Happy Solstice

Friday, 5:17 pm

By Kate

Dec

21

2007

Here in the northern hemisphere, tonight is the winter solstice. I am always happy when the solstice rolls around. The days are going to start growing longer. Even if it won’t be noticeable until later in February, just knowing that each day is a little bit longer than yesterday is enough. Thoughts will soon turn to spring gardening projects and seed procurement. I want to try some heritage seeds this year. They grow the kinds of plants from which you can save the seeds and grow plants the following year that are true. Once you find a particular seed that works very well in your own back yard, you’re pretty much set for life.

In keeping with the solstice and the longest night of the year, I’ve turned on a lot of lights tonight—well, it is night here already and has been for the past hour. And the wood stove is cranked to the max with heat pouring upstairs. Nothing like excess. But, I’m cleaning upstairs and my blood was starting to clank from all the ice cubes forming in it. Enough of that. The lad’s room has been closed off for the past 4 months and it was cold in there. It will take a while for the walls and furniture to soak up some heat. It wouldn’t be entirely right to expect him to come home to a frigid room. Cool, but not frigid. (Not to self: buy him some long underwear...he’s going to need it.)

The water heater is also cranked so I can do more cleaning tonight. And some laundry. With a nice warm shower at the end of it all. It’s not going to be a stellar week for energy savings, but I will try to rationalize by appreciating the savings I’ve accrued over the past several months. Once in a while one needs to splurge a little. Occasionally, a little splurge makes what we take for granted all the more appreciated.

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Non-solstice related...my Oreck floor sweeper was shipped today, four days after ordering it. Aside from WANTING it, there was no particular rush. But, at this time of year, they probably assume that purchases this close to Christmas mean Christmas gifts and people wouldn’t be happy if their Christmas gifts arrived after the fact. So, they upgraded my shipping for free. Now it’s two day air shipping and, last I looked, my floor sweeper had reached Louisville, Kentucky. It’ll probably be in Newark NJ tonight and Boston or environs tomorrow. If it doesn’t arrive on my doorstep on Sunday (does UPS do deliveries on Sunday?), it will definitely be here by Monday. Cool. And, interestingly, they haven’t charged me yet. When I ordered the sweeper, they placed a hold on my checking account for the amount, but it disappeared today. I guess that must be a part of their 30 day risk free trial or something. I like the way they do business.