Eclectically Yours,

Today's Quote

"This is the best thing to wear for the day....and you can always take off the skirt and use it as a cape..."

For further explanation you really and truly MUST go over to this blog....and you will quickly see why Rechelle is obsessed. Perhaps you will take to wearing headscarves.....

Noting Blogs

So today I was reading over here (animals), which led me to this awesome post, here (homeschooling)...which led me to this post right here ( I am SO there).

Meanwhile, I can't read everysinglepost in my reader everysingleday so I save a few to linger over. I caught up with this one today. I'm glad I did. We really, and truly need a graphic for blogs that says something like "Stop Sancti-Mommy's!" What do you think, M-mv?

Socks and Books Check Out Paris

Link: Socks and Books: An Evening in Paris.

Please go check out Lorna's blog for some incredible views from La Tour Eiffel!!

Update of Sorts

I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to post any photos of our amazing visit with Anna and Josh. I will try to do more of that tonight...but hello?? It's 70 degrees out today and we have to get out! It's like a real summer. Which means summer clothes. Which means summer bodies...oh...dear....about that....

But this just in: My friend, Nona, of the mermaid painting, has a new website and blog and you really must check it out. That way you'll be entertained until you can come back and catch up on all the photos of Anna and Josh's trip.

Your Childs Strengths and Give Away

Head on over to the Life on the Road blog and read a great review of Your Childs Strengths . While you're their don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win the book!

 

Hope Springs...Sorta

It sounds like everyone is going completely crazy with this winter. My RL friends are hitting rockbottom. That is when I see them. We've all been cooped up for too long. I have noticed moms loosing it on various homeschool forums I belong to. (You know who you are...) I have noticed I am loosing it. Hot baths and hot toddies are all the rage for me lately. Seriously, I am depressed, anxious, lethargic and until today, hopeless.

Today hope sprung. It kind of started when Denise (Mom in Madison)posted about CSA's. The pictures were wonderful, and what with our garden last year a bit of a bust I thought that sounded like a good idea. I found one right around the corner from us. I had no idea it was even there! And then I noticed the days are getting longer. Really and truly. And daylight savings time starts on March 9th!! That is less than a month away, my dear readers! Then I got my DownEast magazine March issue. The home and garden issue. There is a wonderful article on Eliot Coleman. Eliot is the author of The New Organic Grower.  Take a gander at   his website and check out the gallery of photos. If that doesn't' give you hope, what does?

Wanna know what else gives me hope? (Of course you do...) I have always wanted a greenhouse. I have a friend up the road who single handedly made her own greenhouse (this may not sound that amazing until you realize she had four kids and one on the way..)In the winter she goes in the greenhouse and plays with dirt and soaks up the warmth. I want that. It's cheaper than Florida and better for you. The Downeast mag. had a link to this site. This is my year, people. I am SO hoping by next fall/winter we will have our own greenhouse and be able to eat fresh year 'round. With that in mind, check out another great book by Eliot Coleman. I am so ordering it.

And just think what that would do for cabin fever! When it happens and you are in the middle of the winter doldrums you have a standing invitation to come see me and my greenhouse.

Ode To Amanda

On Amanda Soule's blog she has this lovely little post about the ten reasons she's moving out of her February funk and being joyful. Clearly, Amanda, you have not hit the dark side of forty yet. My advice for those at this point in their lives is plenty of chocolate, naps, and letting the children fend for themselves. I find the later really builds character. And if we want to build beautiful, full, lives for our children, character is a must.

But I am NOT a negative Nellie, not me, even in the depths of cold, dark, depressing, winter-will-never-end February. So I have developed my own "February Ten" in honor of Amanda, to show my sunny Julie Andrews side and celebrate the small victories of February.

Maria's February Ten ...er Six...

1. My husband cooks.

 


2. Down blankets and a child who takes a nap. (Is that two?)


3. A child who seemingly entertains herself. (Not sure
what's in those glasses, but I distinctly heard her say
"Shaken, not stirred.")




