In a Year

 This and that--

1. It has now been over a year since I have had my hair professionally cut.  Salon de Marie en Bain, or my bathroom, is where my hair has been cut for a year now.  It isn't too bad, this hair cutting.  The back is pretty sketchy, but you can't see it on Zoom anyway.  I kind of like the front.  The good thing about self cutting hair is that I can keep cutting off a little more until I get it right.  Or if I make a big mistake, I could just shave the whole thing.  And it costs nothing.

2. I believe that the coldest part of winter is behind us.  It was colder in St. Louis than I am used to.  That seems to be true for a lot of the country.  But the snow was finally melting on Sunday.  The icicles finally fell off the eaves.  I see the neighbor's willow tree starting to turn red, meaning the buds of leaves are beginning to swell.  I don't doubt there will still be cold weather and we will probably have more snow, but single digits are behind us.

3. One of my Lenten challenges has been to write some letters to people.  In these pandemic times there is probably not a person who would not benefit from having their day brightened by a letter.  I am way more used to emails these days.  But, I can think of people who would smile to get an old fashioned letter.

4. Another Lenten challenge is to get back to watching my diet better.  I have not been very successful in that one yet.  I have gained weight during this pandemic.  I eat for comfort, to combat loneliness, to combat tiredness.  Eating is my go-to instead of a hug.  I need to change that.

5. I bought a weighted blanket.  I have heard about them and heard about them.  I finally decided that it was worth giving it a try.  So far I have to say I think it helps me to fall asleep faster.  I move a lot getting settled and the blanket seems to calm that down.

6. As I resumed walking the imaginary dog this week I have to say thank you to the few people who shoveled sidewalks.  I did mine.  But walking through 6 inches of snow almost a week after the storm was tough.  I totally understand why they didn't shovel sidewalks.  Most of the time they melt around here.  No bad feelings to the people who didn't shovel, but a big thanks to those who did.  The second day I got smarter and walked in the street.

7. On the weekend of the snowstorm, Valentine's and Presidents Days, I started a new quilt.  It is a large lap quilt.  It was so cold that weekend I decided that I wanted one.  Of course by the time it is finished the weather will have warmed up, but there is always next year.  And someday if I live to be old and in care, they can drape the lap quilt over me and say, "She used to make quilts."  It is left over material, wild aquamarine and raspberry pink making a heart shape in the center.  It is wild and exuberant.