It’s mid-February, and I offer this R-E-P-O-R-T.
At mid-month, I’m . . .
R . . . ejuvenating
I spent a good portion of last Friday and Saturday rejuventaing our wood floors. Our wood floor encompasses most of our first floor (the entryway, two hallways, the entire kitchen, and a small bathroom), so this is . . . a Big Task. It’s . . . Involved. And, frankly, it’s a big pain in the ass. But these old floors look so nice when they’re all cleaned and polished.
E . . . njoying
We are finally watching All Creatures Great and Small on PBS. I know many of you love this show already, but we hadn’t watched it before. I have this . . . Thing . . . with stories about animals, especially if animals suffer in any way. So I tend to avoid shows and books with animals. Many of you (and my sister, too) have encouraged me to give the show a watch, and have assured me that even though it’s not always sunshine-and-rainbows, the show is well-done and they always . . . put the animals first. And you all were right! It’s been a pleasant winter diversion to watch all my new friends in Darrowby, and I’ll miss it now that we’ve wrapped up the most current season.
P . . . ermitting
Myself to just play with my art supplies and do my own “thing.” It’s been so freeing to put aside everything I’ve been taught about “technique” and just . . . get on with it.
O . . . bserving
We’re in the midst of the most mild winter in my lifetime. (Well. Except for the years we lived in Austin. . . ) With a two-week exception, it’s been warmer-than-normal (which, granted is still cold, but not cold enough to freeze the weed seeds . . . or ticks), and there has been very little snow (and when it does snow, the snow is quickly gone). I get out in my garden – just to observe at this point – nearly every day. I’m ready to start in on some of my early-spring tasks (some pruning, a little cutting back here and there) – which is way earlier than usual, but I’m also mentally preparing myself for the potential of a late-arriving winter. Because it could happen . . .
R . . . ebooting
In November, I gradually start bringing out my “winter décor”: twinkle lights, cozy candles, a lot of little this-and-that. I add in the Christmas-related stuff in December. And then in January, I gradually start paring it all back. Right now, I’m ready for a full re-boot! I’m getting ready for natural light, open spaces, and spring.
T . . . rying
For decades, we’ve enjoyed having a nearby neighborhood restaurant that served good food in a not-fancy setting. It was a dependable, familiar place for us to go on the spur-of-the-moment – and usually at least once a week. They closed their doors at the end of 2023, and we’ve been a bit beside ourselves (and especially because another long-time favorite restaurant closed 18 months before). So we’ve decided to try other restaurants in the area in a more systematic way. (Turns out we’d gotten pretty set in our ways, restaurant-wise. . . ) It’s an adventure we’re embracing.
How about you?
What’s going on . . . at mid-month?
It has been a very “un-winter-like winter” here as well. I hope you’ll share your art play with us! (As for me… the stitching is saving my life these days!)
Your floors look beautiful! My first house had hardwood floors on the first floor with the exception of the kitchen. I used to wash them on my hands and knees with Murphy’s Oil Soap. I was in my mid 20s and it was a pain but also no big deal. I shudder at the thought now! I’m so glad to hear that you and Tom enjoyed All Creatures Great and Small. Dale and I love it and we haven’t watched season 4 yet. I’m also feeling ready to put away all of the “winter” decor but I’m holding off until March 1st. Then it will be a full spring reboot no matter what the weather is outside. And yes, speaking of weather, I’m feeling the pull to prune back the stuff I didn’t do last fall, and I may actually get to do it next week. We’ll see.
We also have a lot of wood flooring that is in dire need of attention. Love this posting format
Ooh, your floor looks lovely and shiny! I haven’t watched the current season of All Creatures but am saving it for a “snow day”. That may be tomorrow as we’re supposed to get more snow (3-5″) tonight. I don’t like shoveling it, but it is good to get snow in winter. I hope your restaurant-trying goes well. We were underwhelmed after getting dinner from an old favorite Portuguese barbecue place last night and taking it to a friend’s house – the prices were sky high, the portions were smaller, and the food was barely average. It seems like I may be cooking more at home!
OHMYGOD, I cannot WAIT to fling open some windows & doors!! (But not yet.)
Look at those shiny floors! Well worth the effort, I’d say. It’s been decidedly un-winter-like here this year as well (as Kat noted), though we are supposed to get some snow overnight. It won’t stick around, though, because we’re supposed to be back in the mid-40s early next week. I don’t love dealing with winter weather, but the warming trend does bother me because I know how bad it is for the planet. I am not, however, unhappy that shortly after I get up during the week, there’s starting to be some light in the sky!
Oh my wide pine floors are desperate for replacement. Should be higher on the list than it ever is. A meh winter here as well. Things are certainly changing…Have a nice weekend Kym and Tom!
Beautiful floors which reminds me I NEED to scrub my cabinets with orange oil. Sioon I’ll have time to do that. As Bonny said, we are expecting snow overnight. I will HAVE to go out in the morning because the kids are away and Fletch and I are on cat feeding duty. Whether or not Dee and I meet up is TBD. Happy Weekend!
The floors look gorgeous. The older parts of our house have wood floors from the 1850s. I’d love to know what you use to keep yours nice and shiny. Mine are looking good and I want to keep it that way.
There are some interesting “flaws” in my floors. The school burnt down sometime in the 1880s and was “rebuilt” in 1888. The burn marks are in the floors in the living room, second bedroom and a big one in the linen closet (which was probably the stairs to the second floor at one time. Those burns were varnished over as a memory of the fire.
The attic has beautiful wide plank oak floors. The floors downstairs are 1″ oak. I’d love to have the wide planking down here.
I love All Creatures… and look forward to watching the final season 4 episode, the 2023 Christmas special, on Passport this weekend.
Our winter has been mild except for the cold spell last month and the snow storm today. The snow won’t last because it will be back in the 40s by Monday!
The floors look wonderfully shiny and clean. Let’s see – around here, I finished a shawl, fed the birds, mopped the floors, baked a pan of brownies, and had coffee with friends. It’s as exciting as it gets in February!
I love the R-E-P-O-R-T! those floors look great! and I’m smiling about the Re-boot … I usually get that urge at some point in February and make myself hold off until March – because it always gets cold again (and two of the biggest snow events in my memory occurred in March).