Thursday Letters: Child

My niece was the recipient of this week's letter. She's eleven and full of creativity.  Her art form is beading at the moment.  But she also loves to draw, journal, and countless other things.  So in the letter was a how-to diagram drawing of a girl.  I hope she enjoys it.

For me children provide some of the best inspiration.  They haven't learned to hold in their passion or to be pretentious and hide their true selves.  They are free.

Is there a child who inspires creativity for you?

Next Week's Prompt: Grandparent (or older friend)

Weirdest vs Romantic Proposals

What's the weirdest or most romantic proposal you've heard of?  Perhaps it was yours, maybe someone in your family, or even something you heard of on the news or in a book. Please share!

At the end of the day I will tally romantic versus weird and see what we come up with.


Happy Valentine's Day!

OR as my daughter (who hates this day) says, Happy Single Awareness Day!

A Thousand Years

I had friends in my home non-stop for twelve days.

Twelve blizzard snow-days.

That went on for a thousand years.

And I realized once again, I am not a people person.

Don't get me wrong, I love people.  And I thoroughly enjoyed visiting my friends.  But I am not one of those who is energized by crowds.  After a while, I begin to wane.  I can't focus on the conversation.  I feel antsy and nervous. I find reasons to go to bed early or take long baths.  I slink away by myself to write or paint like my life depends on it.

I don't know if it's a failure to understand being with others or if it's just the way I'm made, but eventually I have to remove myself.  I have to have a break from people.  I find myself looking forward to being completely alone.  To being able to think once again.  Everything comes back into focus once I have some solitude.

I used to chide myself about this side of me.  But now I embrace it.  It's as much a part of me as the characters in my head.  And my family has learned to give me space between gatherings to recoup my hostess-y self.

For the record, we haven't had company for four days.  **Happy sigh**  I feel restored and ready for life.  My energy's back and my step has a skip in it.  It's a good thing too, because my daughter just slumped down in front of me with her face scrunched in misery.

"Mom," she said, "I need people.  It's been a thousand years since we had anyone over."

Thursday Letters

If you haven't read about my Letter Project, check it out here.

The friend I chose for this week's letter is vivacious, tall, beautiful, full of laughter and a giving heart.  Always quick to entertain, she loves people.

Unfortunately, the recent effects of cancer keep her from being able to do many of those things now.  We talk and see each other often.  But I figured a letter in the mail could be an unexpected connection.

I shared what my family's been doing while being snowed in the last two weeks.  My son built an igloo for the first time (since it's the biggest snowfall we've ever had).  My youngest daughter organized countless drawers and closets.  My eldest daughter baked more cakes (Reeses Buttercup Cake, YUM!).  And I was able to paint five more pictures (one of them above).  I hope my friend enjoys an imaginary tour of our adventures.

Next Week's Prompt: A Child

Thursday Letters

So as my letter project for this week, I wrote my brother who's six years younger than me.  Before he was born, I hoped for a boy and my sister hoped for a girl.  I won. :D

Why write to my brother?  He just moved to a faraway place leaving behind his wife to sell their house.  Due to the slow market, the house isn't selling.  He's been gone since December and has only been able to make a few trips back home.

I couldn't help thinking of him when I was deciding who to write.  I know nothing feels as cozy as a letter from home when you're secluded in a place where you know no one and you're being trained on a new job.

Unfortunately, I can't sent it.  We are snowed in.  Literally.  The whole town is practically shut down.  So hopefully I'll get it off by the weekend.  If anyone would like me to link to their letter project, let me know.  Below is a prompt for next week but feel free to write whomever you chose.

Next Week Prompt: Someone struggling with their health.