Not sure where the anxiety’s coming from, but it’s really messing with my sleep these nights, and this morning I’m relying on some tried-and-true calming activities — formulaic but still productive enough to quell the inner nags. . .
For example, I’ll be
1. Baking a couple of sesame seed-coated, walnut-studded sourdough loaves, so the condo is filling with a calming, nourishing fragrance as I write.
2. Knitting the chest and belly of another little teddy bear, sixth small knit “familiar” I’ve made for my grandchildren (two mice; four bears). A polar bear is still in transit; a mouse awaits a sweater and cap; but three wee beasts (two bears and a mouse) have been joyfully welcomed by their human buddies. . .
3. Prowling ’round the pots on the terrace to see what the sun might open or pull out of the ground or unfurl on a branch this week. I have my eye on a big blue hosta as well as on the clutches of apple blossoms climbing the trunk of our small Scarlet Sentinel. . .
4. Writing my monthly Books Read post for my Reading Blog; I’m tardy with March’s report, but I hope to have that up by Wednesday, and I’ll post it here later in the week.
5. Finishing one more short story (by Dino Buzzati) for Italian Book Club this evening.
I was going to stop at Five, but I can’t help. . .
6. Remembering that two years ago, at this time, we were in Haarlem, our first stop in a ten-week trip to Europe. If you’d like a few minutes of vicarious travel (tulips and bikes and brickwork architecture — even a windmill!), here’s a link to my post. I think I’m going to haul out my travel journal and sketchbooks for that trip. If you hear loud, wistful sighing, it’s probably me. . . .
and Six should be enough but
7. It’s the best kind of spring day here this morning — still crisp but all blue skies and sunshine. I’m going to get out for a walk later and I might even end up unbuttoning my jacket. . . .
That’s it. I’ll stop there . . . but if you should make “Comment on this Post” one of the Things You Do Today, I’ll be sure to read it, even if I won’t get ’round to commenting until later. . . C’mon; tell me what you’re up to. How’s this Monday treating you? (or Tuesday, if that’s when you read this. . . heck, chime in if you’re a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or weekend reader; all are welcome here)
xo,
f
Well, so far Monday is being both welcoming and comfortable, with warm sun and cool breeze here in northern California. I too have a list of Things to Do, many of which are formally required and others that I simply want to include in my life. It's nice to have/create something to look forward too. BTW, I so admire your knitting of familiars for the young 'uns – they will be so well loved! And focusing also on your garden reminds me to go turn my tomato plants (grown from a store-bought specimen that shot out shoots without being asked or anticipated), which for now live next to a downstairs glass door but need daily exposure to the elements in preparation for their eventual move outdoors – they have already set flowers!
Every spring a woodland path near me boasts a spectacular display of wild Easter or faun lilies. I’ve walked it twice so far this season to check their progress and tomorrow I’ll be cycling there with my “bubble friend” to marvel at the magical sight of hundreds of lilies on both sides of the path and through the trees as far as the eye can see! At the end of the path there’s a small patch of Trilliums also at their peak.
As for my own garden, the rhubarb seems to have sprung up when my back was turned and is ready to harvest and a few spears of asparagus are peaking up through the ground. A wonderful time of year, especially with this week’s weather.
Frances in Sidney
Probably the best thing I did today was make myself get outside for a brisk walk. The sun was shining, but it was only 6ºC. It would have been easy to stay indoors, but it felt good very to get out and get some fresh air and exercise.
Oh yes,I identify with that nagging anxiety for “ no reason”. We are slowly coming out of lockdown here in England and I think it is that making me feel apprehensive and a little scared. Sewing is always my mindfulness ( I don’t blog ,because I find it difficult to write down my thoughts, but post on IG as @sarahjw70 ),so I will go into my studio for that ,and then walk the dog later
Thank you for so often putting into words the things I am thinking.x
Your garden is ahead of ours . We had a few unusually hot days when everything began to race along but it’s come to a halt now with unusually frosty mornings . I don’t know why I say unusual as it’s just normal British weather really . A fabulous mature magnolia we pass on our dog walks now has crunchy brown blossoms but our lemon primroses take it on the chin & pop their heads back up quickly . Our lockdown lifted a fair bit yesterday so we’re waiting with a little trepidation to see what happens next . We took the dog for a walk round York on Sunday morning before the rules changed & the visitors returned . Cold but bright & so quiet ! I was quite giddy – our last visit was 14 months ago . It’s tricky when you live in a tourist city with narrow streets .
Love that polar bear .
Wendy in York
I got up just after 6am to find a magnificent sun rising and pouring into the bedroom window – pure red-gold. It is cold here at present – frosts and snow and hail and sun, all in one afternoon on Sunday – but as long as I am wrapped up, I love my early stomp up the village. Today is to be a writing day -blog and draft – as well as a working, typing day but I will have to get up and walk about a bit or I will become chair-shaped. And I shall stare, filled with hope, at the seeds we sowed last week. Signs of life. That's what we need.
