Random Thoughts for a February Day

Wow. Time has a way of hurtling one through it, doesn't it?  I'm sure it was just January first. This may have something to do with the fact that we never quite got around to celebrating Jonge's birthday until the 2nd of February. Yes. I'm sure that is the reason.
Anyway..,
In no particular order, these are the very boring things I've been up to since the last time I told you about the boring things I was doing.
1.  I'm never one to watch the "in" shows while they are happening. I'm not sure why, except that by waiting I can gather a rough idea from reviews and such if I am going to enjoy investing the time into it. Also, if I wait, I can watch them all in rather quick succession which is helpful, as it keeps me from always wondering aloud, 'now who is that guy again?'
2.  So, in January I started watching The Crown. Of course I planned to watch one episode a night, but when the next one is right there at the push of a button, and winter weather and early bedtimes come in to play.., let's just say The Crown is now a thing of the past.  I loved it.  And it caused me to realize just how lacking my education is in European history. As in, null and void. So while working to remedy THAT, I started watching... (wait for it!)...
3. Victoria.  I'm loving this one too.  Already into season two, and I have actually PAID to watch a few of them.  Even more history to delve into.  The first thing I learned from watching Victoria is that I need to go back to read all of my favorite English novels of that period and imagine everything DARKER.  Yes, I DO love the ambiance of candle light, but good grief! How did they ever SEE anything?!
4.  This reminds me of the year I was reading Tolstoy.  I made it through War and Peace, and then read Anna Karinina, which I enjoyed.  So I rented one of the movies made from it.  Hmm.  My imagination sadly lacked in forming in my mind just what Russian peasants may have looked like. Then I read Dostoevsky's  Crime and Punishment.  Hmm.  So much I don't know about history.  And I went to school in a time where history was taught.  I just didn't take it. Only American History and Government.  Maybe I should hire a tutor?
5. In January I decided that I want to read more from one of my very favorite authors, Elizabeth Goudge.  I have a few of her novels, and am always looking for more.  They aren't that easy to find.  Even on Amazon.  So, I remembered many friends having success finding books at Abebooks.com.  Amazing how many of them they have available.  Although not AS many, since I've purchased a few from them.  To my collection I have now added two anthologies, Home for Christmas and Pattern People. This week her autobiography, The Joy of the Snow came in the mail, so I am presently reading that, along with a Kindle copy of Beyond the Snow - The Life and Faith of Elizabeth Goudge by Christine Rawlins.  If you enjoy her as an author, you are sure to love both of these books as well.
6.  In  other exciting news (in MY world anyway) I found another Dutch book at my local thrift store,  I didn't KNOW it was in Dutch until a few days later when I thought I'd read it to one of the grand kids.  I was THRILLED to find it, as it is by one of my favorite illustrators, Anton Peck. The title of it is December In De Stad, so you can easily understand how that did not seem Dutch to me.  Now I love it even more!  Of course, I cannot actually READ it, but it isn't too hard to figure out.  I do recognize a few words here and there (oliebollen!) and Google Translate helps me with the rest! Let me just add here how truly amazed I am by how often things that I treasure show up at our local thrift store, because it truly is the only thrift store I go to on a somewhat weekly bases (okay. to be honest, if we miss a week they worry about us.). It does help that I live in an area of the state with many grandchildren of Dutch immigrants (three of my four grandparents) but I'm still happy to find things this way!  Although, I think my grandparents would reprimand me for spending money on thrift store finds.  I think they would be more interested in the Dutch import store across the street that still sells many of their favorite foods (but not many of mine). I only go there for Dutch licorice.
7.  This month my beloved dog, Zeke, turned 11 years old.  He would like me to tell you that he is sick of winter.  Going out into the cold and snow is not one of his favorite activities anymore (unless i go with him, and it is no longer one of my favorite activities either).  He seems to think that I should be able to open the door onto a better day, as he goes out - looks around in disgust, comes back inside  - and then whines to go back out again. Repeat this ALL DAY LONG and you would have a clear picture of what my days are like.  We play the in and out game, which obviously neither on of us ever wins.  I have no power to change the weather just by opening the door again.  Yet, he is not convinced.  Now that THGGM works from home in our basement, sometimes he asks me who I was talking to.  Apparently, it would NEVER occur to him to attempt to explain these things to a dog.  But I still try.  Occasionally in a loud, annoyed voice (okay. MORE than occasionally).
