Creating a comfortable life one moment at a time
I scooted around the web yesterday looking for something springlike to knit and found some cute ideas. If I start one of these now, I just might finish in time for Easter. Which is one month from tomorrow! (And also Tim’s birthday this year.) How about this adorable sparrow’s nest from Whit’s Knits?
One of the biggest challenges for me in blogging is to only post once a day! There are so many ideas to discuss, strategies to ponder, and books and projects and recipes to share. But this blog is meant to be a sketchpad for ideas and a place to organize thoughts and plans for living life a little more intentionally. After writing here, I’m supposed to be writing other things, too.
Which reminds me: I’m officially stating my intention to make a spreadsheet to track queries. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised at how well I put it off. If you see me at the grocery store, feel free to ask if I’ve made the spreadsheet yet. And, even better, feel free to ask if I’ve actually mailed out any queries. I will look haunted and frazzled, but you’ll be doing me a kindness. (A query is a letter or email sent to an editor or agent that describes an idea for a magazine, book, or other publication. Writers send these off in hopes that an editor will love the idea and hire them to write it.)
So back to my original point. I usually know what I’m planning to write on any given day. And then I go visit other blogs and they trigger more ideas. Like today. I read this post on Design Mom and it got me thinking about how to incorporate spaces for kids into our homes.
After years spent tripping over toys, we’re pretty firm about kids keeping their stuff in their bedrooms or in the bonus room/playroom over the garage. But one thing that we let take up valuable real estate in the main living area is the art table and cabinet. I’ve shown lots of photos of kids working at the art table, but I don’t think I’ve ever officially written about how this space for creating came to be. And how glad I am that we have it.
You may have noticed that I’ve linked to Little Monster a lot lately. I first met the blog’s author, Lisa, when she was asked to answer the same “What’s the biggest chance you ever took?” question on Design Mom. Her response was funny and real—just like her blog. Little Monster is filled with gorgeous images and recipes and inspiration, but what draws me in most, I think, is that it takes me back to those early days when it was just me and Andrew and I was learning to be a mom. I was so overwhelmed and so in love.
And there’s also the books. I’ve only come across a few people my entire life who love Anne of Green Gables as much as I do. So when Lisa posted this, I knew she was a kindred spirit.
And that reminded me of Rachel Lynde and the catalogs.
{ image: mochatini via pinterest }
Just looking at this room makes me happy. I know some people would feel overwhelmed by the clutter. Would you? I’m not a fan of clutter, but books have never felt like clutter to me. My favorite thing in the photo is the Sound of Music record sitting on the floor. Do you see it over there by the flowers? My mother had this very album and passed it along to me. I’m pretty sure I wore it out.
I always have books on my mind, but especially so today because our elementary school is celebrating the culmination of its annual February reading contest. It’s a wonderful event and gets the entire school reading. Our school librarian puts together a special assembly on Dr. Seuss’s birthday to announce the winners and it’s so exciting to hear kids cheering for reading. This year, if the school reaches its goal of reading 375,000 minutes, then the principal has to spend a day on the roof. (The year that Andrew won, he got to smash a pie into the principal’s face. I think he may have smashed a little too enthusiastically, though, because no pies have shown up since.) I think our youngest three did a good job this year. Lexie won for the school last year, but her need to write her own stuff was at odds with her desire to read. A good problem to have! As for me, I’ll just be glad to go back to reading without having to record all the minutes.
Are you enjoying any good books right now? I love the new feature Tim installed on the left sidebar that shows what we’re reading around here. If you have book recommendations, please share. I’m always looking for ideas.
Here are some fun links:
I hope you have a great weekend. Maybe spring is starting to make an appearance where you live? If so, enjoy the warmth and please come back next week!