Archive for February, 2010

Getting Over It

by admin on February 11, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Book Flavor, My Romance with 2 Comments

So I had to spend most of the day trying to shake off the story of ‘Tess’ and her demise. I was succeeding by reminding myself that the author was sending a message, a good message through this story…

Looking for comfort I told my husband about the books end. I expressed how it had really upset me. He smiled wrapped me in his arms and said ‘Come here and let me comfort you over a person who didn’t even exist.’ Oh my temper flared and I wanted to slap him… but the flash of anger was cooled by his good natured laugh at my expense and I left the room instead.

I need a more cheerful classic novel now, to sooth my readers heart.

TTFN

My Frozen Neighborhood

by admin on February 10, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Life Keeps Changing with 1 Comment
Walks on a winter morning such as this can’t be long enough.
I am blessed even in the midst of winter.Sound

Nothing but the crunching of my boots.
It was so quiet and still that the crunch was pounding in my ears.
The world was strangely quiet, even in this city of mine, no wind, no voices, no bird calls.
The air, thick with a slight fog, seemed to block all proof of other creatures being in existence.

Sight
Other then the sluggish smoke coming from my neighbors roof tops, I felt like the only moving piece of matter.
The sky, trees and houses, and ground all blended together in a union of frozen color.
Frost covered even the ever greens enough to make me feel like I saw in one color alone, the hue winter.
Isn’t it amazing how you never get tired of the same old seasons if you take the time to closely observe!?
Winter seems hauntingly still but the seasons are never motionless.
They are always in the process of change.
They barely arrive and place their grip firmly on the world when they start their departure. Frost will return again next year and it will decorate my neighborhood much in the same way it has this year.
And yet, I will have to stop and look at it.
And Winter will again move me.

TTFN

Note To Self

by admin on February 9, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Book Flavor, My Romance with 1 Comment

Do not read the sad parts of a classic novel late at night… Stayed up way to late, struggling to see the words in the light of my tiny Avon purse shaped lamp, so as not to bother my husband. Made the mistake of peeking at the next chapter in ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ as my man turned off his lamp for the night and then I couldn’t go to sleep without finding out the heart wrenching result of her confessing her past to her new husband…

This note to self is particularly relevant considering the novel. You shouldn’t read about ‘Tess’ at all after dark… not if you can get as easily emotional after dark as I can…

“The night came in, and took up its place there, unconcerned and indifferent; the night which has already swallowed up his happiness, and was now digesting it listlessly; and was ready to swallow up the happiness of a thousand other people with as little disturbance or change of mien.”
Quote from Phase the Fifth, The Woman Pays; ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles‘

IF YOU DO you may cry really hard, tears and all… then you may shut the book with a determined thud, as if to express your frustration to the author, hoping the thud will vibrate through time and thud Thomas Hardy up side the head, then you may dwell on all things sad that come to mind till you can’t sleep…

Thank the Lord for a husband in such a crisis as this! A hug and the assurance of his presence was comfort enough for me to put aside ‘Tess’ and her bitter story for the night… Though sound asleep and oblivious to my situation his very existence was romantic in such a moment!

Timing is everything with a good classic novel… no worries, it is worth the read so I will pick it up again with my afternoon tea. During the little ones nap time I will rock in my favorite chair and sit in the sun while I read, for the sun will be there as emotional support!

TTFN

Me The Family Hair Dresser???

by admin on February 8, 2010 in Domestic Damsel, Four Little Eggs In My Nest with 1 Comment
(Big Boy taking a break from holding perfectly still to enjoy an orange.)

My oldest boy has been put through a lot where my hair-dresser lessons are concerned… the first attempt was pretty bad. I was just super thankful that his hair grows out so fast after that try!

My man figured if I learned to cut even just the boys hair we could save a lot in the long run…This was my second try, he was getting down right shaggy again. I always threaten to flip him upside down and use him as a mop when it gets that thick!

A few things made this a much better try. He sat still this time, interested in a show I put on (a brilliant move) and Little Woman was my assistant! She was thrilled to sweep and in between her beaning me or Big Boy with the broom it was a great help. Big Girl watched Baby Boy and kept him from sitting in the cut hair, I wish I knew why he feels the need to do that?!

Big Boy’s hair turned out SO much better then last time… perhaps that is because last time was so bad or perhaps it is just because I am getting so much better at it! Either way, I am on my way to being the boys primary hair dresser!

TTFN

And We Made Bread Together!

by admin on February 6, 2010 in Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Mama Heart Mushings with 3 Comments
(Stirring was Little Woman’s first task and she worked really hard at it!)

Making bread has become a big job in our house! It used to be that I could make eight loaves and they would last two weeks but now I pretty much need to make a batch a week! I have been finding it a bit daunting but today decided to get started before the sun was up and before I could talk myself out of the job once again. Little Woman and I kissed her older siblings good by and immediately rolled up our sleeves and got busy!

This was her first time helping me make the bread and I don’t think she realised it took all day because of rising and pounding down again. Little Woman enjoyed helping with this job as much as with dishes. My shadow was full of gusto and always at my heels. She was a life saver when it came time for me to work the dough, she was a pro at adding just a little flour here and there when it was getting stuck to the counter.

(She couldn’t help but pat the dough once we put it in her Great Grandma Smiths bread bowl to rise.)

I had to run out twice today but we managed to make it back just in time to pound down our bread once again. There is something about returning to the bread and pounding it down just in time all through out the day that makes you feel like you have it together!
There is a serious rise in your optimism as you shape the bread and buns and place them in pans to rise! Anticipation hits a climax when you put them into the oven and it is pretty near impossible to let them cool under the damp towels once removed from the oven.
Just before supper we had all the loaves and buns complete and ready to be packaged and frozen, after a few taste tests of course! I am proud of my Little Woman and her interest in all things domestic! I hope she finds the art in it as I have and doesn’t grow to see it as cultural expectation and nothing but labour, as was my view of it in my youth.

