On the theory that it's better for me to drag my sorry self on here and make excuses than to remain absolutely silent, hello!
My excuses for blog silence: Pretty much what you'd expect as long as you weren't expecting abduction by aliens or something.
So many people coming and going and needing to be fed, a cold, a wicked sinus infection, laundry (which, to be fair, Bridget is dealing with), the fact that stopping blogging even for a few days makes me question everything and wonder who even wants to hear from me at all…
The new year brings with it many resolutions, of course! That light coming in… it's a promise of all sorts of energizing possibilities — if one could get off the sofa, of course. The daggers sticking into my cheekbones and forehead have prevented me from even so much as articulating my intentions to myself, much less being able to pass them along to you.
But as you know, intentions, resolutions, plans… they are all fine, but daily life has to be lived. Even in sickness — and my sickness is fortunately susceptible to medicine and will be over soon, it's just the “big baby” factor here — daily life goes on.
The older I get, the more attached to daily life I become.
I'm eager to go through the stash of projects I've accumulated and make some room for new ones, of course — both of the handiwork sort and of the intellectual sort. Lots of projects!
That silly dog parked herself on a bag full of scraps and squares that I cut/made a long time ago. I need to hurl them into quilt form, stat.
Got some knitting done. Pippo's hat and mitts are from last year, but Molly and Finabee's hats are this year's model! The pattern is Thorpe Hat, although I subbed in a seed stitch for the garter around the ears and added a pom pom because the cuteness police forced me to.
I also chucked in a fleece band so that the yarn wouldn't be itchy. I suffered a lot from itchy wool when I was a child, so even though this wonderful chunky yarn (from JoAnn's! Paton's Classic Wool Roving Yarn) is soft and warm, I wouldn't put it next to those babies' skin!
The extra-mild weather around Christmas was so great for cousin playtime! Pippo, Molly, Finabee, and FX all rolling around having a blast!
Can't forget Freddie! He's just a dear.
That's all I've got! Not even a {pretty, happy, funny, real} link-up! I will try to be more interesting anon. Love you!
Katie King says
Missed you. That is all. Glad to have a post.
Jenny says
I’m dying from the twin cousin cuteness here.
corina says
Happy new year! I hope you get better soon!
The photos are lovely, how many little children! They are lucky: so many cousins close in age!
I really hope you will include many blog projects in the category of intelectual sort 🙂 This blog is a treasure and a blessing, thank you again to all involved in creating it.
Sharon says
Dear Leila,
During Advent I followed a link that led me to you. While sick with the flu I read most of your posts dealing with keeping a reasonably clean and tidy house. I’m looking forward to your help in this new year. Please don’t give in to the lie that no one could ever want to read about your days. We do! At least I do. I appreciate your encouragement, because I do need to keep on cooking and teaching and cleaning even when it feels like too much. Even when I have the flu.
Your honesty (and your photos) give me hope for this new year. So keep on blogging and know that your hard-won wisdom is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Sharon in KY
Lisa G. says
Oh boy, you can bet I was getting concerned, so I’m glad you dragged yourself to the computer, but very sorry you’ve been ill. Happy New Year anyway!
Love the pictures of the little ones in the yard with the dog. So cute, so much littleness.
Lisa says
Welcome back! Those cutie-cousins are adorable. Blessings to all.
Kathy H says
Welcome back! Those cutie-cousins are adorable. Blessings to all.
Denise T. says
Your blog always lifts my spirits to places beautiful and good! I enjoy it tremendously.
Happy New Year!!!
Donna L. says
Hurrah! You simply made my month….thank you for dragging yourself in to let us know how you are coming along with your new year….Prayers of healing winging their way to you now..
Take care and rest when you can, I will happily wait until the next post…
God bless you and all you do–my life, and that of my family is infinitely better for having found you and your online journal of wisdom and love! Please know that you are appreciated more than you will ever know!
Allie says
I kept checking the website to be sure i was not missing something. Sorry to hear about the illness. figured you were up to your eye balls in “things”. Sorry you have been sick. From a long time sinus sufferer, inhale steam (the way Morticia Addams’ husband used to do with the bowl of steaming water and a towel over your head. ) works wonders if you do it for at least 10 min.
Babies= cuteness.
Rest. We will be here when you return. (don’t even think about not returning :))
Adele says
You were missed here too.
Michelle says
Love your blog and missed the posts. So glad to see those pictures. What a beautiful family.
Rebecca says
I kept checking everyday for the sunshine that your posts bring. I am glad that your light shone today on our lives in Toronto. I missed you and your family! You make the world a more cozy place, Leila.
Mrs. B. says
It’s a nasty winter, let me tell you… Different combinations of us have been sick since before Thanksgiving! Feel better soon, dear Leila – I’m glad Bridget is still there to nurse you.
And plenty of people out there care deeply to hear your thoughts 🙂
Lots of kiddos, that’s so much fun! It’s beautiful they have a place like your home where they can all come and visit and grow close. I hope my husband and I will provide just such a home to our grandchildren someday.
And my, the bearded look is all the rage chez Lawler this winter! 😉
SueG says
Lovely pictures (and kids)!
My first ever knitting project was a chunky wool blanket for my son. I solved the itchy factor by sewing cotton fabric to one side. A straight stitch down each side and two across the center in both directions held the fabric securely. It was perfect for the bitter winter temperatures and wind when we had to be outside.
Jenny D says
Auntie Leila, I have learnt so much from your calm, funny, sensible, down to earth advice. I too have missed your posts, and am very glad you are back. Happy New Year! Jenny, London.
Rachel Allison says
It’s OK that you rest…I just meet you in my dreams. Literally. After you tweeted about the Cathar, I dreamt that I met you in your church. I walked up to you and said, “I’m the sweet Protestant you tweeted about wishing to greet instead of the Cathar. Only I’m not unchurched, and I’m still a Protestant. But I still really, really like you.”
!!!!!
My dreams are psycho.
(But I really am a Protestant, and I really do still like you.)
So you rest, and I’ll dream up your further adventures.
Hee.
Leila says
Rachel, that’s hilarious! Too, too funny. If only — instead I get the creepy Cathar. What the hecketty-heck!!
His female companion WAS sweet and said she used to be Episcopalian, but you know I had no time or ability to speak to her. Just had to run AWAY.
Kimberlee says
Oh dear, I hope you are feeling better soon! Looks like you’ve enjoyed a blessed Christmastide with all of those happy grandchildren around, daggers notwithstanding. (and how Pippo looks like Bridget in that hat shot!)
Lacy says
Dearest Auntie Leila (and everyone else who has sinus issues),
Would you forgive a complete stranger for offering completely unsolicited advice? A few years ago, my oldest child, then 7, developed a chronic sinus infection which became a 10 month blur of antibiotics (10 rounds in 10 months!), pneumonia, ear infections, immune system testing, and last but not least, a tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy AND sinus surgery within 3 months of each other. So I learned a few things and turned into one of those nosy weirdos who harangues sinus infection sufferers with unsolicited advice. Here’s my advice. First: get thyself a Neil’s Med Sinus Rinse bottle!!! Use it twice a day with sterile water just a hair above body temperature and those little salt packs. Second: if you have a sonic-type toothbrush, put the back of it over your cheekbones, turn it on, and trace it around your eye sockets/over sinuses as long as you can stand it. It can sometimes jar the junk in there loose, so you can blow/rinse it out. Finally, most importantly in my opinion: GET YOURSELF TO A CHIROPRACTOR!!! After everything we went through a couple of years ago, I am now firmly convinced that our chiropractor gets rid of sinus infections more quickly and effectively than antibiotics. Because my little girl remains prone to developing sinus infections (she had another one less than 3 months post surgery) and now requires a month-long prescription of powerful antibiotics which don’t always seem to help, we get her to the chiropractor the minute she shows cold symptoms so that he can adjust her/manipulate her sinus area to jar the junk loose. I believe if we hadn’t been skeptics for so long and let our chiro work on our daughter sooner, she probably wouldn’t have needed sinus surgery. Hope you and all the other sick commenters feel better very soon. Your break was well-deserved. We readers will happily wait for you to come back anytime.
