Well, we survived the Virginia version of the polar vortex. Compared to places farther north, we didn’t have it bad at all. We only had to bring chickens in the house (including a loudly crowing rooster) for two nights. Our big flock was fine, but our small flock is down to four birds and they can’t generate enough heat. Wattles, the rooster in that group, also happens to be one of our two oldest chickens (dating back to our old house) so he’s kind of special. He suffered some frostbite on his comb and wattles during our last cold spell and hasn’t been quite himself since. But honestly, I don’t even like him! He scares me and he knows it. While that didn’t stop me from insisting he sleep inside with his hens, I’m glad he’s back outside now.
Now we are in the midst of a stretch of unseasonably warm days, and I am very pleased. There are already crocuses starting to peek up out of the soil. January passed so quickly, and before we know it, spring will be here. I placed a big flower seed order over the weekend and I can’t wait to start seeds. This year I want to grow more fun things: luffa gourds, giant pumpkins, and showy annual flowers.
There was a request for photos of Larkspur and Beatrix’s finished bedroom, so I took a few. They are so happy with it. The room is quite large, too large really. I believe it’s the biggest bedroom in the house. In our previous home, the girls’ bedroom was maybe 8 by 9 feet, and they actually preferred that size. I shared photos of both ends, so you can see that we still have work to do. Their belongings lack organization, and their furniture is a hodgepodge of used pieces that I intend to paint, but when? At this point, I’m wondering what color to paint it all. White? That will be a lot of white if I do. The most recent furniture addition is a desk for Beatrix. Jonny picked it up off the side of the road during a downpour and it is a little bit warped and rather ugly. Sweet Beatrix sees it through different eyes, and described it as, “A dream come true.”
I’m feeling much better since doing the detox. Of course, I can’t know for certain what made me feel better, I’m just glad that I do. I’m keeping up with green smoothies and more raw vegetables. I also think that getting back into the habit of spending time working in my studio has helped my mental health. I find it tricky balancing my family and my work, but I seem to be happiest when I manage to make time for both. I’m finding a rhythm in my days that involves family first but still allows me to work a bit (as long as I’m willing to have a messy house sometimes). The result of this will be new things being added to my shop over the coming month. I’ve been dyeing mini skeins, and I just cut a big stack of organic cotton gauze scarves. I had quite a few requests for deep indigo scarves, so I will aim to dye those soon. I will also be adding a limited run of my wildflower stickers to my shop later this week. I’ve sold these with and without storage tins in the past, and for this run, I only have a few tins. The other sets will ship in paperboard envelopes. Just let me know if I should order more of the tins. They do make for a more attractive presentation but also require me to sit and punch the corners of every sheet of stickers so they will fit inside, making those sets more labor intensive and more expensive. I used a combination of my favorite images from my last sticker sets along with some new photos for these and I’m really happy with them! Stickers never stop being fun no matter how old you are.
p.s. Here are links to some of the things in this post you might wonder about: Mabel’s red sweater (the first I ever knit) and her pink hat. The interlocking blocks, a longtime favorite, are from Nova Natural. The girls’ collection of saint figures you probably recognize from Sue’s shop. The rainbow yarn was a gift and Larkspur is knitting with it. Both girls have been knitting simple pouches lately. That last dark photo is of the bunny I am knitting. I’ll probably talk more about that in my February Yarn Along post this week! Speaking of rabbits, in case you wondered, that’s a bunny hutch for Gus between the girls’ desks.
Sara says
I like the color of the bookshelf—that sagey green that goes well with the wall color. That would be a nice choice for the desks and lend the room a calming, monochromatic feel. I think the dresser in the photo with the bookshelf is lovely as it is, so it’s a good wood to keep for contrast.
I can’t imagine having chickens in my house, let alone roosters! Back in middle school in VA my brother had a flock and the roosters were so mean when I had to collect eggs for him. I hope they had a room to themselves! LOL.
Pamela Toole says
Hi Ginny, glad to hear your doing better. I am going to knit the sweater how did you do the role down instead of the normal collar?
Sara says
How about an earthy peach colour for furniture? Kind of a red lentil colour?
