An Icy Day

Today is a great day for large quantities of yarn, hot tea, knitting, and snuggling a sick little boy.

Favorite Things

I've been enjoying:

my little boy's first violin.  And the joy it brings to his daddy's face.

homemade (decaf) pumpkin spice lattes.

watching my little one also enjoy pumpkin spice lattes from his very own special mug.

the lesson that went on this morning as he tried to teach the dog the alphabet.

reading the same book over and over because he loves it.

seeing him watch the world around him.

listening to him say, "I'm me!  N-O-A-H, Noah!  That's me!" several times with pride.


What are you enjoying today?

Favorite Things: Making Faces

Apparently, it's genetic.

Me, sometime around 1986.

Some Music

What's the summer without a little bit of music?

Favorite Things: Sounds of the Farm

Blair:   Moooo

Noah:  Cow

Blair:   Quack quack

Noah:  Duck

Blair:   Snort snort

Noah:  Pig

Blair:   Cluck cluck

Noah:  Chicken

Blair:   Gobble gobble

Noah:  Turkey

Blair:   Baaaa

Noah:  Sheep

Blair:   Peep peep

Noah:  Poppy's tractor

Huh?  Oh, my!  There's been much head scratching around here lately as our little one learns to communicate with and about the world around him.  He speaks in more sentences and answers questions in the funniest manner sometimes.  There is most certainly never a dull moment.

Photo by Dee Chadwick

Favorite Things

This is how we roll early in the morning at the Chadwick house:

Favorite Things::Raindrop Plop

Yesterday was a good day for the book Raindrop Plop by Wendy Cheyette Lewison.  It's one of my favorite children's books, and while I taught pre-K, every time it rained I made sure we read it during Circle Time.  After a slightly rocky (early) morning with Little Man, we settled into a groove and wound up having a fabulous day.

It was the first time we played out in the rain, and Little Man had a blast jumping and kicking in the puddles.  I think, though, that we need to get some appropriate rain gear for the two of us.  We were so wet and cold when we came in that I plopped him down into the "bubbles" so he could warm up.  Finish it off with a Mommy/Little Man lunch date, and you've got a great morning!

Favorite Things::My Top Five Reads

Not only do I enjoy writing and blogging, I also enjoy reading what other people are writing and blogging.  I thought I'd share with you my top five favorite blogs (although there are many many more that I read).  

My mother has recently begun to blog.  She's over at The Cookie Lady,  and her main purpose in being on the World Wide Web is to promote her little cookie business.  Y'all, her cookies are adorable and delicious.  She just started her blogging venture this week, so save the link in your favorites and keep up with her beautiful creations.  If you're local, you should definitely have her cookies at your next celebration.  

A blog that I'm relatively new to is Young House Love.  Young House Love is written by a married couple around my age with a little girl close in age to my Little Man.  They are currently renovating a 1960s ranch house and have a book coming out this fall.  They started their blog four or five years ago to keep their families up-to-date on the renovation of their first home.  They are mostly DIY-ers and do amazing and beautiful work on their home, learning along the way.  They are clever, witty writers, and there's never a dull moment over there.  

Next, we're going to head over to the Northwest corner of our country and meet Alicia Paulson.  Her charming blog is just full of cozy, uplifting warmth.  Posie Gets Cozy is a great way to end the day with a little encouragement.  She has a sweet little embroidery book out that I adore, and she is always writing about the (amazing) meals she cooks, being out in the gorgeous country-side, and her super cute puppers. She is a very creative gal and loves to share the joy of crafting with others.

Bringing things back a little closer to home (and my life), this next blog is written by a friend of mine.  Sarah P. and I went to high school together and, as we were both in band, spent a good deal of time together.  I considered her a role model and mentor, and Sarah is one of the kindest, most intelligent people I know.  Her blog, The Redheaded Stepchild, is funny, charming, and included in my morning routine every day.  Sarah writes about food, decorating, and making the change from professional student to professional professor.  That's right.  Ms. Sarah is actually Dr. P!  Her blog is full of humor and southern charm.  Head on over and give her a read.

The final blog I'm going to share with you today is my favorite.  It tops the list.  I have been reading over at Soule Mama for five years.  Every week day.  Amanda Soule, her husband Steve, and their five children live in Maine.  The home state of my heart.  I have never been to Maine, but by reading her daily words, I feel like I know the state better than my own.  Soule Mama strives to live a simple life, loves tea, and knits.  Ahhhh.  A kindred spirit.  She and her husband have written three books, and I highly recommend them.  They have recently purchased a two hundred year old farm house, and the work they have done is simply amazing.  They raise animals and cultivate a huge garden, and Amanda never hesitates to tell you how hard it all is.  But oh so very worth it.  

I hope the next time you have some free time, you'll hop over to one of these lovely reads and enjoy them as much as I do.  Oh, and they're better with cinnamon toast and chai tea.

The Valley of Vision

I find myself yet again struggling with a head cold.  My darling informed me last night that we could not play tennis with this cold.  After a couple of minutes of wondering to myself why he might possibly think I would ever play tennis, I caught up with his train of thought, promised not to pass my little virus back to him, and made a mental note that my thought process would be sluggish for the next couple of days.  The vaporizer is running in the background, and I have replaced perfume with the light fragrance of chamomile and honey.  After hearing myself declare my love to a box of Alka-Seltzer, I decided to pull out our copy of The Valley of Vision, which is a collection of Puritan prayers (which may actually be out of print now).  Bro. Blair (aka: my darling) read from it at church last night, so with it fresh on my mind I turned to the first prayer. 

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision

Where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;

Hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox

    that the way down is the way up,

    that to be low is to be high,

    that the broken heart is the healed heart,

    that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

    that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

    that to have nothing is to possess all,

    that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

    that to give is to receive,

    that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,

    and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;

Let me find thy light in my darkness,

    thy life in my death,

    thy joy in my sorrow,

    thy grace in my sin,

    thy riches in my poverty,

    thy glory in my valley. 

While this is not scripture itself, it does offer words on which to reflect and a breath of fresh air in this self-centered world (even to one who has a stuffy nose).  

Favorite Things::A Cozy Day

No school today, so we all get to spend the next four days together.  Nothing quite like being bundled up inside.  Too bad the snow won't last that long.

Favorite Things::Enjoying the World

It was so nice to have such a beautiful day yesterday!  Little Man and I couldn't help but go out and enjoy it.