Slowing Down

I missed the start of the work week yesterday to a root canal, but last Monday was one of those mornings when everyone seemed to be struggling. It was a real Monday Rush hour with lots of unhappy faces and visible frustration. The MTA ticket machines seemed particularly unforgiving.

The woman in front of me at the ticket machine could not get the machine to issue her a ticket no matter what she tried. She finally went off in a huff and though she made me wait and added to my Monday anxiety, I felt real sympathy.

It seems when you are in a rush, everything that can go wrong will go wrong. "Haste makes waste." I know for myself when I'm rushing every possible obstacle seems to surface. When I'm struggling to find my glasses or metro card and stuff starts flying out of my purse, sometimes I wisely remember to slow down before things really spiral out of control.

This month I'm taking a "slow and steady wins the race" approach. I'm going to try and take deep breaths when things get crazy and most of all explore the power of slow. Here's to all things slow.

Recession Fun # 11: Sweet Potato Plant

One of our sweet potatoes hung out too long in our bowl of spuds and onions that always sits on the kitchen counter and sprouted. The little leaves were so small and perfect, like little purple hearts, and so I decided to set it in a bowl of water and watch it grow. Grow it has. We now have a full-blown plant that threatens to take over the kitchen.

My mom said her grandmother used to sprout sweet potatoes and always had one hanging in her house. It's nice to know our little horticultural project ties us to our past.

Photo above from The Great Plant Escape which has a nice little "how to" description for kids.

Affordable Luxuries # 7: A Warm Plaid Flannel Shirt

There's something so cozy about a plaid flannel shirt. It may not be the most glamorous item in a girl's closet, but pair it with an equally comfortable tee shirt and favorite pair of jeans and who's missing the dress-up clothes? Actually there's a lot of stylish options this year.

Flannel shirts make me want to take a walk in crisp weather followed by a nice long lounge in a comfortable chair. Add a good read and heaven! I just bought myself an inexpensive one. I was tempted by some of the fancier tailored styles available with ruffles but opted for a classic version slightly oversized and very comfy.

Lumber jack style flannel shirts with grey patches by Untold.

Rushing the Holidays: Part One

On Halloween as we were leaving the grocery store with my daughter in her Halloween costume ready for trick or treating, we passed the Christmas tree display that had already been set up. We had to stop as my daughter was very excited to see the trees. While she was happy to see signs of Christmas, I was less than charmed.

In reality Christmas decorations have been making their way into the stores for weeks already but the contrast of her costume and the wintry display really struck me. Why must we rush everything? Why in the land of retail is everything blending together in to a "Buy fest"? Do I even have to ask? In the retail world it is about extending the buying season. But what about in our lives?

Why do we put up with this "Christmas in October" pace? I begin to think as people spend more and more hours at work, away form their families and rushed in general, the blur of one holiday into another actually has some appeal. My theory is that people with little time to appreciate the moment feel as if they are getting more of the holidays. Instead of taking the seasons and holidays one at a time, appreciating their meaning and celebrating them discreetly we now have mash ups. I have to say, I'm used to Thanksgiving and Christmas getting squashed together but Halloween and Christmas, it's going too far.

Photo of Macy's Christmas display from Running With Cake.

Inspiration Ondine

James Pearse wool rib beanie.

Foxford classic red check blanket.

Flowery Seal print from Papa Stour.

Beechnut and limpet shell hanging also from Papa Stour.

Jacques print by Wayne Pate.

Bat Houses

When we were kids in middle school we liked to sit under the street light at night and just hang out. It seemed cool and the bat that flew above our heads, to catch moths drawn by the light, made it seem even cooler.

I say bat because, I always thought of it as one solitary creature rather than a slew of bats taking turns. The street light is long gone and now it's not so easy to spot our flying mammal friend(s) but I'm hoping some are still around. While I as a tween I appreciated our local bat(s), I did not realize what an important member(s) of our community he (they) were.

Eventually, I would like to put a bat house in our yard to let them know they are welcome. While the photos of bat house attached to the sides of buildings (pictured above) are cool, I think I might want to chose a free standing version and put a little more space between us.

Here are some links to interesting articles:

Build a Bat House

All Bat Houses Are Not Created Equally

Top photo: Bat House Project form This Old House.
Bottom photo: Buy a bat house prefab from Gardener's Supply Company.

Tailgating

Hanging out in a parking lot should not be fun, but add food, kids, a football, old college buddies, family and of course a college football game and you're there.

We had a great outing two Saturday's ago and even though our team didn't win, it was a wonderful day. Every weekend should be as great.

Ondine

I love that there are always cheap DVDs available now at the super market and big box stores. I picked up Ondine for less than half the price of a movie ticket and was able to enjoy this little gem quietly at home. Home was the perfect setting to view this modern fairytale.

Some films are just not suited to big theater viewing with a crowd. For me, it really takes an in-your-face blockbuster style film to overcome the presence of so many people rustling, snacking, making asides, etc. Ondine is not that type of film. I was not really surprised to find the film discounted already, but was a little saddened after watching the film that it had not found a significant audience.

The film is beautifully shot and acted and the story is sweet and gritty at the same time. The film quietly deals with how lives that are broken can be mended, even if somewhat imperfectly. It allows that redemption is possible in a modern world where "Once upon a time" and "Happily ever after" are faced with skepticism even by children.

It brought to mind the book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which I also loved because it was not afraid to have a "happy" ending. Both works allow for the characters to have a positive resolution in an imperfect world. It's not exactly the "happily ever after" of traditional fairytales but the acknowledgement that people can find what they need and the real happiness that accompanies that amongst the difficulties of life.

My Little Love Bug

She was actually a little lady bug and loved every minute in her costume. We had a wonderful, if too short Halloween weekend. We never got around to making the cupcakes but did manage to finally carve our pumpkin and do some real trick or treating in the dark. It's amazing how any fear of the dark disappeared when the treats started dropping in our plastic pumpkin.

I was amazed at how well she did. I think she studies up on things while I'm at work. To see her ring the bell and step back ready to say trick or treat, you'd think she were a real pro with several years experience under her belt. I was also pleased to see how polite she was, picking just one piece of candy and saying "thank you." I was really the proud mama lady bug.

End of the Weekend Inspiration

I love quiet Sundays at home and wish they could be twice as long. It's time to make sure that everything is set for the beginning of the work week and I can already feel its pull. As Sunday night winds down this print titled "Homestead" from Beauchamping sums up where my head and heart are tonight.