There is an odd sweetness to the quiet days alone here at the little house in the city. Attila and I miss each other’s presence, making every interaction over the computer something we look forward to, and every chance we have to be in the same place, at the same time, a special event.
I first noticed this “odd sweetness” of distance with one of my first boyfriends, when I was thirteen years old and was obliged to spend two weeks with my family for summer vacation (oh to be able to do that again!). At that age, the boyfriend was a big deal, and after a few days away I wrote to him, describing the “bittersweet melancholy” that I felt at not being where I wanted to be. He ridiculed the use of that phrase, it was a bad relationship. But the sentiment, although completely wasted on him, was one that I have experienced off and on over the years, and I am experiencing it again right now.
If I had my preference, Attila would be here with me every day, at the little house in the city, so that we could live our quiet days together. We enjoy each other’s company, this is why we decided to share our lives. That we are apart, by this strange circumstance that we call our lives, is temporary, at least we hope it is!
Attila, at the country house, will enjoy an afternoon Christmas celebration at his workplace today. There will be copious amounts of good food, and much cheer. Since he has no allergies, he can eat anything he wants at these events, and so enjoys them very much. They are not much fun for me, so I do not feel I am missing anything, although I was kindly invited. He will work again tomorrow, and then his Christmas break will begin. Since freezing rain is in the forecast, Mist and I do not know when he will be able to join us for Christmas.
Mist and I are settling in here at the little house in the city. When Attila returns to the country house after Christmas, he will be taking Mist with him. There will not be nearly so much visiting between us for the remainder of the winter, so she will not need to make the trip again until next autumn, when we will have some vacation time once more. She settled into the little house very quickly when we arrived here, so I have my fingers crossed that she will settle quickly and comfortably when she returns to the country house. Attila is missing her!
When Attila drove down on Saturday he brought my winter work boots. I have two pairs, both safety rated, as in previous work environments I needed to wear safety boots. Both pairs are leather, and had been sitting downstairs at the country house, unused for the past five years or so. Leather does not fare well in non-ventilated areas, so they were covered by a thin layer of mould. Today I spent quite a while washing them, interior and exterior, as well as washing the laces. They are now tip top and ready to go.
To celebrate the refurbishment of my old work boots, which fit well and make for easy movement, I decided to go for a walk. Going for a walk is something I have been meaning to do since I arrived here at the little house in the city. I walked about a mile in total, which I managed without pain or incidence. When wearing “new” footwear I don’t think it wise to overdo things, and end up with blisters. The walk was a perfect length, my feet were comfortable, as was my back. These boots are good for walking.
A recent request generated from one of my web sites had me busy for a little while, setting things up. Sometimes the requests for inclusion come in frequently, and sometimes they do not. It had been a while since I had a request, so it took a little bit longer than usual to get things done, as I was relearning a few skills.
I have been thinking that recently I have taken very few pictures. I did not even take pictures during our family Christmas event. So I got the camera out and tried to persuade Mist to pose for me. It is like talking to a deaf cat, it was talking to a deaf cat! The camera, in its wisdom, kept shining a red light on my subject, before snapping the picture. Each time I pressed the button the red light came on and Mist, disgusted, looked away.
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Worldly Distractions
Weather
FREEZING RAIN WARNING IN EFFECT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT IN EFFECT
-3°C
Date: 4:00 PM EST Monday 22 December 2014
Condition: Partly Cloudy
Pressure: 102.3 kPa
Tendency: falling
Visibility: 16 km
Temperature: -2.7°C
Dewpoint: -4.7°C
Humidity: 86%
Wind: NE 20 gust 31 km/h
Wind Chill: -9
Quote
“Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.”
John Howard Payne
1791 – 1852
What a treat to see Mist! And more …
Glad you were able to get your boots to a wearable condition. We’ve been so glad to have had so little winter weather so far, as winter boots has been something that’s been on the back burner as we put together gifts for the family. With DH’s next paycheck we’re hoping to get them. By then it won’t be as much a problem paying for them as it might be just difficult finding him boots that are comfortable, as he has wide feet.
Poor Mist, not liking having her picture taken!
Hey Kate! I’ve been enjoying your pictures, liked the St. Nicholas candle very much.
