an autumnal greeting . . .

A warm autumnal greeting to you, dear reader.

It's been a hot minute since my last post. We had a medical emergency with one of our fur babies. It was a rocky few weeks, but thankfully, our sweet boy is doing much better. And I hope to be back in this space more regularly.

Today marks the autumn equinox, one of my favorite days of the year. It means that "my" time of the year has arrived. The seasons of autumn and winter are officially upon us, and it fills me with as much giddiness as a little girl in a candy shop. Tonight we'll be having our annual Autumn Celebration Dinner, a tradition which I began our first year here at Shady Cottage. Each year on the first day of autumn, we have a special dinner and dessert to celebrate our favorite time of year...because, yes, we all agree in our home that autumn and winter are the best. {{smiles}} Every year the menu for this meal changes because there are so many delicious recipes that fit our criteria: cozy, comforting, seasonal. And this year's menu is: Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Apple, Bacon, and Smoked Cheddar Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, and for dessert, my sister made our very favorite homemade pumpkin pie...it smelled absolutely divine in our home last night as it was baking away in the oven. I'll make some fresh vanilla whipped cream to go along with it, because what is pumpkin pie without whipped cream?!?!?

On Friday, I officially began my autumn movie watching with You've Got Mail. This is a dear favorite of mine, and somehow, it just gets better every time I watch it. I have a list of autumn films that I want to watch over the next few weeks, with some Halloween movies thrown in as October arrives. Then, it will lead to a few Thanksgiving movies (of which I declare there are not enough of! Do you have any recommendations or favorites to share?) and then Christmas movies from November through early January. The winter months allow for lots of watching of films that aren't quite holiday particular, but very cozy nonetheless. 

I've also pulled out a smallish pile of books I hope to read this autumn...I've started one, but I'm a bit leery about it as I'm not sure if it will stay my cup of tea. I'm a bit concerned about the content, but I shall see. I've also pulled out a few seasonal cookbooks that I want to flip through for some new recipes to try. Autumn and winter are also my favorite times of year to cook and eat. I love the warm, cozy, comforting meals that this time of year inspires me to cook. I'm of the firm belief that cozy, comfort food can also be nourishing and wholesome and healthy. Over the last handful of years, I've grown quite a repertoire of recipes that we love and there's something about it being chilly (or cold!) outside, lighting a candle in the kitchen, popping in a favorite CD, and making a delicious meal for my family. 

The earlier evenings that this time of year brings are one of the best things about autumn and winter. The sun sets earlier, we close the curtains, tuck ourselves into our living room with a heap of throw blankets on our favorite spots to curl up and settle in for an episode or two of a show we're working our way through (currently, it's Wolfblood -perfect for this time of year!, and Castle - a fun new-to-us crime drama with comedy thrown in, too). I also love working on a handicraft in the evenings, and yes, I'm still going to town on my afghan...I've got only about 20 or so more granny squares to crochet and then it's time to lay it all out and arrange the squares before I start attaching them. I'm so excited to see how it all turns out...it's my first crochet project, after all, so it's all a brand-new experience! {{smiles}}

I'm really, really hoping for some cooler, crisp temperatures soon. Our September has been excruciatingly hot. It's been barely below 100*F for a few weeks now, and it's getting to me. I'm beyond over it...for someone who experiences reverse seasonal depression, I'm really struggling with this lingering summer weather. I'm craving grey skies, steady rain, crisp air, cool breezes, temperatures cool enough to wear a sweater and warm socks, and for those autumn vibes to become reality. Come on, autumn, bring me some nice weather...pretty please, with a cherry on top.

I hope your September is lovely so far, and that your first day of autumn is as beautiful as you hope it to be. May you find yourself filled with delight at the new season upon us, may your dinner table be filled with delicious comforting foods, and may this autumn be a magical, enchanting, gentle, cozy one for us all...

Thank you so much for joining me here today, lovely readers.

I hope to be back here very soon...

♥

a daybook for august

Little glimpses into the past few weeks . . .

