From my kitchen table…
morning thoughts…
Friday, 26, January 8:10 am
I am writing this from my kitchen table as persistent rain lays a slick layer of slush over our snowy landscape. I am the chief dog sitter this morning. Mr. H and I take shifts when little Zuni visits. She celebrates her first birthday next week and is still a fiery ball of energy. My eyes are on my keyboard as I type, knowing that if I look to my left, I will acknowledge two Spaniels staring at me with an intensity that is meant to break my concentration. I made the mistake of giving each dog a tennis ball this morning to distract them while I dressed for the day. Ordinarily, with Tani, this would be a no-brainer. But adding puppy Zuni into the mix requires a level of canine strategy that I had forgotten about. Some of you may remember puppy days with Tani when I wondered what it might be like to have two dogs. Well, now I know. I forgot how similar puppies are to toddlers; you must watch their every move.
Oops…I did it; I looked at them.
9:23 am
We are back after a ramble through slush and rain. Well almost. It took me 15 minutes to entice Zuni into the house. Tani stood by me, looking at her puppy antics with dismay. As if to say, “Puppies these days.” We watched her bury the tennis ball in a snow drift and dig up everything in its path. I eventually lured her in with a trail of treats. One look at those puppy eyes, and all was forgiven until the next outing.
Speaking of Mr. H, we recently passed the three-year retirement mark. Wow! How did that happen? Over that time, he has mastered his skills as a man about the land, including woodsman, gardener, bulb planter extraordinaire, and adjunct professor at a local university. Not only did he add another 2000+ spring bulbs to the landscape last fall…, he also passed bulb fever on to me. We were both digging away last in anticipation of wedding bells chiming in 2024!
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have read the news that our daughters are getting married this year. Mr. H and I are thrilled to add two incredible men to our family. We are counting down to an early June wedding at Tahilla Farm and an autumn wedding in Connecticut. It is kismet to have the weddings in both places. In January 1999, we left Connecticut with three children to start our expat journey, and here we are, five countries and 25 years later, with four children living between Australia and the U.S., embracing the peaceful surroundings of New Hampshire: two weddings, two locations, a nod to the past and present.
The past few months have been a flurry of activity with engagements and holidays. We have also become frequent dog sitters for our daughters, two enthusiastic playmates for Tani. Life is full!
10:20 am
I am impressed that I managed this long overdue post in two hours. As I type, both dogs have moved onto birdwatching and snoozing on chairs alongside the windowsill. Peace at last.
So, here are my thoughts. I have a lot of wedding notes and more to come, and I thought I would keep them in one spot on my blog. I am hunting for two mother-of-the-bride dresses…that’s a story in itself. I feel like many of you have been there or might be on a similar path. I will let you know when the post is up and running. In the meantime, I welcome all tips and advice!
Before I go, if you embrace winter or summer silence, you might enjoy these…
A poem from David Whyte on where you need to be, Just Beyond Yourself. I highly recommend watching the video.
From Ellen Langer, a reminder to pay attention with Mindfulness in the Age of Complexity
I love this book list for women ages 50 to 110… 50 Must-Read Fiction Books Featuring Older Women
I read How to Write a Personal Manifesto and started my own…because, why not?
Bloom where you are; this one is for you gardening souls… 200 Years of Great Writers and Artists on the Creative and Spiritual Rewards of Gardening
I loved this book! If you missed my recent Newsletter -here is what I had to say:
I have read some fantastic books these past months, and I want to tell you all about them, but this one is the one….the one that makes you want to pay it forward again and again. I couldn’t put it down. The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams will pull on your heartstrings. Expect to cry, laugh, think deeply, and feel the need to visit your local library… to run your fingers along the spines of books and inhale deeply.
An excerpt from the book….
Just in case you need it:
To Kill a Mockingbird
Rebecca
The Kite Runner
Life of Pi
Pride and Prejudice
Little Women
Beloved
A Suitable Boy
I love where this list takes you…
You can find it in Kindle Unlimited if you are a Kindle subscriber.
With that, I wish you a lovely weekend and happy reading.
Jeanne xx
