This past week found me in the possession of:
- A uncooperative, unrepentant computer that went on the blink not once but twice;
- An extremely demanding toddler who was (by all accounts, just ask his siblings) never not nursing; and
- A persistent God Who, on more than one occasion throughout the time leading up to Ash Wednesday, said “Yes, Margaret, you can do this. You can set your blog aside for Lent.”
Note that there are 40 days of Lent, not counting Sundays. As such, today’s post; don’t judge me! My fingers are itching; my mind, too full; and my house, as always, in such a state that I need to escape it–if only briefly–by losing myself in the luxury that’s blogging.
Tomorrow, though, I go away again.
Now I know–I know–that it can and hopefully will be a profitable Lent, and abstaining from this blog will be MUCH easier than, say, the would-be insanity of giving up coffee. I could never go there; I love my family too much.
And…um…I’m not making the very best use of my blogging time, am I? On a more interesting note: Have you seen the movie The King’s Speech? Of course you have, making my husband and me the very last two in the queue who hadn’t.
We went last night.
What a wonderful film.
It is completely deserving of every award it’s received and convinced this Francophile to brush up on her British history. I like history very much, thank you, but I didn’t use to like it at all. Too distracted by boys & beer, I guess.
I blame the 80’s.
Anyway, this is why it intrigued and fascinated me to realize, first of all, that the little girl in the movie was the future Queen Elizabeth II, and second, that the character played by Helena Bonham Carter was the Queen-Mother-To-Be, for heaven’s sake!
I love the Queen Mother; she is soft & plump and has kind eyes. She was also the subject of a wee bit of controversy when, having once commissioned a young painter from the Glasgow School of Art to do her portrait, was portrayed next to an upside-down teacup.
Why not? It seems to suit her, don’t you think?
The artist’s name was Alison Watt. She was a friend of a friend–okay, a boyfriend–of mine, and I was there when the brouhaha all took place.
I was there studying art, allegedly.
Though the boys & beer were much more interesting.
And you wonder why I’m going away during Lent! This soul is in such need of repair.
(To that end, I am really enjoying this website.)
(With a tip of the hat to my friend Molly.)
See you next Sunday! Perhaps! If I’m good.
Now I'm the last one in the queue! And you have me intrigued about this artist and her painting. I found this archived article online and really enjoyed reading it! Thanks for the inspiration!
All I can say is, thank goodness for Sundays, because 40 days is too long to be without your blogging.
The Queen Mum was quite a character in her youth, very determined and strong. Definitely an upside down teacup person!
Oh my gosh. It must be the phase of the moon or something. All my toddler wants to do is nurse, too. It's been sorely tempting to just say "you're done! enough! we're weaning!" but she so obviously still needs it. Sigh. Thanks for sharing anyway, it's nice to know I'm not alone as I nurse a nearly two year old what feels like all day long.
i loved that movie!
excepting the king's outbursts of profanity. but i guess we've all felt like that a time or two.
or ten.
i was so glad to see that it won so many awards because it TRULY deserved it. not like some of the other ninnies.
love colin firth and helena, of course!
have a blessed week of fasting from blogs, margaret. it is hard when your mind is brimming over. do you journal? i know it's hard, but maybe you could collect your thoughts on paper for now…it helps.
and i am going to get off of my soapbox and into bed because it is FAR too late to be up. and i am going to be needing copious amounts of the very thing i am cutting back on to get me thru the first few weeks of this time change!
blessings to you…and hold george close. oh. to have some of that snuggly baby goodness…it'll be gone before you blink!
That was a fabulous movie! I was also interested in the historical side. I stumbled across a coffee-table type bio of the queen mother called Elizabeth that I read afterward. According to that, Bertie's story was a little different, but she was quite a character. A bit unconventional, like Diana, so it's interesting to me that they didn't get along that well toward the end.
Will miss your posts during Lent!
Thank your for your comments, everyone. They were…missed. 🙂
I read that article too, Charlotte, and found it very interesting. I also enjoyed this video that shows Alison & her more recent work. (Plus you get to hear her awesome Scottish accent.)
Sarah, you are sweet. Oh to be determined & strong like the Queen Mum! Oh to go against the flow.
Abby, hang in there and look ahead one comment to what Regan has to say, mainly, that these days will be gone in a blink of an eye. I am guilty–very guilty–of fretting over everything "I'm not getting done" while I'm nursing, which is ironic given that he is probably the last child I'll be nursing.
Regan, thank you for your sweet comment! I don't take the time to journal but I should. I think more than anything I have just gotten out of the habit of using pen & paper.
And Sara, I think you know that I'll miss you too!