{{ feeling that patriotic vibe all summer long with this handmade T-shirt. my sister saw similar ideas online and I took what she showed me and made our own version or the fourth of July. I was so pleased with how they turned out. }}

{{ confetti from our poppers on the fourth of July...we don't do fireworks at home; instead, we head to town for their fireworks show and do little poppers at home. and yes, we swept up our mess afterwards...my sister made sure every single little piece was picked up so no little critter gets ahold of one. }}

{{ a july sunset on the way home from a day trip to the hills }}

{{ homemade blueberry muffins...the perfect late night baking session }}

{{ a good-night mug of nourishing hot cacao with whipped cream whilst watching Vera...I've started adding some cardamom to my hot cacao, and oh my goodness, is it divine! }}

{{ deep summertime green...one of my favorite colors }}

{{ we absolutely enjoyed a couple days where the high temp was 78-80 F...if summer felt like this during the day all the time, I do believe I could love it }}

{{ so thankful to live in a quaint cottage nestled in the trees...I feel like I live in a treehouse ♥ }}

{{ another night...another mug of hot choco }}

{{ pattern mixing is one of my favorite things...and so is pairing up favorite pieces with old pieces to make them feel new again }}

outside my window

Absolutely gorgeous summertime green...which I will not stop talking about because it's seriously one of the only things I actually like about this time of year. We've had lots of rain this spring and summer, which gives me all the happy feels, and I think the trees love it, too. We've had to water more lately as it's been so incredibly hot and things are starting to not look so good...our basil is looking rather poorly. The crepe myrtles are stunning this time of year, though. All the different colors are gorgeous around town!

i am thinking

Of what I want to cook for dinner over the next few days; how to use up leftovers so they don't go to waste; of some crafty project ideas with my sister; of what book(s) I want to read after I finish the one I'm working on; what fun autumnal things I want to do this year

i am thankful for

rainy days; sunset drives in the countryside; admiring the lush vibrant green; being inspired by creative folks; *really* good books; candlelight and mugs of hot cacao; simple, ordinary days that are my favorite kind of day

from the kitchen

Last week, I made lemon butter salmon for dinner, and it was my first time eating it. I'd made it before for my mom and sister, but I'm so not a fish person. To my complete surprise, I actually loved it...this felt like a major accomplishment to me. Ha! It was my sister's birthday on Wednesday, and she requested homemade peanut butter ripple ice cream with dark chocolate chunks and a caramel fudge chocolate cake...not only was it so fun making them, along with her birthday dinner, but they were so delicious! 

i am creating

In the last week, I have crocheted so many granny squares, I've run out of yarn...I'm hoping it is on sale this week. I am officially obsessed with granny squares. And I'm officially over halfway through making all the squares I need for my first afghan. My sister and I have also done some decoupaging recently; we have a bit to do to finish our project, but it's been so fun.

i am wearing

On this hot August day, I'm wearing one of my favorite sundresses...brown and white gingham dress with a floral crop blouse with lace details over. You can see it in the photo above. {{smiles}}

in my cup

Just plain ol' iced water for me this evening. I'm someone who genuinely loves drinking water, and on hot days, it just hits the spot.

i am reading

I've been thankful to read a couple really good stories these past few weeks. First, I read The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, which is the third book in the series. I absolutely loved it; and seeing as how it was set at the beach, it was the perfect summertime read. I love the Penderwick family so much, and I really enjoyed getting to know Aunt Claire in this book. She is such a sweet, caring, understanding aunt. At the time of writing this post, I'm in the last 100 pages of Anne of Avonlea, which is just so darn good. It's my first time reading beyond the first Anne book, and it is exactly what I hoped and dreamed it would be...and more. L.M. Montgomery is quickly becoming a real favorite of mine. I love her storytelling style; she has a true knack for immersing her reader in the story and makes it feel as though Anne, Diana, Marilla, Rachel, and Gilbert are your own little circle of friends...and how I wish they were. It's a good thing to read a book you just really, really love, but it's also a bad thing because you hope your next read is just as good, and when it's not, it can put you in a real reading slump. At least that's what I've noticed about me.

i am listening to

Aside from listening to some of my favorite film scores while cooking dinner in the evenings, which I highly recommend, by the way, my top 5 songs this past month are:

Chasing Rainbows (The High Kings); Up on the Roof (James Taylor); Through the Dark (One Direction); Sunrise (Norah Jones); On the Sunny Side of the Street (Steve Tyrell; from Father of the Bride)

i am watching

Seeing as how I've been crocheting nearly every evening, it's given me a chance to try out a few Hallmark movies, and I've got a few new favorites to add to my list. 

