I started gardening this week.
Not outside in the beds, but inside with a few old ranunculus and anemone corms I had saved from the year before our daughter was born. I don’t know if they will take or not, but the possibility of just one growing was worth the work of beginning the pre-sprouting process for me.
It would appear the few extra minutes of daylight we’ve been receiving has given me that yearly boost in motivation and shifted my mood from slightly pessimistic to optimistic. I’m excited to see what else the extra Vitamin D will do.
What better way to continue the sharing of a random anecdote than jumping into the random things I’ve been collecting since last month’s hodgepodge post:
An Assortment of Thoughts from February
Pssst! Did you know you could borrow toys from the library? We borrowed a set of stepping stones from the library this month and have been having a blast making new paths and patterns with the bright colored platforms. I’ve particularly been enjoying watching our two-year-old’s confidence visibly build as he plays with them. Within the first hour of having them out he went from awkwardly walking them with one foot on the ground, to slowly making his way around the tops tightly holding my husband’s hand, to moving solo from one stone to the next confidently stating, “I’m doing it, mama!”
I’m constantly amazed with the speed in which he develops new skills and the pride he has when recognizing his abilities growing. May we all display such joy in completing a task we’ve been working for.A recent episode of the Abiding Together podcast had me stop in my tracks when one of the hosts stated, “we’re called to be peace makers, not peace keepers.” Oof. They also talk about how being ok/fine can become an idol and I just really need more notice when a podcast episode is going to make me cry in the middle of shoe shopping.
Did anyone else cheer when they heard Marie Kondo share that a tidy house was not her top priority now as a mom of three? “She is still sparking joy. It’s just that, these days, that doesn’t hinge on having a tidy house.” I love the permission this gives to others not only to not be ashamed of clutter, but also to not be afraid to embrace whatever season of life you're in. If a person who built an entire brand on a certain priority can adjust, so can we.
I stumbled upon a clip of actor Penn Badgley’s podcast where he explains why there are fewer intimacy scenes in his Netflix show You this season. Admittedly, I don’t watch the show (I can’t do thrillers) but I think a round of applause is deserved for the conversation he’s engaging in and the doors he’s likely opened for others in acting (especially women) to set boundaries on what they are comfortable doing while acting, even when already under contract. Again, the beauty of changing your mind.
Lent is around the corner, so I thought I’d share one of our favorite meatless recipes: Lemon Butter Cod. We use tilapia and it’s delicious.
Reading Update
Here are the rest of the books I read in January and those I’ve finished so far in February:
Sense and Sensibility - This was our January pick for book club and my first time reading a Jane Austen novel. I enjoyed it, but will admit that I did not understand it to be satire until our group discussion. I’ve since listened to a couple of episodes of the Close Reads podcast on the book and appreciated a comment that Austen is not an easy author to read.
I also watched the movie for the first time, but waited until after book club because I knew I would confuse the two like I did with Little Women in December. It was lovely and full of your fav British actors.
Now is Not the Time to Panic - One of my favorite podcasters listed this as one of his favorite books of 2021, so my interest was piqued. It’s a fictional story of how a poster two teens created caused a huge stir in their community and then in other cities throughout the states (maybe the world, I can’t remember). I really enjoyed it. I don’t know why, but it gave me vibes similar to The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing - I am a huge fan of Friends. It’s my comfort show. The one you put on in the background just because or fall asleep to when insomnia is kicking in. My bachelorette party was Friends-themed and the only time our house had HBO was to watch the reunion. This book broke my heart. As someone affected by addiction in her own family, as a Friends super fan, and as a mother who affectionately refers to her Matthew as Matty. (I didn’t know that was what Matthew Perry’s close friends call him.) I think it’s worth the read even if you aren’t a fan of the show, but I think you will especially love it if you are.
Gather and Give: Sharing God’s Heart Through Every Day Hospitality - I’m trying to cultivate a deeper charism of hospitality in my life. I’ve been on the receiving end of some beautiful examples of hospitality from friends who make it look effortless and am trying to learn how to grow the gift within myself. This was another podcast rec and I wasn’t particularly wowed by it, but I am glad to have read it. I recently started Shauna Niequist’s book, Bread and Wine, and am enjoying that one more. If you have any book recommendations (or recommendations in general) for learning more about hospitality, I’d love to hear them!
Nobody Will Tell You This But Me - I loved this book. I hadn’t heard of the author prior to the book and still don’t know much about her, but I thought this memoir told through the lens of her late grandmother was beautiful and fun and just a great read.
The Thursday Murder Club - I’d heard this title recommended in a few places and finally requested it from our library and am so glad I did. I originally hesitated because I am sensitive to overly graphic or intense thriller stories, but this book is lighter than you’d expect while having “murder” in its title. It’s about a group of people living in a retirement home working to solve murders (old and new) in their community. I know it has become a series, and will probably request the next book soon.
We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story - Another memoir. You’re shocked, I’m sure. This one is by Simu Liu, otherwise known as Chang-Chi from the Marvel Universe. I definitely enjoy Marvel movies (my husband and I have plans to see one in theaters tonight), but I would not consider myself a super fan. That being said, I loved learning about Simu’s story as well as the stories of his grandparents and parents. I really appreciated his ability to talk about the complexities of his relationship with his parents and how they are all still growing through them.
Hannah Coulter - I’ve wanted to read Wendell Berry for a while now and chose to start with this one when I saw Tsh Oxenreider mention it on one of her 5 Things posts. I’ve since seen it pop up in a few other places, so I’m wondering if Berry is in the air for some reason? The story is told by an elder Hannah recounting her life and love for her home in Port William, Kentucky. From what I’ve gathered, Berry has written numerous stories about people in this town, and while I’m not sure why I started with Hannah’s, I am so glad I did. It was beautiful.
I’m currently listening to The Stories We Tell, a memoir by Joanna Gaines, and trying to remember to pick up Living Beyond Sunday in addition to Bread and Wine before bed each night.
A quote I’ve been chewing on:
“What is the thread that holds it all together? Grief, I thought for a while. And grief is there sure enough, just about all the way through. From the time I was a girl I had never been far from it. But grief is not a force and has no power to hold. You only bear it. Love is what carries you, for it is always there, even in the dark, or most in the dark, but shining out at times like gold stitches in a piece of embroidery… another of the gold threads is gratitude”
- Wendell Berry from Hannah Coulter
I hope your February has been full of love and some heart-shaped chocolate.
AMDG,
Sarah
I adored Hannah Coulter! I'm so glad you liked it. As soon as I finished it, I wanted to reread it again. Such a quiet, strong, simple yet complex story.