The big pay off for all of our work was when the older two returned home. They had barely entered the house, the door was in fact forgotten and open in spite of the winter weather. Exclamations of ‘OH that smells good!’ came out of beaming faces! Little Woman and I where happy to share, we having already reveled in the first fruits!

TTFN

A Grand Change in Cultural Expectations Of Men

by admin on February 5, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Do I Call It Parenting Advice?, Life Keeps Changing, Mama Heart Mushings, My Romance with No comments

Reading classic novels is something I truly enjoy. On that note, many classics leave me with a dark frame of mind and today I needed to share a thought that came out of reading a few. I am thankful things have changed, in the area of human rights. I find often, more in books written by male authors, that children and especially babes are seen as of little consequence. One author explained ‘the baby was barely a few days old, certainly not old enough to be given the turn individual’… Oh man… I have a totally different view of the value of life. I suppose the fact that many children didn’t survive into adult hood back then played a part in the often cold written references to children… but… It made me think that the old fashioned habit of men having little to do with babes wasn’t a good thing.

I am so thankful my man has so much to do with our little ones… he works hard to contribute to their basic needs and excels at providing their love and fun needs. When I watch him with my babies I adore him! I am thankful that my Saviour has blessed me with a man who can take MUCH time for his kids and I realise all to many Dad’s just aren’t there…

It also made me think of the true depths love goes down into a woman’s heart, specifically when it comes to her children. They don’t have to be of a specific age, we can learn to claim them in our hearts before they are even born. We feel so vulnerable with them walking around, our heart divided up and openly exposed to the pain and hurt in the world…

I am so thankful it is now okay and ‘in fashion’, if you will, for men in our current age to embrace that same connection with their young children.

TTFN

February’s Hymn

by admin on February 2, 2010 in Better Check Out Links, My Year of Right Sacrifice-TIME, The Hymn Project with 2 Comments

Wow February is here! It hit me, while sitting on my rocking chair, that I need to pick a new hymn for my project! “Blessed Quietness” (“Joys are flowing like a river / Since the Comforter has come”) (1897)
Lyrics by Manie Payne Ferguson

After my previous post I felt it reflected my mood. It seems like it will be a little more challenging then the last but has a really pretty sound to it! Click on the authors name above to find out all about her.

Is this hymn new to you too? Listen to the music at the link on my side panel, down a bit.

Are you familiar with it and can carry a tune? I would love you to advise me then. I have to learn it mostly by ear so I sometimes wonder if I am getting the exact vocal tune right.

I determined to do nothing really today, even ignoring the baskets of laundry needing folding, but this was a pleasant event that came up! I am enjoying this project!

TTFN

Thoughts From My Cozy Spot

by admin on February 2, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, People In My Heart with 1 Comment


My rocking chair and ottoman are waiting for me… waiting for me to put my feet up and drink my creamy tea, eat my sandwich and just sit! Started reading ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ yesterday. I love classic novels and there are so many I haven’t read yet! I might sit and read about Tess or I might continue reading the chapter in Leviticus I am trying to work through… I might just fall asleep.

Don’t worry about tomorrow for today has troubles of its own… Tomorrow is my monthly trip to Costco, thankfully the kids are having a play date while I go. The next day I need to make 8 loaves of bread… today… today I am gonna sit (now that I am done wee college for the day).

I am so tired that every time I sit down to blog about the important stuff going on my eyes start to hurt. I have been staying up late way to often lately, and missing my naps… Two new people, important people, have appeared in my world and they come with questions and emotions and we, who are involved, are all trying to digest it all slowly and embrace the wonder of it all. Perhaps I will share more in the future but right now it still feels bigger then life!

But for now I will sit in my cozy spot, snack, read perhaps, and think quiet thoughts (kids are napping and the phone turned off) until I drift off into a delicious nap!

TTFN

Deliberately Flirt!

by admin on February 2, 2010 in Better Check Out Blogs, My Romance with 1 Comment


It is beneficial for both your man and yourself when you make the effort!

A fellow blogger posted this in my comment box a couple posts down and I agreed whole heartedly!

Constance shared, “It tells our spouse that we only have eyes for them and that we would do it all over again!”

My heart wanted to add to it. Not only does it remind them how much we adore them but it forces our focus deliberately to them. It therefore, makes us remember how much WE love them and only have eyes for them! So healthy in a marriage especially in the tiring and stressful times!

TTFN

Bed Time Blessings!

by admin on February 2, 2010 in Dem Kids Sayed WHAT?, Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Mama Heart Mushings with 1 Comment

I love bed time, when it is a relatively calm event, and not just because I am getting kid-less time for a while or because Garnet and I can be alone together, in addition to those reasons I often find it a cozy time jam packed with love and blessings!

Baby Boy picked up the Vaseline jar while Daddy was changing his diaper, put it to his ear and yelled ‘hewo!’

Little Woman was having her turn to pray and she told Daddy she wanted to pray for me… “I pway Mama gives me a glass of water for bed ana kissy… um…um I pway Mama gives me wots of kissys! AMEN!” Obviously I smothered her with kisses tonight!Later Daddy was rocking Baby Boy and singing a song (as he does each night for his boy). I love listening in to this special nightly event. Tonight Daddy started singing ‘Jesus Loves Me’ and Baby Boy joined in with his little sing-y song sounds that mostly come through his nose (so sweet). Big brother started to sing quietly too… quietly because he thinks I might hear him and think he isn’t a tough guy… so adorable! The girls are in the next room and they take up on the second verse and the whole time I sit and listen to this nightly event that is very ordinary and extraordinary all at once.TTFN

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