The Cure For Hum-Drumity

 I'm pretty sure I ended yesterday's blog with a plea to the universe for a little sunlight in order to utilize our solar panels (which have spent most of January on hiatus!). 

Ahhhh... yesterday morning began with a beautiful sunrise.  Yes!

We were filled with hope as we walked the horses up to the pasture in the golden light.

But the universe was obviously oblivious to my request, because, again, that sun was engulfed by cottony, grey clouds that lingered all day.  No solar energy for us.

After morning chores were complete, we spent a cozy couple of hours in the shed.

With a fire in the little pot-belly stove,  boiling water for tea,

we sat there toasty warm, reading, knitting, and napping.

Have you noticed how easy it is, during winter, to fritter a day away going from task to task.  Before you know it, the day is flushed down a whirlpool of idle-minded busy work.  Then, the day ends and you feel like you have been dissolved in a lukewarm sea of hum-drumity.

There is a cure for this feeling.  Go outside.  Find nature.  Take a walk.  Even better - take your camera and find something picture-worthy.  Maybe the weather isn't conducive to going outside... then find a window and look for the birds, or squirrels, or clouds - whatever - anything to make you feel more in touch with the earth.  Let yourself be filled with awe.

I knew, when I got out of bed yesterday morning, that I needed a dose of Mother Nature.  And yes, we live in the midst of it - but still, there are days when I need to be intentional about getting outside and enjoying all of the little things that can only be found when one looks for them.

We took the dogs for a walk in the woods 


and just observed what was present on this particular day.  We were lucky to see a couple of deer in the field outside the woods.

Naturally, I spent a great deal of time looking for fungi.  

It's always interesting to see what is "fruiting" at any given time of year.  

And though you might think that winter would be a rather quiet time of year for fungal growth, I assure you.. there was much going on.

Mother Nature has an incredible way of reclaiming what is hers.  Let a tree trunk lie still in the woods, and over time the fungi and lichen and mosses will consume the wood and return all of its nutrients to the forest floor.  From dust to dust.  Now that is nothing short of magical!


We noticed that the woodpecker population has really been hard on the trees in our woods - not only drilling away at dead trees...

but at live ones as well!  I fear this hemlock tree will snap in half with a gust of wind as a result of this destruction.  This particular tree looked as though someone had used a chainsaw on it - not so... just the  repetitive rat-a-tat-tat of a hungry woodpecker.


I took in a hearty dose of green - only found in the woodsy mosses at this time of year. 


 Green has an energy unlike anything else and its vibration resonates with me.  Perhaps that is why it is my favorite color.


Once home, I grabbed a couple of butternut squash from last Summer's harvest, added some carrots and onions and apples and herbs and spices - cooking it all down for a delicious butternut squash soup for supper.

Oh, how I long to once again eat from the garden.   The squash soup was a luscious reminder of how wonderful homegrown food can be.  Be patient, I tell myself.... all in due time.  I suppose this is one of life's great challenges - coming to terms with the seasons.  Not only the seasons of the year, but the seasons of life...  and learning to be content no matter in what season we find ourselves.

Comments

Rena said…
Hum-drumity! I'm adding it to my vocabulary bank 😊. Your cure for it is right on. Thanks for sharing your study of fungi. I had no idea there are so many kinds or that I would find them so interesting.
Dee J. Hartman said…
I haven’t posted a comment on this site for a long time,
but found myself chuckling when I read Rena’s comments
today!
Her and my mind were in sync when she commented
on the word, hum-drumity! Loved it!
I, too, have enjoyed your comments on the various
fungus that you spot in the woods.
BTW, I read your blogs each morning as a daily routine
and have enjoyed each and everyone of them. I rarely
find them late and once recall being concerned when
One of them was late.
When you explain the delay, I thought, “How will I spend
my mornings (other than with my prayer group) if Bev’s
daily blogs should discontinue!”
It would be like losing a friend and not knowing what
was happening in her life!
You continue to totally amaze me with all the activities that
you do so well!
daisy g said…
I share your last sentiment there, and embracing the seasons of the year makes life so much more meaningful.
Yesterday we visited a hardware store that we've never been to (we love to visit old hardware stores), and I noticed the most beautiful, lush and velvety dark green moss coming up among some river rock. Of all places, it was in the parking lot, with blacktop surrounding it. Just amazing.

I love your idea for adding apples to the squash soup! I had planned to make soup today, and I will try this rendition. Thank you.

Enjoy all the gifts of Mother Nature.
Junebug said…
Good Morning from MX. Enjoying a little trip to visit a friend. I am so enjoying the sun and flowers here.
It sure brake up the hum-drumity! I have chosen to do more walking then busses or taxi for I don't want to miss the little beautiful thing mother nature has to offer.
THE BEARDED ONE said…
DEAR LADY..YOU NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME AND OTHERS..YOU ARE A RARE JEWELL...YOU KNOW HOW TO MAKE THINGS BECME ALIVE W/YOUR GREAT WISDOM AND HOW YOU EXPRESS EVEN THE MUNDANE THINGS...I LOVE YOUR TRIP THROUGH THE WOODS...I'D LIKE OT GATHER SAFE MUSHROOMS BUT ME WIFE HATES THEM...WHEN WE EAT JAANESE I ALWAYS GET ALL OG HER MUSHROOMS....I CANOT GATHER THEM FROM TH WOOD BECASUE I DO NOT KNOW WHICH ONES ARE SAFE TO EAT AND WHICH ONES ARE NOT...YOU JUST MAKE EVERYTHIG COME ALIVE W/YOUR GREAT WISDOM AND USE OF THE KINGS ENGLISH...HAVE A SUPER DUPER DAY AND ENJOY !!! THANK YOU MUCH...GOING TO THE HEART DOCTOR IS SEE IF I REALLY HAVE A HEART...MY WIFE TO 59+ YEARS OFTEN FEEL STHAT I DO NOT...BIG SMILE....HAVE A GREAT WONDERFUL DAY AND LOOKING FORWARD ALREADY TO WEDNESDAYS PICS AND POST.. KEEP SMILNG !!!!!!
Anonymous said…
I just love that beautiful rug you have in your she-shed. It is especially wonderful that the natural wool came from your own sheep. A real treasure and I see the dogs love it, too.
Jeannie said…
What a wonderful post in so many different ways. I have to say that although I love the interesting fungus and the butternut squash soup, I could spend all day in the Maven Haven with the dogs. Just reading, napping, and listening to the fire inside, and the sounds of winter outside. It makes me feel like purring. Maybe I am cut out for Hum-Drumity.