Man, it's cold tonight! Brrr! I just left Merry snuggled under flannel and out of that little nest, I'm rather chilly!
Are we meeting this week? T and I are free tomorrow night, though I must admit I am so cold and rather tired I don't feel like leaving my house. Tomorrow, despite Elspeth's being sick, I must leave in the morning to collect some groceries, but then we're back in quarantine again. Merry, who is not sick, and who missed a lovely tea at her friend J's house today and who does not have any formal school at Aunt N's house this week, and who wants to go visit Aunt S and her boys, is sad about being quarantined with us, but then that's life.
I did watch "Jane Austen Book Club" and despite his intentions to get some work done, Martin got sucked in--and it was a really fun watch. Would anyone be interested in vegging at my place--I don't mind watching it over again. Otherwise, unless anyone says "Hey, wait a minute!" and wants to borrow it, I'll return it tomorrow in the mail.
Anything else of practicality to share? Baked a simple-super but simply-great vanilla cake today. . .Kashi is on sale on Amazon, and Celestial Seasonings is on an-order-get-an-instant-rebate on Amazon. . .as T was good enough to alert me, Lands End is running their blow-out sale. . .grapes (nonorganic) are a pretty good price at Giant Eagle starting tomorrow. . .and that may be it.
Since I have been steeping myself and Merry in English children's books lately, I feel like ordering British chocolate bars and going out for walks with my baby in a pram and having a muffin and a milk and a window-washing man drop by every day and walking to shop at market with my big basket, and knowing all my neighbors and of course having sunshine or at least having a good sturdy pair of Wellingtons in cheerful yellow. And having a delightful, wonderful bakery just down my road stocked with currant buns and fresh biscuits and crusty loaves. Anyone else fantasizing about English/European public transportation and food right about now? Or is it just me?
Oh, postscript: go visit 4obsessions . .I always enjoy that blog, as well as thistledown.
K
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Uninvited Guest
It appears my bad mood has settled in for an indefinite period of time.
No energy.
No creativity.
No patience.
Just mellow, gray, dreary, burned out Mommy.
It might help to see the sunshine on a regular basis.
Perhaps someone could talk to the powers that be about that for me.
Who knew mothering young children could be so lonely?
s.
No energy.
No creativity.
No patience.
Just mellow, gray, dreary, burned out Mommy.
It might help to see the sunshine on a regular basis.
Perhaps someone could talk to the powers that be about that for me.
Who knew mothering young children could be so lonely?
s.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Oh, for a vacation!
Yep, right on time! In mid-February, after things have settled down after the Holidays and our string of winter birthdays, the BLAHS hit me. When the outside looks grey and dingy, suddenly everything takes on a worn and dirty feeling, and I don't feel satisfied with much at all. Of course, the recent fevers and lack of sleep may be contributing to this overall disinterest with life in the Burg.
I want to escape! Recently, I've been dreaming of castles in Europe. My friend in Germany, however, tells me that their days are equally grey and non-descript as well. My cousin in Sitges, Spain has a lovely blog filled with gorgeous photos of architecture, olive picking and the sea (check it out: http://www.kingsinspain.blogspot.com/ ), I'm sure they would welcome a winter-sick visitor from the states!
Today, there is sunshine! Ah...shine on great star! We are headed to our property for a hike, and a stop by the township park/playground on the way back. Perhaps the fresh air and sunshine will scrub the windows of my soul, and allow good old Waynesburg to look a bit more sparkly.
A good weekend to you, my friends!
T
I want to escape! Recently, I've been dreaming of castles in Europe. My friend in Germany, however, tells me that their days are equally grey and non-descript as well. My cousin in Sitges, Spain has a lovely blog filled with gorgeous photos of architecture, olive picking and the sea (check it out: http://www.kingsinspain.blogspot.com/ ), I'm sure they would welcome a winter-sick visitor from the states!
Today, there is sunshine! Ah...shine on great star! We are headed to our property for a hike, and a stop by the township park/playground on the way back. Perhaps the fresh air and sunshine will scrub the windows of my soul, and allow good old Waynesburg to look a bit more sparkly.
A good weekend to you, my friends!
