What happens in January stays in January (or does it?)

You bet.  It is January and things happen in January every year, almost like clockwork.  Someone special dies, the weather is pretty yucky, the days start getting longer, and THE BASEMENT IS WET!!!!!

For quite a number of years now John and I, or maybe just me by myself, head to Katie’s right after Christmas because it is “Convention” time.  Kate heads off to warmer climes (read Orlando, Dallas, Las Vegas) and we move in to take care of the kiddos.  To be honest, I really love this time here.  I snuggle up by the fire and I read, and read and read.  Over time the kids schedule has changed but how I handle the days has not.

In 1999 a dear friend died in January and it seems that someone close or special dies in January every year.   I have kept a running 5-year, line-a-day diary for years and the good news is I remember birthdays and anniversaries and events others would prefer that I not remember, but also I am reminded of those whom we loved who have left us. Something about post Christmas perhaps.  This happened this week and our long-time, dear friend, Warren, died this week after an incredibly brave fight with pancreatic cancer.  Our love goes out to the family.  It is January.

Are the days getting longer?

Many years ago when I was working at Proctor Academy, I would leave work around 5pm and head for home.  I would notice on or about the 7th of January, that the sky was a little bit lighter and perhaps that glorious blue that only comes with a winter sky would show up.  Sometimes with moon and Venus very clearly over Mt. Sunapee.  The days are definitely getting longer and that is a wonderful thing.  When we are in South Carolina we are much farther west so our days are always longer there.  Almost an hour at this time of the year.  It is very exciting when it happens here.  Only a couple of months til spring.

Wet basements – yup, it happened again!!!

The next part of this diatribe is that for the last three years when we have been here the basement has sprung a leak.  I cannot begin to tell you the whole saga because it is long and mostly boring except for my own hijinks.  The first time it happened a young friend of Libby’s went downstairs and discovered that the water was over her ankles.  The next time was Libby discovering that there was water everywhere and the rug was once again soaked.  We had the wet basement folks come in and they dug a trench with a jackhammer and put in a sump pump – my sister was here and she said you couldn’t hear yourself think over the noise.  We did not replace the rug thank goodness.  We thought that once it was done for many $$$$ that was it.  Not so.  Today there is an unbelievable rain storm that shouldn’t happen in January in New Hampshire.  The water was pouring into the basement.  Wine in the middle of the day is an option!!!!  Here we go again.  Katie is in Orlando, we are here, the children are safe and there is a swimming pool in what is now Jack’s bedroom.  It will get fixed if not by the lovely people from the Wet Basement company it will freeze tomorrow and that will be that.  And all this while we are trying to sell the house.  Maybe, just maybe, the house doesn’t want to be sold.  What do y’all think?

Peace and positivity, perhaps?

Have you heard about salt lamps?  I bought two  and have them burning in this house that doesn’t want to be sold.  They are supposed to counteract the effect of positive ions with negative ions and make for a more peaceful and happy environment.  Maybe they do and maybe they don’t but they sure are pretty and they look lovely on the mantle piece.

They are supposed to help you with sleep as well.  I haven’t tried one in the bedroom yet but probably will.  Although at this time of the year I actually spend quite a bit of time sleeping quite happily.  Maybe it is my own form of hibernation.  Truly, I think everyone needs to hibernate at some point during the year.  My granddaughter told me the other day that when bears hibernate they get diabetes prior to hibernation.  When they come out of hibernation they release a chemical that reverses the diabetes and lets them go back to being normal bears.  She says that scientists are trying to figure out what that chemical is so they can perhaps use it to help humans get rid of their diabetes.  The hope and belief of a 10 year old warms my heart.  She just might be the one who figures it out.

Wishing you a wonderful week.  Sometimes I am overwhelmed by life and at other times it is just as it is supposed to be.  I find myself giggling a bit as I write this. Yesterday we were told that a showing of the house was cancelled.  However, a lovely young lady arrived at the door at 12:30 to show the house and we were still in our pyjamas, no beds were made but we had a beautiful fire going as we were sitting around reading quite peacefully.  Within 20 minutes we were out the door and the people were wandering through the house.  Did I mention earlier that wine might be an option.  Today the house is being shown again and we sprung a leak and had to figure out how to stop it plus get people in to fix it permanently.  Life is never dull and it is your attitude that matters.  It’s all good.

Hope to head north by Wednesday.  Ah, the journey continues.

Louise