Transformed By the Outdoors At Heart and Home

Hey there, how's it going? This is what it's looked like around here for most of the week:

It's been a long, wet couple of days! We've even had some thunder and lightening!

All my plans for the transformation of this recent find:

and this one, currently languishing in the garage:

have been forgotten over the past couple of rainy days.

Instead, this weekend my girls and I braved the rain and went into town to see a movie, have tea and pastries, and window shop - and spent the next day and a half hunkered down inside the house to read, bake, watch old movies - and enjoy a "Platinum Weddings" marathon. (My husband and I eloped,  I love to watch brides-to-be with unlimited budgets plan their dream weddings!)  It was nice, spending time alone -just us girls, as the Mr. went out of town with his buddies to enjoy some snow up near Lake Tahoe. With the fire going, a warm cup of tea and piece of freshly baked persimmon bread to enjoy - well it was pretty cozy around here.

At times the rain came down so hard it was like watching sheets of water come crashing down from the sky. Our creek is swollen with rain run-off:

But I will admit it now- after about a million cups of tea, lots of reading, hemming all my new, 3" too long pants, house cleaning, doing about 500 loads of laundry, and way too much television - this house started to feel a little small...and I began feeling just a slight amount of resentment towards the Mr. for taking off on a 3 day school holiday, to play with his friends. I mean, who wouldn't want to get away from it all for awhile to have some fun?! While I understand the whole "spending time with my buddies" thing intellectually, - emotionally I'm not as mature about it as I'd like. Sometimes I really need a break from my day to day responsibilities and some time off - and there's always been 100% support for me to do it, but it's hard for me to arrange, and so "time away for me"  has happened rarely since I've been a full time mom the last 20+ years. Now, on top of feeling resentful, housebound, and a little bored,  I started to feel guilty for not being 100% behind the boys trip - I felt like a rotten wife. Okay, I agree it was not such a great way to spend my time -  I really needed to make the most of the rest of the day....and transform my thinking, right?!

...As soon as the rain let up I was out the door for a walk along the ocean. After too much time cooped up in the house, the fresh air really did me good! I love to walk by the sea in the winter, when the sky is dark and the waves are crashing. There's nothing better than a brisk walk on the ocean cliffs when the sea is all churned up from a storm. Down on the beach I love to comb the sand for my favorite bits of sea glass.  I really love to come home with my pockets full!  I'm transformed by the cold, the wet, the fresh air, and the exercise! Afterwards, I felt almost like an understanding, kind, loving wife again! I hope the feeling lasts!

The beach was transformed by the heavy seas, with the water coming all the way up to the normally dry walkway. Kelp was strewn everywhere - and the waves were really crashing!

It was beautiful out here - windy, cold, and misty! Just what I needed to transform my not-so-nice thoughts.

In light of the world's current events, I feel even more grateful for all my blessings, and for time spent walking along the coast. A lot more rain is expected over the next week, which is good for the environment, but not so good for me. I may not be able to get to my bookshelf painting and slipcover making for awhile -  and there's the distinct possibility of being transformed  into a  women with cabin fever - yet again! What's your favorite way to spend a stormy day, and to change your mood?  Tell me all about it!
Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you all have a great rest of the week - much dryer than the one we're having here! Hello all you BlogFrog bloggers - thanks for visiting, I'll be by to see you soon!
Until next time
XO
Heidi

Posted for Outdoor Wednesday, at A Southern Daydreamer, and Transformation Thursday, at Shabby Chic Cottage - thanks, Susan and Gina!