T
Friday, February 15, 2008
Particularly Thankful
After a long day with grouchy children (and therefore grouchy mother), I was particularly thankful to have my husband come home. I was appreciative to have another rational adult to talk with after repeated irrational discourse with the boys. By 10:00 we were bouncing off the walls so we made a "sanity run" by getting out of the house for a bit, driving around the county to view cows and horses, chickens dining on watermelon rind and potatoes, and monstrous icicles. It's nice be be able to see countryside so quickly...no traffic, no interstate....just icy one lane country roads. (Isn't that a John Denver song?)
Fridays are definitely to be celebrated.
Fridays are definitely to be celebrated.
Congratulations, Women:
You officially made it through this cold, grey week!
This is how I feel myself, and though Martin and the girls are out at the moment and I'm always cataloging what I could do on such an auspicious occasion, I have no motivation to sweep the kitchen floor or put away overdue clean laundry or even to take a shower (though I am persuading myself in that direction). Or start a new book, for that matter. I am directionless for the most part and okay with that.
For those of you who are sick, I wish you may quickly and happily recover; for those who are tired, I wish an early night and much succor; to you who are world-weary, a good movie and connection with your spouse and with yourself.
For myself, I am hoping for an easy and hot dinner, an early bedtime for Elspeth, a sip of wine and good company, and perhaps a jot of Netflix before sleep. Aren't Fridays something to celebrate?
This is how I feel myself, and though Martin and the girls are out at the moment and I'm always cataloging what I could do on such an auspicious occasion, I have no motivation to sweep the kitchen floor or put away overdue clean laundry or even to take a shower (though I am persuading myself in that direction). Or start a new book, for that matter. I am directionless for the most part and okay with that.
For those of you who are sick, I wish you may quickly and happily recover; for those who are tired, I wish an early night and much succor; to you who are world-weary, a good movie and connection with your spouse and with yourself.
For myself, I am hoping for an easy and hot dinner, an early bedtime for Elspeth, a sip of wine and good company, and perhaps a jot of Netflix before sleep. Aren't Fridays something to celebrate?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Rewards
Okay, kids, only two days left in the week! Breathe. . .breathe. . .breathe. It's that time of evening.
Martin's out three out of five nights this week, a total that would have driven me to crawl up the side of the house by my fingernails previously in my parenting career. But the girls are relatively easy; Merry helps more and more all the time and truly I have nothing to complain about. However--
Occasionally, an especially loud scream causes the tension to begin prickling up my back--I can feel it, like an animal, crawling up my insides, toward my throat, where, unless swallowed, it manifests itself in some sort of unattractive, aggressive noise.
How to deal with this? Singing helps a great deal, when I remember to do it (Fanny Crosby tonight). My sister has been known to growl out loud, which also helps and does no great damage to anyone unless you are excessively prone to introspective wondering (am I truly sane?). Parents of course, occasionally give themselves time-outs. Also, it helps to remind myself that certain rewards waits for me, such as a quiet viewing of an episode of "The Vicar of Dibley", at some uncertain but possible moment later in the evening.
Perhaps, occasionally, it's the constant noise that gets to me most. . .the questions, the singing, all the happy clamor of children (add to this the constant motion--the climbing, the jumping, the jiggling, the expanding and contracting of the young). I remember feeling baffled by the mother who wrote that the thing she loved best about her newborn (a second child) is that the baby never talked. Suddenly I understand.
Speaking of which--my privileges await me (reading to Elspeth). . .and I mean this with no irony. More snow tomorrow? Rewards tonight, rewards all day if I am relaxed enough to see them.
Martin's out three out of five nights this week, a total that would have driven me to crawl up the side of the house by my fingernails previously in my parenting career. But the girls are relatively easy; Merry helps more and more all the time and truly I have nothing to complain about. However--
Occasionally, an especially loud scream causes the tension to begin prickling up my back--I can feel it, like an animal, crawling up my insides, toward my throat, where, unless swallowed, it manifests itself in some sort of unattractive, aggressive noise.