A Harvest Wedding- I loved this one so much. Jill Wagner is one of my favorites, so this was a must-try for me. The autumnal scenery was stunning and I loved the farm setting. The whole story was really sweet, and I also greatly appreciated how the usual tension and miscommunication and misunderstanding part of a Hallmark movie wasn't really present in this one. For me, this one belongs on my "favorites" list.

The Way to You- This is another one to go on my "favorites" list. I seriously loved this movie. I loved the wintry New York City setting, and the main characters were both likable, which is always a plus. I loved how the male lead who lived a more mainstream lifestyle really respected the female lead's unconventional, creative lifestyle, instead of condemning it or making subtle jokes about her choices. That was refreshing.

Hearts of Winter- Another Jill Wagner movie. While I wouldn't consider this one a favorite, I still really enjoyed it. I especially loved the father-daughter relationship that was portrayed in the movie; it was really sweet and heartwarming. I loved that the father's character was so devoted to his daughter and he really tried his best to be the best dad he could be for her. I found that particularly touching.

i am hoping

that the rest of summer isn't too hot; to continue working on my granny squares; that the next book(s) I pick up to read are just as amazing as the last few I've read

i am hearing

cats playing and goofing off; the air conditioner just clicked off; TV on in the background; the hum of my computer; and music playing in my headphones

around the house

lots of little tidying and cleaning projects...it's amazing how spending 15-30 minutes working on an area makes a HUGE difference.

one of my favorite things

My newest favorite thing is my brand spanking new crochet hook with a grip...it makes my crafting time so much more enjoyable and easier on my hands.

word collecting

I think magic is remembering. Remembering what it feels like to talk to the wind as a child, to trust the pull of the moon, to believe the world was alive with something unseen. Maybe growing up isn't about forgetting. Maybe it's about learning to listen again.

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Thanks for joining me here today...

I hope your upcoming week is a beautiful one!

come on a summertime garden ramble

Come join me for a little late summer ramble through our garden...

I've got a mason jar of iced herbal tea in hand, a wide brimmed sunhat on, and my old worn-in sandals that feel as comfy as a dream on. It's stifling hot and the humidity is so thick you could cut it with a knife. However, thankfully, our many, many, many trees are providing lots of much-appreciated shade as we mosey along and poke around to see what's going on in the garden these late summer days. Fortunately, we've had lots of rain, so we haven't needed to water the plants hardly at all this season. They love the rainwater! And I love the rain, too. {{smiles}}

The monkey grass is beginning to showcase these gorgeous purple flowers. I've noticed each year that these purple beauties come up in late summer, and it's a sure sign that the season is s l o w l y starting to wind down. I absolutely love the soft violet color popping up among all the green.

Purple has come to be the color of summer's end for me. I wrote a post sharing some of my thoughts on that here a few years back...you'd be most welcome to read it.

As I was crouched down to get these photos, a little buzzing sound surrounded me. I looked around and there it was...this little friendly bumblebee friend. It buzzed around and visited many of the blooms. We have always believed in and strived to keep a natural yard...no poisonous sprays or chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers or weed killers. We very much believe in letting nature be nature and that nature is perfect as it is...and that weeds are simply flowers that someone decides are in the wrong place, to quote Sister Monica Joan from Call the Midwife.

After we moved into Shady Cottage, we had no idea what the previous owners did to the yard in terms of chemicals and such. It's been eight years now, and they say it takes five years for a yard to detox from those poisons, so if they did abuse the yard and garden (as most everyone around us loves to do), it should be well cleared out now. Over the last few years, we've noticed more and more bees, butterflies, moths, squirrels, birds, and lightning bugs in our yard. And hardly any anywhere else in our neighborhood. Just goes to show that nature really is just fine as it is...a perfectly manicured yard is doing absolutely nothing for the environment and pollinators, which we all depend on for our food.

Each spring, we fill two big planters with impatiens...in a variety of colors. They last all season long and sometimes, well into the autumn. The bright bursts of color really make a cheerful entrance to our home.

Rewild your yard.

Bee happy.

Be pesticide free.

Leave the leaves.

Restore the balance.

Lose the lawn.

Bee the change.

Slow the mow. 

Grow natives.

Weeds are just unloved flowers.

Let it grow.

Leave the trees.

Be pollinator friendly.

Build a butterfly haven.

(I saw a garden flag with those sayings all over it, and I absolutely loved it. I want one for our yard! They perfectly say what I feel and believe!)

Our basil is growing and flourishing beautifully. We use it regularly to cook dinner and I've also already made one big batch of pesto...some for dinner one night and two more containers for our freezer. I'd like to make another batch or two to freeze for the autumn and winter before the season ends.

And our sage is doing well, too...the rosemary is just okay. I've used both to make roasted chicken and bone broth, and oh my, did they make the flavor pop!

Our corner of the world is still quite lush and vibrant green. Soon, though, as with every year before, some mid-to-late August, the trees and plants will begin to have that worn out, weary sort of look...green fading to yellow as the leaves begin their change to autumnal tones. It happens every year like clockwork. Sure signs of the seasonal change. The grass begins to grow slower and for that, I am always grateful. Ever since my dad passed away, I've done most of the mowing, and with the intense sun and heat, it really drags me down. So I'm always glad to see mowing season end until the next year.

What are your gardens looking like these late summer days? I'd love to know if you're doing any preserving for the autumn/winter months. Do share!

a daybook for july

Over the many years I've been blogging, I've done variations of this daybook sort of post, sometimes monthly, other times seasonally. It is one of my favorite posts to read from others and a very enjoyable one to write as well. So, alas, here I am, bringing it back to my little cozy corner. I hope you enjoy! ♥

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outside my window

Deep summertime is well and truly here. Lush, rich, vibrant, deep green is literally everywhere I look outside. The grass, the trees. the bushes and shrubs, the herbs in our garden. Green and more green...I'm not complaining, though, as deep summer green is one of my favorite colors. And one of the only things I actually like about summer. Ha! Pops of pink peek through in our garden thanks to my mom's Mother's Day hydrangea, along with hues of bright orange coming from our daylilies, which are both thriving. Oh, and the basil! It's growing like crazy! Needless to say, we're enjoying lots of basil in our meals...my goodness, the scent. Blissful! Lightning bugs in the evenings and squirrels running in the trees in the morning and lots of rain, which makes me so happy, and weather so hot and humid you feel incredibly gross and sticky just going to get the mail. Ah, summertime.

i am thinking

Of autumn and cooler weather and crisp temps and cozy clothing...am I ashamed to admit this? Absolutely not! {{winks}} Seriously, though, my "autumn fever" has set in and I am looking forward to being able to go outside without getting attacked by countless mosquitoes and dripping with sweat after just five minutes.

i am thankful for

My mom, sister, and our fur babies. Our home and little corner of the world. Home cooking and getting to make meals for my dear family. Rain and cloudy days and air conditioning. Iced tea and berry bread pudding and music that makes me feel alive.

from the kitchen

My mom recently made Susan Branch's bread pudding from her Summer Book. She exchanged the sugar (1 cup, I think) to just 1/4 cup honey...all that sugar honestly gets ridiculous. It was beyond delicious, especially with whipped cream. Bread pudding and fruity desserts have never been something I crave or would choose when given a choice. Until now. This recipe is addictive! I also made, for the first time ever, a tomato pie. This is an old, traditional Southern dish that I've never made before. A few years ago, my sister mentioned it and then we forgot about it again...this past week, we remembered, I made it, we ate it, and we loved it. So summery and once again, I got to use my garden-fresh basil. {{smiles}}

i am creating

Still crocheting granny squares, sewing quilt blocks, started a new book journal. Little, ordinary things that aren't so little or ordinary.

i am wearing

Black-ish/dark navy-ish legging-capris with a colorful floral print, a black cami under a hot pink tank with lace details, hair up in a clip (too dang hot to wear it down), and my favorite pair of sandals.

in my cup

A new-to-us herbal tea flavor from Yogi Tea called "berry cherry". Make it iced and add a splash (or two!) of half and half, and take a sip...ah, perfection.

i am reading

I've been really struggling with reading lately, but I just finished Gladys Taber's Stillmeadow Album this week. It's a photo album of sorts showcasing Taber's home, Stillmeadow, along with some of her reflection on her home and life there. It was absolutely delightful, as is everything I've read from her so far. She's a true favorite of mine, a kindred spirit sort of writer. I'm so thankful for her words.

i am listening to

Lots of Celtic/Irish music and 90s-2000s country favorites (I have a playlist that I like as I'm quite picky) and other songs that were the soundtrack of my childhood and teen years. My most played songs right now are: Irresistible (One Direction); Beautiful Soul (Jesse McCartney); That's the Way (Jo Dee Messina); Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go (Celtic Thunder); Sunday in the South (Shenandoah with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan); and Hometown Girl (Josh Turner).

i am watching

I recently purchased a boxed set of the first 10 seasons of Vera. So I'm slowly making my way through them for a rewatch. I haven't watched the first few seasons in probably 3 years or so, so I forget lots of the storylines. Fun!

i am hoping

That the second half of summer isn't too hot. To return to my crocheting and quilting projects, as well as to get back into reading...I miss all of these things.

i am hearing

The sound of the air conditioner kicking on, cats running and playing with each other, crickets outside (even though the windows, their song is quite loud), my playlist in the background.

around the house

Organizing bookshelves and our pantry; tidying up craft supplies, watering plants each evening when it's hasn't rained.

one of my favorite things

At the moment, my favorite thing is iced creamy tea...which I mentioned above. So many flavor options and oh so refreshing!

word collecting

A beautiful thing is never perfect. (Unknown)

How many things does this apply to? I can't begin to number them, but how true it is.

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What's happening in your corner of the world? 

a hodgepodge of ordinary joys

hodgepodge - 

a collection of things; jumble

If there was ever a word to describe my taste in things, whether it be music, what I watch or read, what I enjoy eating, what my hobbies and interests are, it would definitely be hodgepodge. The world, both online and in real life, likes to lump people together in boxes and place labels on everyone and everything. Everything must be so set and categorized. Lots of people give themselves to one thing in life...for example, reading; that's all they do for enjoyment. I'm just not a set or one and done in the area of interests and in-the-box sort of person. I'm a hodgepodgey sort of gal, and I'm not ashamed of it. I don't follow one aesthetic or style or way of doing anything in my life...I like to gather what I've learned or what I like about something and make it my own in some way. I don't want to live in a way that looks exactly like others. I don't want my home to look like someone else's. I have many interests and enjoy variety of hobbies. I believe in being a wildflower sort of person...embracing my uniqueness and thinking for my own self and in letting my interests and hobbies be wild and free to bloom as they will.

 And today's post is a hodgepodge of the ordinary joys that make me who I am. In a world where everyone and their cousin loves to gripe on and on about what they don't like, I find it's much more beneficial and lifegiving to celebrate the things I love. And these are just a few of them...

~ Reading ~

It’s no secret that reading is one of my dearest loves. Novel and lifegiving memoirs are my two favorite sorts of books to read...domestic fiction, cozy mysteries, middle grade family stories and mysteries, small town stories with a cast of characters, stories with magical elements, stories that put a heavy emphasis on the things I hold dear and believe to be of utmost importance, such as family, home, simple living, old-fashioned values, etc. And for me, it’s got to be physical books. I'm old-fashioned when it comes to things like that. {{winks}}

~ Crocheting ~

Shortly before Christmastime, I taught myself how to crochet granny squares. I'm currently working on my first afghan, which I believe will call for 140 granny squares, if my measurements are correct. I've got about 40 done so far, and I enjoy making a few here and there in the evenings. I've chosen four colors: lilac, sage, mustard, and blush. To me these say "autumn" and "spring", which are my two favorite color schemes, and I'm very pleased with how they're turning out so far.

~ Walks in the neighborhood ~

I'm a walker. It's my preferred choice for exercise and movement, and it's also good for my mental health. Our neighborhood is a lovely place to take daily walks, as it is quiet and has sidewalks. And as a major plus, we've got tons of nature, so my walks are full of lots of trees, birdsong, butterflies and bees flying about, squirrels in the grass, and lots of green. 

~ Learning to quilt ~

Another creative endeavor I've begun this year is working on my very first quilt. I've been so inspired and learned a ton from YouTube over the last 18 months. I've chosen the St. Louis 16 Patch for my first quilt, as I've learned it's an easy quilt block for beginners. I'm going for an autumnal and spring color theme with lots of florals and I'm happily embracing a very scrappy, imperfect, but fun approach to quilting. 

~ Decorating with collected treasures ~

Hometending is very dear to me. I love making our home into a cozy haven that we just love to be. Home is our favorite place, so it might as well be as cozy, comforting, and enjoyable as we can make it. I love thrifting for home decorations and little treasures to add to our shelves, cupboards, walls, coffee table, etc. There's something to warm and homey about a collected home, as opposed to a home that is so mainstream with pieces that are mass-produced at stores like Hobby Lobby. I find the quality to be better, the prices to be much more affordable, and the styles much more suited to our taste. And it's fun getting to go on what feels like a grown-up treasure hunt at the thrift store!

~ Collecting teacups and mugs ~

My teacup and mug collection began in the winter of 2015, and it has grown so much since then. I was obsessed with teacups for a long time there, but now I'm more of a mug girl. Teacups are a bit daintier and fancy than I tend to care for...mugs, for me, are more down-to-earth, homey, cozy, comforting, and feel good in my hands when they're full of a warming drink. I tend to go for seasonal designs most of the time, but I do love more general styles, too, which for me includes lots of florals and nature designs.

~ Perusing my collection of old cookbooks ~

I've been collecting cookbooks since I was 8 years old. As a young girl, I spent my TV time watching the Food Network when everyone else my age watched Cartoon Network. (Not that there's anything wrong with that! It just wasn't me.) My collection is huge, I admit. But I find great pleasure in simply taking a few down from the shelf at a time and flipping through them. Most of my collection is quite dated, from several of my favorite publications that my mom collected as I grew up. It's also fun picking new recipes to try...and just to get inspiration from as well.

~ Collecting books ~

I will also admit here that I have a quite large book collection. Nearly all of my books are used, as that is what I personally prefer. And probably three-fourths of them I got for less than a few dollars each. Our community library, as well as the big city library each have massive book sales each April. You can fill a box for $12, and do you know how many books you can fit in a big box?!?! {{smiles}} I also frequent little free libraries around where I live every few months. And, of course, I do shop at local used bookstores and Abe Books online. I really, really prefer used books so much over new ones...I love how they already feel broken in and well-loved. It's like a perfectly worn in pair of jeans. I also do not like for my books to remain in perfect condition. That honestly annoys me...a perfect looking book or book collection. I like a hodgepodge, mixy/matchy, obviously well-loved book collection. I like for my books to look read and used and enjoyed. So, yes, my book spines are broken, and pages are creased and sometimes the corners are folded over or pages written on. And I think my shelves show that quite well.

~ Watching favorite shows ~

I'm of the belief that watching TV shows and movies that one finds comforting to be one of the best hobbies out there. My favorite shows include police/crime dramas and cozy mysteries, Gilmore Girls, The Middle, Home Improvement, and I just began watching Friends for the first time. It's especially wonderful when you pair a favorite show or movie with a board game or crafty project or even while you clean. That's one of the coziest things to me! 

~ Holistic wellness & Natural living ~

I've been a student of holistic and natural wellness since my late teens. It's a topic that I could talk about for ages...and then some. I enjoy studying herbalism, ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, somatic healing, holistic nutrition, homeopathy, yoga, aromatherapy, etc. For me, these things are not only beneficial and informative to learn about, but also very inspiring and lifegiving and hopeful.

 ~ Coziness. Comfort. H O M E. ~

Home is the nicest word there is, as Laura Ingalls said. And I heartily agree. There's no place like home, says Dorthy Gale. How I echo those words. Home is truly my most favorite place to be. I seriously do not understand people who do not like being at home or who can't be at home for any length of time. For me, home is where it is at. I have many thoughts, beliefs, convictions, values, and deeply rooted feelings about home. I believe home to be the most important place on earth. Simply put.

