturbs me.
Cas
I’m pretty sure I’ve read before that feeding the animals (especially birds) in that kind of cold is very beneficial, and that in fact if you stop in the middle of winter if can harm them because they’ve planned around that food source. I’d keep up with Charlie and the birds treats!
I always feel like superwimp shivering in our 40 degree weather, but it’s what we get used to. I was so cold watching the Green Bay game and listening to all the descriptions that I had to put an extra blanket on.
Thanks for the book suggestion. I take my grandson to the library and my time is limited by an 8 year old attention span. So I always call in my list before I get there. We seem to have a lot of the same tastes so I’m sure I’ll like it.
Think warm thoughts.
I stopped feeding the birds because the squirrel kept eating their food. They’ve found other food I expect. I hope. Maybe I better buy some food tomorrow. I know my cats would appreciate being entertained by the critters outside the window again.
A friend gave that book to me as well. I liked it. The first section was my favourite part. It’s a worthy read. And about Juno, the writer frequents a gossip board I read sometimes. She changed her name to Diablo Cody years ago but anyway, she’s massively witty and very down to earth. I remember her talking about “this thing I wrote” and then “Jennifer Garner is interested” and we all freaked out. lol Can’t wait to see Juno myself. :)
I do hope your weather warms up soon. In the meantime thats a good idea to stay inside curled up with a good book.
I’ve seen the trailers for the movie and it does look like a good one.
Take care and stay warm!!
Thanks for sharing your recommendations on both the book and the movie–I’ll keep those in mind for bad weather (rain) days. Heh.
I’d comment about poor Sadie and her frozen balls, but that just doesn’t sound right……..
I too and tired of the sever cold. No walks, no fun! And I also wonder where all the birds are…hope they are safe and warm.
Woofs, Johann
I’ve definitely been watching more movies under the covers these days. The cold is reaching down here in Virginia. I feel like a pioneer feeding the woodstove all day. Haven’t read that book but saw her on Oprah and got a good feel for it.
Our dog Jasmine, Siberian sled dog chow stock, never used to want to come in even on the coldest nights. Now that she is getting older she does.
It’s unusually cold here in Northern California as well. Today, there’s a chance of a thunderstorm—that usually never happens around here! And it’ll be a frosty thunderstorm…it was FREEZING COLD coming home from class yesterday. I couldn’t believe how cold I felt and how low the clouds were hanging. Madness.
I can’t even imagine going out for a walk in that kind of cold. And it is so sad to think of the homeless out in that kind of weather.
Because of my back problems, I don’t know if I could sit through a movie. But, I will check out the book.
I know you’re soft-hearted…so I’m sure you will continue to feed Charlie. Hope so. (And yes, that is my backyard in the Brrr post.) Stay warm!
So glad you loved Juno….Cyndi and I loved it too. Such a simple, gentle movie. All the characters were kinda quirky…just like real life.
I have the book, but havn’t started it yet. Right now reading “Into the Wild”….saw the movie as well.
Stay warm.
My! that’s cold if even Sadie finds it too much for ball.
I loved Eat, Pray, Love. It’s really worthwhile.
I know what you mean. Time is so very precious and we want more of it. But could we fast forward a bit of the cold and dark January…:) Hope your today is middling fair or better.
I always wonder, when it gets bitter cold, why the noses and foot pads on the animals that are still moving around don’t suffer from frostbite.
I am looking forward to seeing Juno.
I think that some sort of weather break is on the way. Much to Sadie’s joy, I suppose. Hang in there.
It is very cold and windy today…miserable in my books so I am cocooning. And I too, am wishing January..no…all the cold deep freeze days away. But we can take solace in the fact that the sun is now setting at about 5:18!!! None of that 4:30 December stuff!
I really want to see that movie Juno now! Thanks.
Colleen we finally have a break in the weather this weekend. And then they forecast a blizzard for Tuesday. Ah Winterpeg, could it be anything else?! I recently read the book Eat pray,love. I also wondered how it would be. I was pleasantly surprise. I can not imagine meditating in the dark for hours like she did in India. Enjoy the warm weather with your furry kids. H