Happy Friday bloggy friends!
It has been…a week. Thankfully, there are still happy things on offer if we look for them.
Let’s dive right in, shall we?
AN EXTRA DAY
I was scheduled to come home from my parents’ house on Saturday, but John suggested I stay an extra day – switching to a Sunday morning departure. He didn’t have to offer twice.
It was delightful. To have an unexpected extra day off parenting and household responsibilities. To enjoy one more day of Mom’s home cooking. To squeeze in another hike with Dad (complete with discovering/exploring an abandoned cabin in the woods and stopping by a little lighthouse).
We were also productive and cut down three trees on their property, piled all the resulting brush, and dug up/levelled a huge stump that has been a nuisance for years.
I also got an extra day of the magic that is wood-stove heat.
AN EXTRA HOUR
I get pretty grumpy about time changes in general, but I’m coming to realize the issue is the fact that at one point in the year we “lose” an hour. Gaining an hour – at least now that the kids are old enough to self-manage wakeup times – is great. I dislike having breakfast in the dark; it strikes me as universally depressing to eat food before the sun has risen for the day. On the flip side, I love having cozy supper meals after dark.
Years ago, at Christmas, my brother and his wife (who conveniently live in Denmark) gifted our family a set of gorgeous Georg Jensen candlesticks. They are probably the fanciest thing I own, but we do not coddle or store them away. When the time changes, the candles come out and live on our table for months. Most days the kids fight over whose turn it is to light the candles and then they fight over whose turn it is to blow out the candles even though we follow a predictable schedule. They just like excuses to argue, but I digress.
The candles are lovely.
BONUS
- Every participant is automatically a winner in the Cool Bloggers Walking Club. We get outside. We move our bodies. We heighten our sense of online community. But I would be remiss not to mention two unofficial “winners”. I’m awarding Sophie top prize for the most beloved animal sighting (kangaroos) and she wins for the creepiest animal sighting (Hunstman spiders). Melissa is the “winner” of the most steps walked (maybe some of our runners beat her in total distance and steps?): 650,073. I didn’t count my steps, but I know I clocked in a lot fewer than 650,073. You can read all about Sophie and Melissa’s walks on their blogs.
- I have a new favourite purchase that I cannot wait to tell you about; I will leave you in suspense because it is NaBloPoMo and I can’t be frivolously using up precious blog fodder. Stay tuned. It may just be life-changing for me this winter.
- Receiving postcards from Birche (with a lighthouse on the front – she knows me too well) and Lisa from her trip to DC with Paul.
- Crisp walks to/from school with no wind.
- Christmas decor. I came home to a partially decorated house. One of the many perks of having a teen daughter is her penchant for decorating and enthusiasm for all things Christmas.
- In yet more bittersweet news, Belle can now braid her own hair more competently than I can braid her hair. It feels like a passing of the torch since I don’t foresee me ever being called upon to braid Indy’s hair. To be fair, this is 99% sweet since I’m not a fan of doing my own hair, let alone someone else’s.
- Carpooling for extracurriculars.
- Watching Hallmark Christmas movies with the kids. They love the movies but make a big fuss about covering their eyes and making retching noises when the main characters eventually kiss. It only adds to the fun.
- An impromptu supper with friends. They had come to watch Belle play volleyball – about 40 minutes away from our town, but close to where they live – and asked if we wanted to go back to their place for supper after volleyball was over. Why not? They cut up veggies and fruit, we ordered pizza and it was great.
- A hole in the wall isn’t a big deal. A few weeks ago a child was sitting in the hallway bracing their feet against a wall and – POP! – the drywall broke leaving us with a large hole. We are not DIYers, so this will take some time before it’s repaired. Unlike the hole in our ensuite bathroom, we can’t just put a picture up over it to hide all evidence (that picture is still there, covering the hole, and it works wonderfully). But, it hasn’t fussed me too much. Our friends won’t judge us. The kids don’t care. And if the biggest issue with our home is a hole in a heavily scuffed hasn’t-been-painted-in-a-decade wall, we are so, so fortunate. Perspective, right?
- Fall. I am still loving fall. The leaves. The temperatures. Without a doubt this is the first time in the last fifteen years I have truly appreciated this season. This time last year was a veritable dumpster fire. So I think I’m appreciating the beauty even more this year. And that is a very Happy Thing!!!
- A bonus picture. I don’t think I posted this yet? Indy loves jumping (remember Peggy’s Cove with Kyria!), and this sums up his personality in a single shot. Note the filthy knees of his pants. This kid has not met a pair of pants (or sneakers) he can’t wear out in a week with hard play.
Your turn. Do you have the skills necessary to repair a hole in your drywall? What’s something bittersweet in your life right now? Do you watch Christmas movies? When do you start decorating for Christmas? Tell me your thoughts about time changes!
See you tomorrow for my first NaBloPoMo Saturday Giveaway. *Jazz hands*
Discover more from The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Coree
Oh my goodness, T is the destroyer of shoes and trousers. I had a great source for extra reinforced knees but he’s sized out of them (tall and skinny) and apparently big boys don’t get reinforced knees. I’ve just started patching holes. Decathlon sneakers seem to hold up for us as well. but I’ve just accepted he’s scruffy, often needs a haircut, but I’m hoping his impeccable manners mitigate any judgement.
It’s been a week… heartbreaking election, coupled with general life chaos (we’ve not all been home for dinner since Sunday), and some social dynamics at school, but some highlights – a friend launched his book yesterday and we had a great dinner, I’m seeing a friend tonight. It’s my husbands birthday tomorrow, we’ve got a full on weekend but I’ve booked a nice brunch and he gets to go pick out a new bike (not his birthday present, but his bike is 25 years old and his work does a cycle to work discount scheme). Teddy’s got a session with British Cycling, furthering his dream of being an Olympic cyclist/marine biologist. He’s also carrying the flag for his troop in the Remembrance Day parade.
mbmom11
I’m married to someone who can patch drywall and plaster. Thank goodness. Left up to me, I’d be strategically placing a chair or chest in the hallway to block the hole .
My bittersweet- my youngest is in 5th grade and playing basketball and doing all the middle school things. Not longer my little boy!
The time change was welcome as we traveled Sunday morning after a late night. That extra hour meant people got good sleep before packing up and heading home. Also, taking my daughter to the bus has light now, which makes it easier to move her along.
Boys pants- an endless struggle to keep clean and hole-free.