gratitude

I think it is easy to get caught up in all the things I want to do that are not getting done or that are taking more time than I had hoped.

It is easy to feel that I don't have all the things that I want or that I am not yet the person I want to be.

For me, it has always been far easier to look at the negative, the blank spaces in my life.

I have really been trying to change that.

I imagine that very few people think that their life is perfect. We all have things we want to change and shortcomings that we would like to fix.

Paraphrasing murphy: No matter how bad things are they could always be worse. Instead of looking at all the things that need improvement I like to look at all the good things I have. When I do this I end up feeling very blessed indeed. (I think I may be reading a little too much Austen...)

And so today...some gratitude.

I am so grateful for an amazing hubby who I love and who loves me. I am always amazed how each year our love continues to grow. I have been blessed with a happy marriage.

I am very grateful for four healthy children who bring so much joy into my life (although that joy does come with just a little bit of insanity - but it's all good!)

I have been blessed with a supportive and loving extended family who help me and my family in so many ways.

I have my health.

Those things alone make life good.

But I also have been blessed with a home to live in, food to eat, clothes to wear, my husband has a job, I have more books than I may be able to read in my lifetime, my kids are learning and growing everyday, my student loan was finally approved (YAY!) and I can start a new semester of school in June, I live in a beautiful country where I can experience a high quality of life (even while living below the poverty level), I am able to supply my children with all the necessities of life, and even though I do not have everything I want, I have everything I need.

And really, who can ask for more than that?

off my bookshelf February 2011

Another month with a lot of books...

Did I ever mention how much I love books?

This is what has been off my bookshelf this month...

My heart is still in England this month as I continue reading through Jane Austen's novels...Mansfield Park this month...another favourite. I actually suggested calling my third son Edmund but my hubby wouldn't go for it. Tudor England is one of my favourite historical periods so I am brushing up on some of my history with Henry VIII - Reformer and Tyrant. Not a great read for everyone, but I enjoy it.

And continuing with the British theme, my hubby and I have been reading this together. It is taking awhile to read as it is hard to find time to read together and because it is also a subject we are passionate about and the book often gets put aside for some heated discussion and a little bit of ranting on my part. (a small piece of advise...do not get me into a conversation on the industrial food system...I will have a lot to say...and my voice might rise a little...just ask those in the car with my dad and I over the week-end who got to listen to three hours of heated discussion...I think I may take after him just a little). That said, I do love reading the Prince of Wales and he (and his thousands and thousands of pounds worth of education) says things a lot more eloquently than I do.

On a similar and a lighter note...

this is what I have been reading with my kids. My eleven year old daughter and I have been reading one of my favourite books together...Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver ( my daughter and I have been wishing my hubby had a nice farm hidden somewhere we could go and live off of). It has been fun discussing what we can do...(our organic CSA emailed this week with this seasons prices and I can't wait to sign up!). My two oldest boys and I have been reading Farmer Boy and I am having fun sharing my love of Little House on the Prairie with them. (We have previously read Little House in the Big Woods which they also enjoyed but this one has a little more testosterone so it is more fun for them!) And all three boys have been enjoying Dr. Seuss this month.

I am always looking at different points of view and advise on how to make our homeschooling experience more effective and fun.

I picked these up at a used book sale in the fall for 50 cents each. I've been eyeing up the poached egg page. I have never made a poached egg. I have always been scared of failing miserably. As soon as I can get my hands on some VERY fresh eggs I am going to do it. 2 1/2 months until the farmer's markets open up...free range farm fresh eggs...can't wait!

I have picked out my first knitting pattern to attempt. I learned how to knit just over a year ago; but have only attempted scarves and face cloths and things I could do without a pattern. Next month...I am learning how to read patterns and mix colours...I hope it turns out!

And to satisfy my magazine obsession...

Can I just say how much I love How Women Cook! This is the second issue and it is on sale now...LOVE it!

This is what has caught my eye and held my interest this month. What have you been reading?

antique sale

Yesterday afternoon my mother so graciously offered to watch all four of my children so my husband and I could have some time together to go and see the local museum's annual antique sale. Neither of us had any money this week and she was maybe the wiser as she decided she would rather not see what she could not buy. I decided I wanted to go and see it anyway...

We "window shopped" the afternoon away and enjoyed ourselves very much. Although a few tables were a little painful to walk by. Two booths in particular made my heart ache... (no pictures...too many people shuffling along a little like cattle)

Two booths covered with vintage kitchenware...butter molds and churns, baking pans, manual egg beaters, depression glass, floral frogs, canning jars with glass lids and some really cool old wool carding equipment ( I also LOVE wool and sheep)...sigh...

I loved seeing all of the beautiful old items together. Even though I am a little (or more than a little) monetarily challenged, I did mangaged to buy a few small items...

A really cool Canadian history book published in 1915. It is actually a school text written for 10 to 14 year olds. I love reading history from a different point of view. The last chapter is about Canada's future; it will be interesting to read what that looked like less than 50 years after confederation. At only $2 I really couldn't walk away.

and a really cool brown transferware turkey plate by the Johnson Brothers for $5. I don't know how old it is...but I don't have a turkey plate yet in my transferware collection...

Even though I didn't get to buy EVERYTHING I wanted. We had a great afternoon wandering the aisles upon aisles of antiques hand in hand, spending time together...and I did get to bring home a few treasures.

Now I am off on a little road trip...me and the girl...my parents...sister in law and nephew....be back Monday...Have a good week-end!

dreaming of spring...

This morning I awoke dreaming of spring...

The sun was shining, the trees were in full blossom...

But as I fully awoke and came to my senses I knew that out my bedroom window I would not see signs of spring...

Out my bedroom window it is still very much winter.

In my little corner of beautiful British Columbia winter has decided to camp out...long term. But, as I look out at this image...

just for today, I am going to imagine that I see this instead...

Every once in a while I need a little sunshine...even if it is only in my imagination.

I hope your day is filled with sunshine and blossoms!