A Mother’s Journal

I can be so spontaneous.  It’s what I love most about myself.  Except when it keeps me from doing something really important that I’m supposed to be doing and then I feel bad.  But usually I’ve done something so much fun in its place I have a hard time being sad.  It’s an affliction, really, and I know at least a few of my children have inherited it.

Tuesday was a gorgeous, gorgeous day!  It really was.  I was supposed to work, but the internet was out, giving me actually the perfect opportunity to clean up some in the house and help Michaela with some math.  We did do some math, but then the bright sunny window in the den kept calling to me.  Look out, out into the yard, and see the needy playhouse.

(old before picture)

I looked.

I had a vision.

There are wood scraps in the yard and there’s a scrap bin at Home Depot.

I closed the math book.

I began to stare.

“Mama, what’s wrong?” Michaela asked.

“Nothing,” I said, walking zombie like to the back door.

I claim I’d like to claim little to no responsibility for this act of frivolity, but somehow Michaela and I ended up outside with the drill, the hammer, screws, nails, a tape measure and no plan whatsoever, and little by little we closed in the little house that sits up high as part of her swingset.

Yeah, we just used what we had and it’s not fancy, but it’s so much fun!  And we had fun doing it!

Are you ready for a tour?

Honestly, I’ve had a hard time staying out of the playhouse ever since.  It’s actually a wonderful little retreat, right in my own yard.  Once you climb up and in, there’s a piece of wood (above) that goes over the opening from the stairs and can be held in place by a long curtain rod.  The curtain rod holds a heavy curtain that covers the opening to the slide.  Curtain rod has a dual purpose.  Sort of like me.  I teach math and I build playhouses on the side.

Once inside, with that wood up and the curtain closed, it turns into a little house. Oh, and that’s a real window on the front in the first picture. It just adds something special. We might have to hang a pretty something in it for decoration.

That coffee cup.  It’s mine.  And that’s my leg, still pajama clad, because I had my coffee in the playhouse this morning, with the curtains and doors closed and I read gardening magazines.  All by myself.

The back wall is mostly closed up.  The opening at the top is pretty open, for sure.  In other words, you would not be able to sleep out here in 27 degree weather, but you can see the stars through it!  And yes, I was out there Tuesday night, with my lantern and candles, hiding.  I asked the carpenter if he wanted to come up and he said he got enough excitement out of watching me go up and so he politely declined.

I am making up for all of the days I never had a playhouse when I was little.  I did have a playhouse, but not every day of my entire childhood.  It was not built until I was in about 6th grade, so I think some make-up time is completely necessary.

See that white panel to my left?  That’s another sliding door.   If you need to flee out the back of the playhouse, you slide that door open and go down the fire pole.  I did that once already and I said WEEEEEEEE as I was going out.

Maybe my favorite corner.  An old bike basket covered in candles.

Two hanging candle lanterns and two or three tabletop candles give the perfect amount of light to sit in there at night with a cup of hot tea.  Thinking.  Looking at the stars.  Taking an occasional peek at a gardening magazine.  I’m not sure if this is Michaela’s playhouse or my hiding place.  What do you think?

Our week has been so crazy, we got very little school work done; let’s be honest here. If we did not homeschool, I’d worry, but I know there is an ebb and flow to homeschooling that allows for life lessons.

One thing we did do this week was to make a pretty mobile that’s full of birds, bees (from the Scrap Exchange, of course), and just little bits of glittery what-nots.

In fact, we had started this the morning that we found Oreo.  While we worked, we talked about things we are thankful for.  Our efforts were made in little spurts as Michaela kept going out to call Oreo, but working with our hands gave us something to keep ourselves busy while we worried.  The table (above) was left in just such a mess when Michaela came in so upset and then we left quickly to go to Dr. Mac’s office.

Once home, and after getting Oreo settled in the best we could, we finished up our little mobile.  The goal is to add beautiful, floating-in-the-air words to it throughout December, naming things we are thankful for.

I love the little fabric covered birds, and the keys — I guess Oreo had the key to our hearts that day. 

There is a large barrel full of these bees at the Scrap Exchange.  I love them!

The birds and large, heavy bees remind me of my garden.

The centerpiece of the mobile is Michaela’s bird.  A fancy bird with exquisite feathers.

I’ll be sure and show you a picture of our mobile at the end of December.

Happy Saturday!  Here’s to enjoying and living in the moment and being the best we can be right now.  We only have today.