
It’s officially winter. Cold is moving in. It takes a little longer to get here than the other house and doesn’t get as cold, but it’s time to get serious about preparations for cold and freezing.
All the warm weather clothes have to come out. There’s no more shorts and flip-flops. Now there are socks, closed shoes, sweatshirts and coats. Winter clothes are physically heavy compared to summer clothes. It takes energy just to haul them around.
And a big issue, I've gained weight so my socks don't fit.
HVAC has to be transferred from cooling to heating. A lot of systems are automatic, but mine is still manual. The old systems still work.
A major concern is keeping the water systems from freezing. All the hoses have to be disconnected and emptied.
Plants have to be brought in or covered. If it is a cold snap lasting a few days, the trees and plants can be protected by a good watering the night before, and if it continues, spraying or fans during the day. If it’s really cold, the faucets have to be left on, drizzling, both inside and out.
All of this outside stuff is just stuff that has to be done.
What can hit like a ton of bricks is the personal effect, not just on the body, but on the emotional system, as well.
In addition to cold, there are shorter hours of light. Somehow our systems need light, especially light components. Without it we can be subject to lethargy.
One of my friends had SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). She would gradually devolve into depression as the winter season approached to the point of needing antidepressants. Then as summer approached, the drugs would be excessive to the point of overdose and she would have to wean off. She was never interested in trying the light box where one looks into a box of light for a specified period of time. It's supposed to decrease the effects of SAD.
Nature has steered humans to remain active during the winter. My tortoise has a good idea. She hibernates for several months, leaving all of the adjusting stuff to humans.
I find as winter approaches, I am subject to increased expressions of and experiencing negative emotions. In addition to continuing grief, I have more episodes of irritability and less patience. Don’t tell me what I should put in my grocery cart. I might bite your head off. Cough near me in the store, and at times I tell the perpetrator to put on a mask or cover their mouth. I get downright unpleasant.
A friend and I have both discovered we like to vegetate in our chairs and read all day.
It takes extra effort to get up and get out, put on extra clothes and brave the cold wind. At least there is a reward: hot chocolate or toddy afterwards.
And cooking: I bring out the roasting pans, turn on the oven, make cookies and cakes.
Then the pounds creep up.
I still have my “to do" list. Some of it has been done. More seems to sneak onto it.
Maybe I can wait till spring to tear into it big time.
Let me know how you are doing. I care.
Contemplation: What adjustments can be made to counter the effects of winter?
Sincerely,
Lynn Brooke
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Photo Credit: © 2024 Rachel Gareau
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