summertime's small delights...

 Even though summer is my least favorite time of year, mostly because it’s just too damn hot where I live that you can’t go outside to do anything all season long without sweating like you wouldn’t believe…and not to mention, our summer always lasts way too long…there are some things I do genuinely love about this season.

♥ F L O W E R S !

♥ Lush, green trees!

♥ Fresh fruit, especially watermelon!

♥ Butterflies, lightning bugs, and hanging out on summer nights.

♥ Summer showers…I’m not a lover of sunshine; rain is my jam.

♥ Summer tunes…I have certain songs that I love listening to in the summertime.

♥ The colorful-ness of summer. The Earth is just so rich and vibrant with color and I love it!

♥ Beachy books…I’m loving having a few really summery novels to enjoy. 

♥ Iced tea, and lots of it, please. 

♥ Bruschetta with fresh tomatoes and basil. I could live off this stuff!

♥ Celebrating the Fourth of July…it’s seriously one of my favorite celebrations because it’s so simple and fun and I have so many happy memories from my girlhood days of this time of year.

♥ Roadtrips and just drives through the countryside in the summer are where it’s at.

♥ The sounds of summer…birdsong in the morning and an orchestral performance by the crickets at night.

♥ The scent of freshly cut grass.

♥ Summer nights, whether it be baking something in the kitchen or watching a movie on the couch, or just shooting the breeze outside. I literally have tons of happy and sometimes crazy memories of my childhood summer nights. I could probably write a book! 

So, dear summer, even though you’re not my favorite (at least where I live now), you are still pretty damn special. And I shall be grateful for all the memories you hold and all the future memories that I haven’t lived yet. Here’s to making summertime magical and beautiful! 

What are your summertime loves?

the cottage library ♥ the cobble street cousins series

One thing I firmly believe is that a good children's book that can equally be enjoyed by adults is a gem, indeed. Not too long ago, I decided that I wanted to delve in and explore the world of children's and middle grade books. It is a grand, wide world, and there are many countless titles to check out. Over the last wee while, I have found the beginning of a collection that have brought me much delight. And they've enchanted the little girl's spirit that is alive within me. Today's selection is a small part of my growing collection...

Meet Lily, Tess, and Rosie. Three cousins who live on Cobble Street with their Aunt Lucy whilst their parents are a part of the traveling with the ballet. This series of six short but sweet stories follow the adventures of this cousin trio throughout the course of about a year. From their shared attic bedroom, the girls pull together their imaginations and creative ideas and come up with many plans. Some of their adventures include creating a cookie company, surprising their Aunt Lucy, meeting new friends and neighbors, putting on special shows, hosting seasonal parties, making their very own newspaper, and planning delicious treats to bake along the way. The cousins are all unique and bring their special talents and interests to the table, creating an incredibly memorable and special year for everyone. 

 These six books aren't long, and the writing is obviously aimed towards young readers. But something just really drew me into these stories. As I look back on my reading journal, I described these books over and over again as charming, really sweet, gentle, delightful, cozy, and whimsical.  They are full of imagination and wonder and the goodness of childhood. These stories really brought to life the joys of an old-fashioned childhood, before technology and the internet and before children grew up quicker than they're supposed to. They are true comfort reads...for adults and children, alike. And equally important to the story being delightful and charming and whimsical, the illustrations in this book are just incredibly delightful and charming and whimsical...and sweet. I'm a sucker for illustrations and these are some of the best I've seen. In my opinion, if you don't want to jump right into a children's story and it's illustrations, then it's not a book for me. And this is one I really wished I could jump right into. It had that quintessential "storybook" feel.

If you have children, these would make wonderful stories to read together. And as an adult, I think these make some really sweet, charming stories to read, reminding you of the "good ole days". 

The books in The Cobble Street Cousins series are:

(by Cynthia Rylant)

♥ In Aunt Lucy's Kitchen

♥ A Little Shopping 

♥ Special Gifts

♥ Some Good News

♥ Summer Party

♥ Wedding Flowers

I highly recommend this little series of stories...for children and adults alike. You will be charmed and your heart will be warmed. Trust me.

Until next time, dear friends...

May your week be splendid!

♥

 

slowing down and savouring ♥ a spring tea time

Teatime is a chance to slow down, pull back 

and appreciate our surroundings.

-Leticia Baldridge-

Dear friends,

I invite you to savour a few moments of quiet and calm...

brew a pot of your most delicious tea,

choose the most beautiful teacup in your cupboard,

perhaps set a cookie or two, or maybe even a scone, on a pretty plate,

turn your phone to "silent" and turn off all the noises around you.

Curl up in a cozy, squishy chair or sofa, 

if it's cool enough grab a warm blanket or well-loved quilt.

 Sink down into your seat, cozy up,

and take a deep breath.

Soak that up...

that quiet and calm.

Drink it in, let it fill you up. 

For this post, I have taken a handful of my favorite excerpts from Gladys Taber and her writings. 

I find her writing incredibly peaceful, inspiring, and just beautiful. I hope you find some of that here as well...

May this post bring peace to your spirit,

renewal to your heart,

and refreshment to your bones...

 

"It might seem as if June were an old story, with so much poetry written about it, and so many songs sung. And yet every time it comes it is as much of a wonder, as much of a delight. If I had Aladdin's lamp and the usual three wishes, the first would always be, 'Give me the first day of June.' The whole, complete day, with the sky-blue dawn, and the golden noon, and the violet dusk, and the silvered night. With early roses unfolding and a hummingbird over the border. And a whole packet of smells too. New-cut grass, and pea vines, and freshly hoed garden soil."

"Now it is warm enough on these May evenings to sit in the back yard while the stars come slowly out in the eternal depth of the sky. The radio is on in the house, and the music comes out through the open door, even sweeter when it is blended with dusk. The cockers settle down on the terrace, paws folded in, and ears limp at last. The May noon is white as foam. And the May night is sweet as first love. And the heart is lifted up by the happiness which is Spring."

"Somehow, since the war has destroyed so much beauty, I hope many people will begin to save and love the old things that are left, to cherish and preserve whatever is available. It is good for us to keep our roots in the past, just as we draw so much strength and courage from great men and women who have lived before our time. Change is a fine thing; growth is necessary in our ideas, our institutions and our way of life. And yet I think we should be careful not to become a regimented people, and not to discard the value of individuality."

"As long as there is a sky overhead there is beauty, something to live for. Early in the morning, when the birds begin, the light is an infusion of gold through my curtains. All the new insistent green of the world, and the glowing color from a thousand blossoms are in it, and the smell is so heavenly sweet it aches in the heart."

"Life is not, after all, made up of grand moments, grand gestures, glorious achievements. Life is made up of many days filled with small things. Shopping, going to the post office, using the telephone, keeping house- these make up the chief sum of our days. And to me, it seems infinitely greater to make all the people one sees feel a little happier for it than to paint a masterpiece or be in bright lights on Broadway. After we are all hone down by the river of time, the simple kindness of those who fulfill their daily tasks graciously will overbalance any special feat."

"There is a kind of enchantment about a tranquil blue morning. I feel as if something wonderful might happen at any minute; and on the other hand, the day itself is a wonderful happening."

"Yes, in spite of all, I am in life with life. There is more beauty than we can measure in this old world of ours. There is surely more beauty than we can measure in a single night."

"I believe deeply that we should live with as much beauty as we can, every single day that we live. We should surround our daily life with as much charm and graciousness as we possibly can."

 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

"'You see', I tell myself, 'there is always some small work to do, the world goes on, and the simple ordinary things of life are good.'"

"The earth keeps her seasons. Sun and wind and rain are vouchsafed humanity. Nothing can take away the security we have in the earth herself. And no mad dictators can lift their iron gloves and wipe off that delicate lilac color above the dark hill. The earth endures, her strength restores us...I took a last look at the sky about the great maples. The sky and the maples and the darkness made the house seem very small. The house belongs to us, and we are allowed to work on the earth around it. The earth is bigger, the sky and stars and moon are too big to belong to man. Thankful I was for the enduring things, and that I, such a small finite creature, have been allowed to recognize the beauty of the world in my small and finite way."

