Things I'm NOT Doing Today

One thing I'm NOT doing today is blogging. Alas and alack... but there you have it. Sometimes when I fret about all the 'things' I'm not getting done, I'll joke that maybe I should put that on the list of things I'm not doing! Which, if you think about it, could become a most freeing kind of list.

Let's see, here's what's on my 'not doing' list for today. I am not:

• washing the kitchen floor.
• hurrying to finish a gazillion unrelated errands.
• running my finger along the piano keys to check for 'you know what'.
• cleaning out the freezer, the refrigerator, or the pantry cupboard.
• doing tomorrow's jobs today.

There, now I'm free to focus on -- and enjoy -- the projects I do have planned for my day. I can live my day free of guilt and filled with the beauty of anticipation instead.

Whatever you do today, I hope you make it beautiful!

Brenda

Simple Pleasures: Fragrance

Photo by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life

Just a few days ago a very dear friend came with a package all prettily wrapped. It was something she bought for herself, but felt she wanted to give to me instead ... a beautiful bottle of Iris eau de toilette from Crabtree and Evelyn.

It was funny how that all came about ... because a couple of weeks earlier my sister and I were at a function, and as it happened, a woman had to slip past us on a very narrow pathway. When she walked by, Sis and I looked at each other and both agreed ... what a treat it was to smell the soft but very feminine fragrance she was wearing.

That's when I realized it had been a while since I had allowed myself the luxurious 'simple pleasure' of wearing fragrance. Being more aware of people with allergies, I tend not to wear it as freely as I once did. But I miss it.

And then, almost as if God heard my heart's little sigh (which by the way He did), there was my dear friend handing me this lovely fragrance, saying she felt I needed it.

Photo by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life

The simple pleasure of slipping the bottle out of its box each morning to spritz a little has been delighting my feminine heart ever since.

Technology hasn't figured out how I could send you a whiff through cyberspace, but if you'd like a spritz of this, I'd love to send you a little splash on a book mark. Just e-mail me your address (you'll find my link in the profile) and I'll send you a simple pleasure. (Offer now closed.)

Wishing you a beautiful day,

Brenda

Today, we're linking with:

Dayle for Simple Pleasures Thursday

Meri's Musings for Share the Joy Thursday

Simply Sunday: It's Still Safe

Miss Kitty loves to go outside. She's not as timid as she used to be, but I've noticed she still appears to be more at ease exploring the 'great outdoors' when she sees the garden door open. She'll often come and sniff the frame and when I ask if she wants to come back in, Oh no, I'm just checking that there's still a safe place to run into should it be necessary. Then she wanders back out.

Of course, like many of us who venture out into the wild, wild wood, she encounters her own kind of 'dragons'. They seem to be quite friendly, but for her these neighbor felines spells 'Danger, Danger'.

It got me thinking; sometimes God calls us to come out of our familiar spots into a place that isn't always comfortable for us. We may step out, one toe at a time, and we tend to keep a watchful eye on the door, in case 'there be dragons out there'.

I think the Psalmist must have felt that way many times, because he sure journaled a lot about it. If you read through the Psalms, they are full of comforting reminders that there is a safe place for us to run into.... That Safe Place is sometimes called a high tower, a mighty fortress.

It might give us the courage to step out into the unknown if we remember that He always leaves the door open for us -- we can run back anytime we feel the heat of dragon fire.

Oh by the way, here's a snippet from the Psalmist's journal: The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into him and are safe (from Psalm 18:10).

May you find that safe place today.

Saturday Sightings...

Spring has truly arrived at last.  Our yard is filled with birdsong and the garden is starting  to fill with the splendor of the season. Here are a few sightings today...

 

 

It was great fun to log on this morning and find a large pile of comments waiting for moderation.  It turns out the comments left during that recent Blogger 'mishap' have now been restored.  It was a nice surprise.  So thanks!

