We were visiting a dear friend, *Bunbury.

During our Bunburying, we also caught up with family, painted some walls, tried new recipes, and painted a few other things.

**

“I have invented an invaluable permanent invalid called Bunbury, in order that I may be able to go down into the country whenever I choose. Bunbury is perfectly invaluable.” The Importance of Being Earnest

Because there is none.

Nada. Nuthin.

EVERYTHING was painted over white. Doors. Wood banisters, wallpaper…

I’ve been saying for months that I would paint our bedroom. I wanted it a deep, lovely Marrakech  blue. I kept telling myself, eh maybe next weekend.

Well, it’s Thursday night. It’s January. It’s bleak. To quote Ben Gibbard, “…there’s a lack of color here…” and it’s time to do something about it.

We’ll see how it turns out.

Don’t be fooled–that’s a 1/2 pound of chocolate right there…

It started out cold, cloudy, and dark Saturday morning.  The perfect day for one of my favorite soups (that or my dad’s split-pea soup–yummo!). It had rained during the night, and I was crossing my fingers for a snow storm.

It didn’t come.  But, it did remain grey and gloomy for the rest of the day, which put The Gamer and I in the mood to put out our Christmas decorations. (And put our prankster neighbor in the mood to unplug our lights that evening…)

Why do I love winter so much?

Snowboots. Wool socks. Mittens. Hot chocolate. Bing Crosby. Not needing an excuse to make chowder, soup, stew, and anything in the oven. Family. Christmas. Love.

In one of my most beloved books, Romancing the Ordinary by Sarah Ban Breathnach, she tackles the winter ennui by encouraging us to throw ourselves out of doors and embrace the season. Feeling a little glum in the morning? Try this recipe and resist nibbling on it until it’s time for desert:

Snow Sherbet

YOU WILL NEED:

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup superfine sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

8 cups of fresh snow (remove the ice crust on top and scoop up the soft, wet snow immediately beneath it)

Chocolate and nutmeg, shaved, for garnish

   Combine the cream, sugar, and vanilla. Beat well until frothy. Place the mixture in a large bowl and gradually add the snow until the liquid is completely absorbed. Place in freezer until serving. Garnish with chocolate and nutmeg.

Kind of makes you excited for the next snow storm, doesn’t it?

{ which you may recall as being my favorite place in the world. }

September’s never been my favorite. Especially this year. From a broken car, to having to completely change my diet, it’s felt like one thing after another.

It could be far worse. Far, far worse. I know that.

But I think it’s okay to sit, mope, and play Gears of War every once in awhile.

I’ll be back soon.

I don’t think that people should have to get up before the sun does. And I prefer rainy mornings, not sunny ones, so you can imagine the fight I have with that one.

Sunday night, through a series of events, I found myself without a working cell phone.

 We don’t have a land line, so this was my only means of communication with the outside world. We worked late into the night on Sunday trying to get something to work for me.  Finally, I told Ty I was done, and wanted to go to bed.

“But you won’t have a phone,” he said. “Is that ok?”

I told him I’d made it without one for 2 weeks in Thailand, and if I could survive a foreign country without a phone, I could make it a day or two without it here.

I woke up Monday morning, and felt calm. It was quiet from a storm having rolled through the night before. I turned on some music that I usually meditate to, and started to get ready. I left the TV off, I left the computer off, and didn’t once think about my phone.

I made it to work earlier than usual, and got ready for the work day.

It was the most peaceful day I’ve had since we came back from Thailand.

Of course, my phone is working once again, but I’m kind of sad that it is. I really enjoyed the quiet.

Ty and I had decided earlier to have one night a week where we turn off all power to the house, and just enjoy the quiet. I’m thinking it’s time to do that with the phone, as well.