It’s been a long time since I was in this space and I forget that I used to keep up a blog. I still read blogs daily and enjoy them so. Everything from the professional bloggers/vloggers to the average person. I may prefer the latter in my honest opinion since it feels like real life and a bit more relatable.
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you the current state of our world but to say the holidays are almost upon us and there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. One of the first vaccines was administered in my town in our state today. I’m not a 100% sure I’d get this vaccine if given the opportunity but I’m thankful for the hardworking scientists and frontline workers.
It’s been an incredible 9 months. I, like everyone else in the country/world, miss my family dearly and wish I could be with them. My folks are immunocompromised and while I could visit them I would hate to inadvertently spread the virus to them. Thankfully we can video chat as they are a bit more technologically savvy these days. They have smart phones, I can scarcely believe it. Trying to work out a problem with them over the phone though is a real test of one’s patience. There’s a reason I’m not in technical support.
The children have adjusted somewhat to remote learning; having started the school year with remote learning then transitioning to in the classroom and then back to remote again. We are unsure if they will return after the holidays but we are all quite burnt out and ready for our long winter break.
I look forward to sledding and possibly snow shoeing. Curling up with a good book (The Jane Austen Society) and with nothing on the agenda. Board games and puzzles will be a relief from all the screen time we are victim to between school and work. Baking tasty treats with the kids will be fun. They are old enough to do most things and require just a little bit of guidance. They’re so proud when they’ve made something. We'll just have to work on the clean up part.
I’d love a local escape to a cabin in the woods, I may have to find something for some extra rest and relaxation. I envision a roaring fire with snow falling outside. We stayed in a very rustic log cabin a few winters back with no plumbing or electricity. The kids played and played in the snow and came in to warm up occasionally.
We are still amazed at how they kept themselves occupied playing in the woods. Almost makes you sad for what they are missing out on in this world. Getting them out there to expand their creativity is so important. Even as 9 & 11 year olds unstructured play is such a need. As a child around their age I spent most days outdoors exploring the beach or fields near my home. I enjoy our camping trip where we just wander away from the campsite to see what there is to find. It makes me feel like a child again. No tasks to complete and no pressure to be anywhere but there.
The cabin was heated by wood stove and was cozy. We didn’t bring enough lights so it was incredibly dark when the sun went down. We had the forethought to bring our dinner precooked so we only needed to heat our stew and chowder (over the wood stove). We brought propane stoves but didn’t feel the need to bring it out.
The only downside to this cabin aside from the mouse droppings on the bunk beds (we slept on our own air mattresses) were the toilets. Unfortunately, they were a trudge up a hill to an outhouse with no doors. This mama is getting soft in her old age because I did not find this appealing. As much as I loved how close this cabin was to home and activities, I cannot do an experience that rustic again in winter. I love a good tent camp but you won’t find me camping in the winter. I’d probably have died as a pioneer on The Oregon Trail from exposure.
I enjoy reading and romanticizing life in the olden times without electricity and modern amenities, but when you realize people rarely washed you wise up quickly and thank your lucky stars for the water flowing from the tap and the light switch you flick at night. Not having to tend to a fire overnight to keep yourself warm is right up there with running water and electricity. It’s an experience, like staying in a medieval castle for a few nights, but long term I would be whinging for the easy life again.
Has modern life made us all weenies? Possibly.
Comments
Post a Comment