Tuesday 4~ Winter Musings

 Winter Musings

Hello and welcome once again to Toni's Tuesday 4.

It's cold in these United States. Everyone seems to be chilly and some have blizzard conditions to contend with.

But I think winter is a time for us, as well as animals, to hibernate and takes things slow and easy. I think many find themselves a bit more sleepy than usual and maybe we are supposed to take the time to rest... Let's talk it over okay?

1. Do you find yourself a bit more lazy or tired as the nights get longer or does it not seem to do much to you? In general how are you doing this winter?

Yes, the longer nights, along with the time change in the fall, do make me want to go to bed earlier. It's hard to stay awake when it is dark outside. Having the Christmas tree lights on helped a lot, but now that I've taken all of that down, it's back to dark again, however, the days are starting to get a big longer now, so that helps.  In general, I am doing fine, but I think I am looking forward to spring now.

2. Do you appreciate the extra hours of dark that allow for more sleep, more leisure, less travel and hurry or not?

The thing is, whether it's dark or not, the schedule stays the same.  Even though we are retired we still try to stay on a regular schedule for going to bed and getting up in the morning. We just have to turn on more lights in the house. And during the winter days between Thanksgiving and New Years, there's no such thing as "more leisure".  The holidays create a lot activity and rush for me. Even though they are happy days, it is also a bit stressful.  Now that they are over maybe I can relax a bit more and not feel like I constantly should be doing 'something', whatever that is.

3. I know I love a hot drink on a chilly evening and the quiet of the streets outside as people stay inside more on cold nights. I feel more relaxed in the winter. How about you?

You've already seen this picture before, but yes, to answer your  question, I do love a hot drink on a chilly evening or afternoon. If it is evening, then probably either an herbal tea or hot Ovaltine. In the afternoon a regular tea with caffeine to help me perk up and keep moving is oftentimes what I need. Oh, those snowmen in the picture below have been put away now, and no more "Peppermint Patties" for me. LOL. Well...maybe there's still a couple of them available, but I'm trying to avoid them...

4. Do you ever gaze out of your window like Miss Kitty in the picture just watching the world go by? How do you find yourself relaxing on a chilly evening?

Well, you all know I do a LOT of window gazing from my "Room With a View",

But the scene outside is nothing like the one on that beautiful calendar! LOL. I wouldn't mind seeing a beautiful farm scene like that in the winter, but here in Florida where we live, this is what I see if I look out my windows in the evening...(actually these pictures were taken right now, at 6:30 a.m.)

That's what I can see that's left of the full moon in the early morning dawn before it totally descends out of our sight for the day...

It's hiding behind some trees, but that actually makes for a lovely frame around the moon, don't you think?

And this is the scene across Still Waters Pond. There is a highway on the other side of the trees and also a gas station/convenience store.  During the daytime we really can't see it that well, but at night the lights are actually kind of pretty:

Some of my pictures got a little wonky...

I guess I moved the camera and didn't realize it, but I like the pictures anyway, don't you?  I know Sandra over at MadSnapper will like these!

I love these, and couldn't do them again if I tried. They are total "accidents" that created something beautiful!

Oh, and that is the full moon picture...I guess the moon is in a hurry to descend! LOL.

These last two pictures are looking out the front door through the glass and across the street this morning:

My hubby was just saying that it was kind of nice to look out there and see some lights and life again. For a long time that house on the end never showed any signs of life, and recently a young family has moved in there with 4 boys, and now there is always a lot of activity over there.  The one young boy loves to come over here and ask if he can do some more yard work for us so he can earn a little money. We are trying to find a few little jobs for him to do, like raking and picking up branches. Maybe this summer we can let him do a few more things. He's very sweet and respectful, and we like to encourage a young person to be industrious.   So that is a nice thing that has happened in the neighborhood recently.

It's nice to have a little "helper" come and offer his help to us.  And Jesus also has promised us that He would send us another "Helper", that is, The Holy Spirit, to come and abide with us and help us forever!

Having God's Holy Spirit abiding with us is a great comfort, as He is also known as "The Comforter". It is comforting to know that when we believe in Christ, we are never alone! His Spirit dwells within us and is there for us no matter what we may be facing each day.  That is some good news!

John 14:16 NKJV

16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—"

Well, that's it for today's Tuesday 4. I hope you have a wonderful day today, and that you will be blessed and comforted no matter what this day brings.