love letters | Sophia Peabody Hawthorne

My sweet friend Kelly Bird commented recently that the love letters were making her sad. Sad because she had not received a love letter from her sweet heart in all the years they had happily been together. Well, my darling Kelly, this post is for YOU!

Today’s letter was written by Sophia Peabody, wife of Nathaniel Hawthorne (author of The Scarlett Letter). It is a sweet and simple letter, not even what I would call a love letter, except it is. It is sweet because she is sending him a care package (allumette: Thin strips of puff pastry spread or filled with different savory mixtures (such as shrimp butter or grated cheese) and served as an hors d'oeuvre. A sweet filling turns this pastry into a dessert.) So sweet!

So Mrs Bird…you too can write a love letter to your sweet heart, then of course hint that you want one of your very own.

December 31, 1839

Best Beloved,--I send you some allumettes wherewith to kindle the taper. There are very few but my second finger could no longer perform extra duty. These will serve till the wounded one be healed, however. How beautiful is it to provide even this slightest convenience for you, dearest! I cannot tell you how much I love you, in this back-handed style. My love is not in this attitude,--it rather bends forward to meet you.
What a year has been to us! My definition of Beauty is, that it is love, and therefore includes both truth and good. But those only who love as we do can feel the significance and force of this.
My ideas will not flow in these crooked strokes. God be with you. I am very well, and have walked far in Danvers this cold morning. I am full of the glory of the day. God bless you this night of the old year. It has proved the year of our nativity. Has not the old earth passed away from us?--are not all things new?

Your Sophie

I think that is so sweet!

Have you found yourself a love?
Better hurry!

back in business | wet laptop

I think I’m back in business. I don’t know how this little computer keeps hanging on, but oh how blessed I am that it does. After the slight shower yesterday the laptop is functioning as normal…which is sketchy, but functioning, so I’m happy. Thank goodness for answered prayers!

Now, on with this day!

my computer does not need a bath | anymore| no photos [sorry]

Tonight I am writing from my sister Sarah’s computer. Why you ask? Today my sweet nephew Tanner accidentally gave my computer a bath. It wasn’t much water, but as we all know, it doesn’t take much to make a splash!

I did what Levi has taught me to do. (Take out the battery) But I’m pretty sure the damage had already been done…since the battery doesn’t hold any juice to begin with and also because the computer shut off immediately and won’t turn back on even after drying out. I’m eager for Levi to get his magic fingers on it and pray that he can do something. (Oh please pray that he can do something…please!)

In the end the moral of the story is that you should not keep water, no matter how little, within a mile of any electronic devices.

And on a (fantastic) side note…I had the most rock’n time playing football in the yard with Tanner. We laughed A LOT! He has one amazing arm, that kid. And I’m not so bad at the catching part. Aside from a fumble on the concrete (ouch) he jumped, dove, and sacrificed his body for our entertainment and his attempt to win our little make-shift game (I won by one point…it was close). We had the best time and I can’t wait to do it again soon! (Love you Dogger)

love letters | Lord Randolph Churchill

"Dearest if you are as fond of me as I am of you...nothing human could keep us long apart.

This last week has seemed an eternity tome; Oh, I would give my soul for another of those days we had together not long ago...

My first and only love...Believe me ever to be

Yrs devotedly and lovingly"

love letters | John Keats

This love letter is a bit long for my taste, but I thought it was so sweet I simply could not pass it by. Keats is an interesting looking fellow. It seems odd to me, that I am not one bit surprised his sweet heart's name is Fanny.

Sweetest Fanny,

You fear, sometimes, I do not love you so much as you wish?

My dear Girl I love you ever and ever and without reserve.

The more I have known you the more have I lov'd. In every way - even my jealousies have been agonies of Love, in the hottest fit I ever had I would have died for you.

You are always new. The last of your kisses was ever the sweetest; the last smile the brightest; the last movement the gracefullest.

When you pass'd my window home yesterday, I was fill'd with as much admiration as if I had then seen you for the first time. Even if you did not love me I could not help an entire devotion to you: how much more deeply then must I feel for you knowing you love me.

My Mind has been the most discontented and restless one that ever was put into a body too small for it.

I never felt my Mind repose upon anything with complete and undistracted enjoyment - upon no person but you.

When you are in the room my thoughts never fly out of window: you always concentrate my whole senses.

love letters | Frank Kafka

"I belong to you; there is really no other way of expressing it, and that is not strong enough.

How could I, fool that I am, go on sitting in my office, or here at home, instead of leaping onto a train with my eyes shut and opening them only when I am with you?"

Long distance relationships are the pits.
Letters like this would make them so much better.

btw: wasn't young Frank ever so handsome!

Have you found a lover yet...you're running out of time!

key collection | $20 chair | fabric idea

Not long ago (while packing) I found some keys without a home. Or rather, keys who've lost their home and will never find them ever again. I was going to toss them out (because once you have watched even one episode of Hoarders you will toss everything that doesn't have a home!) but then the Lone Star Sister (don't you love your nickname!) suggested a key collection would look super cute in a canning jar(s). I totally agree, so today those keys found a new home:

Obviously I will need a few more keys, so when you find keys that have lost their home don't toss them out...SEND THEM TO ME! (Yes, I'm serious.)

Moving on.

Remember when I bought this chair…

It still looks the same (so pretty) because

a) I don’t know how to recover it.

b) I can’t decide on a fabric choice.

c) All that money burning a whole in my pocket.

However, I was recently blog stalking and ran across this chair…

(Sorry. No credits for where this chair was found because well...I can't remember.)

The chair is nice (hate the pillow)…but I’m not interested in the chair, I’m interested in the FABRIC! Isn’t it swell? I think I love it. It’s at the top of the choices list along with the zebra print. Although, the zebra print is slowly slipping away because it just feels too trendy. And without seeing it first, I'm just plain scared.

While at Hobby Lobby today I glanced at the upholstery fabric, but couldn’t find anything similar. I don’t want this exact fabric, but something similar to it…with all that fabulous (and I'm sure romantic) writing…yes, that’s the ticket! Be on the lookout blogily (blog + family = blogily | aren't I clever)

By the bye…tomorrow’s comings & goings involve making Valentine’s Day cookies and a special package for that man up north with Kelly & Charley. The camera is ready so expect a fun post soon.

Oh yeah…also super excited for a fun night out with Jen tomorrow. We’re going to a movie and who knows what other crazy trouble we can get into. (ha!)

Then Saturday I get to spend the day with Charley and Dad & Mom come to town that night. I finally have something to write in my calendar! (I know…I sound pathetic, give a girl a break.)

Only 10 more days until the big day.
Have you found a lover yet?