Monday, December 16, 2024

Stretching Toward Solstice

Last night was the full moon, and now we're in Solstice week!
Winter Solstice is this Saturday,  Dec. 21 (3:20 a.m. Central; 9:20 a.m. Greenwich).

I love this magic dark time for reflection and stock-taking––I've certainly been feeling that ––("Who were you and I to each other, in our previous incarnations?")––and, in astrology we are entering the cardinal [active initiator] sign of Capricorn, the sure-footed goat = a good time for setting intentions.
We can scamper up sheer cliffs!

And pain is a great motivator, eh? Work is a lot of standing and lifting on concrete, and my lower back has gone into crunch-freeze mode.
Thank you, Back, for alerting me that I must attend to you and your (my) musculoskeletal friends.

I remember a physical therapist explaining to me, spelling it out like he was amazed I didn't know this:
"You have to take care of your body."

Sure, ha, yeah, doc, I knew that! (In theory.)

So, after waking up again with a locked back, this weekend I started stretching. It was an eye opener:
stretches that had felt like literally nothing when I was younger are now like trying to open a frozen lock.

Except, of course, I am not metal.
I am living flesh, and gentleness unlocks me.
_________________

Here is a metal object that needs my attention:
I brought home this little Underwood typewriter to test, and it almost works... I think its only problem is a build-up of greasy dust.
I will start with odorless mineral spirits and a toothbrush on the type bars, which stick.

Reindeer ^ is pulling glass bulbs to Winter Village. (Thank you, Tracy, for the Radio Flyer!)

L & M & Annette came over yesterday afternoon for banana-oat pancakes (these are so good, even with no-added-sugar, people asked for the recipe (I add 1/2 cup flour because it's too liquidy)), served with Gala apples baked with cinnamon and plant-butter.

As Penny Cooper (in my right hand, below) had hoped, we decorated the Girlettes' tree again this year. (Another use for a towel woven by Joanne: tree skirt!)

As I was cleaning my apartment, I became fed up with all the LONG hairs I shed, so I took my pinking shears and cut my hair.
It's even a little shorter than this now:



The Girlette calendars arrived Saturday--I am going to take them to the post office this morning on the way to work. (Again, warm enough to bike--in the mid-30s!)
I'll mail them media mail-- hopefully they'll arrive by the weekend.

Enjoy the descent into the dark, everyone. . . It's velvet!

6 comments:

  1. Happy Solstice! I love the blast-from-the-past typewriter. Whatcha gonna do with it?

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    1. Happy Solstice to you too, Abby! Well, first I have to get the typewriter working--that will take a little doing. Then I will type letters or cards on it.

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  2. you have magnificent hair.

    Girlette's tree is adorable such tiny decor! Also magnificent!
    Type writer is so cool- I hope that you can save it! If not it would be grand for making a sculpture out of- or something.
    My friend, my age, went skiing the other day- broke his damned leg! Elderly on skis maybe not a great idea, I think that I am quite aware of my limitations...pain is not fun these days.

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    1. Eek, breaking a leg while skiing---yeah, I don't want to do high-risk things, knowing how LONG it takes for me to heal now. And pain is not fun, no!

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  3. I like the typewriter. Looks like the family typewriter we all used. The tree skirt looks nice.

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    1. The tree skirt was made my a Real Weaver!!!

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