May the beauty and peacefulness of the ritual of teatime

fill you to overflowing with a renewed mind, refreshed spirit,

and a heart to share that beauty and peacefulness with those around you.

Bless you, dear friends!

Thank you for joining me for tea today.

♥ 

Note: All quotations are taken from "The Book of Stillmeadow" by Gladys Taber. All emphasis is mine.

a simple introduction to gentle living ♥

Gentle living is something that I have grown to be very passionate about. Funny enough, even though it's really the way I was raised and how my family has always lived, at least to a large degree, I never realized that until just a couple years ago. It finally dawned on me that gentle living has been part of my life since I took my first breath.

Grab hold of your dreams and make them come true, for you are the key to unlocking your own magic. Now, go. Let your dreams guide you. Reach out and find your happily ever after. 

Walt Disney World 

As I've shared before, I am a highly sensitive, sentimental person who deals quite regularly with intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and fear. Along with those two things, I'm an extreme introvert...and an idealist who often doesn't feel like I belong in this world. I have struggled with feeling like an alien of sorts, like an outsider, and with just feeling very different from most people. So I understand completely when someone shares with me that they, too, live with these things as part of their everyday. 

On top of those things about myself, I also want a different sort of life than what I see most folks living. Most folks that I see and know live very shallow, very "in-the-box", very conventional, very meaningless lives. I want something more. I always have, ever since I was a little girl. As I've gotten older and learned a thing or two about myself and what I believe about things, what exactly this means has changed over time and morphed into my thinking and feelings and beliefs that I hold today. They're nearly thirty years in the making...and no doubt, as I grow older, they will probably just get weirder and stronger and even more solidified into my soul than they already are. 

 While there are plenty of experts and professionals out there (99% of which I strongly disagree with), I prefer to take a more relaxed and organic approach to creating a life that is beautiful, meaningful, and true to me. What I will share today, however, is not just for me. This is truly for anyone, and in my opinion, it's the best, wisest, healthiest way to live. It is a way that invites happiness and bliss into your everyday and peace and calm to flood your heart, mind and spirit. I'm not saying that out of arrogance or because I'm so great that I came up with these things all on my own. Because, well, I didn't. These ideals that I hold onto so strongly and believe in so deeply have been formed thanks to some incredible folks I've learned a hell of a lot from over the years. Especially these last four years. These teachers of mine have been some wonderful writers, artists, creators, musicians, homemakers, crafters, holistic teachers, some old, some young, some dead, some alive, but all incredibly unique and gifted in making a beautiful life that tends to body, mind, heart and soul. And on top of those folks from whom I have learned a great deal, I also learn from and alongside my mom and sister. And nearly everything in this post are things that I have learned over the years. And lots of it, well, it's just how I grew up. 

Gentle living is really a simple thing. I believe it includes several aspects that we incorporated into our daily rhythms and lifestyles. It's nothing complicated or overwhelming, for this way of life is simply taking one step in the right direction at a time. Life is a journey and gentle living is part of that journey. Gentle living is all about being kinder to yourself and to others. It's generational living and making generational choices that nurtures the body, mind, soul and heart, along with tending to life in a way that preserves goodness so that future generations can live this way, too.

We are meant to be happy and our lives are created to be filled with happiness and beauty. Gentle living allows us to be happy in a myriad of ways. It invites us to consider our senses and truly taste, see, smell, hear and feel the world around us. It awakens our wonder and rekindles the imagination oftentimes lost deep within us. Happiness is meant for all of us and yet so often we are trying so hard to attain it. And yet, there it lies, right in front of us. So many people live lives they have to escape from, and yet this is about creating a life that you don't want or feel the need to escape from. It is possible to live a life you love and find beautiful. And the truth is, it's a whole lot simpler of an answer than most would admit.

