What is this {pretty, happy, funny, real} you speak of?
~ {pretty, happy, funny, real} ~
Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Does this look a little… tired… and… ashy?
Do I?
(I'm not posting a picture of myself, though. So don't answer that. Not even a picture of Roxie.)
Bridget is gone. She would clean this up. Me, I look at it and think, “It will just get ashes on it again, when I burn more logs, which I will do forever — even in this mildest of endless winters. What is the point of cleaning it up. Bridget will be home in June, probably.”
I'm even sluggish with the bird feeders. I'm telling the birds (but inside my head, because it's too much energy to speak out loud), “surely there's something out there you can find on your own… I see berries on bushes… go, birdies, go find berries.”
Sorry, I will be better today.
I've made myself a “crafting and computing nest” here on this sofa — this, below, is my {real}. I have to make myself move around. I did actually turn up with a sick headache on Tuesday and required a lot of sleep — which isn't bad if you think that I haven't gotten sick this winter really at all. And it does explain the sitting around, somewhat.
Wait, did I post a picture of my sofa last time?
This is getting bad and sad.
Feeling the February March blues, I must say. Let's think about gardening, manure, seeds, and soil. Let's not think about building fires!
I think the sun is starting to shine more! Maybe we'll make it!
In blog housekeeping notes, Facebook in full thwart mode. Do you rely on having “liked” our page to be notified of posts? Here's the thing: once the blog gets to a certain size (I guess), they start denying the posts in your feed unless we pay. They seem to know, and to be ruthless about using their knowledge against us all. But as you know, we really don't make money on this blog! So we aren't going to pay.
Instead, here are some thoughts for you to be sure never to miss a post, as they say: You could hover over “liked” on that page in order to turn on notifications. Normally I'd say that would be obnoxious and never do it, but not in our case! Who doesn't want to know that some fabulous post with pictures of an ashy wood burning stove or yet another rumpled sofa are but a click away! I ask you.
Otherwise, subscribe to get new posts via email (you'll find the box in the sidebar on your computer or at the bottom of the page if you are on your phone), or add us to your RSS feed.
In any case, we'd love to see you this week here on {pretty, happy, funny, real}!
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Rosie says
On the plus side, at least the ashes from the wood stove are feeding the garden! I’ve been tempted to light more fires in ours solely for the sake of compost 😉
Julie says
That’s exactly my boys’ arguments for more bonfires!
Anel says
Oh, my goodness Auntie Leila. Hahahahahaha!!!
Jenny says
The light in the staircase photo is pretty. I understand your blues (blahs), but must add that this is the first time in several years that I haven’t had any blues at this time of year. I think it’s the arrival of the baby. Either I’ve had no time to be blue, or his presence is invigorating.
Lisa @ 6andahalfhearts says
I’m happy that I’m not the only one feeling this way! See – your post was still uplifting in that whole ‘I’m not alone’ kind of way. 🙂
Praying for some sunshine and warm weather to wipe these blues away!
Carly says
My daughter’s preschool teacher (St. Stephen Preschool) posted this on her facebook page the other day, and I thought I would share. In March, when dreariness can overwhelm us, when Christmas break is long forgotten and summer vacation is yet a mirage, we can become deadened to the life of God that surrounds us. Our daily routines can become so bone wearying that we are insensitive to their importance. It is good to remember in this month, that every single act we perform, every routine we repeat can be done for the glory of God!”
-Amen
Also, did you make the beige blanket on your couch? It is lovely!
Leila says
Thanks, Carly! I did make the blanket — you can find the details here:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/leilamarie/lace-afghan
I call it my “breaking bad” afghan LOL — I did most of it to avoid having to watch during the tense parts (that is, most of it haha)!
Mrs. B. says
I hear March is going to be warm: it always helps to have a short winter! And our fireplace still has the ashes from at least three fires, so I’m not going to lecture you 🙂
My {real} this week: hands got curious, hands which didn’t even belong to the youngest person in the family, and made a big mess in the lace scarf I’m knitting. Think dropped stitches and a gaping hole staring at me. My {happy}: I didn’t lose my temper (though a proper scolding was delivered) or my head, and was able to unravel rows, put the stitches back up on the needle and understand what I needed to do. It was tough because the yarn is very thick and made of so many strands that a dropped stitch looks more like a meatball than a doughnut (and I didn’t help myself by using needles that are too small for this yarn, but that’s a different lesson!) Surprisingly, I didn’t find much help online specifically on lace, other than “Use a lifeline and you’ll never have to worry!” Well, yes, but what if I didn’t use one… All’s well what ends well, I guess!
Lisa G. says
I think I might cry if that happened to me; or give up. I don’t knit lace, anyway. It never seems to come out looking like anything.
Leila says
Mrs. B — oh noes! Glad you made it out of that difficulty without losing your temper or head or project! Life line, LOL. Who does that. We all know that we won’t need it! Sigh.
Annie says
Your couch-nest looks just right. And those ashes aren’t hurting anybody. Blessings! I hope you feel better soon.
Donna L. says
Dear Auntie Leila~I’m so sorry you had an awful headache–those are simply miserable!
Thank you for sharing your *off day* with us {me!}– it is comforting to know I am not the only one with a case of the “blue-blahs”–hang in there, spring and Easter are on the way!