Monday brought a heavy snowfall.
(I was going to say more, but will stop there.)
Marsha: Let's just skip to the chase, shall we? Flowers!! on your tomato plants already?! You'll be slicing them onto fresh sourdough and drizzling them with olive oil and sea salt in mere weeks 😉
Frances: Oh, the white fawn lilies! And trillium! And shooting stars (dodecatheon)! All such a highlight of spring when I lived on our little island and all very close by. I do miss that! Enjoy your pedal through them today. I'll be thinking of you doing that. . . And rhubarb and asparagus (I hope Georgia doesn't see this — check her comment below)
Elaine: It makes such a difference! I've been trying to make it a daily habit — so much easier on sunny spring days!
Sarah: Even the positive changes can mean anxiety, it's true, especially with our faith so shaken over the past year. And oh my, I just checked your IG and wow! you are an amazing sewist and so prolific!
Wendy: We're still getting frost at night and it's been a cool-ish spring here as well, but this week's forecast is very promising–a week of sunshine and highs of 19C by the weekend! Squee!! (I'm picturing York and its narrow streets when I was last there, probably in '84. Can't imagine keeping 2 metres distance. . . hope the lockdown-lifting goes well. But it must have been a strange kind of treat to have it almost to yourselves for a while.)
Annie: I hope your writing day goes well! I enjoyed your post today — the touch-typing has been such a boon for me throughout my life as well, and I, too, credit my dad for the push to take an elective course in high school.
Georgia: I'm amazed you had the fortitude to manage even that many words. Sending sympathy from the Coast. (perhaps don't read any of the comments above; they'll only hurt) xo
My pink apple blossom is a mirror imagine of yours but many miles apart. I’ve been loving your little knitted family…I can imagine how happy they make your small people . Yes I remember your wonderful trip to Holland. Travel seems a lifetime ago. Looking forward to your book post .Sunny day here, pootling in the garden and potting on some hydrangeas I grew from cuttings. Satisfying. B x
Monday was rainy and chilly, ended up staying in and doing some chores, today the sun is shining. attended my lecture on US history from the end of the second world war and will end with the assassination of president Kennedy. the course focuses on the political, economic and social issues of these times. quite interesting. after lunch a nice walk, so good to see all the flowering trees and bushes now in blossom. then a phone call to a friend who is celebrating her 80th birthday today, ordinarily it would have been with a group of us but not in these extraordinary times. prepping for my eye surgery Thursday. Darby
Question: Did you ever post where to find the patterns for your knitted bears and mice? (I don't see it but might be missing where it is hiding)
Barbara: I love thinking of our apple trees blossoming at the same time! And I've just come in from looking at the hydrangea I started from a cutting last year — or rather, from a broken branch I stuck in some soil It's a decent size now, and I'll probably pass it on to my daughter's garden. So satisfying, yes!
Darby: That sounds like an interesting course, and I'm glad you got out for a walk as well. Happy Birthday to your friend — and good luck with your surgery!
Lauren: I've linked a few times to the source for those patterns. Blogger doesn't like links in comments, but if you go to Instagram and find @fromcinthia, look on her website for "tsutsu bear" and "sadie souris."
I don't think I have the fortitude to look up fantastic Euro vacations today 🙂 but, oh, what I would give to be in gorgeous Amsterdam or the south of France or Spain or a Grecian island. It'll happen again!! And keep making the stuffies – they are beyond adorable (and able to happen regardless of pandemic restrictions) 🙂
I am so late this week reading your blog. We have had several days of beautiful weather and I am doing a lot of walking, in preparation for the rest of the week which will be cool and rainy and will find me on my exercise bike instead. Yesterday I walked and talked on the phone (via my headphones, of course) to my sister in Toronto. We talked for an hour and a half! It was like going on a walk together. I'm beginning to get a bit weary of the traffic when I walk. But the trails are too crowded, and everyone is unmasked, and I am taking no chances until I get my first shot.
Those mice and bears have stolen my heart. I can imagine they are just the right size for a small hand to carry and even tuck into their coat pocket. They will be well loved when they get to their destination. xox
Kristin: Oh, I hear you! Some weeks I've been able to enjoy novels or memoirs set in places I've loved or would like to visit. Other weeks, it seems too much a Tantalus situation.
Sue: There is no late anymore, is there? Since they've stopped the clocks and torn the pages of the calendars. Such strange times. Although at least we'll both have our first shots by Sunday.
The little mice and bears are exactly that perfect size . . . which is why I'm beginning to think ahead to making extras to replace inevitable losses. Ha, as you say 😉
Do you know the "Dances with Wool" blog? Its author makes wonderful knitted critters that seem to live independent lives up above the arctic circle.
Thank you especially for the terrace garden tour – lovely and so different than what we grow here on the US east coast.
ceci
Ceci: Thanks, I didn't know that blog — had a peek and it seems she's not posting anymore, Very cute critters indeed!