Mr. Mackintosh

Simple pleasures.
Simple peace.

Sunlit windows.

Soft retreat.

It's nothing glamorous - just an old table and chairs.

But I love it when I can find some pretty tulips to dress it all up.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a Scottish artist and designer. I have family in Wales, who are lucky enough to live in a house that was designed by him. It sports a beautiful window with a stained glass flower looking out over their staircase. Oh, his work is magnificent. My cousins gave me a dainty metal vase with a Mackintosh design, which I love to place sweet flowers.

It brings joy and a moment of calm to the day!

Calm

The calm before the storm is being called to my mind. I received a sweet card in the mail today from a lovely woman named Patricia of pve design. It really made my evening, as the card was all about keeping calm and carrying on! With a child who has been sick for a month, and now we're looking to move to a different house...whoo...I need some calm!

Many who practice Lent give something up in order to turn their focus towards Christ and God during this holy period of 40 days. Yes, I'm looking to abstain from a favorite dairy product known as OBERWEIS (mint chip to be specific). I'm also hoping to turn my thoughts and attitude towards the calm. Maybe I'll let go of all the "I have to's" and the "I want to's" and focus on the things that really matter to moi: family, faith, and how the lack of frozen dairy products brings me closer to the Lord!

Happy Fat Tuesday, and may the "calm" be with you.

Little Things

Sometimes it's the little things that will push us over the edge or, on the flip side, make our days. For instance, after a "grueling" day of laundry, bottles, diapers, arts and crafts, errands, oh etc., my dear husband walked into the door, after his day of grading papers and teaching science to pre-adolescents. The first words that came out of his mouth were not, "Hi honey," or "Come here and give me a kiss!" No, they were "It smells like hot dogs in here."

I just sighed, and said, "It's macaroni and cheese, dear." Oh Irene...Oh dear Grace... what would you do in this situation? You'd probably pause, adjust your hair, and go up and give that sweet endearing man a kiss. And then pour yourselves a Manhattan. Atta' girls.

You have to love the little things. I was lucky enough to make macaroni and cheese for my wee ones. It was Annie's! And I love it that my dear husband appreciates my cooking, even if it smells like hot dogs every once in a while.

People with Beards

Beards take time; beards take devotion. Abraham Lincoln, John Muir, and a rather dashing man I like to call my husband: they have at least one great common bond - a love of beards. Oh yes, beards take time for some. My dear husband likes to spend a winter growing and cultivating his. He's striving for one like John Muir, Walt Whitman, or Samuel Beam, the singer from Iron and Wine.

I like beards to a degree - they recall a simpler time; the frontier. I, on the other hand, take out my looking glass and tweezers searching the map of my face to be sure I'm as far away as possible on that frontier!!! I so miss going to the salon and having them wax my worries away.

Oh well, there's always the circus.


Photo of John Muir - a wonderful man.


Photo of my man - a wonderful man.

Simply Music

"Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin" on a local Chicago radio station, WFMT, is a wonderful place to learn an listen to beautiful Classical music. Bill's voice is soothing and his commentary on various types of Classical music are thought provoking and inspiring. He plays his own piano to help illustrate the music he is studying. Very cool.

You can find his programming on www.wfmt.com, under "Programs." Take a moment to listen to the simple beauty of this radio program.

Simple Treats

The cake is in the oven, a day late. As far as going to bed early last night...well, 10:30 pm was the bewitching hour! Like I said...baby steps. And I always try and remember Murphy's Law.



Simplicity could easily be at our fingertips. It's abstaining from the extras that we think are so necessary and important. Yes, we have to fulfill our responsibilities. But it's filtering the responsibilities that are a need and not a want. Oh, it's a hard task. And here I am blogging away!


I can't wait to try a slice of this delicious Meyer Lemon Rosemary Cake. Thank you Jenn! I plan on making the red wine chocolate cake by the end of the week.


In the meantime, I know a few people who love cake. Think outside the box; think of others. There's a neighbor or two who could use a slice!

Simply February

Ah, it's the 1st of February! I love February. Although upon waking up this morning, I knew my 2nd post wouldn't be focused soley on love...I must simplify! I know, and why did I add a blog to my list of to-dos? Is it because I love the mania of it all???

I've never been one to journal. But I thought this would be a type of homework for myself. So my first assignment for the month is to simplify. And if you're up for the challenge, please join me in this quest!

1) I am going to go to bed at 8:00 pm tonight (unless my baby is crying and needs to be fed!).

2) I am only going to check my email twice today...uh, this is going to be hard!

3) I am going to make a Meyer Lemon Rosemary Cake (see the recipe from In The Yellow House)

4) I am going to focus on my family and enjoy a nice meal and a yummy cake with them (and probably play Barbies and Dinasours who hang out with Thomas The Tank Engine - it's a busy world)

Good luck, and live simply (baby steps).