Leila says
Thanks, Lacy!
Weirdly, this came on at the tail end of my cold. I went to bed thinking, Wow, I can breathe, congestion almost gone, yay. Woke up with a cemented head. Went downhill from there, but NOT without nasal rinses, hot compresses, warm tea, and all the rest. I don’t normally get a sinus infection, so who knows, but I will keep your advice in mind!
Lacy says
They (pediatrician, ent, allergist) explained it to me like this: sometimes, when a person gets an upper respiratory tract infection, mucous trapped and not draining from the sinuses can be a perfect growing medium for bacteria thus creating a sinus infection. Much like with children and ear infections, some folks are–often for structural reasons–more prone to this happening than others. So, I’ve had three or four sinus infections in a lifetime. My ten year old had one that lasted for 10 months and countless others before she was 8. Where standard doctors differ from the chiropractor is in sort of shrugging shoulders and prescribing antibiotics in that situation where the chiro wants to adjust/manipulate so that mucous can drain BEFORE the infection grows so that, as he puts it, the body can fight those germs the way God intended for it to fight. In our case, getting the sinus kid to the chiropractor at the first sign of a cold seems to ward off trouble whereas waiting it out almost always produces an infection which takes longer to fix. So all this may not be necessary for you–it usually isn’t for me–but a year of dealing with a child’s sinus misery has turned me into a chiropractic care evangelist. Glad you’re feeling better!
Mamabearjd(Michelle) says
And we love you. Wanted to say Happy New Year since I don’t comment now because the collective has grown such that it has usually been said better than I could say. Still faithfully reading though!
Leila says
Michelle, thanks! We always love comments and recognize old friends for sure, but I understand. Thanks for sticking with us!
Robin says
That is how I feel…but the collective was already great when I got here! So I rarely comment but do show up faithfully to read, and YES WE DO want to hear from you! You help “daily life” so much! Thank you, Happy New Year, and feel better soon! Oh, and what adorable grandkids! 🙂
Lori says
I second what everyone else said! I’m glad you’re here!
Jamie says
I second her seconding that! Happy New Year! Best regards-Jamie
p.s. Is the Hong Kong Housewife and family no longer living in Hong Kong?
Leila says
HK housewife is indeed in this time zone now! Hooray!!
Rachel says
A Very Happy New Year Auntie Leila! I am sorry about the sinuses. I have a chronic sinus problem but do not get too much pain, tbtG, I know it can be unbearable. There have been some wicked bugs this winter over here (UK). I had bronchitis over Christmas, bacterial, the first time I have had this, on the tail of acute sinusitis and bacterial chest infection. Narrowly escaped the hospital ward, but it was hard with four little ones!
Lacy, I use the Neil Med sinus rinse and it is good, but will offer a word of caution, it can’t be used when there is blockage of the nose (I have nasal polyps) and can cause ear damage if used like this because of the pressures in the middle ear and Eustachian tubes.
I see an osteopath and she “bangs” on my cheeks to clear the sinuses, which works well, a bit like the vibrating toothbrush you describe, but more rigorous! I do it to myself now, lying on one side and using the fingers of the hand to rhythmically tap on the cheek just under the eye socket on the “upper” side of the face. You can tap hard (I can hear her fingers bang! )and then the sinus should drain. Then turn over and do the other side.
Praying for health for all and roll on St Blaise!
Lacy says
Thank you for that caution! We were told to use the rinse by a doctor, but only cautioned about using sterile water. Yes, our chiro does this percussive thing to cheeks as well with some sort of device. He can start a blocked nose pouring! Best wishes for you in healing and health!
Nancy says
I agree with all the comments before mine. Your blog is one of m favorite places in the blogosphere to visit. Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Theresa says
I hope you feel better very soon!