Gentle living equals slow living. Living slowly means that we are not caught up in the hustle and bustle that the world tempts us with at every turn. We realize that not everything calling out our name needs our attention, nor does it mean that we should participate in every activity that comes our way. Slow living means taking the time to breathe and notice more. Far too many people are in a mad dash of hurry to get absolutely nowhere. Abundance comes when we slow down, notice and savour that which is right in front of us. You may find that when you live slowly, you actually get more done because you are focusing only on the things that fill your life with goodness and beauty. All of the other stuff can go. Slow living is about protecting your peace and making sure your roots are planted in the good soil of beauty and calm.

Gentle living equals soft living. Living softly means being gentle with yourself and others. It means showing yourself kindness and grace and truly tending to your wellbeing, soul and mind. It means treating yourself with love and compassion. Oftentimes, it means treating yourself like you would a child. When you treat a child with disrespect, harshness, discipline over guidance, and like they are less than human, they crumble. It creates lasting effects that take a lifetime to recover from. And yet, that is how many people treat children, even (if not, especially) their own. And on top of that, it's oftentimes how people treat themselves. We need to stop hating ourselves, speaking harshly or unlovingly about ourselves, and tearing ourselves down. Being soft isn't weakness. Being soft is being kind, loving, gracious, gentle, compassionate, and nurturing. It begins with how we treat ourselves and then trickles out all around us in how we treat others and live our daily lives.

Gentle living also equals simple living. Simple living allows us to cherish the life we have now. There's nothing wrong with desiring certain things or working towards this or that, but simple living tells us that what we have right here and right now is good and blessed and beautiful. Small things get turned into big, beautiful moments when we see them through this lens. It finds happiness and delight in sitting on the porch in the evening and having long chats after dinner. It's reading a novel before bed or baking fresh bread in the morning. It finds goodness in the world of home and yet also sees the beauty of the grand world waiting for you to explore. Simple living is really that...it's simple. It cultivates beauty in the ordinary, everyday rhythms of our lives and seeks to create abundance within those moments. And, more times than not, even when I am doing something "big" or "grand", it is in a much different way than most other folks I know or see. I always just have my own little way of doing this or that, and am forever just walking my own sweet little path.

Because this is the internet after all, and there all kinds of people out there who read way into things or take things off the deep end, please do not misunderstand me. Let's pause right here before we continue and let me get this out there...This "gentle living" way of life does not mean that you never leave the house or live without modern conveniences like Little House on the Prairie. It doesn't mean that sometimes you are busy and you feel as though your head will spin right off your body. It doesn't mean that you don't have responsibilities or that your life looks like some sort of Cinderella tale. 

Honestly. Get real.

We are all human. We all deal with things. We all live the same 24 hours a day. That, however, doesn't mean that there is only one way to live and that we must follow the status quo. You can live this way. There are a hundred ways to do so. It's not about hard fast rules (it's really about no rules) or some overly complicated way of living (it's really about simplifying everything that's been overly complicated for decades now). It really is quite simple. It's not some fantasy...I know folks who really live this way. I'm one of them. It's an overall approach to life and choosing a different way than what has been sold to us by mainstream society and Hollywood alike, religious and secular groups equally, pharmaceutical companies, the so-called "mental health" agenda, educational systems, big corporations, fast food industries, all numbers of experts on just about every darn topic in the world, and well, just about everyone. Because we've all probably heard... "everyone's doing it". Well, guess what, you don't have to!

If you want to, that's fine. But if you're interested in something different, that's the folks that I'm writing to. And if that's you, I'm glad you're here. ♥

Gentle living equals seasonal living. Living in harmony with the earth brings balance and peace. Enjoying each of nature's passing seasons as they come around year after year. Cherishing the snowy white winter and the fresh flowers of spring to the summer nights with lightning bugs flying around and autumn's carpet of colorful, crunchy fallen leaves. There is abundance found in the harvest of each season and getting to enjoy that harvest on our plates at mealtime. It means savouring the beauty that comes with each season and not wishing away this one for the next. Reawaking our wonder each time the earth brings forth new beauty and allowing us to drink in the splendour of that gift. Seasonal living feeds the mind, soul and body in tremendous ways. And it brings with it fresh perspective, renewal and peace and a return to wonder, which all of these are overflowing blessings.  

Gentle living equals authentic living. Authenticity is a rare thing these days, especially in the age of social media. But authenticity is a true gem. When you are authentic, you are embracing your true self and allowing her (or him) to shine brightly through. It means accepting yourself for exactly the way you were made and not trying to change or fix things that make you who you are. It's being true to yourself. It's seeing your personality as just the right one for you, not in need of any fixing. It's realizing that you are enough and perfect just the way you are. It's not buying the many lies or falling into the countless traps that Hollywood or beauty industries send out, but instead, choosing to see yourself as beautiful simply because you are...naturally, truly you. It's having zero tolerance for anything less than true and authentic and genuine. 

You may wonder how these aspects of gentle living bring healing and peace to those of us with anxiety or intrusive thoughts or being highly sensitive or sentimental, or whatever else you want to add. I believe that living a meaningful life brings these things. Also living a life that desires and seeks to make beauty wherever you bring these things. And finally, living a life close to the earth and in harmony with nature also brings these things. Living simply and slowly and softly and being authentic is about being kinder to yourself and others. Living seasonably and as naturally as possible is about being kinder to the earth as well as your wellbeing. And yet they all overlap. When you live slowly and simply and seasonably and softly and authentically, you are being kinder to yourself and others. It's a cycle of kindness. And it's constant if we allow it to be. The circle isn't broken unless we are the ones to break it.

Gentle living brings abundance into your everyday life when you allow these gentle changes into your ordinary rhythms. Living gently isn't hard or complicated, but it does ask of us to be creative and intentional and purposeful and most of all...kind. Kinder to ourselves, to those around us and to this beautiful dwelling place...the earth.

Gentle living is a journey, and it's not one that should be rushed. It's one day at a time, one step at a time, one gift at a time. Through all of these things come peace and calm, abundance and blessing, beauty and wonder, harmony and happiness, goodness and kindness. It's truly the way of fighting against the fears and anxieties and stresses that too often fill our minds and days and bring tension to our bodies. 

There is oh so much more I would love to say about this topic, as it is something I am very passionate about and hold dearly in my soul. But this post was just meant as a condensed overview, a sprinkling of sorts or gently tiptoeing into this topic. I do hope to share more on gentle living and all the many aspects of it throughout many posts here. Some of which already exist, if you just look through my archives.

I hope this gave you even just a bit of encouragement towards creating a life that truly tends to your wellbeing...♥♥♥

A lot of good things can come from slowing down.

Moonlight in Vermont

this is me & a message for your soul

 

t h i s · i s · m e

  

Elizabeth. 28. Daughter. Sister. Dreamer. Bibliophile. Writer. Photographer. Home-baker and cook. Journaler. Knitter. Keeper of many hobbies. Collector of many things. Wallflower. Homebody and wanderluster. Old soul and young at heart. Complicated and simple. Confident and insecure. Often, a contradiction. Autumn and winter girl. Homemaker. Wonderer and wanderer. Maximalist. Lover of rain and snow. Rory Gilmore meets Sue Heck meets Jess O'Brien meets Amy Fleming meets DJ Tanner. Believer in fairies and mermaids and magic. Believer in making life beautiful, even the tiniest nooks and crannies. Earth dweller. Student of Mother Nature. Hobbit at heart. Hufflepuff. Lover of songs that tell stories. Listener of multiple music genres. Watcher of enchanting movies. Naturalist. Crunchy with balance. Holistic living. Oily girl. Still burns my own CDs. And watches DVDs. Eclectic mood reader. Homeschool graduate and advocate. Noncompliant, unconventional, nonconformist, freethinker. Trusting my instinct, following my heart, listening to my soul. Lover of rolling green hills and the seaside and animals. Countryside and small towns over city. Can never decide if I like night or morning better. Quote keeper. Concert goer. Musical watcher. Nature lover. Reader of storybooks and novels and memoirs of people I admire. Introvert. Highly sensitive. Out-of-the-box. Creative. Believer in imagination and beauty. Hopeful romantic. Sentimental. Unashamed idealist. Lover of old-fashioned things, all things floral and cozy, and anything that makes me feel "alive to the beauty of the world". Fashion style = comfy, cozy, casual, simple is best. Make-up free and naturally tended-to hair. Cluttered mind, always. Clumsy. Incredibly unathletic. Prefers a hodgepodge, "cluttered" (even though I don't really believe in "clutter"), collected, cottage-vibe with decorating, as opposed to perfectly matchy, organized, and orderly. Kinda dorky and awkward. Somewhat dramatic, so says my sister. Forever pondering. Passionate about a good number of things. Wildflower wannabe in a world of roses. 

