Things of Beauty: January - February

January and February were my very favorite type of months: quiet but not in the least tiresome with a lovely amount of time for dreaming and other excellent subjects.


Very Favorite Things
My new Bible reading program, cozy plaid jumpers that make me feel like Molly Gibson (which is one of my favorite things to feel like), my horse’s fluffy winter coat, Kellie Falconer’s Blog Party (that is one of the highest highlights of my year!), luxurious baths, and my newest love—houseplants.


Reading
Three books and several short stories finished. I am starting these next two months of reading on a bold and daring number: Ivanhoe. I have read books thick (in both girth and writing style) before, however… there is that about Scott’s writing which is both quite challenging and very addictive to read, so with the two combined I shall conquer it!


Writing
I worked on They Searched Who Laughed every single day of February. I wish I could say it was all filled with joyful inspiration, but it wasn’t quite. Oh there were the days where I wrote 500 words with the said substance bubbling out of my fingers as fast as a mad mountain brook, but there were also some nights which found me with a furrowed brow tapping out words before the laptop screen which blazes a hole of light in the dark room because it is 10:45 PM and my-sister-is-asleep-which-is-exactly-where-I-should-be-too! But I’m glad I defied Time anyway. My ambition this month? Actually write at a reasonable hour, that the Inspiration need never be stopped by the clock.


Other Creative Work
Let me see: I blogged a bit (great fun!), and did some baby-sitting (ah, now that is both terribly fun and challenging!) I also did two photo shoots with Arwen as my model. There were several pleasant shots from the first, but the second… Think long unbound hair, flowing 70’s style dresses, leather hats, cowboy boots, thoughtful facial expressions, and that crisp golden light of afternoon…and every shot turning out more perfect than I had dreamed.


Outdoors
Two six inch snowstorms + freezing weather = happy girl.
I was born in the Spring, and I do love it as I do every other season, but perhaps it is the slick ice filled sledding, the crisp cotton-candy hue of the sunsets, the stark beauties of tree shapes bereft of any outer show, or that the earth and heavens seem to grow closer in the frozen navy and diamond sparkled nights… But Winter and I have been getting along quite well this year, and I shall miss it when it goes.


Cooking
I have been on another Paleo stint of late, which means every single meal upon the menu must be Paleo approved, which means (hooray!) more recipe and healthy blog surfing. I love blog surfing. A favorite find? These Ultimate Coconut Flour Pancakes from Empowered Sustenance. And please don’t let the fact that they are extremely healthy give you concern about their taste. Their scrumptiousness is beyond compare.


Discoveries
Travel blogs.
You know the saying that says if God closes a door, He opens a window? Well that is exactly what several amazing travel/lifestyle blogs have been for me, an open window that allows me to breath some of the fresh air of travel, even while staying in the room in which I am placed.

What were your favorite delights in January and February?


Comments

  1. I love your Norman Rockwell pictures! These really made me smile. :-)

    Defying time...is this a normal thing for writers? I'm beginning to think it must be!

    January and February are not my favorite months....in fact, I'm getting really sick of winter right about now. I've always loved winter, but this year, I'm just so restless and anxious for spring to arrive! But I'm trying to revel in the beauty and blessing of right HERE and NOW.

    Travel blogs! I'm not familiar with many, but they sound like fun. I too have a reoccurring wanderlust, especially for the west. :-) DUH.

    Hmmm, some of my favorite things from January and February....I watched some really good movies! Legends of the Fall and The Stars Fell on Henrietta were my favorites. The soundtrack from the movie A River Runs Through It, starting a new story-in-progress, reading some really good books, and eating popcorn just about every day. Ahhh, looking back, it has been quite a nice two months. :-)

    I loved this post! Have a lovely week!

    ~Emma

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Emma,
      Norman Rockwell's art never fails to brighten my day. :)

      And I know what you mean about reveling in the beauties and blessings of the moment. Sometimes it can be so easy and then at other times it takes a LOT more imagination to think of what you can be thankful for!

      YES! The call of the West is so strong!!! That's when pens and notebooks and keyboards and story writing comes in really handy.... :)

      Movies seem to always end up being some of the highlights of my months, too! And I was so very glad to hear some of your highlights!

      Delete
  2. Hello dear Eoywn, such a lovely post - I loved all the adorable pictures you used as well! And how strange it is to read about spring when we are entering autumn! :)
    And I never got to read your literary heroine post, so I'm off to do that now!
    Hope March is an amazing month for you!
    Love and hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kelly-Anne,
      Thank you! Right before I posted this, I read your post where you mentioned that Autumn was coming and I, too, thought the season cross-over was very interesting! :)

      Delete
  3. Such a lovely post, Eowyn! :)
    I tried to start Ivanhoe once, but never did because of the writing style. Now that I feel a little more experienced from Austen, Dickens, and Victor Hugo I want to try it again sometime!
    Oh, that picture of the old-fashioned couple is so adorable! And I LOVE the one of the woman and her baby-and her dog!
    Your photo shoot with your sister sounds soooo beautiful! I must admit I feel curious to see it. If you ever feel inclined to share some of it over email, I'd be honored! But I understand completely if you'd rather keep them private. :)
    I'm going to have to ask you about your favorite healthy food in my letter....I need more healthy lunch ideas! :)
    Some of my favorite things of January and February are ice skating for the first time in 3 years or so, glorious golden snowy sunsets, and the anticipation of spring! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Natalie,
      I understand completely what you mean about Ivanhoe's writing style! I hemmed and hawed and nearly put it aside for an entire morning before I could find the courage to embark, but finally I did! After the first 100 pages or so, the story drew me in and would. not. let. me. GO! So, do give it another try! I actually have a review of it already written up that should be going up on High Noon quite soon, so if you need more encouragement you can be looking out for that. :)

      And I know. That mother and baby one is too adorable!

      Oh, and I would love to share some photos from that shoot! I may post a few of them on here, but some of my favorites were ones showing her face and (this being the public web and all) I had been secretly wishing I could send some to you, (but didn't want to force them on you or anything) and then...bam!..you asked! So be aware that you made my day! :)

      Lunches can be so hard! I would love to talk about it, though, because food is one of my favorite subjects!

      That is so jolly that you were able to go ice skating! Ah, and winter sunsets are so beautiful!

      Delete
    2. Oh, good! I can't wait to try Ivanhoe again. I've seen the 1952 version of Ivanhoe before and if I remember correctly, I liked it! And I'll certainly read over your review soon. :)

      Oh, wow! I'm so glad! I wasn't sure whether you'd be okay with sharing or not, so I'm so glad we had the same thing in mind! :)
      If you'd like, just ask Heidi for my email, if that's easiest for you. I can't wait to see them!

      Oh, good! I'm in the middle of writing my reply to your letter, so I'll be sure to include lunch questions! :)
      Hope you're having a lovely evening!

      Delete

    3. Natalie,
      I actually have a review of the '52 Ivanhoe very nearly ready to be posted (all it needs is the final edit)! But I will give you one sneak peek: I LOVED IT!!! (But then I'm on a slight Ivanhoe roll, so I am finding anything good with/about it hard to not get terribly excited about. However, you probably know what that's like! :))

      I can't wait to get the photos off to you! The next couple days might be a little squished, but I'm looking forward to sending them. :)

      Delete
    4. Yay! I'll look forward to your review!

      Whenever you have time will be fine. I look forward to seeing them!!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts