Six on Saturday: This and That

"Lord, give me an open heart to find You everywhere,

to glimpse the heaven enfolded in a bud, and

experience eternity in the smallest act of love."

MOTHER TERESA

We had our family gathering yesterday for the Easter weekend. Ham and scalloped potatoes are often a favourite item on the menu when it comes to the family celebration around the table. Chocolate eggs never go amiss either. We enjoyed a little of everything on the buffet. It was all delicious.

Here are a few things I've gathered this week that I hope you might enjoy...

One.

Something about me

I am a Lover of God, Seeker of Beauty, Word Artist 

I live in Alberta, Canada

I receive great pleasure in writing and blogging, giving

gifts, pottering, flowers in gardens and bouquets, walks in

nature. I love sunny winter days and summery twilight

evenings, books, and conversations over coffee.

I value compassion, kindness, consideration for others,

integrity, autonomy, laughter, beauty, and solitude.

I don't consider myself as a 'leader' out in front but more

of a come-alongside helper of others. 

Two.

From Facebook

Someone asked the question of her female readers:

"What do you find is the most non-sexual turn-on in a man?"

My response:

A sense of humour. Thoughtful of others.

Wearing a crisp white shirt with sleeves rolled

up over tanned forearms. 

Three.

Novels read more than twice

I've a long, long list of books I've read more than twice. Here is a excerpt:

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken

Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Heaven, The Heart's Deepest Longing by Peter Kreeft

Keeping the Feast by Paula Butterini

Life of the Beloved by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Living a Beautiful Life by Alexandra Stoddard

Martha's Vineyard, An Isle of Dreams by Susan Branch

Mitford novels (the whole series) by Jan Karon

Once Upon A Wardrobe by Patti Callahan

Persuasion by Jane Austen

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

Four.

Movies watched at least

a half dozen times

A handful of favourites:

84, Charing Cross Road

Bertram's Hotel (Miss Marple)

Chariots of Fire

Enchanted April

Home Alone

Miss Potter

Out of Africa

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Pride and Prejudice (1995 miniseries)

Persuasion (1995 version)

Sense and Sensibility (1995 version)

Shall We Dance? (with Richard Gere)

The Bishop's Wife (with Cary Grant)

The Empire Strikes Back (Star Wars)

The Shell Seekers

You've Got Mail

Five.

Little delights this week

Unexpected parcels and cards from friends in the mail

Two new China mugs in spring floral greens

(found at HomeSense)

That our tax accountant noticed the scent I was wearing.

He mentioned he liked to catch a nice fragrance wafting

in the air. I was wearing "Rose" by L'Occitane.

Chatting with strangers in the grocery line and whilst

waiting in the lab with my mom

Rewatching two favourite old movies after busy days:

Evil Under the Sun (Peter Ustinov and Maggie Smith always

make me laugh); and Miss Potter with Renée Zellweger

(I sigh with emotions fully satisfied every time I watch this one).

The gift of English Breakfast Tea in a 

Beatrix Potter "Peter Rabbit" tin (perfect

timing as it arrived after watching Miss Potter).

Six.

A writing thought

A fellow writer wrote how she had once joined a writing group where, as it turned out, they focused on their tragic life situations as writing fodder. She eventually left the group as she felt she didn't fit; she hadn't experienced such terrible and sad family circumstances. She certainly understood, as do I, that writing about these situations may be their way of processing their experiences, healing from them, and helping others from what they've learned.

As for her and myself, I had a loving family upbringing, and I hadn't experienced such terrifying, tragic life events. Having often felt "too blessed" with a gentler, more pleasant unfolding of my life, being grateful that I didn't have to endure the hardships so many others do, I was glad I eventually came to see that God can use all our stories—the good and beautiful along with the horrid and the ugly. So here I continue to write on It's A Beautiful Life. Not ignoring the horrors going on out there, they are very much on my heart, but writing about the ordinary, small things of grace and pleasantness that continue to fill our world with beauty and hope. 

❦

Wishing you a beautiful day, and if you watch and celebrate,

Happy Easter Weekend.

Brenda

Photo credits:

Image by Frauke Riether from Pixabay

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays (usually)

Five on Friday: Almost Too Small To Mention

“Some hours are long and some days are short.

Find time to cherish the small moments.”

—JULIETTE ROSE KERR, To Fill a Jar With Water

One. Mother Nature

I've been having a chat this week with Mother Nature, hands on hips, letting her know that in these parts we'd really prefer rain to the snow that fell off and on for three days. First she teases us with melting snow and warmish sunny days. And then she changes her mind and hits us with another bout of winter, which includes sharp, cold winds and deep freeze temperatures.

