Friday, September 23, 2022

Five on Friday: Quotes from My 5-Year Diary




"Delicious autumn!
My very soul is wedded to it."
GEORGE ELIOT


With autumn officially here, I'm adjusting my thoughts to be thoroughly present to the seasonal changes going on around us. It's been a very full week, with all manner of planned events and several unexpected situations.

As my mom's garageman noted when we went to pick up her car: I'm sorry it's not ready yet, almost done, but it's been the kind of day where Thursday and Friday are rolled into one. It was Wednesday as he said it. Oh yes, said I, I understand, it's been that kind of day for us as well. We chuckled. I intuitively understood his meaning—two days' work rolled into one; two days' problems rolled into one; two days' worth of busyness all rolled into one. And then some days we don't even know what day it is. Ha, sometimes life is like that.

On this cool September Friday, I've been dipping into my 5-year quote diary, looking at lines that have caught my imagination these last few days. If you don't know about the diary, you can find earlier posts HERE and HERE. I'm grateful to have access to so many inspiring and insightful thoughts—lines that make me sit up and take notice. I'm also appreciative of the many photographers who make their beautiful photos available to use, gratis, on sites like Pixabay.com. What a gift. On that note, here is Five on Friday. Hope you enjoy.



— One —
"Every morning lean thine arms
awhile upon the windowsill of heaven and
gaze upon the Lord. Then with the vision
in your heart, turn strong to meet your day."
attributed to THOMAS BLAKE



— Two —
(Brunetti) thought of something Seneca had written in one of his letters,
advising us that it wasn't until we had begun to go without things
that we realized how unnecessary they were.
Note from a Donna Leon Venetian mystery


That's certainly true in some cases. Interestingly, I have also found the opposite to be true, when I had gone without and realized something was necessary to my well-being. I guess it's about paying attention, knowing when to let go what I do not need and fully embracing what I do.

A note about Donna Leon's books. I love how thoughtful she has made her main character. While Commissario Brunetti works through his current investigation, he often finds himself musing about life, about the books he reads, about the authors his wife is devoted to, why people do what they do. As an avid reader myself, I find his musings thought-provoking and entertaining—often I come away with new thoughts and book titles to chase down in real life.



— Three —
"It is important to be able to hear 'the poetry of earth'.
W.O. MITCHELL


It was one of my great delights this summer to sit in the garden while reading, for the first time, the classic novel Who Has Seen The Wind by W.O. Mitchell. It's the story of young Brian O'Connal growing up on the Saskatchewan prairies in the 1930s. Mr. Mitchell's prose sometimes reads like poetry.



— Four —
"Realize that life is glorious, and you have
no business taking it for granted."
ANNA QUINDLEN



— Five —
"(My friend) set me an example of how to deal
with life gracefully, and I hold it in mind
even if I can't always imitate it."
HILARY MANTEL (1952 - 2022)
from an interview she did a few months ago before she died



— Bonus —
"On my patch of the planet, the days keep getting shorter.
I'll miss these long, light-filled summer days, but
there's something about earlier sunsets that feels
like the language of my soul right now."
PARKER J. PALMER
as seen on his Facebook page




Wishing you a beautiful weekend,
Brenda


Photo Credits:
Top - KimGreenHalgh90 from Pixabay
One - HoaHoa111 from Pixabay
Two - Jennifer Latham from Pexels
Three - Raman Talpada from Pixabay
Four - S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay
Five - Tammy Shook from Pixabay
Bonus - Juanma Martin from Pixabay







27 comments:

  1. Lovely. Thank you as always.
    Hilary Mantel, who has recently died, said such a lot in that quote.

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    1. Thanks, Barbara. I hope to read more of Hilary's work down the road. Things tend to sharpen into perspective when someone dies, for we know nothing more can be added to that person's earthly story.

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  2. I didn't know Hilary Mantel had died! I'm so glad I read one of her books and saw interviews with her before she passed. I'm a great admirer of her work. I think I'll be looking for Donna Leon's books now too. You make her Commissario sound so interesting and inviting. Loved loved the quotes you chose today. :)

    I'm ready for earlier sunsets and that nip in the air. Bring on Autumn.

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    1. Enjoying the earlier sunsets and that nip in the air as Autumn comes into full play. Thanks, Joy.

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  3. What wonderful quotes. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  4. I'm so glad you read _Who Has Seen the Wind_. I still remember so much of that book and how it impacted me the first time I read it.
    I really like that quote by Parker Palmer. I've been reflecting recently on the earlier sunsets as well as the much later sunrises. Getting up in the dark and watching how the sky softens and lightens quite differently than it has all summer, really punctuates the change of seasons. Enjoy these lovely early days of autumn.

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    1. Like you, Diane, I really enjoy watching how light and shadow and sunshine change with the seasons. Thanks for your note.

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  5. I'll never enjoy earlier sunsets and the ridiculously short days, but it might be nice to try. Beautiful quotes and pictures to complement them. You write so soothingly.

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    1. From your comment, do I assume you are a night owl then? Being a night owl has its own sweet moments. I remember, as I used to be a night owl staying up till all hours, reading and working on quiet little projects. Thanks, Vee. xo

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  6. I do like the Parker Palmer quote, he describes quite what I am feeling myself right now!

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  7. On the feast day of St Padre Pio, he had a word for me for the days to come and it was Il dolce far niente which means the sweetness of doing nothing. This is generally a challenge for me but I'm so glad I made an effort on it today because he then rewarded me with this post. It came to light on his feast day, the 23rd of September but I only saw today through a willed obedience to be still. And every quote and photo here is heaven imploring me to enter the earthly rest of the Lord which He has prepared for me but which I often eschew in favour of being busy for God, as I tell myself. Even as life gets busier along the highways of work and home, the seasons are changing. Life as we know it is passing, and life to come emerging. Through your post, the Lord is gently calling me to stand by His Heart, to watch and to pray.

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    1. Caitlynne Grace, I loved that phrase you mention 'the sweetness of doing nothing'. And those words 'calling me to stand by His Heart'. Beautiful thoughts as I read them on this sunny autumn morning. Thank you.

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  8. Good Morning Brenda. I am saying again, THANKYOU for the time you take to share SO many lovely thoughts of your own, beautiful photographs, meaningful quotes, suggestions for books and authors who also speak and write stories that give insights into life and / or pure enjoyment!
    I knew you would have some comments about Fall . I do feel that Fall is my favorite season and George Eliot’s and W.O Mitchell’s quotes both speak to me. The winds,the leaves that change and fall to the ground do bring me closer to some of what is captured in “ the poetry of the earth.” Cleaning up flower beds, removing weeds or flowers which brought beauty earlier in the summer , literally brings me close to the earth and I am reminded of the enjoyment of one season, cleaning up and even preparing for a “new time.”
    I am not familiar with M.O. Mitchell and will have fun exploring “him?”☺️
    I did read 1 of Donna Leon’s books years ago and did enjoy it so I want to revisit her!
    ~ and of course I loved your comment about 2 days rolling into one and chuckled that in the scenario you shared that it was actually Wednesday!!😂 Yes, days can be like that!!
    Can’t begin to express to you how MUCH I appreciate you!!!
    Thank you for delivering another gift on this Sunday morning!!!☺️💗🙋‍♀️~ Ann

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    1. Dear Ann, I'm tickled that you find pleasure and beauty from your visits here. Thank you so much for your generous and gracious comments. They are a gift to my heart. xo

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  9. Quote #2 resonated with me. I know I have too much of a good thing (teawares and teas) so I'm trying to curb new acquisitions...

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    1. I know there can be a time for curbing our wants, but I think you really do get such real pleasure from your teas and tea wares, that in my view you should just enjoy it all without any guilt whatsoever. It hurts no one, right? xo

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  10. This is a lovely selection of autumn-related quotes. It's been a busy week around here, too, and I like how the garage man phrased that busyness. I read W. O. Mitchell's book a number of years ago and loved the coming-of-age tale set on our beautiful Canadian prairie. Fall is such a beautiful season. I spent this morning cleaning up the garden and couldn't believe the heat of the sun. It's so much more intense than in the opposite season of spring, even though the days are the same length. I wonder about that sometimes.
    Sunny blessings to you, dear Brenda.

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    1. Maybe the sun is more intense this time of year because Autumn freshly remembers August's hot summer days, while Spring, still very mindful of the cold winter, branches into warmer days more cautiously? No doubt there's a scientific reason, but I'm feeling more playful today. :)

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  11. I can relate to the garageman! Our September has vacillated between life in the fast lane (busyness!) and life in the slow lane (sickness) and I hardly know where I am these days! It is a good thing that I have learned to "gaze upon the Lord" and then "turn turn strong to meet your [my] day."

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl, and wishing you a sweet and pleasant day. xo

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  12. That was a lovely post, Brenda. Nice thoughts, great writing, pretty photos, and inspirational. Loved it.

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  13. I love Donna Leon's books as well. Guido is a gentleman.
    Amalia
    xo

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  14. p.s. My comment came as ANONYMOUS, Brenda, but I have no idea why. I have no problem leaving my name. Susan from writingstraightfromtheheart.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks, Susan, for the heads up. Glad to put your name to that lovely comment. I'm not sure why Blogger keeps using Anonymous, especially for bloggers who are already signed up. One of those glitches in life. :)

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo