Our local market has had a bucket of tulips available lately. It is such a treat to have spring blooms on the table while outside it is still harsh and cold. Makes me think we should all be more like them, rather than wait on ideal circumstances to blossom and grow.
Asher wanted me to make him a custom version of LOVE cards and what better day than today?
And on that note – no pun intended – I heard this song tonight on the Grammy's (my older children are responsible ; )) which took me waaaaay back. We didn't own much music growing up and what we had was on LP's which I memorized word for word. Probably not a good thing but it is what it is. I knew every. single. word. even now though it has to have been decades since I have heard it.
Ok, now that we have established how very very old I am I will wrap up and get to bed. Hope your day is sweet in every way.
I keep almost posting lately. Then don't. Or get some pics loaded and then have to run again. And keep telling myself I am falling behind on blogging. But then, can one actually fall behind on one's own blog? Will the blog police scold my truancy?
The lack of chatter here of late is partly in proportion to the volume of private email happening. Since there are only so many hours in the day, when they are gone they are gone. I can sum up by saying many of those letters involve discussion about how to do it all, more specifically how do *I* do it all. Short answer? You can't. *I* can't. So first priority goes to home and family.
It is very hard to LIVE this life well and simultaneously live a full online life. I would argue that it is nigh on impossible. At least for me. So it's often either/or. My miscellaneous responses to email lately:
To have a clean house you don't need a new cleaning system. You need a broom and a washcloth. You need to clean as you go – fill your sink before you cook, wipe the fixtures while the littles are in the tub, make a sweep of the car before you get out.
To have well educated children you don't need more plans, more creative methods, or learning styles evaluations. You need some books, pencils, and a smile of encouragment. (and yes, we do use traditional materials and yes, I will review the Maxwell bk. Someday lol)
To have order in your days you don't need little boxes and ical. You need to wake up (before the children) in the morning, stay more off the computer than on, and always have an eye ahead to the next few things on deck. ie – are clothes laid out for morning? Are dinner ingredients defrosted? Are backpacks ready for school/sports etc?
It really is that simple. Simple, not easy. It is much easier to surf for ideas than to put them to work. It is much easier to discuss edu-methods than to help work out long division for the umpteenth time. Yet the latter leads to great long term success and easier school days.
It seems so delightfully refreshing to thumb through crafts books or blogs, but how often do we pick up the needles/machine/paint ourselves? (after our home and school were in order)
It is inspiring to look at images of tidy pantries but so much more satisfying to spend an hour clearing a shelf or two in our own.
You can have those things that feed your soul and your family, but not by discussing them here. Linger a bit to glean if you must, then scoot and DO. Don't be content to sit and watch others. Your own blessing sifts through your fingers as they fly across the keyboard.
and that, my friends, is what keeps readership and discussion nice and low around these parts lol. And on that note I need to go and git. God bless!
PS will try to shoot a few more pics up here. Bavaria or Bust this week!
The attractive way you set the table set the tone for a meal and can convey affection, warmth, and caring. The simple way the napkin is fluffed up in the glass, folded to make a flower, or creatively arranged in a napkin ring can speak of your love and concern. A garnish of parsley on a platter of roast chicken or a wedge of lemon in a glass of water say, "I care enough to do the little bit it takes to be above average."
– Simple Secrets to a Beautiful Home, Emilie Barnes
Thinking of Emilie's words as I make preparations today. Dinner guests expected at six tonight. Roast chicken, rice pilaf, whole green beans, salad, and apple crisp ala mode is on the menu. Simple dishes are what we do best. I think the table will be set in blue and white.
Go here for the rest. My thought for the day.
"It takes patience to build a puzzle, along with the faith that the right pieces are in the box."
This line has been floating around my head all week, and daily I have had a new and different thought about its application to life. This is my theme this week. The right pieces are in the box. Be patient piecing them together. Eventually they fit.
His entire article musing on lessons learned at 40 is well worth reading.
"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Deuteronomy 31:8
(visit conversiondiary.com for more!)
1. Insanity
Not the type you might expect from me. ; D Asher and Alannah started the Insanity Workout 60 day program last night. I watched. <g> I considered joining. Still on the fence although I am back on the working out wagon after getting off track with the sicknesses last month. From what I can see this is super high impact and I am not sure it won't spell insanity for an autoimmune arthritic. (wow, doesn't that sound decrepit? Someone grab my lap robe please….) So will watch and see. Will say the diet looks superb. Sort of a South Beach kind of thing.
2. Da Bears
Overheard the funniest exchange at the Exchange this week. A man in uniform was walking in as a man in a Bears coat was walking out. The officer, recognizes the man, gasps audibly, and says "Sgt So and So??"
"Hi, Sir!" says the Sgt.
"Sgt., you're a Bears fan? I can't believe it!" he exclaims in shock and dismay.
"Yessir!" he replies.
"Why, Sgt, I was born and raised in Wisconsin!" as if this explains his utter inability to comprehend what he sees before him. (Coming from Wisconsin myself, I can tell you it does.)
"Well," says the Sgt ever so softly and sincerely, " I knew something was wrong with you, Sir."
I snorted and scooted on past. ; ) You might need to live in IL or WI to really appreciate this however.
3. Caddyshack
Just as the big snowfalls hit last month we noticed a little mound of dirt by the stoop. We figured out it was a molehill and I made a mental note to learn something about moles before spring. Well I learned something. Snow does not phase moles. The snow has melted and in its place are over a dozen molehills. Eeks.
It seems it is forbidden to kill them because they are "part of nature". (like the GRASS I say in retort but whatever…) So our job now is to "discourage" them from inhabiting our yard. I thought two small dogs and a group of extra loud kids would do the trick. After all, that combo discourages a lot of other things. You know, like company. ; o But not so far. Open to any and all suggestions. Fire away!
4. Movie Nite
We watched Freedom Writers the other night. First good movie I have watched in I don't know how long. I am generally offended or freaked completely out within a half hour. I made it through this whole film however and was really impressed. It reminded me of Marva Collins' Story. The power of a determined teacher is an awe inspiring thing.
5. Do your ears hang low?
His used to. These are the ears I promised you last week. Gizmo's paperwork says Papillon but we did not believe it since he was a long haired droopy eared doggie when we met him. But he was a matted up mess a the time too. When his mats were shorn his ears popped up erect like that scene in Dumbo when he stands and stretches and whhhhaaaapppp they flap out, prompting the other mama elephants to chortle and shake their heads. Yeah. It was like that. Who knew what was under all that hair? Who knew their vertical potential?
In all honestly I was horrfied initially. But he is such a sweet animal and I am starting to get used to his Beverly Hills Chihuahua look. He even sports a black I Heart You rhinestone collar. I decided to celebrate his appendages for this week's Fence Friday. I give you The Ear As Artform lol:
6.
this week's lovely links:
My friend Barbara is talking laundry and I am listening, as I do when Barbara talks. She has been a lifesaver helping me get up to speed with our mutual school program this year. She is doing a little series on how best to care for our clothes. This is a topic I am newly interested in. We had well water for years and a septic system so our clothes took a bit of a beating without bleach and the all the minerals. I am now revisiting my laundry care and choice of detergents etc. Looking fwd to hearing more.
Humble Pie is a new fave blog of mine. Love this house. Love her writing.
7. A kiss from me to you, says Abbie Rose. This is for Daddy…
fuzzy but funny (and honey I did take down the Christmas decorations after this was taken I promise!)
Mwah! Have a fabulous weekend. : )
Husband is traveling and, let me just say, times like these remind you that parenting a houseful is ideally a team sport. So am knee deep in taxi driving and answer keys. Bear with me.
After seeing all the typos in my last post I decided to just regale you with local scenery from my walks versus try to compose a coherent thought – which you know, can be a challenge on a good day lol.
German winters can be damp and gray which is a drag for a lot of people. But I truly love the texture and change in color in winter.
The stacks of tiles in the siding and the stacks of logs in the shed all seemed wonderfully geometric on this walk.
Like with wardrobe and home decorating and black and white photography, a (near) monochromatic scheme makes subtle patterns and textures really shine. Light and shadow become the principle players and it's all very exciting to me.
So exciting in fact I am noticing patterns all over. More to follow on that. Look around your world today. If you find something beautiful in the usual leave me a link. : )
"Sometimes she said, 'A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.' And it was true.
If you turned up the corners of your mouth, you just couldn't help smiling!" - A Lion in the Box
(oh how we loved this book!)
Debi Pearl once shared a story where her husband mentioned the "pretty clerk down at the general store." For the life of her she could not recall a 'pretty' woman working there. All she was aware of was a rather homely, heavy set woman. When referring to her by name her husband said, "Yes! that's the one!" She was puzzled by this but when they visited the store the next time she noticed how the woman was always laughing and smiling and her enthusiasm was infectious. So infectious, it was, that it transformed her into a most attractive, engaging person despite her natural physical attributes, someone whom people flocked around and whose presence brightened the room.
She paused and took note. One of those pondered in your heart moments.
A fascinating post script to that story was that some time later they ran into the same woman in the grocery store, ranting at her daughter, her face twisted in anger and disgust. When her name was mentioned the husband could not believe it was her. The very same? Yes, it was. In her agitated state she bore so little resemblance to the bright and sunny woman they had come to know he could not even recognize her.
I think of this story often lately. Everyone is beautiful when they smile. Smiles turn wrinkles into happy exclamations – for which I am eternally grateful lol. They draw those around us in and warm cold hearts. Even our own.
I have come to realize that a smile does not have to depend upon everything going well. It does not need to mean that we approve of all that happens around us. It does not rely upon the behavior of others nor the accomplishment of our goals, nor the happy resolution of our problems. Rather it is a vote of confidence. It is a salute to the One who works it all for good no matter. It is a gift to others. It is a gift to ourselves. I am determining not to be stingy with smiles. They are free after all and tend to multiply as we give them away.
The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. ~Author Unknown
(Shown above are mitts knit by the gypsy. LOVE love LOVE them. Thank you for making me smile! Sending you back a smile of your own from a happy little mug from my childhood.)
Starry Sky Journal 