We've entered the second spring of this pandemic, and I'm finding myself missing some rather odd things, and daydreaming about the days when they'll (hopefully) return... - Writing in coffee shops. I used to take my computer to a public table to write these posts, and it turns out that I am actually more productive in that setting. Something about the ambient sounds and activity gives my background brain something to do, and it's always nice to have a beverage and a snack that I didn't have to prepare (although that's not the primary factor, like I thought it was). - Not feeling pressured to streamline my errands. In the Before Times, I would block off nearly a whole Saturday for erranding, and loiter my way along a route planned around at least two local eateries - but between preordering and limited capacities and trying not to breathe on people, everything goes a lot quicker now. - Discussion groups, and discussing with groups. People gathered in a living roo...

One thing I've had to become more intentional about this past year has been escape.  On a micro level, that looks like early mornings and noise cancelling earbuds; a few hours a day to experience felt solitude and think some entire uninterrupted thoughts. It helps me be more present for the rest of the day, and staves off the late afternoon stress-induced synesthesia that turns sounds into bursts of light and that light into blinding headaches. While I naturally function best with freedom within structure, this has been a bit more restriction than I'd prefer. Last summer we managed to get our go out with movie drives - the gift of a van with a DVD player kept the kids occupied and separated, and I'd get drive through coffee and head to an honor system farmstead 45 minutes away for flowers ("hyacinths to feed the soul" and all that). Cartoon binges for them have given me the headspace (and physical space) to plan more productive activities - we've been trying t...

Starting with sewing! The latest issue of Taproot magazine had a great bag pattern in it that I promptly made. I ended up using flannel doubled for the main bag and leftovers from the top I made last summer for the pocket - this meant that I got to learn French seams and sewing a circle into a cylinder on (at one point) 12 layers, which I do not recommend. On the other hand, it did have a confidence building effect, so maybe it was a good idea after all. The kids loved it, also, so I reprinted the pattern at 60% and made them each their own (out of a single layer of cotton duck, see, I did learn something). I bias taped the edges of theirs rather than fiddle with a rolled hem at the smaller scale but followed the pattern for everything else, and by the time I did the last one my time was down to 45 minutes, including cutting out the fabric (in the interest of full disclosure, I do not use pins for pattern cutting or for sewing, which does tend to speed things along - except when someth...

Eight years ago when I told the owner of a local shop I frequented in Fayetteville, where we lived at the time, that we were moving to Little Rock, he immediately had a suggestion for where to find my new happy fix. "There's this spot on South Main," he said excitedly. "There's Boulevard Bread so you can get lunch, and then on the other end there's Green Corner Store (which is like eco living, great stuff) and they have a Loblolly ice-cream counter so there's dessert for you, and then in the middle is Moxy. You'll love Moxy." He was right. While they initially set out to be a spot to find vintage and industrial home decor, owners Jon Estelita and Lara Kahler soon realized that people only go into a furniture store if they're shopping for furniture, and began responding to customer requests. First a stationery section. Then bath items, then kitchen goods, and so on. The shop now carries vintage pieces, stationery, puzzles and games, soaps, can...

After spending a year stuck together at all times (we did homeschool before, but there were still outings and extracurriculars and a few weekly studies where we each got to go to our own class for a couple of hours), we have grown thoroughly sick of each other and then come out the other side of that to a reluctant acceptance that may be beginning to border on enjoyment again. One issue that we ran into last summer was that all of the kids were at somewhat awkward ages. Neither of the older two could work the swing themselves (we have a disc swing) so that put me standing by the tree continuously lifting them on and off it, while the littlest toddled precariously around our slanted, rocky yard trying to sample everything he could pick up. But there has begun to be a shift. Last fall I taught the Bigs how to wash dishes (the tallest rinses, the shorter loads) and they've happily adopted that as Their Task (candy afterward likely helps, but it's a small price to pay for delegatin...

Walking into Just Peachy's downtown storefront is like walking into a pop up card - a tiny space packed with unexpected delight. Streamers hang from the ceiling over harmonious clusters of party goods, thematically grouped. There are plates, napkins, banners, candles, confetti, and crowns for every age and interest (and maybe even some you didn't even know you were interested in until you saw them!) A year ago this space was a consultation room for clients who wanted balloon garlands for their events, but when the pandemic shut down large gatherings, owner Christen Byrd had to pivot. First she added helium bouquets, teaming up with local ice cream shop Loblolly Creamery, where she worked before launching Just Peachy, to create a bundle of joy that could be delivered to your (or someone else's) doorstep, anchored by a bag of ice cream pints. My middle with his birthday balloon bouquet - after his sister  had  one  last  summer,  it was deemed a new family traditi...

March marks the one year anniversary of lock downs and social distancing for us. Clearly it  hasn't "gone away in a few weeks" as hoped, but we're adjusting (I'm still not sure if that's a good thing or not). After all of the snow we had last month, I'm clinging to the belief that that was Winter's way of coming back in and shouting "and another thing!" and we'll be able to move in the general direction of Spring now. Pandemic Winter is wearing - at least with Pandemic Spring we can go outside and enjoy nature without needing to wear every layer we own. So this month I'm exploring peace and escape - the healthy kinds. I'm still not sure what that will look like, here or in my actual life, but I'm looking forward to delving into it. And, as per my usual, sprinkling a liberal amount of glitter (literal or figurative) on top.