I Did It!

This evening, I accomplished my personal challenge and finished reading Jane Austen's Emma. Thus I have read each of her novels, some of them multiple times.

Now the question stands: What should I read next?

Day 5: An Empty Day and a Return to Childhood

"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet," said Anne Shirley. (L.M Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables.) And I think it is equally nice to wake up to a day with no plans in it yet.

I feel so much freedom in having a simple day at home where I don't know what I am going to do. There are so many things I could do! Should I have oatmeal or toast with my eggs this morning? Shall I choose to knit, a familiar pastime, or try something new: crocheting? Would I rather ramble through the garden this afternoon, or just curl up with a good book? And if I chose the latter what should I read? Julia Child's My Life in France, Out of Africa, or start something new altogether?

Earlier this morning, after getting a little frustrated at my lack of internet, (I do have a deadline to keep here!) I thought of a beloved children's book I had not read in a long time, one which happened to be safely tucked in the bookshelf in my own bedroom. I ran my finger over the bottom shelf, the home to several, over-sized children's stories, and selected the one on my mind from the bunch. I opened The Gardener (by Sarah Stewart) and perused the colorful, beautifully illustrated pages that tell the story of a little girl with a great love of gardening and flowers, a girl who happens to share my first name: Lydia, Lydia Grace Finch.

Later in the day I chose to walk outside in the garden, (possibly inspired by the morning's reading!) Being outdoors in the warming days of spring, examining all the new growth in the flowers and on the trees, makes me feel very child-like again. It is a wonderful feeling. Sometimes I yearn to truly return to my childhood, where my world was smaller, simpler, and sometimes even sweeter. Of course I only remember the beautiful things at times like these. But that is not an option. I can never go back, only forward. But I can take as many things with me into the future as I want, like children's books, a love a flowers, the simple beautiful things that I remember from long ago....       

Leftover Soup

Sweet serendipity is following delicious smells downstairs and finding a warm, tasty soup waiting for you. For lunch today, my Mom put together a soup without a recipe; just a hodgepodge of leftovers from the night before: bits of chicken, broccoli, mushrooms with a fancy French name I can't recall, cheddar cheese, etc. It was warm and nourishing, and filled me up inside in the most pleasant way. It was a soup that can never be duplicated in quite the same way. It will be new each time it is made.

I am still working on cultivating an enjoyment for cooking. I love to eat, but I would rather just make a piece of toast for myself than a satisfying soup. But sometimes toast isn't enough. Sometimes I need a bowl of hot soup, or a roast chicken with mashed potatoes. Alongside Pride and Prejudice, I am also reading My Life in France by Julia Child, seeking the inspiration to really be a part of the culinary world. So far it's not really working, although it is a fun book to read. I would just rather read a book or knit a sweater than prepare a meal. I guess we can't be good at everything.

Acrobatic Chicken

A couple of our young chickens fancy themselves acrobats. 

I do not know what made these birds want to walk on the fence railing around our pool, but it was hilarious! 

These pictures were taken by Rachel several days ago, "For your blog," she said to me. Since then we have had rain, cold, and the first fire of the season. The smells are wonderfully cozy, and the crackling sounds are music to my ears. One of the worst things about all this coziness is trying to drag myself upstairs late at night, away from the fire and into the cold upstairs to get ready for bed. At least the cold combined with the warmth and comfort of my bed makes it easy to fall asleep at night. Sometimes I wish I could hibernate. 

Today the sun is shining and the members of the Pricklepants Society will soon be heading off to Starbucks for warm lunch and cozy book/life discussions. I think I feel like a hot pumpkin-spice latte today.   

The First Sip of Cocoa

After a very mild, beautiful, enchanted August, September hit and BAM! Literally. Today it is pouring rain and we have some serious thunder and lightning. It's a little scary, but exciting and cozy, as the first thunderstorm always is.

I cannot recall it ever storming like this so early in the year. Usually Labor Day weekend in Grass Valley is a time for barbecues and swim parties. This may be a much harsher fall and winter than we are used to. If we are getting rain this early, maybe we will get snow earlier than usual too. Maybe I will finally get the white Christmas I've been praying for!

For now I will be content with the pouring rain and enjoy warm cups of cocoa (in giant Mickey Mouse cups) and playing games of Irritata with my Mom, (our own modified version of Aggravation.) 

Saturday Activities

Friday morning my parents flew down to LA for a family reunion and returned late last night. So us four kids had a fun day of rest. (My brother took this quite seriously and napped for a good portion of the day.)

We girls spent the day trying new foods, (homemade by Elizabeth,) watching some of our favorite old TV shows, playing Epic Mickey II (one of our new favorite video games), and making crafts.

 I started working on a hooded capelet. The yarn is really soft! It's also much bigger and chunkier than I'm used to so it's been a little more difficult to knit than other yarns I've worked with, but I like an occasional challenge, and sometimes I crave trying and learning new things. Like learning to knit around in such a way that it makes a tube, as shown above.

I also used stitch markers for the first time.

That blue object is a stitch marker. It helps me keep track of where I began the row. 

Elizabeth also got an itch to craft, so she decorated these candle holders with glitter glue and craft jewels.

 

She also made this vase.

 I think they turned out great. Did you notice all the "hidden" Mickeys? They're ready just in time for the arrival of my Disney-Loving aunt this Thursday.

Dickensian Fashion

These past few evenings my family and I have been partaking together in the Andrew Davies adaptation of Charles Dickens Little Dorrit. We all equally adore a good British drama (though my fourteen-year-old sister is reluctant to admit so,) and as Mom, Elizabeth, and I watch Dickens' tapestry of a tale play out, we adore and envy the fashions of that bygone era. I long for a knitted shawl and a long flowing cape. And so I've decided to make those craved garments.

I learned to knit from a dear friend a few years ago, and though I shall have to wait until a later date for my cape (as a knitted cape is not quite what I have in mind) I can still knit plenty of shawls, glovelets, and hooded capelets for my pleasure.

An abundance of patterns. 

My quickly growing collection of knitting needles.

Yarn and other necessary supplies.

A head scarf in process for my Mom.

  I don't consider myself a crafty person, I usually much prefer picking up a book or journal to that sort of creativity. But I do love to knit, and I plan to spend many hours in the near future producing some Dickensian accessories.

Everything I need to make a knitted capelet.

  

 

Cloudy Thursday

 

There is nothing like a warm cup of tea (or two or three) to warm your body and soul on a cold, drizzly day.