the magic of rest

A new book that I am excited about! 

Several of us have been working on learning simple embroidery, including an embroidered phenology wheel!

At this point, we are mightily tired of snow. 

This winter we had the honor to observe several days of a coyote neighbor, and also a red fox. Foxes (and wolves) are my favorite animals next to ravens and cats, so it was particularly exciting for me. 

Painting a get-well card for a friend. It's been a particularly "sick" winter. Indeed, we were sick with one thing after another from early December until recently. 

Last week, standing on the precipice of overwhelm (and quite possibly having been in it for some time, but sort of unaware), I wondered whether I should take this week easy. A rest week. Over the weekend I doubtfully considered it but still I found myself sitting and planning out homeschool lessons. 

Monday, I opened my eyes to see the telltale electric lines flashing across my vision. . .a migraine aura. I was forced to rest. Quite possibly, my brain knew that I would not actually follow through and that I desperately needed it. . . and so ignited the electricity that brings about a migraine. I don't know about whether any of you experience true migraine and all it's delightful phases- the prodrome phase, aura, head pain, and finally postdrome- but this is a whole several days ordeal. I think there may be folks who can push through a migraine, but I cannot. 

So after that, I decided yes indeed, we would take it easy this week- we would have to. Barring a few essential things we had to take care of- we took it easy. And as my teenager said to me: "school kids are on break so we should be too." 

Oh, I have found over and over that my body forces me into rest if I don't listen. 

Love, Melanie