My daughter forced me to join a virtual pet adoption web site, and I needed an avatar, so I drew this “lurking squirrel” and colored it in Photoshop. Just for fun. To get to the pet site, search “Chicken Smoothie” or type ”chickensmoothie.com”.
My daughter forced me to join a virtual pet adoption web site, and I needed an avatar, so I drew this “lurking squirrel” and colored it in Photoshop. Just for fun. To get to the pet site, search “Chicken Smoothie” or type ”chickensmoothie.com”.
I last blogged about our basement almost a year ago. At the time, we were in the process of cleaning it up. It seemed an impossible task. But, it’s looking pretty good now, as the before & after photos (below) illustrate. The next step is priming the walls so that we can finally be rid of that hideous John Deere green. I’m hoping to start with the priming this week.
After that, we are going to curtain off the unsightly areas. We have decided not to construct real walls at this point, for a variety of reasons. After the walls are painted and the curtains are up, we can get to the fun stuff! I am really looking forward to creating a little office/craft area for myself (a.k.a. a place where I can hide from my children!). Between being home with my kids full-time and homeschooling the oldest, sometimes I feel like I work 24/7 with no breaks. My creative energy needs a place where it can be free, and I think this little area in the basement will do nicely for that.
Here are some photos I’m using as inspiration for my space:
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Later this week I will post about my plans for the “playroom” area of the basement.
Have a great weekend!
Today I just want to share a lovely poem, “Autumn” by Rainer Maria Rilke (trans. by Jonathan Cott).
As from the distance, leaves are falling.
Fall as if the far-off gardens fade into the sky;
They fall with gestures of relinquishing.
And through the night there falls the pressing earth
Down past the stars in lonesomeness.
We are all falling. There, this hand falls too.
Occurring to us all: just look around you.
Still there is one who holds us tenderly
As in his hands we fall, fall endlessly.
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Summer is coming to an end here in New Hampshire. The mornings and evenings are chilly. The crickets are no longer chirping with vigor. And, the squirrels are scampering in earnest about our yard, diligently preparing for the coming months. Something about this turning of the seasons always makes me feel very peaceful. I can feel my spirit changing from the energetic “outer-me” of summer, to the self-reflective “inner-me” of autumn and, eventually, winter. I feel a longing to be with myself again. And, though I hold dear those precious memories of our summer days at the beach or pool, and of our languidly basking in the sun on the back porch, I think I am ready for fall. Yes, I am ready.
But, for one moment longer, I will savor the glory of summer. Here are the holders-on, the last of summer’s vibrant bouquet. When we are deep in the dark and cold of winter, we can look back at these living flames and feel just a bit of their light and warmth when we need it most.
I almost missed it, but today is my blog’s birthday! I have been blogging in this space for exactly one year, which is pretty exciting. I think that’s the longest I’ve ever kept up with one blog. A lot has happened in the past year, and I have a lot of it documented right here on Monadnock Mama! It’s nice to look back and see where we were then, and how we got where we are today. Here’s to another year!
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