"Dear Flammly, . . ." a letter from your devoted mother

 

Here's a flammly letter I started last fall, with the pictures I had planned to include. . . .

October 26, 2022

Snowflake, Arizona

Dear Flammly,

We have now had our first freeze. It was two nights ago, and we celebrated by having our Redwall Feast the following day. 

It took a full 4 hours to prepare! But how nice it was to have the oven running for so long, both ovens part of the time. Our kitchen was toasty and pleasant as we worked and as we sat down under dollar store paper lanterns and ate on our fine china. 

We were too tired and hungry to actually pull out the Redwall book that describes the feast. And a Pandora station had to suffice for the English fiddle music I had envisioned DC playing (after the 3rd time it gave us Ashokan Farewell we turned it off! lol). But it was still magical with the candlelight and such. 

Quotables

10/23
Rosehips snuggling into DC’s side of the bed… “McCleve family rule!”

10/20
I was teaching a piano lesson to my nephew A (10 years old) and we got a little off track, discussing age. . .
Me: "I’m only almost 45."
A, sweetly: "Aunt Michelle, the years have been kind to you!"

10/19
DC was putting on his winter coat for the first time. . .
Rosehips: "You're wearing your big, fat coat!
DC: "I'm putting on my fatted coat."

Rosehips is an unwilling witness to our displays of affection whenever DC gets home from work. At first she would cover her ears and shut her eyes, but that didn't always coincide with the duration of the special moment. Her new tactic? Approaching us with open arms when we embrace, saying enthusiastically, "Group kiss!"

Back to one of my happy places

Quotable:

5/8/22

We were discussing what Rosebud's new blog nickname should be, since she's probably outgrown "Rosebud."
Hummer: "How about Rosehips?"

I am happy to be back here on the blog! I almost retired it permanently for several reasons. I wasn't sure if blogging is still relevant to people in the social media age. My google account storage was full and I couldn't upload any more pictures. The computer was full. My phone was full. After the chaos of building and moving into the house, and having sons starting to grow up and leave home, I needed to decide if it was still worth the time. 

I found over the last five years that I really, really missed it! It is one of my favorite creative outlets, and I feel happier when I'm writing! Then when Fluffy was on his mission, he and Hummer started reading the archives and sharing things from them, and I could see they loved it and I wished I had continued. Even though I am a consistent journaller, this blog is also a valuable family record. So, welcome back to me! And welcome back to anyone reading this! 

Thank you, Hummer, for the gift of more google account storage, for helping me get past all the full technology, and for encouraging me to return! 

To recap briefly what has happened in the Fiddler's Flammly these last 5 years. . . 

2017-2018 

There was a desperate struggle with finances, contractors, inspectors, and mental health, but with some help from amazing and kind friends and family members we succeeded in moving into this house unfinished in April 2018. I took a class in starting an e-commerce business and ran an online shop Swallow Ridge while homeschooling Rosehips. 

2019 

My mental health struggles continued. Hummer got a bad virus towards the end of participating in the school musical and started having significant, unexplained fatigue almost continually. We welcomed Exacto home from his mission in March! He then returned to BYU in May. Fluffy graduated from Snowflake HS and left a few weeks later to serve in the North Carolina Raleigh Mission. 

2020 

My parents began serving a mission (Uruguay Montevideo Oeste) and were even able to continue remotely as the pandemic took over. Fluffy was able to stay in North Carolina. Exacto came home and spent 8 months with us here in Snowflake! We had the best summer ever, despite all the world drama. Hikes and dinners outside with my parents and "ramada church" and that lovely slower pace of life just together. . . That fall Rosehips resumed public school for 5th grade, with masks. 

2021 

My beloved Dad took on the project of installing a drip/sprinkler system in our rocky, desert yard! Fluffy came home from his mission and began university studies at BYU, rooming with Exacto. We made an epic drive across the country, visiting our old homes in Arkansas and Tallahassee, and touring Fluffy's misson. My parents returned in person to Uruguay. 

2022 

My parents finished and came home from what turned out to be 2 1/2 years of missionary service. Hummer graduated from high school (phew!), attended FSY in Thatcher, Arizona, and decided to begin college there! Rosehips started junior high. Exacto and Fluffy are still rooming together at BYU, and Exacto will graduate this December. 

The house is still quite unfinished, and Hummer and I are still experiencing our physical / mental symptoms, but I have learned so much during these years, and there is a peace now in my life that I was missing for awhile! I am looking forward to sharing some of what I have been learning, and what my plans for the future are. It's amazing how the hard things in life are exactly what propel us forward sometimes.

He took the rope they had tied him with, for Curdie's hindrances were always his furtherance. . . 

--George MacDonald, from The Princess and Curdie, chapter 16