A Restless Mind

A bit about love

Natalie Shipley — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:48:16 +0000

Just in time for Valentine’s day, I wanted to do a post on love. Not Cupid love. Not Hollywood formulaic romance. I’m talking love that leads to deep, committed relationships. I’m talking about the love I have for my slow cooker. I don’t really know how it feels about me, but it does have a warm glow about it when I’m around. Without slow cookers, we wouldn’t eat a home cooked meal during busy season. There would be no succulent pot or pork roast, no savory stews or spicy chili waiting on us when we got home. I have certain needs (like not spending the few hours I have a home during the week in the kitchen) and my slow cooker, it knows how to meet them. And I think every woman can attest to this, watching that someone special cook, well, it’s downright sexy. That’s right. My slow cooker is sexy. Now I have to wrap this up. I’m making the blender jealous.

Onward!

Natalie Shipley — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:22:24 +0000

Goodness, I can see dust and cobwebs forming on the last blog post. It’s busy season folks. I will do my best to keep the blog freshened but if you could see my house right now (though thank goodness you can’t), you might not place bets on that. I was all ready to start some seed when it occurred to me that I don’t really know what I want to do with the garden this year. Shawn and I talked about whether to do the 2 gardens like I did 2 years ago or go back to the one. I think he had visions of my spring verve dwindling into summer malaise or perhaps more likely, visions of me sobbing into a mountain of green beans about how I never have enough time to get stuff done (uncannily perceptive that man). So I considered the wisdom of his words and then ordered enough seed and plants for about 20 acres. Go forth boldly to your nervous breakdown I say!

Holy cow, what a slacker I've been

Natalie Shipley — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:09:32 +0000

I think I've used this title before, but it still applies. I didn't mean to go so long between posts. But anyway, Happy Groundhogs Day! The official halfway point in the winter we haven't had (here in the South US anyway where there haven't been many mornings with frost). So the fact the our groundhog saw his shadow doesn't mean much if there are going to be more days like today with clear skies and 67 degrees. I intend to start my seeds this weekend. I'm considering trying to direct seed the broccoli given the mild winter. The ground is not frozen so it is a possibility! I'm checking out websites for some new plants. I have a one pitiful flower bed in serious, serious need of TLC. But outdoor pursuits aren't the only thing that spring gets me primed for. I'm checking out a bunch of new crafty possibilities. Still want to try some socks and there is the super cute fair isle baby sweater. Not to mention the owl cross stitched growth chart. What about spring gets your creative juices going?

In which we have a terrible week

Natalie Shipley — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:31:16 +0000

This week started off badly. At 7:30 pm on Sunday night, I commenced throwing up. At 4:00 am Monday morning, Shawn joined me. It was like a reverse colon cleanse. It was gnarly and nasty and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Tuesday, we had to put Mac down. After 15 years, he developed kidney disease leading to kidney failure. Though we didn't have him long, he made his mark. For one he was the longest, tallest cat I have ever seen.

For the most part he was quietly in the background. We'll miss him.

Shazam!

Natalie Shipley — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:29:25 +0000

I betcha you didn’t believe me when I said I was working to overcome a very serious desire to lay down the stitching and maybe let it drift into obscurity for a while. I really want to take a break from this. I got a bunch of new books, patterns, and supplies over Christmas and they are calling the siren song of destruction—destruction of the will to finish. And I know what will happen if I put it down. I think we all know what will happen if I put it down. Should I let it rest for a while (a cooling off period if you will), it would likely join the ranks of the teddy bear (which need limbs knitted), the baby blanket (only 8 more rows required to complete, 8!), and a host of few other projects that are getting a bit long in the tooth.

But I’m not going to lie. I found an adorable cross stitch growth chart. And I’m going to make it, as soon as I buy it, which I’m trying to hold off doing, and I might be able to hold out--until at least this afternoon.

