Winter finally came to the Oregon coast, just a little late this year. We have had our usual rain and gray skies interspersed with clear blue skies and cold weather, but this last week we got a real winter. As in, snow.
Snow on the beach, taken from the window of my old office. Photo courtesy of T. Sean Prescott (the fellow who has my old job).
With the snow came some serious cold, and ice. Now, I don’t much mind the snow. Will even drive in it. But once it turns to ice, I don’t want to leave the house. Especially after my little incident with the mud a couple weeks ago. Let’s just say I was feeling cautious.
(Did finally get X-rays, by the way. Nothing broken, just some arthritis that apparently didn’t like me slamming my body into the ground. All better now.)
As a result I took some snow days and didn’t get to my office for several days, even though I started to develop a raging case of cabin fever.
One thing I learned: when you retire, snow days just don’t mean the same as they did when you got a day off work.
After several days of not setting foot outside, a trip to the grocery store - during the middle of the day, while the sun was shining and the roads thawed - was a welcome adventure!
Although I couldn’t safely get to my computer and write a post, or work on my next book, I still got to indulge my creative side and explore an art I hadn’t had much time for recently.
I did some beadwork. Not only that, I picked up several partially-done projects and finished them.
This was all precipitated by my husband making a “find” at the local Goodwill. Two days before it snowed he came home and described some drawer units he’d found and asked if I could use them. They sounded good, so we went back and looked at them and I got out my credit card. Good thing, too. As we were checking out the cashier (who knows Mr. Tsunami Zone by name because he’s in there a lot) said someone else was looking at them but couldn’t make up her mind. We, on the other hand, happily paid for them and then went home to figure out how to get them in my miniature SUV.
These are about 27" x 19" x 23". Small enough to fit where we want them, but big enough to store a lot of supplies and tools. Like I said, they were a definite find,
We also checked the IKEA website and found we had just paid $30 for units that were $180 new - and these looked almost new. You will excuse our moment of smugness.
While I was stuck inside I started sorting my bead stash and putting it into the new cabinets. In the process I came across several pieces that were in various stages of completion, and I decided to reconnect with my beading and finish them up.
Some of the projects I completed on my snow days. I still have several more to go, but it is a good feeling to finish some of these.
Over the course of a few days I managed to complete at least eight (!) different projects. And a bonus! I had books to ship to fulfill the last of my Kickstarter, after all the medical issues over the fall and winter, so I made custom bookmarks for the backers who had waited so patiently.
Booksmarks were sent with each of the signed books at the top tier of my Kickstarter rewards. Don't tell anyone, it's supposed to be a surprise! (Oops, I probably should check that none of the backers are on this list!)
The lesson I took from the last few days is two-fold:
One is to cherish our snow days, and remain determined to enjoy whatever life throws at us. To turn the unexpected setbacks into opportunities for creativity.
The other is to remember the lost loves of our creative life and to return to them when we can. You never know what you might find!
One last bonus picture - one of the finished bead projects hanging on our First Place trophy from last night's Trivia Night. Yes, it's a softball trophy. No, I don't know why. Still, First Place!