How I go to the Woods

Ordinarily, I go to the woods alone, with not a single 
friend, for they are all smilers and talkers and therefore
unsuitable.

 I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds or hugging the old black oak tree. I have my way of praying, as you no doubt have yours. 

Besides, when I am alone I can become invisible. I can sit on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds, until the foxes run by unconcerned. I can hear the almost unhearable sound of the roses singing.

If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love you very much.

 

-Mary Oliver 

Jennie's day off...

Yuri half leaps, half stumbles out of bed at a glorious 5:50 am, leaving a mostly comatose Jennie in his pillowed wake.

An hour and a half later Jennie awakes due to her internal alarm clock beeping incessantly reminding her that she is late for her non-existent shift.

A lazy roll out of bed and the first cup of tea of the day is made.

A load of laundry.

A peep at "Love it or List it". Guilty pleasure.

Search for cute house rentals on Kijiji. Found one! It's perfect! Emailed! Aaand it's not available. Nevermind. 

Some yoghurt and chia seeds are consumed.

The kitchen is tidied and scrubbed.

Time for second breakfast! Eggs! Cheese! Tomatoes flecked with cilantro!

A second cup of tea and a rather languid peruse of my Russian notes.

A moment of frustrated self pity that I will never be able to speak nor understand this language.

A harsh self admonishment to study more. 

Blow nose for umpteenth time. I'm not getting sick...not getting sick?

To do list is made for all the packing and errands before we leave for holidays.

Nothing is scratched off...hmm.

An incredibly British looking sky outside beckons my presence.

Jennie capers off...

Spring? Spring???! SPRING!!!

The cold weather has decided to stay forever, and at this point I'm convinced that Spring will never arrive.

So in this perpetual Narnia-esque state, where it's always Winter, I've decided to try and embrace the cold, wind, snow, and ice.

                                                                   This is me embracing


I should tell you that I only lasted about 30 minutes outside before rushing indoors to enjoy a London Fog.

"They say that love can't grow
Beneath the winter snow
But if we never see
Then how will we ever know"

Sit back with your cozy essentials. Tea, fire, and of course, a Canadian folk song. 

Deep in the heart of winter...

TODAY

 -I've sent Yuri off to Toronto for a week.
-I am sick with what my boss terms the "cuban flu" although I have never felt the warmth of Cuba.
-The weather is cold, deeply cold.
-My creative spirit is struggling. 
-And I am sad.

 BUT

 I am surviving this Winnipeg winter with the help of:

1. My fleece-lined black tights.

2. My fake fireplace. It's abstract warmth soothes me.

3. My ginger tea.

4. The fact that there are only 59 days left before spring.

5. Netflix. My guilty pleasure.

6. The sauna at my gym. I sweat out my toxins and pretend that it's summer.

7. Honestly, sheer will power. I survive because I must.