Hi everyone! It’s Catherine…giving you a big wave from deep in the heart of lockdown in Sydney. We’ve got beautiful weather this weekend in our Aussie winter, and though so much is going on in the world — Afghanistan, Haiti, Covid — I’m going to do my best to spread some joy around if I can.
I feel like we all need a big catch up. Wish I could host a zoom party right now and ask you how you are. I’m sorry the world is in so much turmoil and I hope you’re doing okay. Me? I’m missing connection with all the people I love but we’re optimistic. We’ve sorted out every nook and cranny for space and flexibility in our home: the teen skateboards in the garage in between zoom school, my husband works in there or at the kitchen table, my uni son is talking Law and Business nonstop over zoom, and sometimes I think….this house has never been so well used. I can barely remember the days when I was here all week on my own! My last jab is Thursday, and I’m hoping it doesn’t make me feel sick like the first one. That’s us. How about you??
Deep breath.
Let’s talk about fun, frivolous stuff and take a little break.
Blue nail polish!
If you haven’t tried it yet and you feel kind of sad this weekend, please do. Just get some blue nail polish and see how it makes you feel. Blue is fun, and we all need a little more of that around here. My favourite is Essie Bikini So Teeny.
In Canada, my family is celebrating a wedding this weekend (wish I could be there!). My sis, Dar (the gardener from The 10 Minute Fix and also the mother of the groom) sent me a photo of her gorgeous blue nail polish, which really made me wish I had the chance to dance the night away with all my family in the prairies at a wedding. I love to dance, and when I was a little girl I made myself the promise that if ever there was dancing, I would be on the floor. It’s one value I’ve held close to my heart for the last fifty years. If there is music on, I will dance.
(Photo source unknown…)
Rest!
This week, I rested. I’m basically never sick, but this week I felt unwell so I actually spent some time in bed.
While resting, I listened to a really great podcast on comfort eating. (Hello, Covid Lockdown. Come in and let me just eat all my feelings…and while I’m at it, I’ll decide it’s a great time to start baking buttermilk biscuits…ha!) The host said something really interesting about how we often tell ourselves, “I just can’t seem to xxxxxx.” She suggested we flip that script to this.
I love this idea! Does it inspire you like it does me? I’ve spent today flipping my “I can’t xxxx” into “I wonder if I can just xxx”
I wonder if I can just wipe out the microwave while my coffee is brewing?
I wonder if I can just have a mandarin instead of chocolate?
I wonder if I can put on a cozy knit dress and tights instead of trackies?
Pretty in pink.
Galahs always seem to walk down the street in my neighbourhood. Why do they walk? True blue Aussies, please tell me why. I’ve only lived here for 24 years…
Okay, friends: blue nail polish, flipping the script, strolling galahs…that’s all I have for you today.
Thank you for being here, and for taking a little glimpse into my world.
See you next Sunday, and sending love.
Catherine x
PS.
If you’re Aussie and lockdown is hard, we’ve tried this:
setting up a puzzle on the living room coffee table (excellent conversation zone!)
making homemade pizza every friday night
regular coffee break walks around the backyard during the day (“Hey, let’s go walk around the pool…”)
reminding ourselves that older generations lived through war and loss (giving up their sons and lovers and so much more)
recognising that people in Haiti and Afghanistan are truly, truly suffering
reaching out with group texts and buddy checks on friends
If you’re overseas, wishing you a fabulous last week of summer before the glory of autumn sets in!