4. Fat Kitten Paws


5. Did I mention down blankets?



6.A child who likes to experiment in the kitchen. This
time with chocolate, raspberry sauce, and coconut.
If that doesn't move ones February Blues for about
two minutes, I don't know what does.

And while I don't want to go so far as to say Amanda was outright lying about the sun staying out longer....I will say it was slightly exaggerated. Here is photographic proof of the one day the sun came out SO FAR this February.

More Blog Rolls

I added a few more blogs to my roll in case you wanted an update. My blog roll has become official blog spare tire and morphing into blog fat. There are w-a-a-y too many to read. I homeschool so I can't keep up. HA! Who am I fooling? I homeschool which is why I can keep up. Today I called it unschooling. Or winter. Or I- am- so- sick -of- this -house- but- can't -move- from- this- house malaise.

In case you don't know what to click on when you get to the blog roll, let me give you a hint: I am bossy. No not me, the blog. I like her irreverence, her complete irony, her complete let's not take myself too seriously-ness. And I want her hair. Despite the fact she had a bad color. I know all about that. And I want to figure out how to add captions to all my pictures like she does.

At any rate, maybe it's cabin fever, but I thought I'd DIE laughing at this video she did. If you lived the 80's and are a woman of a "certain age" I think you can relate to it. Not that bossy is of a 'certain age'.

I don't care what bossy says, though, MY husband is John Cusack.

Okay, maybe not quite, maybe more of a Milton Berle. But it works for me.

P.S. My daughter, who is almost 10, has started her John Cusack obsession this year with The Journey of Natty Gann. I've already watched it 100 times. You know, for the story line.

Kim and Jason Make Me Homesick

Okay, this has totally and in all ways made me homesick. Homesick for Wisconsin. Homesick for summer. Homesick for Madison. Homesick for ice cream. (Although, to be fair Mainers are VERY ice cream oriented, more so than, Wisconsinites. Wisconsinites take their ice cream for granted. Mainers protect, horde, and connoisseur their ice cream.) And most of all, it's Kim and Jason's accent that's making me cry. In a good way.

Now get out there and cure Adultitis!! (see yellow link to left!)

Reclaiming Youth

"You know, for kids...."~~Norville Barnes/Hudsucker Proxy

I find the sad part of being a grown-up and a parent is forgetting. I never thought I'd forget how great it really, really feels to sink your feet in the sand. Or get an ice cream. I never thought I'd forget what it feels like to be goofy for the sake of being goofy. Or to be silly without worrying in the back of your mind about bills, the rent, the car that needs to be fixed, the dishes, the schooling we didn't get done today or worse, what other people think. Or more glorious yet, to not worry about time. To really think we can do it all in a day without a schedule. Every once in awhile in a leap of pure joie de vivre I will remember. But as soon as the flickering candle is lit, it blows out again.

Lest you think this is the post of a pessimist, "There is hope!" I cry. There are tons of people out there who still have their childlike glee intact. It's what first attracted me to David, after all.
How many other people besides those under ten would try to pick their nose while someone is taking their picture?


While his childlike quality can drive some people a little crazy, his attitude keeps me appreciating those little things in life that with my Type A-control-freak-hyper-vigilant personality I tend to forget. Like how funny picking your nose in public can be.

There are a lot of books and sites out there that are geared toward helping one combat stress and worry. But it boils down to this: Quit Behaving Like An Adult.

Kim and Jason are doing their part to combat Adultitis. As their site states: live life with less stress and more fun. I don't think they are advocating removing responsibility from your life or chucking the bills. They are advocating 'to delight in the little things', 'get curious', 'play' and 'maintain perspective' to name a few. They have even mapped out an escape plan for those of us that need a little more help. Kim and Jason also have a Lemonade Stand where they sell stuff.

Which is where I am headed right now. They have an awesome Play-Doh Cologne Spray and I know someone who will find that especially alluring.