8.  For Christmas THGGM received Alexa.  Are you familiar with this?  You ask it questions, and it answers them.  Or plays music, tells you the weather, or as the grandchildren have learned makes disgusting noises upon request.  Broeder LOVES this amazing thing.  He asks it questions all the time.  I've found it good in helping children with proper diction, as sometimes he has to repeat himself a few times before it understands him.  He is appalled though, by its admitted lack of knowledge about kittens.  Broeder loves kittens more than anything else, and trusts no one who doesn't share this love.  So much so that one day after his four older cousins arrived from school, he surveyed them, asking for everyone who loves kittens to raise their hand.  No one did. So he asked them if they loved kittens.  Everyone of them said no.  Now, I have known these four kids their ENTIRE lives, and for three of them I happen to know they DO love kittens, as I used to have one they adored, dear old Uncle Barb.  But, nope, that day they all claimed to not like kittens.  This caused Broeder to break down sobbing; long, hard, wracking sobs.  I actually pleaded with them to just SAY they like kittens so Broeder would calm down, but they would not have that.  Suddenly, the four of them became the MOST saintly children known to mankind who would not LIE.  These are the same children who have no trouble at all saying that they have done their homework when they clearly have NOT, but on this particular day they would not lessen their saintly grip on honesty.  Anyway.., while all this was happening, his sister was happily drawing in the art room, as it was Monday, and on Mondays we STILL make things.
9.  I would like you to know that over the holidays I didn't gain a pound.  Wow. I did it!  So proud was I that I started adding back a few of my favorite things - things that I did not eat over the holidays, but were still hanging around my house. Of course, it was just a little bit here and there, but by last week that little bit here and there turned into three pounds,  Ugh.  I'm not happy.  So, it's back to basics for me.  Why does it seem that I NEVER learn?  I'm still waiting, at 59, to become a grown-up (although i'm not holding my breath)..
10. Lastly, this year has found me again needing to get rid of more of my growing collection of things.  I started with what I find easiest - clothes.  In the past I could not stand to wear sweaters.  I loved how they looked, but I was always uncomfortably hot in a sweater.  Not so this COLD season.  I had to actually BUY sweaters to replace those I'd given away several years ago.  But, sweaters take up room in ones closet, so I did a clothes purge.  Then last weekend I moved on to clear out all the bits of china I've been collecting.  I wouldn't dream of getting rid of all of it, but enough so I can actually SEE the things I enjoy.  Things pile up so quickly! I've given myself a year to do this.  In the fall, I will no longer have any grand kids here during the day.  This means I shall no longer need two closets and a bedroom full of toys.  Oh, the grand kids have been mostly done with the toys for at least a year or two now, but I just cannot seem to let go of ANY of it.  I'm not exactly sure why it is so hard for me.  I only kept a few things from my own children, and I can assure you that they did not have nearly half the amount of toys I have here for the grand kids.  Facing the facts, I would have to admit that I bought most of it for me.  It's too bad that selling things at an antique mall booth doesn't appeal to me in the least.  It just doesn't.  But, were I to follow my dreams, I would open up an antique mall museum and invite people to look at my vast collections of fabulous things that give me that nostalgic feeling I desire so much.  Of course I would charge admission, and no one would be allowed to touch a thing, but I would make you coffee,  hand you a lovely china plate hand painted with delicate flowers stamped "Bavaria" on the back and send you on your way.  Yes.  That's my dream.  You might also receive a hand stamped or hand drawn card as a parting gift.  For the record, this dream of mine is more interesting than my night time dreams, which lately have consisted of my needing to find a bathroom but there aren't any, my teeth falling out, or getting ready for an event I wasn't informed was happening but clearly is underway.  I wake up tired.

But really, all in all I'd have to say I have a pretty good life!