Cold Moon rising

Natalie Shipley — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:06:05 +0000

Solstice has come and gone. Technically the days are getting longer. My Farmer’s Almanac says we’ll have an extra hour of daylight by the end of January. Two minutes a day doesn’t really feel like an increase. The full moon is tomorrow. There was a time when everyone would have known the name of the full moon and what it meant for your garden, your live stock, and your hearth and home. We don’t really need to know that now for obvious reasons. But moon watching is one of my winter time ways to keep in touch with nature. Our skies are sharp and clear but more importantly, there are no mosquitoes.

Farmer’s Almanac calls the January Moon the Wolf Moon, as in there is less food and the wolves can be heard howling closer to the villages. I did a smidge of research on the January Full Moon. There are several other names for it—Old Moon, Ice Moon, and Cold Moon just to name a few. On the Wikipedia page, the Wolf Moon is designated as the Algonquian name. Since that name only sounded vaguely familiar, I had to look it up. (sorry, it’s been a long time since 5^th grade). The Algonquians are Native American tribes from the Northeastern US and Canada. Since the names I found seem to be culturally and therefore location driven, I decided to see what the name would have been for the Native Americans in our area, the Cherokee. For southeast TN, this is the month of the Cold Moon. So come tomorrow night, I will be outside checking out our Cold Moon and watching for Orion rising (mostly b/c it is one of the few constellations I can find. I even have problems with the Big Dipper).

Scents of the season

Natalie Shipley — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:15:39 +0000

I love kitchen smells. Show me a cinnamon candle and I'll have it burning before you say pyromaniac. And this is the perfect time of year for kitchen smells. When it is cold and crummy (or weirdly tepid and humid as it has been this year), I love the suggestion of warm and cozy comfort provided by all the good kitchen smells. I simmer spices on the stove, which not only smells nice but adds some mositure to the air in the house. Inside air can be very drying in the winter. My favorite spice combo is cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and whole allspice with an orange peel.

This also the time of year I like to pull out coconut scented body wash. This is the only time of year I really like coconut scented stuff and I think it is because it reminds me of suntan lotion and summer. Not a bad association when it is dark by 5:30 pm. Some of my favorites and Bath and Body works Coconut Lime Verbena but this year I found something new at Earth Fare, EO's Coconut, Vanilla and Tangerine. It wasn't bad. I could do with a little less Tangerine. For whatever reason I love the orange smell mixed in with the kitchen smells in candles and such but don't particulary enjoy walking around smelling like an orange. But the EO product does have the added distinction of being free of a lot of the chemical addivites in other body washes.

Do you have particular scents you like at different times of the year?

Dipping a toe into 2012

Natalie Shipley — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:34:04 +0000

It's 2012, has been for nearly 24 hours. I thought about resolution post but was bored by the concept before I even typed the first word. So instead I'll give you a hint at what I didn't do for the last week. Stitch. I set Vi's stocking down Christmas Eve with a slightly white chocolate flavored taste of defeat in my mouth. I thought I was going to make it until the evil cold knocked me flat. No stitching for 3 days. I don't think I have to tell you that was a game changer killer. Let's face it, this project and I were barely on speaking terms to start with. The sting of failure didn't help and well, we need some time apart. But I've picked it back up. I wouldn't say we're reconciling, but we're tolerating each other--for the kid's sake.

Happy New Year!

Natalie Shipley — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:39:50 +0000

I’m sitting here on my last day of vacation in 2011. Vi is playing (somewhat) quietly on her own. There is a fire in the fireplace. No cats are fighting. For a moment anyway, all is calm. And while it won't last, the chaos makes these moments better, sweeter. In looking at my list of gardening, reading and crafting for the year, there is no getting around it. It’s been a sorry year for all 3. But it is been a great year for family. And I wouldn’t swap it for the world.

Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!

A little late but

Natalie Shipley — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:12:41 +0000

Merry Christmas from Little Bit and us other two (hey, we know who the cute one is!)

Click to embiggen