Monday, January 8, 2018

January and Pauses

(Remember when Bill and I went to Hobbiton? Oh, that was SO cozy!)

Hello!  Another week of January has begun and it hasn't been boring.  I had book club today and tomorrow Bill has a colonoscopy.  Boo, right?  It's routine and easy peasy but the PREP is horrible, as many of you know.  

For book club we read Thus Far and No Further by Rumer Godden (I know I already told you what book we were reading) and the discussion was very rich.  It's a real treat to read her descriptions of life on a tea plantation.  I recommend. (Gretchen, since you are in India now, you might like reading it!)

Our girls and I are doing Weight Watchers again.  The program is new and fairly painless.  I am much too round and I'd love to be able to hop spritely about someday(that may be too lofty of a goal!  LOL!) Anyway, I've definitely been eating more wholesome foods and it's good for my heart (I feel compelled to take pretty good care of my ticker).


 One of the ladies in my prayer group shared a reading about "the pause" that can be a practice for us.  I may have misunderstood (everyone else acted like they knew what she was referring to) but I like the idea of embracing occasional pauses.  Do you?  January can be a pause because it's often cold and cloudy, so we tend to hunker down and quiet our busy selves.  Our January has not held snow but other parts of the country have received heaps of it.  Snow is conducive to pauses.  Sometimes simply NOT talking can provide a nice piece of peace for us and those around us.  What do you think about pausing?



Here's a little pre-February pink.  In Thus Far and No Further, Rumer Godden says that every room should have a little bit of pink.  It could be on a decorative bowl or in the lining of a curtain.  It could be a printed rug.  Do you have any pink in your house?  I do love pink.


I sewed some purple pants today.  They are meant to be bloomers worn with a dress (I might make the dress tomorrow when we return from Bill's procedure).  I've yet to make the top (100 Acts of Sewing).  I will.  
I've been knitting socks and working on sweater finishes.  I am also plugging away on a Sockhead hat.  
I've been working on organizing my embroidery threads in a notebook (little bobbins tucked in plastic pockets).
I am already craving flowers.  It's way too early, but when I look at pictures of our garden I miss the lovely blooms.
I must buy some hyacinth bulbs.  
I hope you are feeling inspired, loved, at peace, and satisfied.
God be with you, kind visitor.  


21 comments:

ellen b. said...

A pause...definitely a month that is different but we have way too many birthdays this month to pause. And...we are still in the middle of Master Bedroom renovations which cannot be paused. Love the thought of you in Hobbiton. I need to find someone to do a program with to fight my roundness. Blessings!

NanaDiana said...

Well, I am glad you didn't say you were taking a pause from blogging. I am taking a bit of a pause in many areas of my life right now though. Good for you for joining WW. I can't tell you how many times I joined over the year. I got within 5 pounds of the goal they set (way back in the dark ages) and they would not budge from that number so I could become a lifetime member. I was so bummed. I think Oprah Winfrey has made some huge changes since her buyin to WW.

Hope you have a good, blessed week!!!! xo Diana

Granny Marigold said...

You're so busy with sewing, knitting and organizing!! I'm glad you also takes pauses. They are very important.
I'm craving flowers too, and warm weather.
Good for you joining WW. I'm more of a do-it-on-my-own kind of person but so far I haven't done much. I think I'll take inspiration from you and get serious.

Farm Girl said...

So nice to read what you have been doing and thinking and reading. It always makes me happy to see a window into your life. I do need to get that book. How interesting. I bought some pink silk flowers the other day. I guess I am missing flowers too.
I think a pause is lovely. I think Jan. Is like that.
I will put Bill on my prayer list and be praying for you both tomorrow.
Bye for now my very sweet friend.

Julie said...

Hello Pom Pom = yes I am all for pauses ... the longer the better sometimes. And yes I definately have pink in my house ... such a pretty restful colour. Might have to look up that book you have recommended Xxx

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi, A pause is nice once in awhile but with all you do how do you find the time to pause? I wrote down the book you read and will check to see if our library has it. After a winter like this we will all be craving flowers to enjoy! Nancy

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Pauses are very good for us, mentally, spiritually and physically.

Do I have pink? Yes, here and there and in each and every room. Lots of other colors as well. I love color.

Have a lovely January ~ FlowerLady

Sue McPeak said...

