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You guys. You're just the best. Thank you for all the sweet messages! I really hated to leave such a sour-puss post holding my place for the next week or so. I thought I'd leave you with this message from my appletini last night instead:
NOW, I'm taking a little break. Until soon...
xo.
Hello. Feeling funny. Feeling too wanty and jealous and inadequate. (My photos will never be as good as ________. My paintings will never compare to __________. My house will never look like _________. Why can't I have ________ too?) I hate feeling like this. I need to snap out of it. I think need a break. Off Bloglines. Off Flickr. Off Facebook. Except for my NP photos and Echoes next Tuesday.
Yesterday was sunny and 60 and we went to the park for a long time. We have dinner plans with friends tonight. And a houseful expected for the second birthday extravaganza weekend. All steps in the right direction.
See you soon- it's almost time again. I'm pondering coming back in February with a vengeance, hopefully feeling better.
Hug, hug. Kiss, kiss.
My mom is having a luncheon. We'll be dining on:
YES WE CANned peach pie (I'm making this one from peaches from summer.)
Intestinal Stimulus Package Chili (ahem. I thought of that one. hee hee.)
Inaugural Cheese Ball
Fresh Administration Salad
Uh, vegetable soup. (we couldn't think of anything clever for that.)
There are moments in history that feel monumental. After soaking in all the MLK coverage yesterday and keeping my eyes glued to the television this morning, it really is emotional to watch it happen.
With eyes half-closed I shuffled down this morning to let out the dog and make the coffee, just like I always do. I was greeted by the most surprising, beautiful blanket of snow. It actually made me gasp.
I figure if it's really going to be something like 12º F today, we might as well have snow.
There was one short trip to fetch and deliver birthday doughnuts to school. (Another surprise. This one for J's teacher- oh she looked just thrilled with the prospect of indoor recess AND Krispy Kremes. Hee hee.) Now N and I are home to stay, to watch the snow and bake something. Maybe bread though I know she'll vote cookies.
You stay safe and warm this weekend.
Rachel has been doing lots of thinking about process- in art and in life. The four of us (Emily, Heather, Rachel, and I) typically do quite a bit of chatting about the subject at Flickr. All of this has prompted us to share a bit with you at Echoes.
Speaking of life processes, you've seen Habit, right? Well go right away if you haven't. It's great.
We are of course still posting at the new NP everyday. Don't be shy over there either.
Well, I'm off to start the process of dinner now. ; )
for today.
a chance of snow.
a little painting.
a trip to a dentist (or two.)
something soft for dinner- for the little girl with a sore tooth. mashed potatoes?
keeping an eye on an old dog with a sick tummy.
Even though I'm home during the day, I still do love a good Friday.
I caught up on my Virtual Quilting Bee squares yesterday. Hooray! I was feeling pretty guilty about them. September people. That's how far behind I was. You can click through to Flickr to see details about the squares and the group if you'd like.
The house is still clean which makes the livin' eas(ier). It was one of my big goals last year to keep the house more "drop in" ready. And we did well. Some of my friends (you know who you are) will say our home is always clean, but oh how wrong you are. I'm a SLOB at heart. I kid you not. Ask my mom. Ask my college roommates. But we have found the secret to keeping it clean. I swear. Are you ready?
It's the 20 minute power tidy at the end of every day. After the kids are in bed but before we plop down on the couch, we BOTH (and that's an important part) spend 15-20 minutes putting all the stuff away that found its way out during the day: toys, dishes, laundry, papers, books, mail, the list goes on and on. If we work together, it's so much quicker and makes life more peaceful. It even makes the next morning go more smoothly. And I can handle the vacuuming, dusting, mopping more quickly if there's not so much stuff to pick up. If, for whatever reason we don't do it, the next day always starts off badly. So that's it. That's the big secret! I am just positive that we are the first people ever to discover this. ; )
Anyway, it's Friday and we have some fun plans for the weekend plus we're getting further on the basement project all the time.
Happy happy Friday, friends.
(name that 80's movie)
The Christmas stuff is all sorted and packed away. All of our closets and toy cabinets have had a thorough purging. The coat and linen closets are pared down and organized.
It's good to feel caught up once in awhile. I have had "art dreams" two nights in a row. (Do you ever have those?) I think I'd like to mess up this very tidy studio now- just in time for a little project at Echoes!
Happy Tuesday to you.
Hello there, brand new year. And hello, friends.
I have a long list of personal goals for the year, but I think I'll keep them where they are- inside my head. Maybe I'll write them down, but I won't bore you. Last year treated me pretty well, but I do love a nice clean sheet of paper, don't you? Ooooo... with a newly sharpened pencil.
I will tell you my biggest resolution: to let go. Let go of the things that weigh me down and try to feel lighter. Speak more softly to my children. Worry less. Float along and smile more.
Wish me luck.
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If you visited the Noticing Project this last year, thank you. We had a great time, and we're so happy you shared it with us. Honestly I'm quite proud of the accomplishment. I keep looking at the archive page and grinning from ear to ear.
We're excited to continue on another year! Noticing Project {2009} has moved and has a different format, but the intent is the same. We won't be sharing all the diptychs at Flickr, so we hope you'll join us at the new site.
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Happy New Year!
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