Things I Love About Winter (From Someone Who Hates Winter)

Winter is my least favorite season and as soon as the holidays are over, I’m counting the days until the official start of Spring, and I figure once we make it to that, we’re home free, it’s smooth sailing from that point on, most of the time. If we can make it even further without murdering anyone, like, say April or even early May, then that’s even better. So to try and brighten these weary winter days, I’ve come up with a list of what I think are the best things about winter.

1. The Holidays. My favorite holiday is Christmas, but it’s usually a stressful time of year for many people. I try and put the hustle and bustle of the season out of my mind and just make the most of it because it only comes once a year. Instead of corporate greed, I see it as a time to spend with family and friends, to eat some great food, and make new memories as well as keeping old traditions alive. The presents are just an added bonus.
2. The Air. It’s a clean, fresh, crisp smell, which travels down your airways and straight into your lungs and head, making you feel suddenly alive. On those especially bitter cold mornings, there’s a hint of wood smoke. When it snows, if the temperature is slightly above freezing, you can practically smell the snow, kind of similar to the smell of the air after a spring rain.
3. Hearty Food. There’s nothing like good barbecue or pasta salad in the summer, but there’s something about putting together a delicious beef stew on a Sunday afternoon while the snow is lightly falling outside. The cold weather invites you to feast on hot, hearty food to keep you warm and full, especially if you’re doing a lot of shoveling or other winter activities. My favourites in the winter (besides stew) are chicken/turkey or roast beef/pork dinners with all the fixings and clam chowder with lots of crackers and butter. Not to mention others like chicken soup and bacon and eggs and French toast or meaty spaghetti and lasagna.
4. The Sky. It seems more clear and blue in the winter than it does in the summer, but I think it’s because the Earth is tilted and the sun is lower and also because the air is dryer which makes the atmosphere more transparent, hence the reason why the stars in the night sky also appear to be brighter and clearer. There was one morning a few days ago where the sky was a brilliant magenta. There were just enough clouds and they were predicting a storm for later that day but it was gorgeous to see.
5. Feeling Cozy. The cold weather makes you want to throw on your warm pajamas and wrap yourself in a fuzzy blanket. I’m not a sweater person, but I do like adding layers to warm up. An added bonus in the winter is that you can bring your blankets up to your chin when you sleep and it’s easier to get a good night’s rest when it’s cooler outside, not hot and muggy like in the summer.  
6. Reading, Watching, Writing and Listening. Winter evenings are for staying in. I love making my bed cozy and climbing into it in warm pajamas with a book I’ve been meaning to read or turn on the laptop for my twice yearly viewing of the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. A Lord of the Rings or Star Wars marathon never hurts either. I recently discovered the HBO series ­Girls and binge-watched my way through forty episodes in less than four days, but I tend to stick to my old favorite shows like The X-Files or ER or CSI: Miami. I’m sure there’s a channel playing Criminal Minds all day, every day as well. The long days also give me a chance to write, whether it’s a short story or a fan fiction of some kind. It may not be great, but it’s something I enjoy. Finally, there’s nothing like unwinding with some favorite music after a long day or when you have a weekend off. I love going through my playlists or throwing a Dave Matthews Band concert in the DVD player and singing along. Sounds corny, I know, but I love it.

Okay, that’s it for now, but I may add more to this list in the coming days….

Vacation Bucket List

I'm creating a bucket list of things I would like to accomplish when I'm on vacation. The things on this list are fairly simple but I would like to finish them. I was thinking of different things I could do to make the days a bit more interesting so that's why I've created this list.

1. Take pictures of at least 10 different flowers.
2. Go swimming or have a day on the lake in a tube or air mattress.
3. Fireworks
4. Have a bonfire.
5. Watch 1 DMB DVD.
6. Read at least two books.
7. Go to the library.
8. Go for a walk in the woods.
9. Go fishing.
10. Go on a day trip or overnight trip.
11. Write at least two stories.

Patiently Waiting for Spring

So February is officially over and what a terrible month it was. So many storms and blizzards and very cold days. I remember in winters past, we might have had only a few days throughout the season where it was bitter cold. This winter there were weeks and weeks of temperatures below -15 Celsius. My work actually closed several times due to bad storms, something unheard of before. Right now there is approximately 199 cm of snow on the ground, and we're roughly 3 weeks away from the "official" start of spring. I just hope we have some fog to take it away quickly, not rain. We will have to wait and see. 

I haven't visited my parents since Christmas, the last time I saw them was actually on December 28th, so it's been two months. They live about an hour away, but in a village where the roads aren't that great in the winter, so I just hibernate for the season. I usually make the annual trek up to see them in mid-April, for my mother's birthday. That's usually when the weather is better and the roads are clear of snow. I'm hoping to be able to do that this year, I've already booked off the time, from April 16th- 21st. Easter is the week before, but it's usually so busy at work that I can't take the time off, plus now that I'm older it's really just another day. In the meantime, I just have to be patient and countdown the days until I see them, and maybe (just maybe) see some signs of spring too. 

Trying to think of some ways to pass the time while I wait for nicer weather. I need to stop at Canadian Tire and buy a new bird feeder because I've been getting a few birds coming around, and my tube feeder isn't really cutting it. I want something to put sunflower seeds in. I wish there weren't so many crows around because they will eat everything I put out, but I think I will try. 

I also want to start taking daily pictures of the snow and track the melting process and see how long it takes. Maybe I will start that tomorrow. We're supposed to get a few cm of snow in the morning, here's hoping it doesn't make the drive to work difficult. 

Anyways, we'll see if I can keep this blog updated on a regular basis. Happy March!

Vacation has come to an end...

Well, it's been sort of an eventful, or sometimes lack-there-of, nineteen day vacation from work. For the first ten years at my job, I never bothered to take a vacation, mainly because I didn't think I could afford it, nor did I think I needed it. Now, I've come to realize that it's a MUST if I am to keep my sanity during the summer months. Usually I would just take an extended weekend, or a week and a few days or something similar. This was the first time I'd ever taken more than thirteen days in a row and now that I have, I may want to keep doing it in the future.

Friday, August 1st- Day 1: I woke up at a fairly decent time and because I had packed the majority of my stuff the night before, I showered, gathered some food, and headed to my parents. Shortly after I got there, I slipped on some loose dirt and rocks on the slope near the stairs of my parents house and nearly broke my ankle. That was fun. It was swollen for the majority of my vacation and even now, it still hurts when I do certain things.

Saturday, August 2nd- Day 2: Mom and I took my new car to Sussex for a "few" things. Came back with the car stuffed full, and we wouldn't have been able to fit anything else in there if we tried.

Sunday, August 3rd- Day 3: Mostly uneventful day, until the late afternoon, when somebody dropped off a wandering dog to my father, who is the resident animal control officer. Our guest for the night, a female mixed-breed hound of some type, and who we nicknamed "Stinky" because she stunk, was not very well behaved except when she had to spend the night in a crate on the floor of our basement.

Monday, August 4th- Day 4: Successfully found Stinky's owner and come to find out, her actual name was Smelly! Who would have thought!

Tuesday, August 5th- Friday, August 8- Days 5-8: nothing really eventful, my parents acquired some unspent fireworks from one of their clients and we were able to set some off every night for a few days.

One of my favorite surveys....

TEN random things about me:

1. My all-time favorite song (like in the history of my life) is The Animal Song by Savage Garden

2. I broke my left leg twice when I was a kid (once when I was seven and once when I was eight). 

3. I am addicted to tuna wraps (tuna w/mayo, cheese, and lettuce on a tortilla wrap). So good!

4. I think about my lovebird, Ollie every single day and wish he was still here with me.

5. I am addicted to Pepsi and Dr. Pepper... weened myself from the regular stuff and onto the diet til I can quit cold turkey.

6. I love flowers... any type of flower, and taking pictures of them too!

7. I've been feeding the outdoor birds for about a year now and it's been fairly successful! It's great therapy!

8. I watched the Oreo commercial featuring Owl City over and over so I could memorize the lyrics.

9. I hate going to the malls or stores lately or anywhere public except work, because I can't stand people.

10. I am turning 30 this year and I don't really know how I feel about that.

Spring

Early morning rays of sun warm the damp earth,

Shedding the last of winter’s white labour.

Thin wisps of vapour lie in the valley and linger

between the budding trees.

Purple crocuses and bright yellow tulips appear first.

Then along come the red-breasted robins.

Decay is replaced by new growth.

The days grow longer and the air warmer.

Spring is here, life is waiting to begin…

© 2014 Chelsea Appleby

Another survey....

Since I'm bored out of my tree, here's another survey to read.

1: Full name. Chelsea Lynn Appleby

2: Zodiac sign. Gemini

3: Three fears: my house burning down, losing my parents, spiders.

Bucket List

Since I am turning the big 30 this year, here are some things I would like to accomplish at some point in my life... or at least I dream of accomplishing them because some of these things scare the crap out of me. 

Life with Birds: I love you

Life with Birds: I love you: Aren't we grateful not being alone when a beloved pet passed away...? Our other pets will be there for us even when some people can&#3...

Bassability: The Purpose of a Pet

Bassability: The Purpose of a Pet: Growing up, we never had a pet.  So it is understandable that it would take me into my adult years to understand the purpose of a pet.  The ...

Ollie Bird: October 2005- January 18, 2013

Rest in Peace my beautiful boy, I will miss you so much.. you were the best pet friend a person could ask for, I hope to see you in heaven one day, if I could go there right now I would. I love you.

Not the least hard thing to bear when they go from us, these quiet friends, is that they carry away with them so many years of our own lives…

May long weekend

This is my long weekend, since I couldn't have the real long weekend off. Spent it at my parents and today is the last day. I don't really want to go back but oh well, I guess I'm going to have to deal with it.

Gotta see what's in there!

This is probably my favorite picture of my bird, he is like a little kid in this picture, always trying to get into everything. This just shows how much of a nosebag he really is! Taken this past Christmas and edited with Paint Shop Pro X... Currently my cover photo on my Facebook profile.

All About Me A-Z

A – Accidents 01. Have you ever been in a car accident? Yes, not the best experience of my life.
02. Do you have a lot of scars? not really, just little ones from cuts.
03. Have you ever been in a fist fight with someone? no, just playfully hitting someone in the arm.
04. Have you ever seriously hurt anyone by mistake? not that I know of.
05. Have you ever had stitches? Where? in my mouth, getting my wisdom teeth out.

Relaxing Walk on the Beach

As you walk to the waters edge you see before you a vast ocean of glimmering blue. As you draw near, the rhythmic sounds of the waves flow to your ears wiping out the hectic noises of your busy day. You watch as the waves blanket the shore as they search for treasures to carry back to the sea.

As you slowly wade into the water you feel the soft touch of watery fingers as they caress your feet and with each step the tension leaves your body. As the weight of the noise and tension leave you, your body feels as light as a feather. The quiet rhythm of rocking waves float you peacefully along as you search for a place to rest.

In the distance you see a reef extending far out into the oceans core. A thick blanket of velvety moss cushions the weather smoothed rocks as you journey out into the quiet sea. At the farthest point you find the perfect place where the water almost surrounds you. A cushioned seat cradles you as you relax to the rhythmic whisper of the soothing waves.

< Soon glittering rays of light gather across the waters surface giving the eyes a path to the light show in the sky. Quietly, as if cued by your stillness the sun reluctantly begins to slip to it's nocturnal rest and slowly the day's lights dim.

The water soon becomes aflame with orange, yellow and red sky lights that surround you as the stirring colors dance with the waves back to the shore. As the sun takes it's final peek he clings to the earth's edge, his strength weakens while soft clouds move cautiously towards his remaining light. Creeping slowly past the sun their brightness dimming in his presence makes them dark invaders dancing across the bright sky. Patiently the evening stars, waiting for the suns final act to end, dance quietly in the distant background.

With a final burst he coats the sky with a brilliant red before slipping over the edge. Victors once again of the sky, evening descends and changes the brilliant red to a darkening scarlet dotted with the sparkle of distant lights. As the horizon eventually fades to darkness, the sky explodes with tiny starlet dancers that move to the rhythmic whisper of the gentle waves. Hypnotically their soft twinkle closes your tired eyes while the waves softly whisper their goodnights and you drift effortlessly into a peaceful sleep.

Copyright 1996 BAHumbert

Prism of a Thousand Hues

With the first gleam of morning rays, the garden is a prism of a thousand hues refracted in tiny does of crystal dew, a dazzling quilt of millefleur colors covering the sleeping flower beds.

Star Size Comparison HD

Pet Ducks

In one year...

If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living?
It would be impossible for me to do everything I want to do before I die, so I would probably do the things that really mattered or that I really want to experience.

I would would make arrangements with someone to take over payment of my student loan or try and work out some kind of deal with the company. There would be so many things I'd want to do, so if it were possible, I would try and raise money for myself or ask my relatives for money so I can accomplish some of those things…

I would also quit my job, but because some of the people there are my friends, I’d find some time to get together and have a few drinks, etc.

I would spend as much time as I could with my family, and forget about all the little feuds that exist between certain members of my family. I’d like us all- cousins, aunt, uncles, grandparents, etc. to take one of those trips like we used to when I was a kid. I'm already living on my own, but I would like to live in my very own house, so I would try and make that happen. I'd have parties all the time and invite friends to come over anytime.

I would hunt down a certain someone and we’d have endless hours of sex…;)

I’d also spend a lot of time with my friends. We could go on a Caribbean cruise or travel somewhere, as long as we have loads of fun shopping, swimming, eating, drinking, etc. Yes, I would get drunk. To experience it.

I’d like to experience having a child, but I wouldn’t want to bring one into the world if I knew I would be dead in a year, the child doesn’t deserve that…sooo…I would look into surrogate motherhood. I would feel more comfortable carrying a baby and then hand it over to its real parents if I knew I wasn’t going to be around to see the kid being raised by someone else.

I would play the music as loud as I wanted, and write as much as I can, about many different things. In the summer, I would sit on the lush green grass when I pen and some paper and just jot down my thoughts and feelings. I’d want to meet some famous people, you know me and my TV. I’d love to experience nature, so I’d take a few trips around the world to different places- ie- rainforest, Hawaii, scuba diving somewhere, see a real tornado, etc. I’d want to own a Great Dane if I could, and as instead of sleeping (because I can do that when I’m dead), I would spend the nights staring at the sky.

I wouldn’t care about what I ate or about how short the days are. I’d pay attention to the finer details in life instead of looking at the more obvious things. I wouldn’t worry, I wouldn’t get angry, I wouldn’t care about making a fool out of myself.

Instead of focusing on the fact that I’m dying, I’d rather spend that time just living.

"First I was dying to finish high school and start college. And then I was dying to finish college and start working.Then I was dying to marry and have children.And then I was dying for my children to grow old enough so I could go back to work. But then I was dying to retire.And now, I am dying . . . And suddenly I realized I forgot to live."

Bittersweet Autumn

The dawn arrives, gray and somber.
A chill air, alive with a lingering scent of smoke
wraps itself around the dying leaves
Ablaze with gold and crimsons;
Sounds of silence creep between bare trees,
Which the birds have long abandoned.
Summer fades; the bittersweet autumn has begun.