Oregon January

"These things here? These are mine."

She's so cute. She's sooooooo happy when Andy finally gets home and puts his feet up after a long day. We all are.

Five adjectives to describe our house lately: Quiet, messy, dark, damp, dreary. And disorganized. Yesterday it poured absolutely all day long. Cold rain. Dark rain. Usually the dog follows me everywhere I go in the house during the day. Lately, no. Lately, she goes outside quickly in the early morning (cold, dark, raining) and then she comes in and races back upstairs and launches herself into the bed. I get myself dressed and ready to go down for coffee, daytime, life, etc. Lately I head for the stairs and she doesn't follow. She lounges in the bed looking at me like, "Why do you keep going down there? I so totally do not get that." So I go down, have my coffee, and a little while later I come back up to see what in the world she's doing. And she's still there on the unmade bed all blissed out in the duvet, and when she sees me she gets all twitchy and excited like, "Oh! Oh oh! Awesome! You're finally coming to your senses and getting back in! Yeah. Get back in here!" And it's all I can do not to join her. Because have you seen that face?

And that rain?

Listening to Whiskeytown, Nena Dinova, Billy Bragg, and M. Ward. Thinking about summer. Wishing we had a hot tub or a sauna.

Comments

[Renovation Therapy]

I don't know how I'm going to make it through February. I may need to borrow a dog.

[Kelly]

Oh, abso-freakin-lutely am I wishing for summer. It's so COLD here. Snowed the weekend. But I'm trying hard not to get down, but it's the toughest time of year to stay happy. Hang in there!

[melissaczca]

Alicia,
I live a couple hundred miles south of you in Salinas CA -- it's the nestling season :-). I too go back upstairs -- my knitting, sewing, computer, and everything are up here. It's ten degrees warmer than downstairs with or without the comforter/duvet. Soft thick socks, PJ pants, fleece sweater. Who needs to go out in that stuff? (Well, actually I did go up to Michael's in north Salinas to get a size 8 circular needle one evening and saw the most AMAZING mammatus cloud formations over my house!)
Be warm!
melissaczca

[Connie]

Can't we all just agree to do the sensible thing-- hibernate?

[Lesly]

Dog + duvet = bliss. I admit to giving in more often than I should.

[Kelley Hart]

Hope it's drying up there. We're gearing up for another round of rain here in L.A. By the way, my cats give me that same look! Brilliant animals.

[Delilah]

I'm working on four projects; a ripple (inspired by your beautiful ripple blanket - hope I finish it this time), a granny pillow, a hexie afghan and a bunch of layered roses, oh I forgot I'm also teaching two daughters how to crochet. I loved it - the weather - that we have to stay inside - everything, sorry but it will be HOT soon enough. Clover has it right, what a smart dog.

[Lori]

Ordinarily I'm insanely envious of your life... you live in an absolutely gorgeous part of the country. But today I'll just be thankful for my Texas sunshine and my windows open (and my hound dogs basking on the deck).

[Gloria]

So sweet! So is that quilt! Did you make it? I love how a dog's eyes can talk! Adorable...:)

[Kristina]

Oh, I'm with ya. It's a solidly rainy day here in NY, too. Warm rain, for January. But still, rain. Our pets campaign for us to get back into bed, too.

Kristina
Sweetfern Handmade

[sharon stanley]

Rain or shine, Fifi (my corgi) will NOT come downstairs in the morning until she is pretty much made to ...I think she has a bladder the size of a 5 gal. bucket...no accidents, just won't come down. Ever. Then back up to the sofa in our room. sleep...again.

[Samantha]

My apartment is ALL of these things and it is driving me mad. I need some sunshine.

[Melissa Crowe]

Oh, holy cow--my dog does these SAME things. And sometimes she even goes to our bed and whines, hoping someone will come lie down with her. Spoiled rotten.

[Kat]

Whistle Stop Cafe. Dark wood booths. Bamboo ceiling fans. Blackberry crumble. Iced tea. Barbecue out back. Southern heat included free of charge, natch. It's time for summer.

[Heidi]

I am right there with you.
I force myself to get outside in the rain anyway. It is always so good to get back home. But I am currently basking in the sunpuddles in the living room.
At least we are getting a little sun today.
(I just got my hands on your wonderful book, It made me laugh and cry. I loved reading your words just as much as being ispired by your ideas.Thanks for that.)

[kate]

Does she lay all sprawled out on her back, hoping someone will rub her belly? Our Cardigan, Beatrice, love to lay on her back,paws up in the air, waiting...waiting...waiting...

Corgies really are so very sweet. We got ours because of yours, and we love her soooo much!

PS. lived in Oregon (Pacific City) for 10 years; I SO do not miss the rain. Hope you see the sun soon!

[AmyKortuem]

It's been raining here in Minnesota, too. Which only means things will get worse, like during the ground blizzard that's forecast -- icy, cold, damp, cold...cold. And I with a sinus infection. I think I shall yield to the call of the kittens and the warm blankets today.

[Kathryn]

Judging from some of your photos in past posts I think we are in the same neighborhood; at least our 'hood looks cozy and cute in all this gloom. That being said, can 3pm please not look like 8pm which looks like 7am which looks like midnight??

[Carol]

Oh, that face is precious! I'd give in, if I were you!

[Jean C.]

Think of it this way.... at least it's not snow! It's been cold this winter... really cold! And although we haven't had all that much new snow lately... it's still cold!!!
Hopefully your little Clover will keep warm and maybe just keep the bed warm for you two! Nothing like getting into a cold bed when the day has been cold and damp! Your right though, it would be hard to resist those sweet little mellow eyes!
Me... I'm keeping busy... you know laundry... dishes, sewing... now that's an awwwwh thing! Nice to know that at the end of the day... I have gotten some sewing done or at least I can turn to it!
Have a great week and keep warm!

[kate o]

i think you need to add a little of the new masterpiece theater "emma" to your rainy day routine. they just released the first episode on the web today. so good! i remember first hearing about "cranford" from you so thought you might enjoy this new adaptation, if you hadn't already heard!

[Cindy]

Alicia,
My cats do the same thing.

Oh they want me to believe that like the lions of the Serengeti they laze about so they can pounce but as house cats who are we kidding?

I would like to say that #1 I am still droolign over your afghan and have tried to figure it out (stichwise) with mixed results...Hurry on the pattern!

Also, I never thought I'd love corgis. I always think of Queen E II with them so they've never appealed. But since I've been reading your blog (about 18 months) I've started to fall in love a bit with them.
Cheers!
Cindy

[Melissa]

I think I've become one of those in love with your sweet "puppy". She is adorable!

[Ivy]

As a fellow Portlander, I consoled myself yesterday with the fact that Saturday was actually sunny, with a hint of spring in the air. My kid and I saw flower shoots and spent some serious time enjoying the park. Hang in there, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

[Emily]

I, too, have been breaking out the Stranger's Almanac and Pneumonia lately.
:)

It must be this weather - I didn't even think of it!