February Ten

Oh, February. How you can give me the funk. But alas, there really is far too much to be joyful about to be February-funked-out for too long. This time of year, I find myself a little more mindful - a little more attentive to the things that bring me joy. They're extra-appreciated amidst the cold and the snow, and the sometimes dreary days. And so today, I bring you my February Ten - ten little joys that are making me smile this  week. Feel free to play along if you wish - in the comments, on your blog, on paper, in your head. It feels good.

1. the bursts of color that radiate from the kids' drawing table

2. a new (but more expensive - dang!) chocolate love

3. a battle of epic and now-comic proportions with Banjo over his admittance into my studio

4. the big toothless gap in my seven year olds' mouth

5. the sudden and beautiful appearance of arms, legs, and faces in my baby girls' drawings

6. a manuscript that's molding into just the right shape at just the right time

7. how in just the right light, the snow looks like a crisp and cozy down comforter - kinda

8. the sound of my honey's guitar and the ripple of delight that follows it through the house

9. the deliberate and determined sounding out of words by my newest reader

10. the sun - gracing us with its presence longer and longer each day

Wishing you many, many little February joys and a lovely weekend!

Comments

[Jade]

It's so nice to stop, look around and appreciate isn't it. Loving your green shirt!

[Sharyn (Torm)]

I feel better already - here's my list: http://sharyntormanen.typepad.com/be_good_/2008/02/february-funk.html#comments

[elizabeth]

i had a babe thirteen februarys ago and have LOVED it ever since b/c a few short weeks after she arrived, the crocus peeked through signaling the arrival of spring. now i think of february as "almost spring" and cherish the last few weeks of winter cozying up. so excited to have a new bread recipe-it was yum! Here's my fave-so great to do with kids and easy and fun to knead:

2 pkgs active dry yeast
2 cups quick cooking oats
6 cups bread flour
2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
2 T veg oil
1 and 1/4 cup warm water
1 and 1/4 cup warm milk

Dissolve yeast in water and add milk. Add sugar and honey and stir.. Add the rest of ingred. Mix well. Knead 5 min. and let double. Punch down and knead again. Let double again. Shape into loaves and let rise to double. Bake 350 for 20 min.

Recipe from Jonni McCoy's Miserly Moms: Living on One Income in a Two Income Economy. Picked up this book used and have had great success with all the recipes.

Oh, and Amanda, you'd score on everyone's list of 10, methinks!!!!!

[Patty]

Hi Amanda, I so love your family. Thank you a for sharing them with us. Makes me miss when my children were small. I have started a blog finally. If you get time pop over to visit. My address is patty1580@xanga.com

[molly]

thanks for this post, amanda. so important for me to take a few moments to remember the really important things in my day.

[Crystal]

Delightful post.

[meredith]

Hi Amanda,
You inspire me to be more creative with my mothering! I left work early yesterday, took my 14 yo daughter and 11 yo son to a bigger public library in the next town over and then took them out for a hot cup of tea. What fun. Thanks for so diligently blogging about your life and fun raising kids. I have to work fulltime due to the college tuition we are paying for our younger ones THREE big brothers but I am encouraged to really make some good time with those 2 "younger ones," as much as I can...

[Erin]

I am a lurker, but I had to come out and give you a GIANT thank you for the sharing of these images and thoughts. I am a counselor at a college in Illinois - down the road aways from the site of yesterday's tragedy. I can't tell you enough how my soul felt uplifted from coming to your blog today.
So...thank you.

[Julie]

Hi Amanda,
Thanks for sharing this wonderful list. Number one on my list this dreary month is an CD by Elizabeth Mitchell. It's called "You are my little bird". I think of you and your family now when I listen to it because you are bird lovers, and there are many sweet bird songs on it. If you don't already know of it, it's a gem. Peace to you, and may spring come early this year!

[Audrey]

What a wonderful list! It was so nice reading it with the jazz from the chocolatier playing in the background...I didn't expect that to happen, but it was delightful and gave me pause to dream of yummy truffles, champagne, and jazz.... aaaahhhhh....Thanks for sharing.

[Katherine]

What a good idea to cheer up February, it has always seemed a hard month for a variety of reasons. I may have to do my own ten. I love the lanterns above the table.

[diana]

Ah...the snow looks like waves! Also: be sure that expensive chocolate is better chocolate. Always.

[Carrie]

HI! I have fell in love with your photography! You certainly have the talent to make even the most boisterous (sp) homeschool home! (not that yours is) I am not sure what makes me enjoy your blog more, your photos, or your fun writing. Either way, I will continue to stop in and read about your fun days.

Do you have a professional website? (guessing here that your studio is a photography studio)

Take care, and try to stay warm!

Carrie
South Carolina

[Allison]

You are so inspiring! Thank you for the time you take to blog and for giving us a glimpse into your life. Your home always seems so cozy, even in the midst of a very cold February. I live in Georgia and we don't really do cold down here but it looks so romantic captured in your photographs. May you be encouraged by the fact that you encourage so many people by simply sharing how you live. I aspire to learn how to knit one day and I am determined to pull out my sewing machine and to produce something homemade this year. You make it seem like so much fun.

Keep well,

Allison

[becca selma]

1.) reading your posts gives me such joy

thanks! i am always totally inspired :) i'm only 21 and not a mama yet but i hope to someday be as cool and fun as you are!

[Sarah m]

what an inspirational post--and as always--visually appealing!
S.

[tiff]

geez that snow looks awsome!

[Laurie]

What a lovely post~ I've been feeling so thankful, too!