Pause...not easy for me, but a good idea...having a little forced one now with Xtreme Wrist Sprain. Slowed me down, but not totally paused...LOL. Getting into PINK sewing for Valentines shop with pillow cases and heart hangers. Watch for them on CITexasGal. Good for you sewing, knitting and nesting. Happy January!

Susie said...

Oh honey, I am too round too. Gaaa. I get to pause when the hubby does his fishing trip in spring. I am ready !! LOL You do keep busy. Love the Susan Branch book. Blessings to you and yours, xoxo, Susie

Julia said...

Wishing Bill good results from his procedure and good health report.

I think pauses are necessary and I do pause from different aspects of my life once in a while. I haven't blog in a long time, I've put my rug hooking on hold and I no longer go on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

I do have pink or shades of pink in my house although I never wear pink.

Hugs, Julia

GretchenJoanna said...

I have read a few Rumer Godden books set in India but not that one - so I will certainly look into it. Thank you, Pom!

Lisa Richards said...

I like the idea of pauses. I had a "forced pause" this weekend with the flu. I'm almost over it, but it was a good excuse to just read and watch movies and not expect too much of myself.
I need to get back to healthier eating as well. I was doing so well for a while. Must be the holidays' fault, lol. I've gained back 10 pounds that I had lost. Need to eat healthier and get back to exercising.
I've heard that pink is a color that relaxes people.
I don't usually read a lot of fiction, but I did just finish a crochet mystery, lol. Now I'm starting another cozy mystery. After that I'll probably finish up some more serious reading material. I'm doing the Goodreads Challenge to encourage myself to read more. ;)
I trust that Bill got an all clear on his colonoscopy!
Hugs to you!

happyone said...

I'm not too much of a pause person but I consider my morning walk as a kind of a pause, maybe not physically but emotionally.
My office is a light lavender color, almost pink, but there is a little pink shelf in here too.
Love the hobbit picture - it would make a great jigsaw puzzle!

Gumbo Lily said...

The book sounds very interesting.
Good for you taking the Weight Watchers challenge with your girls. It's so good to have someone to be accountable to and share ideas and recipes and good choices.

I hope Bill has a good report on his procedure.

I am not wise about spiritual pause, but it seems in my life there are certain pauses. Right now there is a pause in our work. Feeding chores, but that's about all. But soon, we will start up with lambing (Feb.) and it snowballs from there.

God bless you!

Debi said...

Pauses are a good thing in theory, but I think most of us don't remember to make time for them. I have been thinking of gardening too... I usually do in January. For me January is a pretty slow month so my mind turns to spring things!

Nancy McCarroll said...

Reading your post is like having a chat with you,

My grandmother always said every room should have a touch of red in it. To her credit, she followed that rule with a red throw pillow ion the living room couch. It never was updated in all the years I lived with her, and beyond. So there must be something to it, that red/pink. Hugs from me to you in January.

Jeanie said...

My pink was Christmas pink and alas, it is gone. The Susan Branch book looks great! I tried all Christmas to find the right pink sweater and it could not be found. I wanted something bright and rosy and not quite bright fuschsia but happy and all I could find were these pale, mauvy-looking things that would make me look like a dead woman. Pink only works when it's the right pink for you!

Lowcarb team member said...

Pink is my favourite colour ... and there are splashes of pink around our house.
Sending my thoughts and good wishes for Bills procedure.

All the best Jan

Henny Penny said...

I've been trying lately to pause more. I've always felt like people would think of me as being lazy if they caught me not working. I rarely sit down during the day. Oh my, I have simply got to stop eating junk and sweets!! It started before Thanksgiving and now I can't seem to get control again!! Need to do more than pause with my eating...I need to stop! You are so sweet, Pom Pom!!

Elderberry-Rob said...

I would like to do more pausing, I am trying to do pauses daily - just a 10 min sit down to relish the moment. I am also still trying to complete my 12 acts of kindness, it's harder than I thought!

Kit said...

Morning! I love to take lots of little pauses. They refresh me. You are soooo right, the prep for the procedure is worse than the test! I think I am due for mine. Yuck! Can't I just drink a milkshake, those clean me right out....LOL I remember Weight Watchers was a god send after my first child. I lost 70 pounds! Good luck! :) Kit

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