scenes from the first few days of this new year. champagne cork and almost-six-years-old toes, turnips from the garden (we have a couple beds and a row under plastic and are still getting collards, kale, arugula, turnips, watermelon radishes, spinach, and cabbage) and paper snowflakes, marker cap towers and walnut hearts. a fresh book pile to start the year off (LOVED The Telling) and New Year's Day pancakes with maple whipped cream, more playing, inspired list-making, good-luck collards, and Christmas tree reflections in the wood stove.
Regarding the list, I shared a photo of it on Facebook and added this:
"Claire and I sat at the table yesterday doodling and coloring in new notebooks, and I ended up jotting down a list of reminders for myself as we enter another year, another illusion of a fresh start (though really, when isn't it a good time for a fresh start and reminders to yourself about how you strive to be? I suppose it ought not specify '2016' up top). I was really at first just thinking I'd like to try writing more real letters this year, but then I found lots of other things being added to the list. things I'm always (and no doubt will forever be) working on. I made the list and then doodled on it and thought it was kinda cute but a bit 'fluffy', and maybe a bit too 'feel-good-y'. and then during another challenging and very drawn out bedtime last night I lie there thinking how I ought to go back and revise it to be a bit more blunt. for example, the bit about mothering with patience and such? well, I could just cut to the chase and write "try not to totally lose my shit at bedtime". and the part about sweating more? that could say "lying on the floor curled up in front of the fire like a cat is good, but maybe not something to do for hours on a daily basis". anyway- it gave me a good laugh, and now I may just create a second list with much more to-the-point 'reminders' and none of the flowery doodles."
so here's to less losing-of-shit, and a bit more activity, and loads of other good stuff as well!
I'll have to check out The Telling. I enjoyed her Longbourn book.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read her other book- but I really did love The Telling. I'll have to try Longbourn as well!
DeleteHappy New Year my dear. Wishing you loads and loads of good stuff!
ReplyDeletethanks, Tracey~
Deletewishing loads of good stuff comes your way, too!
Well that made me smile, good luck with the new list.
ReplyDeletethanks~ I do keep peeking back at these reminders...... some are certainly easier to put into action than others ;)
DeleteThose greens look so yummy!
ReplyDeleteyes!
DeleteOh I needed this last little note ate the end about the list. I talked a little bit about the new year and what it means on the blog today and tomorrow, I will talk about it again. But for really real.
ReplyDeletefor real.
Deletesometimes I think the little lists and reminders are helpful, sometimes I feel like they are staring back at me, laughing. but mostly I like them, and as long as I don't start to take any of it too seriously, of course.
and I agree- just say no to freckle cream! ;)
I too, made a list! My words for this year are Growth, Create, and Cultivate :)
ReplyDeletesuch good words! and all very similar- you must really be brewing up some goodness in your world! :) and I love how they can each be implemented in so many different ways.
Deletehappy new year! I promise those days of losing s#$t will be a memory and you will smile about them. I was a crazy mom!!
ReplyDeleteI tell myself that often when I'm feeling like I'm going to go crazy. I remind myself that she did eventually stop nursing (and not nurse until college, as I'd expected) and she does sleep better now (while for the first couple years I thought I'd never ever sleep again), so like everything else, these challenges will pass and in the future when I think back on them it will be the happier parts that stand out more :)
DeleteLOVE both lists! i love the idea of being curled up by the fire like a cat. absolute favorite part! bedtimes drive me crazy too. i feel like a drill sergeant for over an hour... who wants that? no fun.
ReplyDeleteno fun at all. and then sometimes it is easy and sweet and so lovely. but not usually. not here anyway....
Deletea friend of mine posted a photo on Facebook recently with the caption "bedtime: exposing my parenting flaws since 2012". I thought, "yeah, that sounds about like it" ;)