February Journal

Happy February!

We are officially 6 weeks out until spring! Thanks, Punxsutawney Phil.

The sun is currently setting at 5:18 pm which is so relieving since it gives me so much extra time to get work done during the day before having to take the dogs out for a walk before dark.

Here are the top three sunsets we saw during our walks last month. The first one is called a "Sun Pillar". It is when light catches the ice crystals in the air creating a pillar of light. Apparently they're fairly uncommon and this was the first time I got to witness one myself! Coincidentally it happened the same night that we witnessed the Green Comet.

I am currently working on two projects right now. One has been on-going since June (!) and the other is wrapping up at the beginning of March! Both of these projects have been very fun and I am glad to be working on them. I will admit that after the holiday's it was slow getting back into the groove work. But, now it is something I look forward to doing each morning.

Here's a little glimpse at how my morning routine goes:

8:15: Alarm goes off

8:45: Get out of bed

9:15: Dressed and ready

9:30: Sit down with green juice, vitamins, and something to eat

10:00: Make a cup of tea and get my notes organized

10:30: Sit down to check emails

10:45: Begin working

Around noon I take a break to stretch and grab a snack. Usually I take an hour to catch up on text messages and social media. By 1:00 I sit down to work again. Depending on the day I could sit for several hours or take a break every hour. I try not to force myself as to not create burnout. If I need a break, I take one. If I can plow through three hours of work, I let it happen.

This week I actually started to feel a longing for spring. At the beginning of the winter season I made a goal for myself to actually try to enjoy the months January through March. I often refer to these months as the "armpit" months because they are so drab. I really grew to love January in all its chilly blueness. We will have to see how February goes. So far these warm spells have been bringing back the birds and squirrels and it's nice to see them from my window while I work.

Over on the farm we made vanilla extract! My mom is in touch with a lady who knows where to get fresh vanilla beans. Every couple years they get enough to make a gallon or so of extract. This year we made Rum and Vodka. In previous years there have been Vodka, Rum, Brandy, and Bourbon. I'm curious to know if anyone else has made their own vanilla?

Well, that's all for this month! See you next time!

1. Todd's homemade chocolate chip cookies with homemade Bourbon vanilla!

2. Working with the window open. It got up to 45 degrees F!

3. Going to see Newsies at the community theatre! It's been a long time since I have seen a play. It was good to go with friends to see it!