baby, it's cold outside

 

brrr...it's 25 degrees outside right now. we plan on going to the winter fair at the waldorf school later on. it should be a balmy 27 degrees by then. the little house is having serious issues keeping warm. i wanted to blog last night but this back bedroom was too dang cold -- like being outside -- cold. we have insulation in the walls and in the attic (a lot up there), and a heat pump for heat (are those as heavy duty as a furnace? i googled last night because i was wondering what it meant when your thermostat read "auxilliary heat"). as usual, the google answers were confusing and after a few minutes, i just shut the window on that search. the floors are freezing (pier and beam), and those windows, well they are a lost cause, i suppose. i'm not excited to see our energy bill for this month. 

anyhoo. it'll warm up. this is texas afterall. in the meantime, i'm loving the for real opportunity to get cozy. it's non stop candles, wool, and tea around here. 

all of this cold weather had me brainstorming a way to get a woodstove into our house. and i finally found a rather obvious solution! if byron could make a built in bookshelf (ceiling to floor -- serious endeavor -- is there a way NOT to run out of bookshelf space?) in our hallway, we could clear a corner in our living room  and place it there. 

but you know, it's still hard to justify. the day before this cold snap it was 80 degrees. winters are all over the place over here. 

well, i guess that's all of my saturday morning rambling i have for now. 

here's a few photos from the past week. 

okay, now, that i posted these photos, i remember i have more to say about the holdiays and such.

we've been having a little advent magic around. no calendar, just little cards that bea finds laying around the house - inspiration from her beloved martin and sylvie from sparkle stories.  one card for each day. so far, we've decorated the tree, have had hot cocoa in our santa mugs, donated a toy and a jacket to those in need, celebrated st. nicholas day, attended the advent choral concert at the univeristy in our town...oh, and she got a new pair of puppy dog slippers. 

i'm doing my best to keep the days low key. we are all so sensitive to hype around here. we hibernate at home as much as possible and get out only for fresh air, important errands, or very special events (which we keep to a minimum). bea has a nervous energy about her that i haven't seen in a long time. her play is rambunctious, loud, and unfocused. i'm trying to ride the wave with grace, but that try certainly is far from full proof. to ward off the craziness of what is easily an over the top time of year, i keep the candles burning, the mulling spices simmering, the sufjan stevens and elizabeth mitchell playing, and the lavendar baths a comin'. we'll find our sweet spot soon enough, i'm sure.  

overall, these days are sweet. i'm so glad i still blog because the other night, i found myself reading back in my archives of all the decembers i've been writing here. it was nice walk down memory lane. there were lots of little things i wrote about that i'd forgotten. bea is so big now. she is so not the little toddler with pitter patter footsteps. sigh. it goes by fast. in a few years from now, i know i will look back to now and think that she was still so little and pure. sometimes, it's hard to believe that the years are linear. wouldn't it be nice if we could somehow dangle our toes back and forth between past, present, and future. then again, perhaps that's the purpose of all this journaling and documenting. 

have a lovely weekend, dear friends. 

ps: any other typepad users having issues lately. i'm experiencing some snarkiness from my blog when i try to format or add links. 

 

Comments

[Noelle]

As someone new to fire place ownership, you will find an excuse to build a fire when the temps are even a tiny bit chilly. And the heat is so lovely. I'm sure it would be a splurge, but I can't imagine you would regret it! Stay warm :)

[jenny newell]

great pictures as always! we love our woodstove. we live on the oregon coast and use it mid fall through mid spring... it's wonderful. i am so curious what that little basket of fabric wrapped goodness is under your tree?

[Nichole]

oh, i know i would love having a woodstove...it's just the upfront cost that keep us from moving forward. one project at a time...:) i run a small montessori home-based preschool. on thursday, we celebrated st. nicholas day. the little fabric baggies were for the children. inside each one was an assortment of nuts and an orange. st. nicholas also left us a jar of hot cocoa, and some crafting materials to make spinning tops. :)

[Nichole]

oh, i think we'd love it. now, what number do we assign it on the list of priorities?? that's the real question! :)

[amanda (sweetpotatoclaire)]

these photos are all such eye candy Nichole~ LOVE them! especially the 1st, 5th, and 7th. so sweet. makes me feel like I'm snuggled up in your house with you ;)
xo

[Nichole]

aw, thanks. it's fun playing around with new sorts of light and scenes. can't go wrong with wintery things! you are more than welcome to come and snuggle at my house any ole time.