~ Watching favorite movies ~

Just as with TV shows, movie watching, particularly rewatching is among my favorite hobbies. I know some people can't stand rewatching the same things over and over again, but I love it. {{smiles}} A few of my top favorites are: Julie and Julia, Under the Tuscan Sun, Little Women (1994), Miss Potter, Letters to Juliet, and many of the Hallmark Mystery series.

~ Commonplacing ~

I've been keeping a commonplace book since 2015. I know they've gotten rather trendy and popular thanks to some "influencers", but some of us kept these types of journals way before then. It's my favorite way to keep my favorite quotes together, and a fun way to look back on what speaks to you at different times in your life. I like keeping mine very casual and not fancy at all, using simple composition notebooks instead of designer journals...very unlike the ones popularized by certain "influencers".

~ Journaling ~

I don't know what some would call the kind of journaling I like to do...but for me, it's simply creative journaling or scrappy journaling. I love stickers, washi tape, scraps of paper I collect from random things, etc. It's a way to have fun and be creative without thinking too much. I find it very peaceful.

~ Storybooks ~

So, yes, I collect storybooks. I believe storybooks are for every age group, and I honestly find so much inspiration in the illustrations as well as the stories themselves. My collection is completely used and well loved, and thoroughly enjoyed, too. I love reading them now, and hope to share them with my future children one day. The one in the picture above is from our family collection from my sister's and my childhood. It was, and still is, a true favorite of ours!

~ Cooking ~

Cooking has been a love of mine since I was very young helping my mom by pulling up a chair to stand on. Nowadays, I love not following recipes, not measuring anything, and just having a sort of free-for-all when I cook. It's the most fun! Especially when I play a CD in the kitchen, too!

~ Nightly teatime ~

One thing I'm trying to incorporate into my daily rhythms is a nightly teatime. I've done this on and off through the years, and I'm trying to get back into the habit of it. We have a wide variety of teas to choose from, and of course, tea must be enjoyed out of a pretty mug, in my opinion. ♥

There is a large measure of joy in ordinary moments.

~ Susan Gale Wicks ~

What are some of your ordinary joys? Do share with me in the comments!

 Do we have any in common? Let me know below!

there is nothing new under the sun

I don't know about you, but I sometimes feel as though I'm going to lose my mind. The constant noise of the news and headlines from both near and afar gets to feel like too much. And it can make a person feel a bit crazy at times...and stressed. Wondering if there is still goodness, and light, and hope out there. If there is something still worth fighting for. Maybe you feel that way too at times. Certainly the last few months and years have felt that way...the noise has gotten louder, the headlines grimmer, and the news from lands near and far heavy. 

I do not believe we were created, designed, or meant to take it all in. There has to be a stopping point, a boundary, a hedge, that we all must put into place for the protection of our own peace and mental and emotional steadiness. It can be hard, though, when you are a person who feels things deeper than others or when your heart breaks at the slightest bit of disheartening news, even if it seems insignificant to most. You want to fix the world and make it all better. But you simply can't...I know how all of this feels. I'm a feeler, through and through. It can all feel a bit much for me a lot of the time and even hinders me from doing things I love and enjoy, such as sharing here on my little corner of the crazy online world. I take in whatever I see, read, or notice and it grows roots and firmly plants itself in my mind and heart, and there it stays. I have learned over the years that those hedges must be put in place. Therefore, I rarely look at world news. Yes, I know the general gist of what's going on, as one should, I believe, but I don't need to know minute-by minute, day-by-day events. I am very conscious and contentious of what I allow on my social media feed. As I've mentioned before, I only use Instagram and watch YouTube occasionally, but I am very, very picky about who I follow/watch....every single voice we allow to speak into us is an influence, no matter how small or minute...even those on social media. And we must be vigilant and wise about who we allow into our circle of influence.