Susan says
I *think*, though it’s hard to keep up with FB’s ever-changing algorithms that if “likers” on FB routinely click “like” or, better, leave a comment over on FB, they’ll not only get your updates more regularly in their own newsfeeds but also boost the odds that more of your actual subscribers will see it. I manage my husband’s blog account and it is still small enough that I see a pretty obvious correlation between these actions. So click “like” for LMLD more often, everyone!
Katherine says
I live where we’ve hardly had any cold weather this winter. We haven’t used our wood burning stove for weeks (I still haven’t cleaned the ashes) and our fruit trees are blossoming (crazy). I saw a bearded iris blooming on the south side of the house this morning (even more crazy). Even with all the sunshine and warmth, I feel so tired. I blame it on giving up meat and wine for Lent (my husband’s idea). All I want to do is sleep and knit and read blogs posts (LMLD should post daily – no, hourly – to feed my addiction). I don’t even want to sew because that requires moving between the machine and the ironing board. Feeling your bluesy pain.
Leila says
Ha! /thinks about what would be required to post pictures of empty bird feeders hourly/ /goes back to sofa nest/
Jennifer Gregory Miller says
I’ve got a couch nest as well. I love your lavender in the wall vase.
Ruth says
Sometimes we just need to hunker down and get better, and having a couch nest definitely helps with that! Here’s hoping that the sun and the garden help you to breathe in the new life that is coming, even if it isn’t here yet.
Lisa G. says
I daresay the book discussion takes a little toll on you, not to mention having to mediate our rogue discussions (ahem). 🙂
Exedrin (or the generic) works well for migraine, if what you mean by “sick headache” is the nausea . Your flowered vases are beautiful with the – what? – dried lavender?
Chere Mama says
I was feeling just this way for a few days now. Is it wrong to say I am pining for my college kids? Those transition years of a big family when everyone is leaving or coming home except ourselves. It’s rather disconcerting and can cause the blues – especially in gray March. But the sun coming through the doorway on that lovely yellow wall is a perky hope that “all will be well”.
Allison says
Woman, you have absolutely no idea how sad I would be to miss your rumpled sofa and ashy woodstove. Y’all are my absolute fav’s. Of all time. Ever. There is almost no question from my life that I cannot find an answer to here. And so, I do get the emails and, at least so far, I still get you in my FB feed too. Hope you are 100% soon! The daffodils have poked themselves up here. Spring is coming : )
Sue says
I always enjoy your posts! I don’t comment much, but I do subscribe and read. Hope you’re feeling better soon. Today is beautiful in MA and on days like this, I pretend it’s summer; blast the heat in the car with the windows partially open and an iced coffee in hand.
Nanci says
I was going to suggest inviting a couple of the lowly TMC freshmen girls to clean your wood stove (as I know at least my Mary would be happy to help). I also commiserate with Chere Mama as having been thrust into the empty nest thing last fall with all four of mine leaving for the first time has been a lot harder than I thought. That and the whole being diagnosed with Meniere’s & hubby dealing with OCD could make me less than content. Thankfully, we have a God who loves us know matter what point in life we are at and a Blessed Mother who takes care of the kids wherever they may be!
Lori says
I hope your blues don’t last too long! And I want to second the comment about the knitted throw on the couch…it is beautiful. I would love to have a link or reference to the pattern, if you made it yourself, so I can shamelessly copy it. 🙂
Leila says
Lori, you can find the pattern here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/leilamarie/lace-afghan
Thank you!
Lori says
Thank you!
Mary @ Better Than Eden says
I think I need a Bridget in my life. Here’s to spring coming very very soon! It’s fitting that this end of winterness falls during Lent, I think!
Racheal says
I have felt blue for ages now- almost never leaving the house even though I used to travel about all the time. I blame the weather and suddenly transitioning to two children under 2. Hopefully, spring sunshine will thaw the blues! I find the light to help even more than the rise in temps, though that might be because I live in the south. I hope you feel more chipper soon! Thank you for sharing.
Leila says
Thanks for all the kind comments! I do feel better, much. It wasn’t a migraine, I don’t think — both of us had this sort of sick headache, slept a lot, and then were better. Weird.
You all are so sweet!
Lisa G. says
Leila, my headaches are never accompanied by seeing lights or needing to draw the blinds, so I didn’t think it was migraine, but my doctor said if nausea is involved, it’s migraine. Still, if this was a one time thing for you, may you never get another! I also had one on Tuesday – maybe the weather front that was coming? It’s hard to tell.
Leila says
I have had migraines before — I even get the lights thing separately from the pain/nausea thing — just totally separate events.
No, this was a passing virus, I think, based on the fact that both the Chief and I had the same complaint within 12 hours of each other.
Chiara says
Boy, I’m there too. Know it’s my own fault, haven’t been outside walking lately, muuuussst moooooove . . .
Let’s cut some forsythia branches to force, I bet that’ll help!
Mary Eileen says
February almost killed me and it does appear March has arrived to finish the job. I have been telling Matt that one if these days I’ll be gone – having packed up the kids and driven 20 hours straight south. New Orleans sounds fun. Next year I’m going to plan this better and I really hope I will just disappear to Arizona or the Gulf for three weeks. I mean he’s welcome to join us; just not attaching any conditions to the evacuation.
Woman of the House says
I understand about the late winter blues as I usually get them myself. Your thoughts about the stove sounded like Eeyore, who is loved by everyone, his gloominess notwithstanding. Hang in there! Spring is on the way!