Sappy

Oh, there are so many neat things to learn with a new house. Some more costly, others just fill my mind with more randomness. 

Like pine beetles. We're lucky, our pines are healthy. But the arborist, who my husband had to have check the oak whose roots were cut for the plumbing repairs, gave me a quick lesson.  Pines in Houston are battling beetles, and many too many are succumbing. Why? Well, normally, a healthy pine has so much sap that when a beetle tries to bore it's way in, the sap pushes it back out. Unfortunately, with our draught, too many pines are too dry. Without enough water, there isn't enough sap to keep the beetles out. 

It's been a tough week for me. There are so many draws on my energy, I am feeling pulled and pressed and less capable of bouncing back. Last night, as I felt a contraction (and simultaneous terror, I'm not ready for this baby - we need the carseat at least), I felt a bit like a pine. You see, I haven't been conscientious enough about doing the things that nourish me. And without enough good inside, the small nuisances bore there way in more easily. And slowly, I turn from the joys, seeing only the problems. 

So, last night, I put myself to bed early. This morning, I actively looked for the good, while finished a few tasks (like putting on different drawer pulls and packing away the last of the Christmas stuff ), and continued the constant ones - laundry, dishes, sweeping.  Joy and I played a matching ducky game.  Now I'm laying down and drinking water. Because I need to. It's not time for this baby to come out. Yet.  Later, Joy and I will join Grace at school for lunch. Attention matters. This afternoon, between calls to switch out our new fridge for the right new fridge and scheduling the electrician and finishing homework and making dinner, I hope to slip a little yoga in. And then to bed early again.  Because I want enough sap to keep out all those nasty beetles.