 

Of course, we're trying not to complain—moisture is moisture and we certainly need it.

My bright spot amongst the falling snow was watching our neighbourhood bunny (hare) in our backyard as he scrounged for twigs and dried vines for lunch. Such meagre fare. Between munches, he catnapped with eyes half closed, ever watching over his escape routes. He must have felt safe for then he started grooming himself, washing his face, his ears, his paws, just like a kittycat. His fur is still white, so he blended into the fresh carpet of snow (well, except for the tips of his ears which stay black all winter).

Two. Watching

I have been slowly watching my favourite 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. I have watched it so many times over the years that many of the beloved, or funny, scenes are forever etched in my memory. It's interesting how a story can become such an integral part of one's life. These people are my friends, my neighbours. It's comforting to visit them one more time.

The other day I came across a reel on Instagram of a father telling his tale: "I have four daughters. That means I have spent approximately 1/3 of my fatherly life watching the six hour version of Pride and Prejudice." Patient man, I'd say, haha. My dear hubby has seen it enough times with me as well.

Three. Reading

Good Wives

by Louisa May Alcott

From my bit of research Little Women and Good Wives were originally published as separate books, the second a sequel to the first. The two books were eventually combined and published as one book under the title Little Women. I looked in my paperback copy, sure enough, both were included as Part 1 and 2. So I wouldn't have needed to buy this hardcover in the Cranford edition (but I'm glad I did - it's lovely). 

I quite enjoyed revisiting the four charming March sisters, who are now grown up and leaving the March nest. Meg marries Mr. Brookes, Laurie's tutor from next door. Jo spreads her wings and moves to New York City to look after a family friend's two children while their mother runs a boarding house for impoverished gentlefolk. Beth, who contracted scarlet fever in her childhood, the effects from which she never fully recovered, continues to give joy and light at home with her parents. And blossoming Amy accompanies her Aunt March on a grand tour of Europe where she studies art and painting.

Acqua Alta

by Donna Leon (1995)

Donna Leon is a crime novelist best known for her series set in Venice, Italy, featuring the Commissario Brunetti, Venice's version of our own Canadian refined and principled Inspector Gamache (Louise Penny). In her novels readers are given rich descriptions of crime mixed with culture, history, and food. The author's love for Baroque music is often reflected in her work. I really enjoy her mysteries.

 
Acqua Alta is the fifth in the Brunetti series (published in 1996). An archaeologist and old friend of Brunetti's has been savagely beaten in the doorway of her lovely home. The incident serves as the starting point for Brunetti's investigation into a broader conspiracy involving stolen Chinese antiquities.

Four. The Recorder

Did you ever learn to play the recorder in school? I never did, as it didn't come into vogue until I was older. I saw a clip on social media the other day. The fellow says, "I'm so glad I was taught to play the recorder at school. It has really come in handy during my adult life. I've lost count of the times I've resolved a difficult situation with a quick blast of Three Blind Mice."

I said to my sister, having missed out on learning the recorder in school, I now know why I always felt a little bereft at not having this bit of musical arsenal for difficult situations.😉  

 

Five. Quotable

"Not everything asking for your attention deserves equal space

in your mind. Some things are meant to be handled, and some are

simply meant to be released before they quietly drain the day."

—from Cottage Whimsy Facebook Page

❦

Wishing you a beautiful day,

Brenda

Photo credits:

Top Image by Natalia Lavrinenko from Pixabay

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays

An Essay: A Kaleidoscope of Creativity

"The kaleidoscope of quiet creativity,

in a variety of shape, colour, and focus,

buoyed my spirits and kept me sane. My hands

stayed busy, and my mind stayed on Him."

BRENDA LEYLAND 

Happy first day of Spring! In true Spring fashion, it's raining here and we are happy about that. There are puddles and rivulets gurgling down the street. We've seen the odd 'early bird' pairs of ducks and Canada Geese flying overhead towards the pond. There's no sign of full flocks arriving just yet. It's a tad early with ponds and lakes around here still thawing. Life for us is less hectic these days, and we're glad to be getting back to our writing here on the blog. I've missed you all. Thank you to everyone who came by and left notes on recent posts - although I didn't respond to them at the time, please know I appreciated each one, and you. 

 

Today I am excited to share with you an essay I wrote for the anthology Creativity & Chaos, Artistic Endeavours for Trying Times, published by InScribe Press in 2024. I wrote the piece following the global pandemic (which now seems a lifetime ago). I hope you enjoy my reflections from that season.

