Peppermint Sandy

I suppose it is sort of seasonal, but lately I've been pondering the concepts of light and time.  Actually I guess time is a concept and light a fact of life.  At least until the sun gets blocked by some world altering event.  Some say we'll find out in next year.

Yesterday and today I challenged the kids to see how long we could go without turning on the lights.  Or using them only sparingly.  We're going to play that game again today.  I guess if there is one good thing about summers in the South, it is the abundance of light.  Or rather, the ability to tie up curtains and crack the windows on the Winter Solstice.

The mild weather down here is nice, but sometimes it gets boring.  I like to experience extremes once in a while.  One time in Iowa we were snowed in without power for like 4 days.

I've kind of been missing my old wintry stomping grounds.  No influx of Northern blood this year either, my parents are staying put for the winter.  It would have been nice to see them, but I'm not ashamed to say it is kind of nice to be having a relatively quiet holiday.  Though, all those far and away are in my thoughts...

Sure, sure, a quiet holiday, other than the boys running around like crazed animals for more days than I want to count that is.  Oh, and all the other little things that still need to done before the year can come to a close.  But parenting is a constant.  I'll be a mother right up until the apocalypse.

Another good thing about snow is that you can send kids out in it.  The boys are kind of running out of outdoor activities.  Maybe I should have left the pool up.   Instead there is just this ring of super green grass that the leaves refuse to settle on.  Like some spirit of summer fairy ring.  Maybe I'll go turn a few circles in it and see if it will transport me to some equally windblown spot in some snowy fantasy land.

December 2011

Last year, in some weird fluke (OMG, Global Warming!), the NC coastal plains got a nice heavy snow on Christmas or the day after.  As if it hitched a ride down here on my mom & dad's camper.

December 2010

Today we are expecting unseasonably warm weather (OMG, Global Warming!), at least that is what the dude that updates the local weather on facecrack says.  I haven't checked his qualifications, but I suppose he's an actual meteorologist and not just a weather enthusiast like I am.

If I wasn't a mail lady I'd be a weather girl.  Except getting a meteorology degree might require more science prereq's than I could handle.   I mean I was a science whiz in high school but I'm not sure I could perform at that level these days.   Maybe if I had a hot tutor with an engineering background.
 

Anyway, in honor of the first day of winter, this morning I enlisted the older boys to help me do a quick solstice cleaning.  I should like, burn some sage or something too, or maybe go cast some spells in the fairy circle?  Around noon, you know, when the old sun finally rolled up and peeked through the overcast sky, it came time to actually dress for the day.  I figured I'd go slightly festive, but knew I wouldn't need any silly cold weather things like sleeves.  

Enter, the candy cane dress I thrifted earlier this month.  It's a simple 80s (maybe late 70s?) vintage dress by Sears "Fashion Place" which is easy to wear but would be a lot cooler with pockets.  Thus the Grandma Wavie holidaze apron I found last night while I was unearthing rolls of wrapping paper.

100% Thrifty, except Grandma's apron. 

What is it about this time of year that induces one to over indulge in things like coffee and chocolate?  Don't worry, I'm supplementing with vitamins and herbal tea.  And cheese.  And salsa.   All I need are some peppermint schnapps to spike some hot chocolate with and I'll be set.  Oh, or rum-n-nog!  In lieu of that, these York Pieces are fairly intoxicating. 

And just to continue the over indulgence and mint theme, this morning I pampered myself with a facial mask and deep hair conditioning.  That was followed by an herbal rinse and a "super minty" energizing exfoliator body scrub.

Now that I feel less like I should be hibernating, it's time to face more non-weather extremes of my life.  The out-of-control recycling bin being the most easily taken care of.   

 Then off to pick up the youngest, who, as another extreme, hopefully falls to sleep on the drive home.  I might take the scenic route.  Should be getting dark by then anyway, maybe we'll go look at lights.

Happy Solstice to all, and to all a long night.  

PS - Wouldn't it be crazy to live in the really south South and have 24 hours of sun?  Even seeing pictures from ladeez down under the equator is crazy.  Though the idea of Christmas without snow doesn't seem quite as odd to me anymore.  

PPS - My eFriend and fellow Dressember participant, Yukon Jenn, is closer to the opposite, she had something like only 5 hours of light the other day and has probably had snow on the ground since like September or something insane.