Housekeeping
by Ashley Weeks Cart
We spent a good percentage of the holiday break rearranging, organizing and decorating our house. We had Kimmy with us for a full week, so we put her artistic eye to use. Our kitchen is now looking like a cozy country art gallery thanks to this spread of paintings. My favorite piece may be that plate that we found in a stack of our good china (unclear of its origins) that reads “God Speed the Plough.” Word to that.
Before posting too much new content on the blog, I wanted to follow up on a number of items from 2012 that needed some additional attention:
*LIFE WITHOUT FACEBOOK: It’s awesome. And I’m never going back. Yes, I have a page for the blog, but I can’t see any personal pages from that page, so it’s really just an additional platform to disseminate information and interact with all of you. Granted, once or twice a week I cheat and hop on James’ account to check out the walls of a few select people whose links and commentary I miss, but beyond that, I do not miss it. Not one bit.
*EMILIO: He was delicious. And while James isn’t eager to go through an experience like that again anytime soon, he is very glad to have had that kind of engagement with his food. We all are.
*IUD: The Mirena is in! In fact, it has been in place for going on six weeks, and now that I’ve gone through my first period I can confidently say that I L-O-V-E IT. I had absolutely no problems after it was inserted. Literally zero cramping. And I found the insertion itself completely painless. It’s always uncomfortable to have someone messing around in your lady bits, but painful it was not. And despite my fear that what turned out to be a ruptured ovarian cyst was the IUD tearing through my uterus, I have had no other concerns or issues. My period was next to nonexistent. A minor nuisance. A trickle, if you will. And oh, I will. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up from this woman and her uterus!
*OUR TRIPAWD: Ursa finished her final round of chemo last month. While we could pay a babillion gazillion dollars more to take her to the veterinary oncologist in Boston to give us a sense of how much time we have left with her, James and I have made the decision not to. What matters is that, for the moment, she is happy and full of life and energy. We have given her a good quality of life and are going to enjoy that for as long as it lasts. There are no further treatments or procedures that we can do to treat the cancer. But we will have some important conversations with our local vet about how to keep an eye out for pain or discomfort and how to manage that pain and discomfort when the time comes. She could defy the odds and be here years from now, or we could be saying our goodbyes come summer, as predicted. But no matter what, I will be present and enjoy all the moments that I get left with my sweet, special Inky Stinky Black Beauty. She’s my spirit animal. And yes, I really did just say that.
I think that touches on everything left hanging from 2012. Onward with 2013! Tomorrow I have one of my new projects to unveil. It’s time to start embracing all the adventures to come.
HI Ashley,
I don’t comment much, but I just have to say as we start a new year that I absolutely LOVE your blog and read it all the time! Lucy (15) made the decision to go off facebook for this year- her 10th grade year in HS- to see if she would be happier and much to her happiness (and out whole house!), SHE IS! I loved your recent blog about why you went off…she, too, was often feeling inadequate. She is so happy NOT to read all the seemingly amazing things every other teenager is doing every minute as well as MISS the snide, and often brilliantly subtle rude comments girls make to each other. I hope she never goes back! Anyway, loving your blog and hope that one day in 2013 I can check out Cartwheel farm!! Hi to James and the girls- love watching them grow through your pics.
Best, Liza B.
There’s something about end-of-year/beginning-of-year housekeeping that just feels good. Love the paintings!
Also, hugs to you and your Inky Stinky Black Beauty. She’s a lucky girl to have you to journey with.
Thanks, Robbi. We are so lucky to call her ours.
Hi, have not visited your blog in while. glad that you guys are having fun. Elated that Ursa completed her course. Oh yes, I like it that you changed the banner of your blog and have Ursa in there!!.
Thanks, Irene!