The most beautiful view is the one
I share with YOU!
~ Anonymous

Enjoy your weekend
Brenda

xox

Can't Come Out and Play

It's the most beautiful morning here where I live in northerly Alberta.  Sunny skies, birds filling the world with cheery songs, trees finally leafing out in that brilliant, fresh green.  Not to mention enjoying what's popping out in gardens and natural walkways.

I've got new ideas for postings, but there have been other needful calls on my time and energy at present so we'll wait to unveil them until another day.

  

In the meantime, I wanted to wish you the BEST kind of week and remind you of those immortal words by Anne Frank:

"How wonderful it is that nobody
need wait a single moment
before starting to improve the world."

Live it beautifully this week!

Hugs,
Brenda,
xox

Simply Sunday

 

I have been thinking about the quote the bishop of London

used in his address at the wedding of William and Kate last Friday:

"Be who God meant you to be,

and you will set the world on fire."

~ St. Catherine of Siena

Just imagine it ~
If every person lived the life they were destined to live
that would be like 'heaven on earth',
don't you think?

Happy Mother's Day!

Brenda

Small Treats

One of the secrets to a happy life

is continuous small treats.

~ Iris Murdoch

Treats this week so far:

1.  Nibbling a couple TimTam chocolate biscuits

during a break from house chores.

2.  Reading a favorite author, Jan Karon;

In the Company of Others.

3.  Freshening up the guest room

for a brief visit from Mom.

4.  Watching the arrival of new flocks of birds

and hearing their spring songs in our neighborhood.

5. Uncovering forgotten books on my own shelves

that beckon yet another read.

6.  Clearing out a small patch of clutter

and finding a long-hidden treasure.

7.  Finding a few books that I no longer feel the need

to keep -- so I can pack them up and take them to

our cozy secondhand bookstore and get credit to buy new ones.

8.  Discovering there were still a few photos

of Miss Kitty on my camera...

That was the BEST treat this week so far!


Wishing you a beautiful day,

Brenda

Playing Along with Friday Fill-Ins

 

Haven't played along with Friday Fill-Ins for a while. Thought it would be fun after a busy week. To join, click on the graphic for the information. The BLUE is my reply to the prompts given:

 

1. Right now Doc Martin ...is my favorite TV show (or movie) because... the zany characters make me laugh. Is there a sane one in the bunch? Hmm... do I relate because I'm a little zany myself? 

2. Go to page 45 of the book you're reading or the book closest to you; go to the 6th paragraph and make a sentence out of 7 words from it. I'm currently reading In the Company of Others (Jan Karon).  From page 46 (not enough paragraphs on page 45), here are the words I chose: warm, sent, rhubarb, tart, still, fragrance, trip 

"The fragrance of the rhubarb tart, still warm from the oven, sent him on a trip towards the kitchen."

3. I am... always amazed at just how much joy is available when we remember to give thanks in gratitude.

4. As our neighborhoods start to green up, it will be wonderful to go for ...long walks.

5. Take some time to... poke in the garden and see what's coming up new.

6. My poor, neglected office/study ...needs a bit of... tender loving care, not to mention some hard-nosed throwing out of papers.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to... hanging out companionably with hubby.  Tomorrow my plans include... taking Mom out for the day in honor of Mother's Day, and Sunday, I want to... turn my heart heavenward and remember His Goodness.

 

A New Day... Still Remembering

It's a new day... a new week... a new season!  Joy mingles with sorrow today, but it is good.  It would seem that the good Lord, in tending to the comfort of this sheep of His, has sent me feathery comfort through the songs and chatter of the many birds who are busy in my backyard on this beautiful spring morning.

Missing my little Kitty, I am greatly cheered to hear their pretty songs and cheeky whistles. She would have loved poking around the garden on such a day.  She was usually not one to chase after birds, she chose objects nearer her 'size' -- butterflies and bugs -- but she certainly enjoyed watching their movements from a sunny spot in the garden.  And there was nothing like a snooze on the lounger on the deck.

 

Wishing you joy and peace....
and heart hugs to those who may be in sad places this day!