Life is Art

This morning I awoke amidst the three others in my family, burrowed under blankets on a large mattress Pangaea on the floor of my kids' room. These measures are necessary because we are currently having our house interior painted and sleeping in a freshly-painted room is, well, kind of gross and scary. That's OK because I am secretly (or not-so-secretly) a big fan of family-sleeping. So last night I was only too thrilled to move a TV into the kids' room and watch a movie (a "conventional but entertaining sports flick" indeed - I'm coming to believe the Disney sports films - The Rookie, Invincible, etc. - are my version of other women's romantic comedies - which I don't watch - perhaps because they are always well-crafted, contain a good period soundtrack, and are comforting, formulaic, and only mildly emotionally moving), a late-night snack, and all-night family snuggle.

This morning I disentangle myself from the litter and start coffee; Ralph and Nels soon follow in waking up and while I shower Nels lays on the floor whinging as Ralph washes breakfast dishes (apparently being hungry for ten minutes in the morning is an existential nightmare for our son). After getting dressed I snuggle next to my daughter's sweet body and we lie in bed quietly for a while. Then she starts talking, whispering to me of a purple dragon, a dragon "that saves people". She sits up cross-legged and holds her hands in front of her, meshes the fingers to cup someone gently, and tells me the creature has long claws to hold people, as she talks she is gazing off, remembering. "The dragon had a very friendly face," she breathes, her smile beatific.

Today has been a near-madhouse of activity, mostly including family events - playschool responsibilities, Halloween costumes, trick-or-treating - and significantly hampered by having the house torn apart for painting. But yes, I got all my Halloween sewing done, easy. And don't think I'm not thrilled that I have had emails asking me to post photos! And you would think I'd get to breathe a breath of relaxation now the Halloween sewing is done. My last day of my sewing workshops is tomorrow, however - so I have to prepare for that. Zippers. Funsies.


Nocturnal animals in my car, from the other night's late-night grocery run. Which I and the kids enjoy. Note Nels' many layers of scarf, which he wore all night without even toppling over.

Labels: chaos, family life, film, homesteading, Nels, sewing, tenderness