The Tunnel

by Arianne on December 24, 2009

Imaging what would come out next, I sit by my fireplace that is not lit and imagine it a roaring fire to burn away all the sick. I see the flames in my head, all the colors.  Hear the crackling.  It’s so real.  I long for this vision to be a reality just so I could take a picture to share.  Things get forgotten and left behind in my mind space when not shared.  I need the “witness” to prove I was there and really thought that on that day.  Memories are like a vapor, and trying to hold on to them makes them float away that much sooner. Instead of holding, they need to be set free, but sharing is the only way.

***

Thinking of posts doesn’t help if you don’t write them, yet I’ve been too sick to do much of anything but think.  My daily life and noticing the beautiful mundane is what inspires my writing, but how can you be inspired if you never leave the house (some days never even leave the bed)?

My world is a narrow tunnel right now.  I could tell you about how I will want something very specific to eat but by the time it’s prepared (10 min) it sounds disgusting and no one is allowed to speak of it again.  I could tell you about the fact that this cold/flu from the depths of hell makes the gagging worse.  Or about how my right ear has been plugged up for 3+ weeks and the equilibrium issues making me crazy.  How about how my kids are still not “ok” since the move and I feel like it’s all my fault because I am the one that moved them away and I am the one not making it better. I can’t decide who is more low, me or my 7 year old.

These are the only things in the tunnel, everything else is outside of it, completely unaware that the tunnel is never-ending.

I feel the pull to share more, but I write it out and feel like a complainer and a girl stuck in a tunnel with no perspective.  This too shall pass, yes, but at the expense of all my creativity and an entire holiday season and all my joy?  I see the world going on without me, and feel left out, yet too weak to do anything about it.  New emails coming in give me anxiety because I often don’t have it in me to reply, and then I get sad when none come in.  Then the self-loathing kicks in again and I wonder how I could be blue when so many in the world are suffering so much (much) worse.

Joy is fleeting and I don’t want it to be. I don’t want to hit publish, but I will.

{ 5 comments }

Christmas Tour of Homes 2009

by Arianne on December 13, 2009

This is my first year in the Christmas Tour of Homes, being in a new Southern home and having all new corners and lovely places to put our beloved decorations was too fun to not share!

First, my lovely tree topping angel, that this year gets her own spot next to the fireplace so I can have her closer.  I hope she’s praying on our behalf…

Christmas Angel

A place for the cards, on our (very) old table that was my late grandmother’s (more pics of the table and matching mirror to come in a future post).

Cards O' Plenty

Many of our decorations are handmade, this one by my 5year old (made when he was 3).

Handmade Love

This one made by my great grandmother Pearl in the 70’s, she made many of these lovely and priceless ornaments that we have all over the tree (made with beads, needles and silk ornament balls).

Vintage Ornament

Anticipation and relief, as the tree is finally up…

Christmas 2009

Even our Elf on the Shelf seems happy to be a Southerner.

Elf on the Shelf

Handmade reminder of the Reason we’re all doing this…

Reason for the Season

The cold air return in our entryway makes for great illusion…the tree reaches the top of the stairs!

Finally, a Silent Night.

.

.

.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Silent Night

Be sure to check out all the other tours of homes at Nester’s place!

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

{ 19 comments }

Make Your Blog Lovely

by Arianne on December 8, 2009

sale_banner_180

Thank you all for so much baby love, I can feel your warm sunshine-y hugs and squeals and all the rest.  You bless me so!

I wanted to tell you about something that I think is special and unique and awesome.  Because I know it’s so fun to get a new blog design, our sites are our online homes, where we like to keep things neat and interesting and pretty for visitors, new and old.

If you checked out the Eco-Lovely Gift Guide that I hosted with Sara, you may have noticed its particularly adorable site design.  Ever since I was introduced to the whimsy of Cinnamon Girl Studio, who did our design for the Guide, I’ve been thinking about a new look here at this site for the New Year.

A new home, new baby, new year.  Time for a new bloggy-skin to go along with.

Today I was so excited to hear that Cinnamon Girl Studio is having a HUGE SALE on the prices of her design work, I think it would make a great gift for a bloggy friend and even better — for yourself.

Take a look at some of her site design work, at Nicholas Landon Jewelry, at Brooch the Subject, and at The Vintage Pearl. If you see something you like, be sure to get onto the list before there’s no more room!

Here’s to more lovely!

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

{ 2 comments }

Little Bun

December 2, 2009

You may have noticed me being MIA lately.  I had hoped it could be chalked up to moving and gift guiding, but some of you are getting wise to it and sending out SOS emails and asking if I’m ok (which I love).  I’m definitely more than ok.  I have another reason I’ve been gone [...]

98 comments Read the full article →

Giving Thanks

December 2, 2009

I don’t have many photos from our Thanksgiving, and I don’t have many stories to share from last weekend (I’ll tell you why soon), but I do have these.
Photos from our first Thanksgiving in the South.  This is how Charleston does it.

Namaste.

6 comments Read the full article →

Eco Lovely Holiday Guide

November 30, 2009

Today is Cyber Monday, a much preferred shopping day in my opinion, to Black Friday, and a GREAT day to tell you all about a project I’ve been working on for the past couple months.  My darling fellow southern amiga and fabulous blogger gal Sara Sophia from Tout Est Des Roses and I have been [...]

2 comments Read the full article →

Creative Memories Photo Gifts

November 24, 2009

When it comes time for choosing gifts for family, we often find ourselves leaning towards personalized gifts for all the grandparents. Most of them already have all the “stuff” they’d ever want, so we’ve found that any gift highlighting the kids is really special in their eyes.
I’ve been getting to know the Creative Memories website [...]

2 comments Read the full article →

Fit & Healthy Holidays

November 20, 2009

Hearing holiday music yet?  We’re going to have a VERY different Christmas this year, being in the South (my son asked if it’s still Christmas if it doesn’t snow…) and working on our own idea of Christmas Change (more about that to come).  I’ve been learning about how to combine giving gifts to loved ones [...]

120 comments Read the full article →

We Rejoice

November 19, 2009

Yesterday a guest post I wrote for Sarah Mae went up on her blog, Like A Warm Cup Of Coffee.  Please go check it out, it’s about God and autism and it was an honor to write something for her while she is busy moving her family to a new home.
It’s funny, because I wrote [...]

Related Posts with Thumbnails
2 comments Read the full article →