Stephanie says
Your staying away and focusing on family speaks VOLUMES about what we should all be doing during the feast 🙂 Your blog is so beautifully SEASONAL in a sense…you really help us prepare when we should be (I just loved your Thanksgiving prep re-post this year…I remembered to nurse my baby!) and we get lots of nice ordinary time with you in order to function well…and then it is quiet on here during the feast and celebratory times as if you are hinting to us…go be present and enjoy your families!
Also…I am reading My Battle Against Hitler by Dietrich Von Hildebrand and I’m sharing with anyone who will listen that it is a must read for 2015.
GOD BLESS from snowy beautiful Alaska! Get well soon…
Terri says
So happy to hear from you! Sorry you’ve been sick. Thanks for sharing all the pics of the littles–they’re just adorable.
Leila says
Thanks to all the sweet well-wishers! You are so kind! I will keep you updated on the fascinating goings on from the sofa on Instagram 🙂
Mary Edgerley says
So glad that you are back!! You can’t imagine how much I missed you! As I read your post this morning, I thought again how dearly I wish you were my next-door neighbor…….I feel as if we are kindred spirits, and I could learn SO much from you. Praying God’s blessings for your life this year!
julie says
I had been praying for you and checking the website sporadically. So glad you are feeling a bit better. Glad you are back!
Anne says
so sweet to see all those little people together!
Candice says
Welcome back Aunty Leila! I hope all those chubby pom pom babies are keeping you happy while you’re feeling poorly.
Please know that I LOVE your blog. Yours is my favourite of the whole world wide web. I’m sure many others feel this way, so thank you for continuing to write for us (and for your family).
Happy new years! xoxox
anothermom says
Such a blessing to see all the reasons you’ve been otherwise occupied! Such adorable “grandchildwuns”! We’ve had a full house for different reasons (due to oldest son and his three precious children having to move in with us during a very messy divorce), but have enjoyed the presence of little ones throughout this season of the Holy Child! May your illness be brief and your joy linger throughout the new year! Would appreciate prayers for families torn asunder by the influences of this present age.
Carly says
I love to see you in my inbox. Thanks for checking in. Feel better soon!
Jen says
I love your blog! I found it relatively recently and I wish I could reread all the posts from the very beginning! You are such a blessing to young moms (and probably all wives and moms!)
Lori says
I hope you are much better already! If not, here are a few things that work for my husband’s sinus infections: (1) dice 3 heads — not cloves — of garlic into a top quality olive oil. Let it sit overnight, preferably in a warmish place (on a heater?). Then just dip a finger/Q-tip in and put a thin coat over your sinuses/bridge of the nose/over the eyebrows. It caused my husband’s sinus to clear within minutes. The very act of preparing it may clear them, if you are the one dicing! Then, while it sits overnight… (2) Boil water. Put a cup or so in a bowl and drop in 2-3 drops (not more!) of any essential oil you have on hand — eucalyptus, tea tree or frankincense are great, but anything works. Then hang your head over the bowl, and throw a towel over your head for 10 minutes or so. (This also works for coughs and colds.) (3) If you are really brave, try a neti pot with warm water, 1/2 t salt and a probiotic capsule if you have one. (4) Massage of the sinuses, if you can handle it, particularly with coconut oil or olive oil, with garlic/onion/an essential oil may also help.
Hope you feel better soon!
Amanda says
Love the herd of tiny cousins on the trampoline, so cute! I’m so sorry you got sick this Christmas season too! We were all hit with different bugs as well and mine turned into some sort of bronchitis-ish thing, which apparently I’m just prone to when pregnant. Not fun. But I’ll be praying for your quick recovery, thank goodness for medication to speed the process along! And Happy New Year to you and yours!
Mrs. Pickles says
Yayyy! I’m so glad you’re back! Sorry about the sickies. Something about the great Sharing of Germs during Christmas week — we’re still fighting off head colds as well. ‘Tis the season!
Love the pictures of the grandbabies!! You must have been in heaven.