This is who I am, this and so much more.

🌻🌼🌷

Who are you? 

f o r · y o u r · s o u l

This is a friendly reminder from me to you that you do not have to do things just because "everyone else is doing them", or because "it's the norm', or because it's what's expected. It doesn't matter if it's choosing to not wear make-up or allowing weeds to grow freely in your yard or loving rain more than sunshine. It doesn't matter if you choose to forego college and a traditional career or would rather spend your Friday night jamming out to musical soundtracks whilst baking cookies at home instead of going out. It doesn't matter if you prefer just having one or two close friends instead of large group around you or if you keep a different daily schedule compared to what "everyone" else keeps to. You don't have to live a life that everyone tells you that you have to. You don't have to sacrifice your happiness for others' expectations. You don't have to feel pressured or burdened under everyone else's "advice" or suggestions or thoughts on how you should live. You have the power to think for yourself. You can do things according to your intuition and beliefs. You can be true to yourself, follow your heart, and live authentically. 

 

Most of the people I've known throughout my life have been as shallow as a puddle and haven't been able to think for themselves, not one tiny little bit. I've received a lot of grief and ridicule and disgusting treatment because I simply choose to live my own way and because my beliefs and values aren't what is popular or conventional. I choose to live in a way that aligns with my intuition and beliefs, and yes, it is quite different from the so-called "norm", but I'm not satisfied to just follow the crowd or do things because everyone else is doing so. I believe in authenticity and being true to my soul and following my heart. I have no interest in swimming in the shallow end of life, where puddles have more depth than most people. I believe life to be worth so much more than that. 

You don't have to comply; you can resist. You don't have to conform or follow a set of rules or guidelines according to any institution or leader or group or whatever it may be that is telling you how to live. (This is not me telling you to break the law or anything like that. I'm taking about religious, political, social, etc. groups here.) Take back your power. Listen to your soul. Follow your heart. Trust your intuition. Be true to yourself. Discover what it means to live authentically. Unlock a life that brings you happiness, peace, and magic. Learn what "wild and free" truly feels like. Tend to your garden and unlearn what you need to unlearn. Get to know yourself and get reacquainted with your deepest, truest self. 

And, then as a favorite quote of mine says, the butterflies will come. Watch and see...

🦋🦋🦋

What is your soul whispering to you today?

little reminders that goodness & magic still exist

These last several years have been full of fear, turmoil, conspiracy, pandemics, war, evil government leaders, among other things. And those are just the things that the world, or our country, dealt with as a whole. It doesn't even begin to dip into the personal things people experienced. There have been many times over the last few years when I wished I could just escape everything and slip into a hidden corner for awhile. My mind was full of heaviness and my soul very weary. Worries, stress and anxiety. I think that's the case for many, many people out there. 

The past few years have taught me a number of things. And many of those things have been about people, especially people of different groups whether it pertains to politics, religion, etc. I have wondered too many times to count if there is still goodness and magic and beauty in the world. Of course, deep down in my heart, I know that there is. And plenty of it. But when I look at the news and internet, it can seem that just isn't so. 

