Ah, the living room. Once a place of no functional space now brightens my day. This corner of our room (where our Christmas tree stood) has always baffled me. Our large painting has always hung here, leaving little options for filling up the space around it: maybe a plant or a chair. It has always frustrated me because there are so many things that should be in this room. Like blocks and my girls’ art and my books and random projects we like to pick up and work on without storing in some other room, etc. This is our family space where we begin our morning and Bobby and I end our night. Shouldn’t this room work better for us??!!
Two enormous changes. One, moving my big blue painting and two, bringing a bookcase downstairs.
We recently spent $3 on three bags of corn at a fly fishing shop next to Boiling Springs Lake. Of course I fought Bobby on it, trying to convince him that the kids could still have fun in the freezing cold by walking around the lake and not feeding the ducks. (I’m not always a party pooper.) He claimed that feeding the ducks was the only way to enjoy the lake, or so his ducking-feeding childhood had convinced him of it.
Bobby’s memories of the lake won out, thank goodness. It would have been a rather freezing duck-watching day without the corn. He’s always right, doggone it.
While some are getting healthier and others are just getting sick, there has been some time to flop down on the couch for sticker books and weaving with the healthier girls. Whether myself or my children, sickness always makes me flop down on the couch when I would otherwise be running around in my usual rhythm.
Happy January to you all!
The parties have died down and I’m ready to throw myself into my home, my children, and the excitement of cold days spend indoors. I think we’re all itching to throw decorations back into boxes and start doing stuff again. Like reading Caroline’s sewing book with her so she can finally make herself a kitty and ordering myself some supplies for homemade body and hand balms for this dry winter. (Ordering anything online is quite the task with four little interruptions around.) My mind has been racing these past few days with enthusiasm over the new year.
I’ve loved reading what so many of you are doing right now. What things are filling your days during this most exciting time of year. And yet, I can empathize with so many of you that want something more but must be patient. Many of you that are expecting your own babe this Christmas which means what you want and what you really need are different. Many of you are without loved ones close by and are feeling that sadness. Many of you are healing physically from illness (or so are your children) or are healing emotionally from other pains in your life. Despite what we would wish, life keeps moving, this holiday season pushes through, taking us along with it, whether we’re ready or feeling the spirit of it.
We’re all in different seasons of our lives, seasons that can change in a flash of a second…
Caroline is ready for her first journal. This is quite an exciting milestone since her mother filled easily 15 journals in her lifetime. I can’t wait for her to discover the fulfillment of writing and then reading and seeing who she’s become over time.
Journaling will also be an incredible writing exercise for my little 6-year-old. I thought a little encouraging would help introduce her to the world of journaling. Thus the journal kit.
As you saw yesterday, I’m a little obsessed with jars for gift giving. Hopefully you don’t mind, there are more jarred gifts to come. Today–a simple sewing kit in a jar for my up and coming seamstress, Caroline.
After last week which was filled with wonderful visitors (friends from college and their little toddlers), this weekend came and granted me some time away at the sewing machine. Saturday morning, Johanna warded off Caroline from the basement so we could get moving on her present from her sister. A little something that we knew she would love (a sketchbook) with a little something personal (an original drawing from Johanna of Caroline, stitched onto the cover.)
Johanna and I found the idea when we were skimming through my Bend the Rules with Fabric book by Amy Karol. A pack of Moleskine sketchbooks have been waiting in a covered up box (with other Christmas supplies that have now arrived and are waiting) in the corner of the kitchen. It is a simple yet fulfilling project. Check it out…
How is daylight savings going in your home? Mornings sure start early over here.
I find myself looking for me time again since it definitely isn’t happening in the morning. Precisely when I begin sneaking out of bed is when half drowsy children begin bounding in the room.