Reading

Dear Candace,

I am writing to you in the depths of despair, as Anne would say, since my impacted sinuses are giving me no relief and I’m considering applying a small hammer to my cheekbones in order to loosen things up a bit.

Never am I so grateful for modern conveniences as when I’m sick. Tom can run to our nearby Walgreen’s to get whatever OTC meds I desire as well as the lotion-est of tissues. Additionally, my essential oil cache is being put to use as I frantically google, “how to transform your face from The Hulk into something more human with a drop or two of magic oil.”

{Later…} The apocalyptic ice storm turned out to be quite mild in our area, but we were happy to remain at home, drinking hot tea and being cozy. I was sick and lazy- Tom, on the contrary, his usual healthy and efficient self. He continued remodeling in our laundry room, and thankfully the power never went out during the Midwest Ice Event of 2017. Our hot water heater needed to be relocated, new drywall finished and painted, carpet tiles put down, all the things.

I’m no longer scared of my dungeon basement laundry area and might actually do laundry more often. {I’m trying to trick myself into believing that with the addition of white paint and turquoise jars, the whole thing can be a spa-like experience.} This week I’ve been working on tackling the enormity of  laundry piled up from when the room was under construction. We had an abundance of winter wear to be washed, too. (Ugh, wet gloves.) The kids are going to be responsible for their own laundry entirely. I really mean it this time.*  I’m redoing our whole system-out with the broken plastic hampers! No more dim lighting! Empty your pockets or suffer the consequences! Be cheerful and turn those socks right side out!  I’m getting over my passion for hating laundry and ridiculous OCD washing habits. You are going to be so impressed.**

What else? What else is that I’ve left the house only once in the last week. I’m feeling a little stir-crazy, but it’s also sort of wonderful after such a busy holiday season. I’m not sure how, but we keep eating leftovers. I feel like reinventing myself and my house this month. Winter nesting mode, I have arrived! You know what else is really getting to be kind of embarrassing? Christmas tree is still up.***

Please do not get the nasty cold I’m still trying to shake off,

Rachel

*Caleb has been washing all his own clothes this week. BOOM

** I might even mix different kinds of darks. Deep breaths.

***It’s coming down this weekend. Today I asked Caleb to pull the Christmas containers out of storage so I could pack everything up properly first thing tomorrow morning. JANUARY I GOT YOU

The First Letter

Letter 3

Dear Candace,

You know that feeling of rising early on a cold, dark January morning and getting a few quiet hours of accomplishment in before the kids wake up?

Me neither.

I suspect I’m still experiencing holiday hangover-all the company, traveling, and late nights has affected me. I’m not besties with my alarm right now. In fact, I’ve gotten really good at turning it off and not realizing I’ve done so. Then I wake up much later than I intended, with a jolt, as if I’ve forgotten something important. It’s a case of my left hand not knowing what my right hand is doing. Literally.

I’m seriously considering moving my alarm far enough away so I have to physically get up in order to turn it off. That sounds like a lot of potential for accidental self-injury, though. I can’t risk another badly stubbed toe. I’m still commiserating over my last toe injury. Update: I don’t think I’m going to lose the nail, after all. No pastel nail polish for me; it’s all deep purple and blue shades the next couple months.

I should invest in one of those wake-lights. The kind that slowly bathes the room in a glorious, warm light, simulating a sunrise as the distant sound of ocean waves fills your waking consciousness. Perhaps a bowl of sand on my nightstand will add to the affect.

This reminds me of The Barisieur! Remember? It’s only the best invention ever-a bedside alarm clock which, besides having great style, synchronizes with the alarm settings to brew a cup of drip coffee right by your sleepy head. I’ve been following the project probably too obsessively since its inception. Apparently I’m not the only one who would love to wake up to coffee brewed directly on my nightstand since the kickstarter was a success. It can still be pre-ordered before it debuts fall 2017! I wonder if my husband knows this?

I’m rearranging the living room again. When Linda* was here, I began asking for her advice on what kind of book storage I should put in the one remaining usable corner (floating shelves? bookcase?) and by the end of the conversation we had moved and readjusted a few small pieces around the room that had been bothering me in their current placement.

There’s not a lot you can do in a small rectangular space lined with windows and door openings and only one spot for the piano, but I’m tweaking it again. Tweak.

Linda and Naomi** both encouraged me to choose white storage over black since it will tie in better with the rest of the room. It’s so agreeable when people tell you exactly what you want to hear. I’m feeling desperate about organizing the rest of our books. They need to get OUT of the basement.

Drew’s birthday is here! 10! The party last week for him and Sophie was perfect. What happened? We blinked, and now they’re both a decade old and reading fine literature.*** He wants homemade chicken pot pie for family dinner. My kids never pick easy stuff like frozen pizza for their birthday food. It’s all elaborate “steak with 6 sides and let us toast with sparkling juice” kind of meals.

Christmas tree is still up. Almost set Drew’s gifts underneath it.

Come inspect my living room when it’s done,

Rachel

*my sister-in-law

**my sister

***A Series of Unfortunate Events, Elephant & Piggie books, THE BIBLE

Letter 2

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking through one of my links, I will receive a {very small} commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this blog!