Marlow, genuflecting in the morning light.
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The Enchantment of Plants
The room is cozy, with cushy overstuffed furniture, warm colors that invite you to stay, an eclectic clutter that draws the eyes seeking out all the hidden treasures – a ceramic bird here, a treasured book there, an oversized ceramic mug that would fit perfectly in your hands. But that isn’t the magic, although it is evident that magic does live there. The magic is found hanging around the room, the bright splashes of green, alive and vibrant. Ferns, with their feathery soft leaves; succulents that are waxy and shine, plants that I can’t hope to identify or recognize adorn the room with their vitality, giving the room and the house and the inhabitants a feeling of enchantment.
When I was little girl, my mom took me to visit one of her friends. We lived in the Detroit suburbs, a landscape of factory houses that sprang up in the 1950s, cookie cutter homes, with their postage stamp sized yards and chain link fences, not there is anything wrong with this landscape, but where we went was not like a place I had been. It seemed charmed and slightly wild, out in the country, a house made of wood and glass and plants and macrame (it was the late 70s). It was earthy, funky, homey.
Recently I was reminded of this house, that feeling. My friend and I were talking about how a mutual friend of ours house had this same feeling, this feeling of comfort, peace. The feeling that we were tucked away in some enchanted glen, and we tried to put our fingers on just where that magical spirit came from. The plants, the people, the design, the decor, where and how can we gather this magic for ourselves, light up our own house, touch that piece of our soul. We decided that the enchantment sprang from the kingdom of plants strewn about the house, willy nilly.
So in my quest to replicate this warm, cozy, wildness, this feeling of a wonderland, I made a few new plant friends. I read that plants do better when you name them and talk to them, so I did that too. I have to say I am pretty happy with my new plants, although I haven’t quite achieved the level of magic that I am hoping for. I think part of me is yearning for springtime, and the sprouting of new life, for the blossoms to emerge like white snow on our apple tree, for the roses to bloom, for the flowers to burst to the surface. For now, I will be content with my three indoor houseplants – Old Ironsides, who lives in my dining room, Charlotte with her pink striped green leaves, and Seamoss ~ like Seamus, but “moss” instead of “mus”, because well, Irish moss, who currently hangs in our shower. My little seedlings have sprouted too – it always brings a smile to my face to see them in the morning, bright green against the grayness that is outside these days. One day they will be bunny tail grass and chives, but for now they are just bright green babies in my kitchen.
I have spring in my soul these days, green bursting, waiting for the sunshine. I can’t wait to get outside and start planting. I also have a great plan for a sensory garden for the boy I can’t wait to get started on!
Coffee Talk : Scrambled Eggs
We had been running around all day, getting things done, taking care of business. After a very full day, we were done in – and Billy and I still had yet to eat dinner. We had fed the little guy earlier knowing our day was going to be nuts, but it was 8:30 pm and we still needed to eat. Neither of us felt like fast food, but we also didn’t feel like making an actual dinner. As usual, we went to our fallback – scrambled eggs. Billy cracked the eggs into the frying pan, while I assembled the tortillas, warming them up. This was a place we had been before – many times, in fact. The pitch black sky outside, the slight chill in the house, the quiet as we worked side by side, making our humble dinner together.
Our son spent 6 weeks in the NICU after he was born. I would get there early in the morning, Billy would join me after work, and we would stay until the nurses told us to please go home and get some rest. Our hospital didn’t allow parents to sleep near the isolettes and their children, which tore at my heart, so we needed to leave if we were going to sleep. We would get home around 9 or 9:30, and every single night for 6 weeks, Billy and I ate scrambled eggs for dinner. At the time, we were just feeding our bodies to keep going. 45 days of scrambled eggs on tortillas, with a sprinkling of cheese.
My whole self remembered this as clearly as if it were happening all over again, when we made that dinner the other night. A late dinner, working quietly together – but this time our son slept just a few feet away in his bedroom. A world of difference, this time.
