Monday, October 05, 2009

Pictures and prose

I have been "under the weather" these past few days. I'm hoping the yucky feelings and higher blood sugar levels end soon. Whatever was keeping me on the sofa also raised my blood sugar. One becomes their own medical detective...

I went to the eye doctor last week, who told me she had good news and bad news. My eyes are very good for someone who was misdiagnosed (as a Type 2 diabetic when I actually had developed Type 1) and went without insulin for so long.

Unfortunately, there is a spot on the retina of my right eye. She wants to check it again when we get back from New England to see if it goes away on its' own or if I have to see a specialist. I'm praying a lot! Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness.

I thought you might like to see the 25 cent teapot cozy I found at the Mission Thrift Store a few weeks ago. It was on the same shelf that I found the elegant cozy for $1.00.

As I wrote before, I have been influenced a lot by the book The Gentle Art of Domesticity and the Daisy Cottage blog to bring in color.

This is the perfect size for my smaller teapot, the one I use all the time but it can stretch to fit the bigger teapot.

Since our coffeepot broke, I've been making tea for us each morning, as well as our usual green tea in the afternoon and evening. Both of my everyday teapots are getting lots of use.

The clearance valance turned out to be lovely. After living with the beige for years, the green adds just enough color while still being calming. The two valances it took for this window cost a little over $8.00. The original cost was around $180.00 for the two... a significant savings.

We all love our old soft and cozy family room sofa. It has seen a lot of years and quite a few moves but it is still so comfortable. Christopher sleeps there quite often when he arrives home from studying late. College students are on a different body clock than normal people. :)

I read such a lovely book while resting on the sofa. It was purchased with a gift from a wonderful blog friend, who knew just what I needed to take my thoughts from Sasha for awhile.

It is a very good novel by Karen Andreola called Lessons at Blackberry Inn; Adventures with the Gentle Art of Learning. Although it is the sequel to Pocketful of Pinecones; Nature Study With the Gentle Art of Learning, you need not have read the first book to enjoy this one.

Both books follow a family who homeschools using the Charlotte Mason method, the scenes are about domestic arts, homeschooling, nature studies, mother expecting another child, taking care of the poor, hospitality... lots of great ideas in fiction format. I think they are suppose to take place in 1940s America.

Karen wrote my favorite book about teaching with the Charlotte Mason style called A Charlotte Mason Companion; Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning. Although a nonfiction book, it reads like a novel.

I've added all three to my Amazon recommendations widget. I just love all of them. Some may find the two fiction books a little too "sweet", for me they were so relaxing as well as informing. As Karen says when talking about the fiction books, they show more what we would like our home to be about.

I enjoyed the book even though I no longer homeschool, it is a pleasant novel for anyone who enjoys reading simple fiction with a domestic setting. Stephanie has a copy of Pinecones already, the latest book is on the stack of "things to pack for the trip".

Speaking of my daughter and Charlotte Mason... she has added another post about her Ambleside trip... here.

Picture: The shelves in the family room which show my inner child... the remnant of a former teddy bear collection.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

My dearest Brenda~
I knew you were my kindred spirit! :) I love teddys. I have the same exact one as you do(the one in the middle with the crocheted white collar and straw hat) I collect Boyd's Bears and at one time I even played with the thought that I was too old to still collect teddys but then I came to my senses! ;)
I am sorry to hear you are ill and I feel yucky,too. Must be something in the air that messes with us diabetics. Have a good day and be blessed. I am glad to hear the recommendation to read Karen Andreola's books. I have seen them and wondered if they were good. I will order them.

Blessings and Hugs,
Jeanie

matty said...

Feel better, Brenda!

Love the tea cozy. I really want to knit one, but have yet to find just the right pattern!

These book recommendations are coming faster than I can read! LOL Thanks for the many suggestions! You have a wonderful "eye" for books!

Take care of yourself!

Rain said...

I also love Karen Andreola's books. I re-read Pocketful of Pinecones every summer before we start a new year of school.
Hope you feel better soon. I will be praying for your eyesight as well.
Blessings.

Heather L. said...

Thanks for the book recommendations. Have just ordered them from the library.

The tea cozy is so cute -- I really want to make one like Jane Brocket's.

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

Here's my hug and prayer that the weather will soon be 'under' you, and not the other way round!

Enjoyed hearing about the books you've enjoyed and are reading these days.

One of the books that most influenced me years ago is Alexandra Stoddard's Living a Beautiful Life. When I read it so long ago, I felt like I'd come home. She was writing what my heart was longing for in the way of living beautifully in our homes, relationships and creativity.

May peace not fear fill your heart and mind these days......

The Pleasures of Homemaking said...

I hope you feel better soon Brenda and I will be praying that there's nothing wrong with your eyes.

The tea cozy is so cute! I would have picked it up too even though I don't drink a whole lot of tea. It's just so cute!

Thanks for the book recommendations!

Manuela

Brenda I'm sending you an email

Elizabeth said...

I read both "Pinecones" and "Blackberry" over the summer. Have never homeschooled but throught the books looked interesting...enjoyed both of them a lot...

Scrappy quilter said...

I love teddys too. C and I will be taking a course later this month on making our own bears.

Sorry to hear you've been under the weather. Hope you're feeling better soon. Hugs..

Anonymous said...

Brenda~
I am trying to order those books through your Amazon link and can't find them. Did you put them somewhere else?

Jeanie

Anonymous said...

Any book with a domestic bend that is edifying is a big yes for me! I sure hope your illness goes away pronto! I know here we are tired of our doctor visits...seems like we are there more than here at times. :) Jody

Anonymous said...

I so enjoy reading your blog. I want to encourage you to not ignore the spot on your retina. I'm only 47 years old, but turned out I had the wet form of age related macular degeneration. This is easily treated nowadays, but if left untreated will inevitably result in blindness. Of course, it could also be as a result of your diabetes, and have nothing to do with macular degeneration at all, but please be sure you follow up!

Have a great trip.
Caroline