I have shared lists of my favorite things before...it's something I love to do. But, today I decided I wanted to share a smaller, more specific list of favorites that remind me that yes, there is still goodness and magic out there. It's not gone and it's still in abundance. The world's not going to "hell in a handbasket" as it can seem when we focus on the loud, overpowering voices out there. 

 

Sometimes when your mind just can't concentrate on books and words, it does wonders to just curl up on the couch and get cozy for an hour or two and remind yourself of some goodness and magic. Here are my Favorite Little Magical Things...

 ♥ TV Shows that Remind Me ♥

Call the Midwife

Home Fires 

7th Heaven

The Great British Baking Show

Heartland (seasons 1-7 only)

Road to Avonlea

The Middle

Blue Bloods

Gilmore Girls

Agatha Raisin

Chesapeake Shores

♥ Movies that Remind Me ♥

Anne of Green Gables

Little Women (I love the 1994 and PBS miniseries versions best.)

Miss Potter 

Under the Tuscan Sun

The Hundred-Foot Journey

The Sound of Music

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Because of Winn-Dixie (a favorite from childhood)

Julie and Julia

Ramona and Beezus

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Leap Year

Letters to Juliet

Little Forest (Korean)

The Parent Trap (1998 version)

It Takes Two

The Hobbit trilogy

Lord of the Rings trilogy

Harry Potter series

Kiki's Delivery Service

The Secret World of Arrietty

Matilda

Nanny McPhee

Nanny McPhee Returns

Paddington

Paddington 2

♥ Books that Remind Me ♥

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (the sweetest story)

Vittoria Cottage by D.E. Stevenson

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

any of Miss Read's books

A Fine Romance by Susan Branch (so dreamy and wonder-ful)

anything at all by Gladys Taber (a true kindred spirit)

Anne series by L.M. Montgomery  

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Barrows and Shaffer (seriously a favorite)

 Pilgrim's Inn by Elizabeth Goudge

Mitford series by Jan Karon

Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall

The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter series by Susan Wittig Albert

Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono

Paddington series by Michael Bond

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

The Private World of Tasha Tudor

Distilled Genius by Susan Branch

(I want to share a list of children's picture books that embody this "goodness, beauty and magic" message and vibe. I've loved early chapter books and middle grade reads for a few years now, after returning to some beloved favorites from my childhood. But picture books are a new hobby of mine, collecting them and reading them equally. And I've found a wonderful handful or so already. I'll either share those in a post altogether or in mini-posts in my "Gems From My Bookshelf" series.)

♥ My Current & Soon-to-be Reading ♥

of course, continuing on with some of the series I shared above...and

Martha's Vineyard, Isle of Dreams by Susan Branch (taking this one s l o w to savour every single little tiny bit)

Mandy by Julie Andrews (nearly done reading)

and I'm poking around a few novels deciding which one I want to read next.

♥ Little Things that Remind Me ♥

~ playing beautiful instrumental music whilst cooking dinner or baking something scrumptious

~ playing fun music whilst doing tasks, chores, or working on some sort of project

~ reading a delightful novel

~ diving headfirst into a pile of children's picture books

~ taking walks in our neighborhood

 ~ sitting outside and breathing in fresh air

~ trying new recipes

~ working on crafty projects

~ watching a favorite comforting, cozy show or movie

~ going on drives on country roads

~ making my home as cozy as possible... even the small, hidden spaces

~ redecorating my spaces with things I already have

~ rearranging furniture

~ going to a used book sale or thrifting

~ wearing clothes that make me feel like myself

~ wearing a pretty dress and feeling l o v e l y

~ writing down favorite quotes in my commonplace book

~ junk journaling

~ painting on a canvas...even if I don't know what I'm doing

~ tidying up 

~ walking through the garden

~ having tea or hot chocolate in a pretty mug

~ enjoying iced water in a gorgeous blue mason jar

~ wearing whimsical earrings

~ piling up stacks of books that I want to read

~ reorganizing my bookshelves

~ and tons more I know I'm forgetting.

We all needed to be reminded of goodness and magic here and there...sometimes more often than others. I think it's important to find the things that serve as those reminders to you. There is magic out there if we only open our eyes to see it. Goodness is running rampant if we are keen to be witnesses to it. It's not complicated or hard, but sometimes it's just more of a challenge. Filling your life with happiness and delight and magic is crucial to a good life, and this is simply one teeny tiny way to do that. 

We must also protect our wellbeing, mentally, emotionally, physiologically, and physically. There are many ways to do this, and many that I put into practice myself. (Perhaps this is another post waiting to be written.) One of the biggest ways to do this is to avoid the news. Simply do not watch it, do not spend time scrolling the news on your phone or computer or spend time dwelling on all the things going on in the world. I know that some may think this means living in a state of naiveté, but that just simply isn't so. At the same time, you (and I) do not need to know every single thing going on in every single corner of the world. I check my local news and the weather, and that's it. If there is something going on in the world that I need to know about, I will find out from those sources. Too much news results in stress, depressed feelings, intrusive thoughts, hopelessness, anxiety, fear, and a negative outlook on life, the world, and people. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

 Today, I encourage you to spend even just half an hour delighting in something that reminds you of these things. Some of the other ways that I do this are listening to an instrumental soundtrack whilst cooking dinner or fun, upbeat songs whilst cleaning and doing daily tasks, going outside for a walk- even just ten minutes around the garden, knitting a cowl during an evening at home, putting laundry away slowly and just taking my time, tidying up my bookshelves, working on a simple craft, writing beautiful quotes in my journal, lighting a candle and turning on the twinkly fairy lights each evening, wearing a pretty apron, planning sewing projects, picking out something new from the grocery store to incorporate into a meal, trying new recipes, drinking hot lemon water from a cute mug, reading a chapter or two in a gentle novel, flipping through a cozy magazine, and watching YouTube videos from fellow homebodies.

As you can see, it's not anything super mind-blowing or fancy, it's just tucking magical moments into the ordinary, everyday rhythms. At first, it may take a bit more effort and mindfulness, but after you do it for just a wee bit, it will become second nature. We could all use more magic and goodness in our days...so I say invite it in, cultivate it in all the ways you can, and then drink it up and savour it! 

What are some of your little reminders that goodness and magic still exist? Do share!

the cottage library ♥ the private world of tasha tudor

~ The Private World of Tasha Tudor ~

On Thursday, I read this book. I don’t usually read an entire book in one day, even short ones. But every once in awhile, a really special book comes along, and I just simply cannot put it down. This was one of those books. 

I’ve known about Tasha Tudor for several years…seen her artwork and illustrations, heard about her children’s books, and watched her two documentaries. But I’ve never actually read anything of hers. And I don’t know what took me so dang long.

This book is a gift, a treasure, a gem. It was so inspiring and beauty-filled, lifegiving and enchanting. I found myself feeling like I had found a true kindred spirit in the words written in this book. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like a book was truly a reawakening to the beauty, wonder, and magic of the world. Everything about this book was utterly delightful and so deeply resonated with my soul and dreams. If you want to be brought to life again in your imagination and creativity and magical goodness that the world holds, this book is a good place to begin. I’ll be pondering this one for a long time…

Have you read any of Tasha Tudor's children's books? Do you have any favorites?

Have you read this book? I'd love to hear your thoughts...

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This is the first entry in an ongoing series that I am beginning...The Cottage Library. In this series, I want to share quick, short, random thoughts I have on various books that I am reading or have read and love. I don't want to think too much about what I write in these posts, and just write whatever is in my head in the moment as I ponder a specific title. I think that will be the most fun...I'm not too big on eloquent or long, very detailed book reviews. I much more prefer to just read what someone thinks or feels about a specific book. I also am not a person who likes to take reading too seriously and hate sharing about books in a "book report" type of way. These will be the kind of things I would tell you if we were having tea together and taking about books. Any info about the story can easily be found out online, and any specific questions can simply be asked. There will be no real rhyme or reason to these posts...just a true ramble of my thoughts. I think it will be great fun to add to this series every so often, taking the notes I write in my reading journal and sharing them here. What do you think? ♥