Life is not always rosy here on the farm.
Sometimes you get kicked in the backside by a goat so many times that you can hardly move for the next two days.
Sometimes you drop a wood-burning tool on your leg and sizzle yourself rather badly.
Sometimes you get the 24-hour flu three times in one week.
But it’s not always like that. Thank goodness! 🙂 Lovely things filter their way in making the painful, frustrating things much easier to bear.
Love-filled parcels from Germany and Denmark arrive, chockablock with wonderful things like hand-scrolled ornaments, beautiful pictures of beloved faces, and cookies and tea from Russia.
Stopping by the dump and seeing their jolly tribute to the holidays.
You open a mystery box from America to discover it’s a birthday pressie from Bear – the Harry Potter series, the Hogwart’s Library, and the Guardians of Childhood series – and you’re so happy you can’t help smiling whenever you think of it.
Sunday morning cuppas, cake, and reading at a favorite cafe with my Bear.
It all seems to sort itself out.
Today is marvelously cool and cloudy and I get to spend it going to the doctor and cozying away in a cafe to work on some beloved projects that will be unveiled in the weeks to come.
What lovely things are making your painful aspects easier to bear this week?
things like gingerbread baking for the kids and Skype and seeing the kiddies grow, get their first teeth and smile across the miles on my computer and knowing I have plane tickets to go see them~ and having my son home in a few days to celebrate Christmas with us and work on the ‘House’ love is building… fresh snow in ‘leetle’ amounts, warmer days again and the ever changing marvelous winter skies… knowing there is someone who loves me… Setting up the special nativity and thinking of the live nativity I am hoping people will be happy to be a part of at the church dinner and service just before Christmas… the cheery birds and ever friendly dogs who greet me each day.
So much love and happiness and deliciousness and beauty, @thefisherlady:disqus 🙂 I loved reading through your list. 🙂 XO
The sparkle lights on the Christmas tree and the faint smell of pine that pervades the front room. Cups of tea and fun Christmas movies. Knowing that I have friends and loved ones all around the world. XO
I ordered a little bottle of pine essential oil so my house could smell Christmasy too, @breannemosher:disqus 🙂 Can’t wait to get our fruit tree Christmas tree and cover it with cheering twinkle lights. 🙂
Knowing that I get to go home and take youngest brother on a birthday cinema trip this weekend – then back the very next weekend for the Christmas break! And I get to see the four newborn kittens which arrived last week and the proud mummy cat, who I’ve missed so much. I’ll help to decorate the tree and start feeling really festive, and maybe even quill some of my own decorations – that one is beautiful! Plus, there is the cat who comes to my kitchen door each morning when I take my coffee break – we’ve adopted each other and I love my little cuddle with her each day, it makes everything better. I guess I have a lot to be grateful for just now!
Ohhh, what fun, @katyabroad:disqus !! 🙂 Such marvelous things to look forward to. I love that you have a cat who comes to see you every day. 🙂 XO
When the poop hits the fan I try to look outside myself at what I can do for someone who’s worse off than I am. It does help.
It sure does help, @OrgasmicChef:disqus 🙂 It does my heart good to reach out too. xo
it is so good when the bad days are overshadowed by the good ones! Hope you didn’t burn yourself too badly.
Thank you, @tandysinclair:disqus The burns are pretty bad but they’re healing slowly but surely. I keep slathering on lavender oil and that is so soothing. 🙂
My kids are making the painful aspects easier to bear this week. They are getting really excited about Christmas 🙂
I’m so glad, @wanderingsheila:disqus 🙂 Your kids sound fantastic. 🙂
A 24 hour flu three times in 1 week? How is that possible? Bear sounds like the most thoughtful person!
I have no idea, @AndiPerullo:disqus They think it might actually be a recurring virus, one that just keeps rearing its ugly head over and over again. Hopefully they’ll be able to treat it soon. 🙂
Krista… thank you for a lovely post! This week has been a better one and I’ve been enjoying just sitting quietly in my recliner chair, reading and watching the wattle birds on the flowers of the flax plants outside. Have a great week too. 🙂
I’m SO glad to hear this week’s been better for you, @lizposmyk:disqus 🙂 Sounds like all that caring for yourself is really paying off. 🙂 XO
Hi Krista, sorry to hear about your burn. Fresh Aloe Vera gel straight from the plant is wonderful for burns, but I am sure you know all about that! I love the cool (ish) breeze that blows from the ocean otherwise our afternoon walks would be horribly hot. Lately I have been re-reading books which is a very relaxing thing to do. The best part is you already know the book so can choose one to suit your mood. Most of my books are travel books and this morning I picked up Frances Mayes’ “A Year in the World”. The only thing being she is such a descriptive writer I want to eat everything she describes 🙂
Until I read your comment I completely forgot I had a big Aloe plant in my garden, @budgetjan:disqus 🙂 I did have lavender oil though, and that really eased the pain. Unfortunately the burns were quite deep so it’s taking awhile for them to heal, but I’m getting there. 🙂 I LOVED reading A Year In The World!! And I agree, she made me so hungry. 🙂
while walking the dogs and forcing myself to pause and notice the beauty that is outside because it is always there if one pauses and takes the time. also listening to others stories and experiences. So thank you for helping me to do that today. I hope your burn continues to heal and that you are over the flu.
and what were those cookies from Russia that you mentioned? I love hearing about traditional cookies from other places.
Noticing, listening, such good things, @jacquieastemborski:disqus 🙂 My burns are slowly but surely healing. They’re rather deep so they’re taking a bit longer than anticipated to heal, but I’ll get there. 🙂 I’m afraid the packaging of the cookies is in Russian so I have no idea what they’re called. 🙂
I’ve fallen in love with that cafe. 🙂 And I love this – “It all seems to sort itself out.” Doesn’t it though? And what a lovely thoughtful gift from your Bear! Wait – is it your birthday??? I’m sure I’m late by now, but Happy Birthday! And here’s to a hundred more, all healthy and prosperous.
Thank you so very, very much, @0f9960b43341e2847f463d47c349ac02:disqus XO Yes, things DO sort themselves out, somehow, eventually, thankfully. 🙂
Snow drooping off my garage roof like an overly generous amount of icing on a gingerbread house, late morning sunrises that smudge the sky orange and magenta, and ‘fessing up to fears only to find that they aren’t quite so scary when you say them out loud. That hand-scrolled snowflake is just magnificent 🙂 Glad you’re feeling better.
So much beauty at your house, @rachelfriesen:disqus 🙂 You are SO right about fears! Saying them aloud takes their power away. 🙂
Oh – those scrolled paper decorations are amazing!