How to deal with this? Singing helps a great deal, when I remember to do it (Fanny Crosby tonight). My sister has been known to growl out loud, which also helps and does no great damage to anyone unless you are excessively prone to introspective wondering (am I truly sane?). Parents of course, occasionally give themselves time-outs. Also, it helps to remind myself that certain rewards waits for me, such as a quiet viewing of an episode of "The Vicar of Dibley", at some uncertain but possible moment later in the evening.
Perhaps, occasionally, it's the constant noise that gets to me most. . .the questions, the singing, all the happy clamor of children (add to this the constant motion--the climbing, the jumping, the jiggling, the expanding and contracting of the young). I remember feeling baffled by the mother who wrote that the thing she loved best about her newborn (a second child) is that the baby never talked. Suddenly I understand.
Speaking of which--my privileges await me (reading to Elspeth). . .and I mean this with no irony. More snow tomorrow? Rewards tonight, rewards all day if I am relaxed enough to see them.
Monday, February 11, 2008
So Many Books, So Little Time
It is a very sad thing when one's books no longer fit in the constraints of one's bookshelves. It is difficult for me to part with a book once I own it, and even harder for my husband. Factor that in along with 4 years of Medical School and 2 years of PA school and the books those endeavors entail, and you're talking a lot of books. When we moved here, the movers estimated that we had over 1,000 lbs in books. I'm sure we've acquired another 500, and culled a measly couple since then.
We are dreaming of floor to ceiling bookshelves in our new study. However, when the house plans arrived 2 weeks ago, along with a breakdown of the estimated costs, we realized we would have to cut half of our dreams out. We've gone over the plans with a big eraser, taking out windows and doors. Gone is our lovely Russian furnace that we would have used to burn waste paper and wood once a day to keep our home snuggly warm. But I'm keeping the bookshelves, even if I have to build them myself!
I just finished reading "The Subtle Knife", the second in the trilogy "His Dark Materials" by Phillip Pullman. Because of the recent controversy regarding the first in the trilogy, "The Golden Compass", which was recently made into a movie, I wanted to read for myself. Apparently Phillip Pullman is a confirmed atheist, and many Christians are concerned that he has buried his beliefs in the books. (For more information regarding this controversy, see http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp .)
I must admit that I enjoyed the first book greatly. It is very imaginative and interesting. I did not find any overt references to religion, although it is apparent that the Church in this story is involved at high levels of Government. The second book, however, is preparing for a great war between good and evil. One of the main characters feels that all evil has trickled down from The Authority (or God), and is determined to kill him. I had a hard time categorizing between the good and evil characters in this book. There are a lot of twists and turns that left me feeling that a character I assumed was on one side, is actually on the other. It was a much darker, more disturbing story line. I did enjoy reading it though, and I do want to read the final book of the trilogy before I make up my mind one way or the other about this.
So, anyone else read anything good lately? I'd love to hear!
T
We are dreaming of floor to ceiling bookshelves in our new study. However, when the house plans arrived 2 weeks ago, along with a breakdown of the estimated costs, we realized we would have to cut half of our dreams out. We've gone over the plans with a big eraser, taking out windows and doors. Gone is our lovely Russian furnace that we would have used to burn waste paper and wood once a day to keep our home snuggly warm. But I'm keeping the bookshelves, even if I have to build them myself!
I just finished reading "The Subtle Knife", the second in the trilogy "His Dark Materials" by Phillip Pullman. Because of the recent controversy regarding the first in the trilogy, "The Golden Compass", which was recently made into a movie, I wanted to read for myself. Apparently Phillip Pullman is a confirmed atheist, and many Christians are concerned that he has buried his beliefs in the books. (For more information regarding this controversy, see http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp .)
I must admit that I enjoyed the first book greatly. It is very imaginative and interesting. I did not find any overt references to religion, although it is apparent that the Church in this story is involved at high levels of Government. The second book, however, is preparing for a great war between good and evil. One of the main characters feels that all evil has trickled down from The Authority (or God), and is determined to kill him. I had a hard time categorizing between the good and evil characters in this book. There are a lot of twists and turns that left me feeling that a character I assumed was on one side, is actually on the other. It was a much darker, more disturbing story line. I did enjoy reading it though, and I do want to read the final book of the trilogy before I make up my mind one way or the other about this.
So, anyone else read anything good lately? I'd love to hear!
T
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