.::still blinking::.

Here are some more cuties. You can get your at Inside A Black Apple.

Oh. I love these Valentine’s. You may get your own at A Fanciful Twist.

Do you remember the stress of Valentine’s boxes? Decorating a shoe box with construction paper and all the lust your 2nd grade heart could muster for little Jeremy, who sat a row away from you. Then wondering if the candy hearts he had selected for you were hand selected or just thrown into your little envelope from him. Did he put as much thought into his candy hearts as you had? Was he going to notice you told him you were going to love him the rest of your days.

The true harvest of my daily life is somewhat as intangible and indescribably as the things of morning or evening. It is a little star-dust caught, a segment of the rainbow which I have clutched. Henry David Thoreau, Walden or Life in the Woods

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Everything had changed suddenly&#9830the tone, the moral climate; you didn’t know what to think, whom to listen to. As if all your life you had been led by the hand like a small child and suddenly you were on your own, you had to learn to walk by yourself. There was no one around, neither family nor people whose judgment you respected. At such a time you felt the need of committing yourself to something absolute&#9830life or truth or beauty&#9830of bing ruled by it in place of the man-made rules that has been discarded. You needed to surrender to some such ultimate purpose more fully, more unreservedly than you had ever don in the old familiar, peaceful day, in the old life that was not abolished and gone for good. Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago

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Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. I sat at a table where were rich food and wine in abundance, and obsequious attendance, but sincerity and truth were not; and I went away hungry from the inhospitably board. The hospitality was as cold as the ices. Henry David Thoreau, Walden or Life in the Woods

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I just finished Into the Wildas recommended by Annie. It is the story of the life and death of Chris McCandless. I don’t know why this appealed to me. It was truly fascinating, though I never could see myself hitchhiking around the country and depending on the kindness of strangers. However, I did understand his search for something more. I understand the hunger to find the true depth and strength of my spirit and character. I struggle daily to be even close to the best I know is in me. I have linked myself irrevocably to truth. I feel that I can find it, here in my small and quiet life. I search for it. I continually ponder what it is and if I am living a life filled with it.

a favorite thought. a gift to be given.

:: watching youtube videos with a little one curled up on my lap ::

:: no more diapers :: going out with no accidents ::

:: early bedtimes ::

:: finding old notes :: creativity forgotten and found again ::

:: sun pouring into my bedroom window to wake me ::

:: decisions made together :: promises ::

I have been trying to be more green, reduce my carbon foot step, and lower my intake of just plain old stuff.

This has been rather troubling lately because our toaster broke making it so we had to stand and hold the lever down to toast our bread. It only takes three extra minutes of a day. Still, that is three minutes that could be the difference between wet toddler pants and dry toddler pants.

So I researched and found the above toaster that is basically heaven sent. It is pretty, cooks a lot of bread at once and it is at my local Costco. It is lovely.

However, my conscience kicked in and I did not want to send a toaster to the land fills. I don’t think they decompose well and I don’t know what I am supposed to do with it. Also, there is probably some four year old somewhere who made it and the new one. It was just a nagging feeling, and I would have loved to welcome a new beautiful product into my home.

Instead, I got out a screw driver took it apart and fixed it myself. Can you believe it? Suddenly it is the good karma toaster and just as beautiful as the other. I am so proud.

Isn’t this the bedroom sweet dreams are made of?

I love the dark floors and white of everything else. But the splashes of colors are just so delicious. This is the kind of decorating I float towards on a fluffy white bedspread.

This photo is from the bedroom planning at Ikea.

sometimes when one person is missing,
the whole world seems depopulated.
:: lamartine ::

you will be missed.

I was tagged by Robin of RedRobinLand because I fit into the following: if you are feeling hum-drum, despondent, left-out, lackluster, dingy, lethargic, or morose. Okay, apathetic too.

one: jj and I are not True Aggies together. In fact, jj is not a True Aggie at all, even though we both graduated from here.

two: I want to be better.

three: I like clutter in small amounts. The perfectly clean and shiny house freaks me out a little bit. I feel like I cannot sit down. Or laugh. Or play. Or be myself. And where do I put my purse? It does not match your love seat?

four: I am doing this instead of planning a lesson for church tomorrow.

five: My own open wounds freak me out so bad that I start to feel like I am going to passout. However, I can calmly handle all blood that is Gentry’s.

six: I still have love letters from boys as far back as junior high. I go through them every year-ish and get rid of ones that are no longer sentimental.

seven: I would rather stay at home and read a book with a cup of tea by my side and a warm blanket on my lap, than do pretty much anything else. Except maybe getting ice cream.

eight: My favorite color is starting to emerge as white and textures there of.

I am tagging all those who feel the same as me and fit into the list above.

jj: Their entry level speakers are $500 – 800 per pair.

m : Do they really sound that much better?

jj: Some audiophiles would say they are a lot better speakers.

m : Like pedophiles?

jj: Yes. Audiophiles are like pedophiles.