I know what you mean about finding comfortable footwear for wide feet Teri, I too have wide feet and prefer men’s footwear because it fits better. I have been wearing men’s rubber safety work boots for the last seven or so years, the same pair. They are easy to slip into and out of, and in the country thee is snow from late November until early April, so boots are necessary for about six months a year, a little less maybe.
It was that darn red light she objected to, and I haven’t spent enough time with the camera to know how to disable that feature. She and I might have better luck during daylight, lol.
I haven’t ventured out much lately and I’m just fine with that. 🙂 I’m a nester by nature so being defined as a shut-in hasn’t changed my life one iota except my housekeeper does all my errands… that I also don’t miss too much.
My Christmas decorations are minimalist this year – a few special items.
David arrives tomorrow night very late. As he races through the sky, I wonder if he’ll see Santa?
Mist is precious. xoxo
Isn’t Myst a good traveler? Back and forth between homes… long distance… what a good kitty.
Love the decor with the cards string on the ribbon, very festive and minimalist. I have my two tiny trees with big lights on them, and that’s IT. Merry Christmas to you and ALL!
Reenie, what a lovely nest you have created for yourself! A few special items can cheer the season, I bet they are wonderful and full of memories.
That is so very charming Reenie, wondering if David will see Santa on his late night flight through the Christmas sky. So glad to hear he is on wing and returning home to you. Maybe he will bring Santa with him!
Bex, Mist is not a good traveller, she hates it. That is why, once she was here at the little house for our week staycation, we decided she would stay here until Attila returned to the country house for a lengthy stay. Attila has no further time off work this winter, except Sundays, so he won’t be making anything other than overnight visits, and she can be left at the country house overnight.
Merry Christmas to you and Paul and your two furry companions!
Maggie,
I’ll be so glad when you have Attila 24/7. There is a touch of Romeo/Juliet here. One can tell how much you miss him.
Hoping he had a nice time at the company party. Is there still freezing rain in the forecast?
Attila is missing Mist. Maybe there should be two kitties!
I love boots and happy you got yours restored. I could wear them everyday. Boots, jeans and a sturdy top.
Mist is a pretty kitty. Please tell her I said so. I often wonder what the birds think when I photo them. I know the light is bright. I use the zoom as often as I can to help keep the light down. I stopped taking so many photos of them-let’s face it we’ve seen them and their mirrors how many times. Ha, Ha, Ha! I enjoyed seeing Mist though. She’s very dainty looking.
The Christmas corner still looks good even without the gifts. I would be tempted to leave the lights up all year. I did that once. It was fun.
The dresser looks nice too. Creative way to display cards. Love the gifts. Happy Holidays! x0x0x0x0x
Nora, you are right, I do miss Attila! I think he misses me too, which is a good thing. Only three months of winter to get through, we are keeping our focus on April!
Attila had a nice party at work. Freezing rain was predicted for the period of time when he was to drive to the little house in the city, but luck was with him, we got the freezing rain overnight, and it had melted away by the time he drove out of the driveway for his journey.
Mist was very flattered by your recognition of her good looks, she is a very vain cat! She isn’t the sharpest knife the drawer, but she is a good natured soul, and very dainty as you point out. What you see of her is mostly fur, there is a very delicate little cat inside all that fur.
A good set of boots is one of the true pleasures in my life! When I was a single Mom, in Grad School, I had to walk everywhere, and I walked at least ten miles a day. I bought a pair of German made hiking boots that were warm and comfortable all year round. I wore the soles right off those boots, resoled them and wore away another set of soles. Then I kept them in the closet for over twenty years, because they carried me through such a wonderful part of my journey here on planet earth. Finally I took a picture of them for posterity, and let them go.
I would love to leave the lights up all year round. I too did that one year, but my conservative daughters, who were young at the time, thought it was just “too weird”. I have been keeping my eyes open for a set of lights that are butterflies, or something like that.
Hanging the Christmas cards on ribbons and strings was something my Grandparents did, as did many of the members of the community they lived in. I remember it from my earliest years, and I have seen the same thing in “historical” family photos from that area, photos posted by other people who have the same fond memories.
Happy Holidays Nora et al! x0x0x0x0x0x