[Stacy]

Hello There!! So happy people are finding the Vosge Bars. We sell them at our little store in Wiscasset, ME and though my personal favorite now is the Calindia Bar(Indian green cardamom + organic California walnuts + dried plums + Venezuelan dark chocolate, 65% cacao)
the Mo's Bacon Bar is the Best Seller! The chocolate maker is fabulous and she is a world traveler which inspires her chocolate. Very passionate and... well my lovely husband would chide me for writing this as he says I only have eyes for chocolate (and soaps) but I do tend to add new chocolates to our shelves each season...there are just so many beautiful ones out there.
Enjoy the chocolate bars and let them inspire!! And my #1 and #2 for this day...
My son asking when Popsicle season started and where we could go to pick popsicles.
The light and warmth today. After so may chilly days, it felt absolutely radiant and so warm, though I think it was only in the mid 20s.

[tara pakosta]

love the bright drawings!
tara

[Ula]

One of my favorite February joys: Making breakfast on Saturday morning while the kids play with Daddy.
I love the colorful pic of your kid's drawing area!

[vero]

What an absolutely delightful post! Thank you...

[Nada]

Vosges makes so many amazing bars. My fave has been the one with pink himalayan sea salt and goji berries. I've heard there is a smoked applewood bacon bar they make, but i haven't found it yet...

[kirsten]

Feeling like a really good mom this week. Having made enough Valentine's cookies for everybody in every class to have one, plus extra. Having finished a complete journal, from first page to last. Finally picking up my newly framed Salish crescent moon print. Glancing at it every time I walk in the room, stopping to admire how great it looks in that frame, on the wall. Beautiful sunny days. Searching MLS for our new house. My new walking foot. Our birdfeeder. So many wonderful blogs.

[val]

thanks for the list, amanda. it inspired me to post a similar list on my blog.

[Tara]

Thanks Amanda for your amazing inspiring blog. I adore your sense of style and decorating... simple, quirky, vintage...so like my own. I appreciate the way you and your family find joys in the simple things. One of my February Ten would be your blog. Thanks for inspiring me. :)

[Suz]

oh the february funky-dunks - like woollen undies - itch itch - restless to 'begin anew' with spring......so affirming to see everyone's comments on it! Tx Amanda. I am going to try and bake me some bread-loaves - I've done bun 'varieties' successfully. The smell will banish any Feb blahs - I am most certain of that - and maybe a batch of chocochip cookies while I'm at it (I'll pace myself). My stepmom Barb says Jan/Feb are peaceful and rejuventating times for her - espcially after all the xmas related 'mayhem'...so true - quote:

for all that has been THANKS for all that will be YES (person's name escapes me at the moment) Here's to being more 'yes' and in the moment - oh the 'thanks' is a good one too!

lvoe suz

[sara luzia]

oh... the snow picture is absolutely wonderful! :)

[jmbmommy]

Thanks!!

[~ Junkyard Jennifer]

Amanda ~ Thanks for inspiring me yet again. I added ten little joys to my blog, as well. I've definitely had a case of the February Funk! This was just what I needed. It's such a great idea, and I love that I keep seeing it on so many other blogs. You've inspired many, all over the world! :)

[stephanie]

Amanda the WHO bread was awesome! The whole family loved it. Thanks so much for posting the recipe.

[Ellen]

Love your little joys...something we all need to think about and appreciate.

[shelley caskey]

lovely idea! i think i'll post my own 'february ten' on my blog and play along. :)

[Sara Shalom]

LOVE this post. Thank you for the reminder of how sacred and precious these times are. I appreciate you!

[Sara Shalom]

oops... That post was meant for today's. I'll try again. :) This one was nice, too, though...

[Em]

What a lovely post!

I have done my own February Ten here - http://fearfulpenguin.com.

Thanks so much! It has really cheered me up! :)

[S.HOPtalk]

Hi Amanda:

What a lovely idea and post. That snow shot is amazing. I've posted my 10 on my blog:

http://shoptalkbuzz.blogspot.com/2008/02/my-february-10.html

Thanks for the inspiration!!

~suzanne

[AMBER]

Amanda, you're back with a bang. Your words are wonderful. I can so relate to your battle with Banjo. I have my own here, too. My cat (Jibe) feels always compelled to be in my room (my studio, if you will) and hairing up everything. He's old and wanting love but still, sometimes I just wish he'd choose another spot to love! Ah well.

Love that green shirt!

[Nannette Spencer]

As always, you inspire me in so many ways!
http://girlfridayboise.blogspot.com

[sabrina]

here it is my personal list for the "february funk".
thank you for the great idea!!!
http://www.vivere-semplice.org/?p=244

[sabrina]

here it is my personal list for the "february funk".
thank you for the great idea!!!
http://www.vivere-semplice.org/?p=244

[Rachel Allard]

Ah, yes, Vosges Chocolates. They are so amazing, and they are made right here in my very own lovely city of Chicago (where February has been very cold, and I have definitely been in the February funk). Originally, I could walk to their small storefront, but now they've gotten so big (good for them, good for you, so you can find them too!) that they moved away. We often visit their store downtown for the Rooster truffle (it has Teleggio cheese in it and comes with instructions on how to eat it! Close your eyes, smell it, taste it on your tongue, at the back of your mouth, etc. My two young boys love to do this!) The store is in the same mall as the Lego store, which we also love to visit, so it's a great trip.

Thank you for reminding me of all the small pleasures of February, of life in general. The beautiful photos of sun shining in remind me that spring will be here soon. And that life is wonderful at any time of year. Thanks again.