A Kaleidoscope of Creativity

by Brenda Leyland

Who could even think about artistic pursuits at such a time? All thought of creativity vanished as we heard alarming news of an unknown virus fast-tracking its way across the continents. Seismic shockwaves threatened the fabric of our societies, our homes, and our very lives. Described as the greatest peacetime crisis of our lifetime, millions faced devastation. We stayed glued to our televisions, smartphones, and computers, desperate to learn what was this hellish thing.

At home, our personal world shrank—it came to a standstill. My husband and I, both retired, quarantined inside our own four walls, minds whirling with how to figure out what it meant to go out only for essentials, to mask up, social distance, and stick to one’s cohort group. All to stay safe in a world that felt unsafe and scary. It didn’t seem quite appropriate to carry on with business as usual; for many, there was no business to carry on with. For me, I asked myself how I could continue writing on my blog about living a beautiful life amid such circumstances.

Still, hope is that feathered thing that rises on a breath of air. And glimpses of it began shimmering out of the darkness. In our home, it happened to be the spring bulbs we planted in pots months earlier. No one could have imagined just how priceless those little brown globes of promise would become. The world had shut down around us, but inside our house it was a veritable greenhouse of bulbs sprouting and blooming in shades of spring daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, and irises. My troubled thoughts lightened. My camera took on new significance as it captured shades of beauty from every angle at every stage. Those harbingers of spring soon appeared on my blog and social media, their message to the world: Look at us. Take hope, dear friends, take hope.

Still super-glued to my smartphone for the latest news, there was something else going on out there, something most interesting. People were converging on social media platforms like I’d never seen before. Creatives began saying, we can’t do our normal things, we’re stuck in our homes, what can we do to keep occupied and sane? How can we support each other during these ghastly days?

Creativity and creative expression blossomed and exploded. Artists, writers, and performers took to social media, creating community despite the isolation. Opera divas sang from their balconies. Pianists performed spontaneous concerts in their homes [and posted them online]. Artists painted. One actor began reciting Shakespeare’s sonnets—all 154 of them in as many days. And actress, Jennifer Ehle, with her oh-so-familiar Elizabeth Bennet voice (1995 film), started reading Pride and Prejudice to the delight of her followers on Instagram.

Artistic energy radiated through cyberspace. And to our huge surprise, people everywhere were joining in. Children hung their art from their living room windows. Folks stocked up on flour and yeast, turning their kitchens into centres of doughy creativity. People offered their ‘regular life’ skills on YouTube videos and showed us how to exercise in place, cut our own hair, play the guitar, paint, and quilt. You name it, they showed us how to create it at home. At first, I was content enough to be an observer appreciating their many efforts. Soon I longed to join in—I wanted to be a part of this astounding phenomenon. Pandemic or not, my heart still pulsed with the desire to write about life's beautiful moments. People more than ever needed some respite, a few moments that made them feel normal in an abnormal time. I wanted to offer them something that buoyed the spirits and provided a hint of beauty so that, once heartened, they could carry on.

So, what could I offer? Well, I could blog more often, every day for a season, instead of weekly. I had books. I could press my books into service and write about my favourites. You know how it is when you visit friends in their homes, you hanker to peek at their bookshelves. Since readers couldn’t come to my house, I brought the books to my readers. I chose volumes that would inspire, give comfort, and a sense of well-being. It was especially meaningful to find comments from readers who were so glad I was still there, writing, despite the strange times. My purpose was confirmed. The horrid sense of isolation faded. I felt connected—my online community was real. Something lovely and unexpected came out of this book series. The author of a favourite book I had written about got in touch with me all the way from The Netherlands. Daniel Blajan had authored a delightful volume twenty-five years earlier, and during Covid lockdowns, he found my blog post about it and emailed me. We enjoyed a small flurry of emails back and forth across the Atlantic, and then one day his charming real mail letter arrived in the post with a personalized autograph. It’s now safely tucked inside my copy of Foxgloves & Hedgehog Days, Secrets in a Country Garden.

Summer came and our flower garden, like the tulips earlier, gave us infinite joy and beauty during those stay-at-home days. My iPhone camera captured hundreds of floral poses, and soon many of them were being published on my blog and social media. I designed several photo books, including one that featured my mom’s gorgeous Peace Rose, which I gave to her on her socially distanced 85th birthday. Another album, also for my mom, showcased her family, including pets, scattered across the provinces, to document our Covid-restricted first year. It included visits out in parking lots, family birthday cakes enjoyed virtually, and happy but heart-sad pictures of my dear niece’s wedding which her entire family could attend only via Zoom.

Home, usually a peaceful place, became a true sanctuary. I no longer felt the restrictions as I had at first. I found purpose, and despite all, continued to catch glimpses of heaven in unexpected places, right in my own house and neighbourhood. The simpler, slower pace of my days gave me other opportunities to be more reflective. I engaged in several smaller creative pursuits, such as sorting through old scrapbooks from my school days and writing some of those stories that still wanted to be told. I picked up my love of writing old-fashioned letters the snail mail way and stocked up on boxes of artsy greeting cards (thanks to Amazon’s delivery service). Along with my handwritten notes, I’d tuck in small surprises: sachets of tea, quotes, stickers, blank postcards, anything fun that snugged inside a card-size envelope. The real thrill for me was imagining a friend’s face when she discovered real mail waiting for her in the mailbox.

Out of these tumultuous times, came beautiful things. My mind a creative blank, having gone into hiding at the outset, was set free when I poured myself into something other than fretfulness and anxiety. The kaleidoscope of quiet creativity, in a variety of shape, colour, and focus, buoyed my spirits and kept me sane. My hands kept busy, and my mind stayed on Him. I will never forget the world’s ingenious creative response to this terrible season. And I am so grateful to have been a tiny part of this luminous world-wide creativity during a global pandemic.🙟

 

❦

Wishing you a beautiful day,

Brenda

Photo credits:

Brenda Leyland @ It's A Beautiful Life

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays

From the Archives: First Impressions

Image by Terri Cnudde from Pixabay

From the Archives is a series where I revisit old posts and essays from my writing archives. I'm also cleaning up old files. Some posts are so outdated they are easily discarded. Some pieces still have relevance, while others are just fun to look back on. I'm hoping this turns out to be an entertaining series - a monthly segment here on the blog.

Here is one short post I wrote back in 2012 on a blog called Perfectly Pink. 

First Impressions

“Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not

a woman really knows herself.”

Hubert De Givenchy, Vogue (July 1985)

Spring is in the air. You’ve just had a new makeover and your face looks fab. Maybe you’ve added a couple pieces to your wardrobe. And now your hair style needs a serious update. Brenda Kinsel, author of several books including 40 over 40: 40 Things Every Woman Over 40 Needs to Know About Getting Dressed, (1999) shared this interesting hair tip:

“Go to a new hair designer looking your best self. Introduce yourself to the hairdresser fully clothed the first time, before they get you into a smock. Let the hairdresser see who you are. Here’s a place where first impressions will really help ensure that you get the cut that works with your lifestyle and taste.”

That was an aha moment for me (for I was all too familiar with leaving hair salons disappointed). Years earlier, not related to my hair, as a young woman I came to the city to find a job. It was the late 1970s, and I decided to use a temp agency, hoping this would get my foot in the door to a nice place in the downtown area. I didn’t think to dress up for this initial interview with the agency—after all it wasn’t a potential employer who'd be seeing me. But I soon began to wonder why the temp jobs I kept getting were never in those plushy downtown offices, but in more casual, industrial kind of places. It wasn’t until much later that it finally dawned on me: the agency's first impression of me was that I was a casual 'pants' kind of girl, and so the jobs they sent me to were to the more casual kind of sites. (After that, I did my best to look the part whenever I went for an interview. And things improved, I'm happy to report.)

It’s true, first impressions matter...at job interviews, and now we learn even at hair salons. If you haven’t been getting the style you want, maybe you’re giving them the wrong impression of who you are in ‘real’ life.

I never really thought about what I wore or how my hair looked when I arrived at a salon; after all, they were going to wash my hair, cut it, and style it all anyway. But if they only see me in a way that doesn't reflect my most authentic self, in my relaxed 'at home' stance rather than in my 'how I want to present myself to the world', no wonder a person can walk away disappointed.

That first impression turns out to be the unconscious standard people will refer to forever after. So it's something to keep in mind for all our first encounters... not just in hair salons.

Here’s to living your life more beautifully... more truly you everywhere you go!

❦

Wishing you a beautiful weekend,

Brenda

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays

Guest Blogging Elsewhere: The Writing Advice I Needed

Image by Ylanite Koppens from Pixabay

I have a new blog post up on InScribe, my writers' fellowship blog. This month we are chatting about the best writing advice we've ever received. You can find what I share by clicking on the link HERE.

I will be back here on Friday... 

 ❦

Wishing you a beautiful day,

Brenda

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays