I Almost Made A Terrible Mistake

I almost made a terrible mistake today and it was really Beth's fault. Since her You Capture assignment was to 'get outside' I thought to run out and capture some interesting drifts. Now, all I had on at the time were my long pajamas and my bathrobe. But I couldn't take the time to dress because the moment might pass so I threw on some boots and headed outside.

After snapping enough pictures to get thoroughly cold, I headed back to the house. When I turned the handle and pulled on the storm door, I was quite shocked to find it locked. There's no logic there because I had just come out that door, it's not self locking, and there was nobody in the house. Then I remembered the other day when I purposely unlocked that storm door and went out the front door to retrieve the garbage bin. I planned to go out the front and come in the back. However, when I tried to come in, the storm door was locked. Once again I was bewildered but figured I must have just meant to unlock the storm door and somehow failed to do it.

Now, as I tugged on the door, I remembered what had happened the other day and I started to explore my options.

The front door was locked. I always lock it when Mr. Right leaves for work.

There was a key rock out there somewhere (that may or may not have a key in it) but in an effort to thwart thieves, I always let it mingle among the thousands of other rocks out there and I had no idea where it was. Plus everything was covered with about a foot of snow.

I didn't have a phone on me or a key. Even if I could seek shelter in the van, it was securely locked too. Seeking shelter in the van, if I could get in it, probably seems like a poor option since it was really cold outside but the poorest of options seemed good compared to the thought of walking around the neighborhood looking like I did and knocking on neighbors' doors where I would have to wait until....oh, midnight or so since Harry was working a double.

The last option was to try to break the storm door and I didn't think I'd be able to do that. I tried however by jerking and pulling on it and cursing at it and..... it opened.

Whew! Freezing to death and embarrassment averted. I think from now on I'll make it my business to get dressed before risking my life in the back yard.

It's Getting Cold Out

Our You Capture assignment the other day was The Feeling Of Fall. I think I made it quite clear in my submission how I felt about Fall. Overall, I'm not a fan. I used to think it was just because for the last fourteen years it meant that I was getting real close to spending some miserable days and hours outside but now I'm pretty sure it's not all about that because I'm not working and I still dread winter and I'm not enjoying Fall.

I just cleaned the filters in the ponds and that water was cold. I looked at my big koi and didn't feed them because once it gets really cold, they can only be fed once a day and I fed them earlier. It wasn't that much fun to feed them either. They kind of drifted to the top and ate but it wasn't voracious, enthusiastic eating with splashing and assertiveness. It was picking and partaking but not really enjoying. They're definitely losing their appetites.

And then there are all the baby koi in the goldfish pond. I didn't feel great about putting them in there when I did it but now I feel even more uneasy. In fact, I've captured seven of them so far to put in the aquarium in the house. I just don't have confidence that they'll get through the long cold winter out there.

I have a hard time going outside for anything now. I like to be in. I like to nest. And I like to be warm. I'm pretty sure I was meant to live somewhere else.