Lily Boot says
I love how the girls keep their little animals in their room. And such lovely light! Glad you’re feeling better – and so agree about the rewards of making time for our creative souls 🙂
Marilyn says
Ginny the weather here in New York is turning mild after a few days of single temperatures. Joan and I will be getting out in the back to clean up leaves and other dirt. The front will come after. We have a few seeds to plant and will wait to plant them. The bedroom looks nice. Beatrix enjoy your desk.
Marilyn
Joan says
Nice to always read your posts. happy news that you are feeling better. ilike the photo of Mabel with her woolen outfit on.
Joan
Marion says
Happy to hear that you are feeling good. The girls bedroom looks quite lovely. the desks are fine.
Marion
Catherine says
What you said about not liking your rooster made me laugh. When my Grandpa Gordy was alive he had chickens and we were always afraid of the roosters. Us Grandkids called one the, “King Devil Rooster” because he was so mean. It’s nice to remember those days.
Kimberly O'Donoghue says
Ginny I noticed your bureau is missing a few knobs. Not judging their room looks lovely and enjoyable the way a sweet sisters bedroom should look. However now that my three girls are grown I have time to paint furniture that looked exactly like yours. I remember those days. Kudos to you for working and raising the a family of your size. I have several knobs like that stored in my knob collection. If yours are missing and you’re in need of a few…please reach out I will be glad to mail them to you!!
Shari says
I don’t need stickers in tins-the cardboard sleeves are just fine!
Annie Kitching says
Well, I WOULD paint the bedroom furniture, because painted furniture is just pretty…. I was finding myself re-painting my kitchen and just had this desire to paint the cabinets a pastel yellow, the trim a pale green, the doors pastel blue and when I said I wanted to do one of the walls in pink, I got quizzical looks. Even I was thinking – why such a weird idea? However, after a long break I actually got to watch a little TV again and turned to the British Baking Show – and look at the color scheme! An array of pastels! So, that’s where I got it. At any rate something like that would be pretty in a bedroom, too.
karen says
I would not paint the desks matchy matchy, I think they look fine the way they are. Supposedly spring is around the corner! Today will be 50 degrees and I’m going to try to get out and get some much needed fresh air on a walk.
Karrie says
I wouldn’t paint the bedroom furniture! It looks perfect, just like it is!
AnneMarie says
Hi Ginny,
I was wondering if you remember where you got your quilt on your bed? Its so pretty!
Thanks so much.
Renee Anne says
Wait, wasn’t Job just a baby five minutes ago? And little Mae! When did they get so big?!
angela pitout says
the girls room looks lovely. so glad you all survived the terrible weather. while you were all freezing – the heat here in africa was atrocious too!
Helena says
Is that a gerbil tank on top of the dresser? If so, do you (or your girls) have any helpful hints for taming them, or at least teaching them not to bite? My daughter has a little gerbil friend she got for Christmas, and while he is tamer than he was when we got him, he still bites–she’s a good sport about it, but it makes her sad.
Elizabeth says
so lovely!!! I love side of the road finds!!! I liked the desk the different colours, I felt like it was balancing colour in a nice way, if that makes sense! I am glad you are finding a bit more balance, it sure is hard to come by and maintain but worth continuing to strive towards!!! God bless you dear one!
GretchenJoanna says
Oh, yes, I was wondering about that piece of furniture, and could not figure out why the top was slanted – haha. A large bedroom like that has such an airy feel, I can see why it wouldn’t feel quite right in winter especially. If you start braiding rugs you could cozy it up with a big one right in the middle 😉 But the floor is beautiful as is…
Your daughter has a lovely perspective on her new desk. Mine were the same – just the idea of having their own piece of furniture, and something so personal as a desk, is more appreciated in big families who don’t have the means to just go to the store and pick up a few large items!
Claire says
I recently painted a room Ibis White and think it would be a really pretty color for a girls’ room. It’s a cream with a slight peachy pink undertone as if it’s being lit by a setting sun. It’s very light but not a stark white and not pink enough to be overly girly.
Ruth says
So glad you didn’t get that bitter cold, Ginny. I love the bedroom and took so much pleasure in looking back at the pictures of Mabel and Gus. May your week be blessed.