We live in a day and age where the noise is constant. The online world literally never sleeps. And not only does it never sleep, but it's also always on max. There is absolutely no care for humans and the peace and mental and emotional wellness of people from those in power and control. Fear, anxiety, stress, depression, desperation, etc. is their goal and they're quite successful at it, I might add. I think we sometimes forget that life wasn't always like this...people didn't have 24/7 access to the entire world and it's goings on and happenings. It's a rather new way of living, just in the last couple decades. I'm old enough to remember a world without constant access to the internet, and definitely a world where people didn't carry that 24/7 access in their back pocket. 

I want to share something that I have personally found encouraging and comforting in such unsettling times...in times of political turmoil, war and violence, acts of evil, and people in authority who crave power and control. For someone who feels everything in a deep way, this has brought sanity and comfort and common sense back into my mind and heart as I often deal with and struggle with anxiety and stress. And that is this...

There is nothing new under the sun.

I only have to think back to the last three generations in my family for this to become clear. My great-grandfather left a communist country with his brothers as a young man, traveling by train and boat for many days, in harsh conditions, all in search of a better life for himself and those who would come after him. His journey was such a tremendous one that when he finally got off the boat on Ellis Island, he knelt down and kissed the ground, thankful to have safely arrived on American soil. My grandpa was a young boy when the Great Depression hit and he had to go live with his aunt and uncle on a farm, so that his father could find work and be able to support his two young sons as a widower. As a young adult, he served our country in World War II and made it back home safe and sound. My own parents' childhoods through young adult years were in the 60s-70s, when everything moral was thrown out the window and things were nuts. Political turmoil, lack of morals and decency on the rise, and the entire family foundation rocked and shaken by newfound ideals. All of them lived through horrible political leaders, wars, recessions and money troubles, political upheaval, acts of violence in the news, and so on. And yet...here I am. Three generations later, the same things happening, just a new date attached to the events. 

There is nothing new under the sun. There are times of peace and times of unrest. There are good leaders and evil ones. There are those that want war and those that desire peace. There are years of penny-pinching and wondering when the price of gas will go down, and years of more comfortable financial security. Life ebbs and flows...it always has and it always will. The earth continues to turn, and the seasons continue to shift. The sun rises each morning and sets each evening...just as it always has, just as it always will.

I am very disturbed by people who irrationally try to stir up anxiety and stress and such by declaring "it's the end of the world" and that things have never been this bad. Some people genuinely get a thrill out of seeing people stirred up and anxious, and to them, I say shame on you. Some people are genuinely ignorant and foolish, and there is honestly no use in trying to talk sense into stupidity. I'm not saying that things aren't going on in the world or that things are all grand and wonderful, but it's time to stop and realize that things have gone on before and they will continue to go on. Look back at your own family and see what previous generations have lived through...there is nothing new under the sun. 

Let us take comfort in that, keep calm, and cultivate a quiet life, focusing on tending to our own little corners of the world well, and loving those around us. I think that's a much better use of our time than worrying, being anxious or getting all worked up by the headlines and news. Your peace is up to you...you can either cultivate it and water it and watch it grow...and then protect it at all costs, or you can destroy it by allowing any old voice to speak into your mind and cause turmoil in your heart, mind and soul. The choice is yours. And I've learned over the years that it is sometimes a choice to be made daily. Put up those hedges, be mindful of who and what influences you, and realize that there is still goodness, light, beauty, truth, and hope in this world. There is still something worth fighting for, and fight for it, we must. 

I would love to share more of my ramblings on a simple, rooted, quiet life, which I believe is the antidote to the times in which we live, and I do hope to more. But I would love your feedback and input, so I'm going to kindly ask you to take a few minutes to fill out a brief survey about such things. This is simply to help me decide what to share about and in what order and if you'd like to read about such things as much as I enjoy writing about them, and if your heart is in those things as much as mine is. I always get so inspired when you all share your ideas and thoughts with me in the surveys I put up...so thank you very much for taking the time to share with me. It really inspires my heart to know that I'm not the only one out there who has a heart for these dear things...this is how I was raised and it's rooted deep and firm in my soul.

You can fill out the survey here. :)

Bless you, dear reader. And take heart...

there is goodness still out there.

May we notice it, may we cultivate it,

may we protect it and fight for it, 

and may we simply be goodness itself.