It’s funny how clearly a meal can bring back a memory. Proust had his madeleines. We all have our madeleines, really. Tea is another instant time machine. Hot black tea, with a splash of milk and a tsp of sugar. Aromatic, sweet, comforting as the mug warms your hands. The sound of the kettle whistling on the stovetop, the clink of the spoon as it hits the side of the mug when I use it to stir, that in itself is like a warm blanket. This is the drink of my family. As a Scottish-Irish family, we drink a lot of tea. I am pretty sure I had my first “sip” when I was little, around 3, which was mostly milk, less tea. We are a family of tea drinkers. My husband believes we have no feeling in our mouths, as we can start drinking it immediately, no cooling time needed. When we are blue, troubled, worried, angry, sick, celebrating, we can sit down and have a cup of tea. I remember being little, and getting sick and my mom making me tea and toast. Coming in from playing in the snow and having tea. Spending the night at my grandma’s or my aunt’s, and in the morning, splitting a pot of tea. Spilling our woes or our successes over tea. “Would you like a cup of tea?” might be the most uttered question in our family. We end holiday celebrations, usually all quietly sitting around drinking our tea, and talking. I drink tea as I read, as I relax, when I do homework. I have it with breakfast, in the evening, with dessert, with toast, or on its own. It is a constant companion, and has been my whole life. I remember one time I got into an argument with my husband before I was married, and my mother came up to us, and very sweetly said, “Let’s all go have a cup of tea”, because in our family, this is how we solve problems. With tea.
Rice pudding reminds me of steamy kitchens in the middle of winter. Coconut tarts and empire biscuits transport me to all the Christmas days of my life. And now, scrambled eggs will forever remind me of those first 45 days of my child’s life, when my husband and I bedraggled, weary, worried, ate scrambled eggs together every night.
What about you? Is there something that resonates with you?
The #ToddlerLife
Well, we made it to midnight but it was touch and go there for a bit!
The day of New Year’s Eve my brother and his family moved, and we spent the day helping them. I loved being involved in the process, but it made for a long day. Our little guy was with grandma all day, and we headed home around 5 to round him up and take him back to my brother’s house. We planned on a low key New Year’s Eve, with our babies and pizza.
The kids had other plans.
The two took turns it seems, being crazy fussy – a combination of a weird day, off routine, overtired, and being somewhere unfamiliar, all were affecting them pretty profoundly. One would cry then the other. And back and forth and so on. The adults finished our dinner of pizza as fast as we could, taking turns herding the tots in between bites and chatter. Finally around 9 p.m., when I think we were hoping the kiddos would be asleep, we actually all got to just sit down briefly instead, and toast to the new year, and the new house. Despite the exhaustion of all of us, it was a great moment, and a great way to start the new year. My brother and his wife are my best friends, and I am so happy for them. I think of all the memories that they will have, and that we will make with them as well, in the new place. We toasted, we enjoyed the moment, then we had to move on – us back to our house, and them putting the Bean to bed.
Punk fell asleep immediately when we got home, and Billy and I succeeded in keeping our eyes open until the ball dropped, but just barely! We shared a new year’s smooch, and took ourselves off to bed for a much needed sleep as well. It was by far one of our less exciting New Year’s Eves, but one that we will always remember, nevertheless.
How about you? How was your NYE? Quiet with family like ours, or were you out and about painting the town red? There is something to be said for either option!
New Year, New Blog, New Stuff
I feel slightly like Bridget Jones, as I head into the new year, with lists and goals for what I want out of 2017. Two years ago I had a baby, whom I adore with every fiber of my being. I love him more than anything. But I look in the mirror sometimes and wonder where I went. My pregnancy ended roughly – I spent 30 days in the hospital before my little guy was born, and I feel when I left, I was completely different. Not just changed into a mother, but like I sort of disappeared. My son has special needs, and I threw myself into the role of his champion and mama bear without looking back, but lately, I need more, just for me. I am sure many many mothers feel this way. I look different, my weight is the highest it has ever been, and I do virtually nothing for me. Me time is taking a shower, or going to the salon to get my hair done. Once a month I do get to escape to book club with my friends, but I realize I will be no help to Punk if I am not living life fully for myself either. So this year, I am going to start small. Time is an issue, as it is for any parent, so I am not going to overwhelm myself with huge goals – just small chunks of huge goals. 🙂 And, I will use this blog to talk to about them, track them, as well as sharing about me and my family. I have another blog, Quixotic Magpie, but that is mostly book reviews, and honestly, I felt like I needed a new space for all this shiny newness!
1. Lose a little weight – for some reason I am just stuck at the weight I am. Like exactly. It never fluctuates one way or the other!
2. Date Night once a month with my hubs ~ we need some time too!
3. Write more – blogs, blurbs, whatever, just write more
4. Practice yoga again – I love yoga and used to practice all the time. I miss it!
5. Garden
So five little things. I think I can do this, I really do! I hope you follow my journey with me!
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 