February Love

As you know, I *love* February.  (I'll wait here while you skip back to last Feb in the archives...I know it would've been more helpful to post a link...)

And, while I have loved February fairly consistently, I have not always loved Valentine's Day (especially since most folks think Feb's only redeeming qualities are V-day and the Super Bowl [don't get me started]).

But, this year I feel inspired to go with it.  Not only love the month for all its luscious Februariness, but love the hype.  We are a fickle culture.  We'll be tearing down our crepe-paper hearts in favor of shiny shamrocks before the leftover cupcakes are eaten.  So I want to meditate in the love.  It's my way, this year, of slowing down and being aware.

February.

...Time...

Been thinking a lot about it lately and making some peace with it.  I love this post, because it makes me feel not-so-lonesome about it.  And encouraged.

And I happened across this show on the way home the other evening.  So great....

Life!

A Field Trip

Went to the Oil and Gas Museum today. Loved it. But there was one room that really stole my heart. A weird and slightly creepy room.



Old worn wood smell. Oily cast iron. Flaking tin ceilings.




Lovely, lovely apothecary shelves. And tell me with complete honesty you've never wanted to glide on one of those rolling ladders before. You can't.

And there was a romantic/industrial skylight. I spent much more time in this room than the others...especially the creepy basement. Horror movie stuff down there. Definite "vibes".




It was a grand time. You should go. Oh, yeah, we learned a lot, too. Of course!

~~.G.R.I.M.M.~~

So, I move in cycles. Right now, I'm in a Grimm's Fairy Tales whirl. Probably has a little to do with the fire in the woods, and the images that came with it...

I'm reading the Tales to my high schoolers, and they've been aghast:

"Are you serious?"
"What?!"
"Did they not think it was strange that there was a cake house that didn't have birds all over it?!"
"How did Rapunzel eat?"
"No way, that guy couldn't shoot a fly's eye at two miles!"
"Eeeew, what kind of mother tells her daughter to cut off her toe for a man??"
"What kind of witch puts a spell on him that he's a frog until someone tries to kill him?"
"Don't these people have ladders?"

I have, too. I don't think I've ever read "King Thrushbeard" before. I love that story. It reminds me of our Prince. You should read it.