52 weeks ~ 2

::for 52 weeks, my kids and me::

We have had a weird, long week. It hasn't been bad, but just somehow out of balance. Baby sleep troubles, thinking about moving (to a bigger house, not a different locale ... sorry dear friends!), a couple of headaches for the mama (I so rarely get them that it's been pretty odd), and very few ideas about posting here. And a lot of projects begun, but none completed. So.

Today seems a bit better. Elisabeth and I started reading Little Town on the Prairie today. We'd read all the Little House books through The Long Winter last year, and then took a little pause (mostly because we didn't have the others). We haven't been able to put it down! This has to be my favorite of the books. I love the evocative way that she describes the simple pleasures in keeping a home so well, and the satisfaction of taking comfort in home and family after a day of real work. It has nearly brought me to tears a few times today. (Well, it's been that kind of week.) More than once, I wanted to jump up and rush in here to exclaim to you all, "You have to read this now, friends!" And my real-life friends will chuckle when they read that it has me thinking about a housecleaning kick. ;)

Anyway, I want to leave you (and me) to look forward to the weekend (and the upcoming spring, which is not really so far away afterall) with some words from the book:

"Beyond the open door and window the prairie was dusky but the sky was still pale, with the first stars beginning to quiver in it. The wind went by, and in the house the air stirred, pleasantly warmed by the cookstove and scented with prairie freshness and food and tea and a cleanness of soap and a faint lingering smell of the new boards that made up the new bedrooms.

"In all that satisfaction, perhaps the best part was knowing that tomorrow would be like today, the same and yet a little different from all the other days, as this one had been."

Comments

[Crystal]

Wonderful words.

[Bluebirdbaby]

What a sweet book. I can't wait to read books like that to E. And a move? To Maine of course, right?!! I know the perfect house right down the street...

[miss chris]

I love those books. Thanks for the gentle reminder... enjoy your weekend, Grace.

[sarah]

No. No. She's moving to Vermont, not Maine :) You and your children are so darned gorgeous. I love your photos. "Little Town on the Prairie" and "These Happy Golden Years" are the favorites at our house--although the girls get all squirmy when Almanzo starts walking her home. The only other books that have held a candle to the Little House books for my girls have been the "Betsy" books by Carolyn Haywood. A different era, but still a simpler era.

[Dawn]

You've got me wanting to pick that book up again and read it. I love the whole series. Have a great weekend.

[Mama Urchin]

I'm itching for Spring more this year than I usually do. I think I;m just ready for the rhythm of more sun and playing outside. Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a more normal next week.

[emilie]

The Little House books are my all time favorites...Laura Ingalls was my childhood hero. When I found out I was having a boy one of my first silly and irrational thoughts was that a boy would never be interested in the Little House books and I wouldn't get to read them aloud to him as my mom did with me. I'm still going to read them to him though, and I hope he loves Laura as much as I did. Well, we'll see anyway ;)

[meg]

Oh, I loved Little Town on the Prairie! Now I think I might have to read it again. It's almost like reading an entirely different book when you read these childhood favorites as an adult, don't you think?

[Lisa]

I'm 21 and I still love reading my Little House on the Prairie Books. Little Town on the Prairie and These Happy Golden Years are my favorite books of the series.

Love your daughter's Heidi costume, BTW :)

[Jessie]

My daughter and I started the Laura Ingalls Wilder series together. She loves the adventures and I love the simplicity.

Lovely photos, dear.
Jessie

[bex]

Love the new photo.
I was going to say I can't wait 'til Pops is old enough for the books but hey, I'm old enough & then some so I might have to make a little purchase...Xxx

[julia]

what a beautiful photo of you and the littles! i think i'm wondering the same thing as a few others out there regarding the change in your children's names? i noticed it on the last post, but thought it was a slip. anyways, just curious as to why you changed your mind, no biggie. have a great weekend!

[AMBER]

My daughter lives much of her life based on "what Laura would do" so I can imagine she'd love this one, too. I often wish life was as simple as what is described in these books, but I gues we have to bring a little bit of it into each of our more complicated lives...

[Nicole]

Beautiful photograph of you and your wee ones! You each have sweet, glowing faces! Great section of the book you wrote down. What a fresh way to go into the weekend! We are also planning a move. Many blessings to you while finding a new home!

[My Inspired Heart - Sandra]

We have just completed The Little House in the Big Woods and can't wait to start the next in the series. The sweet stories just transport you into a simpler frame of mind....I love them and am so glad my kids do, too.

Love the pics of you with your kids... I love seeing the photos with Mom's and their little ones together...it has inspired me to take more photos of me with my little ones. Thanks for sharing!!

[Kelly]

Grace,

That photo is amazing - fantastic! Praying for you as you make the decision about whether or not to move. We're currently prepping our home for sale, and it's been a process...two years in the making really, LOL.

P.S. I love the "Little House" series!

[Kelly]

P.P.S. I saw that you have "Natural Family Living" on your sidebar...I love Mothering Mag!

[asti]

Thats a beautiful pic! Loving your idea of a photo a week with your children...what a super idea - one I may start here privately. Thanks for the inspiration. I've never read any of the 'Little House' books. I guess living in the Uk, they are not so popular, I don't know? Will have to look them out.Even that little exerpt made me all teary (I'm on some sort of emotional vibe here too!).

[Ram in the Thicket]

Sigh. I love that series. I read them all for the first time when my girl (who is almost 13!) was a napping toddler. We had a small apartment so the housework was minimal, and I could rest on my bed with a book while she napped. Talk about simpler times, those were the days ;o)

[Susan]

Lovely post. Those words from Little Town on the Prarie made me long for Spring! (And a tidy house.)

[Amy]

I love Little House, and yet somehow I think I haven't read them all yet. How has that happened?!! And yeah, I always go into a maternal, domestic, simplifying mode after reading these. This series will be next on my list now, because I REALLY need to get into that mode!

[anna]

I hope you have a better week next week! I love Little House on the Prairie, enjoy!

[Caren]

*I* grew up as a "What would Laura do?" girl! I used to literally pray that God would transport me back in time so that I could be friends with Laura and stand up to that brat, Nellie (I think that's her name--the mean one!) for her.

RE: the comment about reading these books to a boy... Soulemama.typepad.com just posted about these books, which her boys love!

[girlwithmoxy]

What a relief to hear that someone else gets all teared up reading The Prarie books. My kids tease me now because they know something will inevitably make me cry when we read, but it's mostly her grateful and tender spirit in contrast with how we live such demanding and selfish lives now. (remember her handmade doll that was stollen and later found in a puddle?) :) Thanks for your sweet post!

[shelley caskey]

beautiful 2nd picture, grace! ah, we love the little house books at our house, too. :) moving?? how about texas? it's warm here! :)

[Victoria]

Can I ask how old your daughter is? My eldest is only 4 but loving chapter books. I have all my LHontP books and loved the one where they're back with family in the snow with the maple syrup on snow. I think Ella may still be too young for these.

[CathyC]

Hi! I don't think I have posted here before, but I had to tell you that I love the way you capture the gentle life of children and home. BTW, your pictures are wonderful, and I really think the top photo (above) should be framed. It's great.
Have a happy day!

[aisling]

I read the Little house books 2-3 times a year, just for myself. The first two are some of the earliest books I distinctly remember reading (7 years old) & the blue boxed set was my first Ebay purchase 8 or 9 years ago, when I was new to the internet. I share random chapters with my boys that I think they will enjoy & can't wait to share the books with my daughter when she is a tiny bit older (she is just 2).