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Friday, November 04, 2022

Five on Friday: "Of Little Things"




"Everyone is trying to accomplish something big,
not realizing that life is made up of little things."
FRANK A. CLARK


And with a flip of the calendar, snow arrived in these parts. Although not with a real vengeance—it fell quietly, without bluster—still there was a concerted effort in a few short hours to wipe out all remaining evidence of autumn's remnants. 'Twas a shock to wake up to. We've been so lucky-blessed to have lovely autumn weather right up until November 1st. As you know, I love winter and I love snow, but this year I've been quite happy to pretend I don't live in northerly Alberta where winter can arrive as early as September or October. With the days so delightfully mild for so long, all thoughts of winter or Christmas have been held at bay, including any thoughts of decorating in that vein. For it seemed inharmonious in my mind, no matter how late in the year the calendar says it is. But with the snow's arrival, I feel a shift in my mind.

The Frank A. Clark quote above resonated when I read it on a Twitter friend's blog post. Especially the phrase... 'that life is made up of little things'. So true. What matters in the end are the little things in life. I think so many of us recognize that to be so. In that light, today on Five on Friday, I happily share little things from my week, nothing earth shattering but each meaningful in some small way. Hope you enjoy.


— one 
I brought out Susan Branch's recipe book Heart of the Home that snowy morning to make a big pot of her Bean Soup (p. 35) which uses smoked ham hocks. While it snowed outside, soup simmered through the afternoon, filling the house with yummy smells. Paired with warm corn muffins, the meal hit the spot on a cold and snowy evening.


— two 
This week my Twitter friend Diane posted a short piece called bucket list on her blog. I thought it worth a read. I especially enjoyed her mention of a woman's bucket list for her beloved dog. It turns out the both of us had been listening to the same CBC radio program the other morning. And we both were touched by that story. What a lovely feeling of connectedness to a fellow Canadian I only know through social media. Anyways, pop over THERE for the rest of the story.


— three 
When the snow fell earlier this week, I could feel the slow shifting of my thoughts as they moved from autumn to winter, to Christmas. Snow and cold is always the trigger. Which made me think about Jacquie Lawson's wonderful e-Advent Calendar, something many of us enjoy each December. Well, suddenly there arrived the announcement in my inbox, as if by some thread of magical synchronicity: the 2022 Sussex Advent Calendar is now available for purchase, and you can find out more HERE. I'm off to place my order. Oh joy, oh bliss!


— four 
Brenda @ Coffee Tea Books and Me noted in her recent post that an author friend of hers often mentions that she needs beautiful, peaceful places in her home where her eyes can stop to rest a moment. Brenda goes on to say, "It helps to understand our need for beautiful spaces in our homes. Of course it is never perfect this side of Heaven but it can be good."

I find this time of year especially conducive to wanting those cozy, intimate spaces that offer our eyes... and hearts a bit of rest, comfort, and a time out. As the weather gets colder and days grow shorter heading to winter solstice, I find myself ready for wintering in place. I take the word wintering from the book title Wintering: The power of rest and retreat in difficult times by Katherine May. I just started reading it last night at the suggestion of an online friend. I went to order it and when I recognized the book cover, I realized I already had it in my 'to be read' pile in the cupboard. Out I pulled it and set it on my bedside table.

I am drawn in by these words, "Wintering brings about some of the most profound and insightful moments of our human experience, and wisdom resides in those who have wintered." I'm eager to learn what the author has to say. As anyone who knows me knows, I love reading books in season, and by season I mean the four seasons in nature (winter, spring, summer, autumn); the season of life (childhood, youth, adulthood, seniorhood); and the mental and emotional season in which our soul resides in any given time. Because of my online friend's comment, I felt nudged to read it now. It sounds like it could be 'in season' for me. I'll try to remember to let you know when I'm finished.


— five 

The following quotation by Albert Einstein came up on my Facebook memories page this morning. It's the second sentence that I continue to find luminous...and true.

"I have never looked upon ease and happiness as ends in themselves.  . . . The ideals that have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth. Without the sense of kinship with men of like mind, without the occupation with the objective world, the eternally unattainable in the field of art and scientific endeavors, life would have seemed empty to me. The trite objects of human efforts—possessions, outward success, luxury—have always seemed to me contemptible."
ALBERT EINSTEIN, from his essay, The World As I See It
 

That's my Five on Friday. On that note,
I'm wishing you a beautiful weekend,
Brenda


Photo Credits:
Top: Image by Lisa870 from Pixabay  
One: Image by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life
Two: Image by Karolina Grabowska from Pixabay
Three: Image from Jacquie Lawson website
Four: Image by Marcos Santos from Pixabay
Five: Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay



26 comments:

  1. You seem to have many kindred spirits in the social media world. How wonderful! I ordered my Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar two days ago, and a few more for friends. I can hardly wait to get started! Something has shifted with me too, now that the snow seems to be here to stay. Home is cozy and I have so many happy (and a few yucky) pursuits to keep me busy. The lovely days waft by. My favourite quote today: "Wisdom resides in those who have wintered." Love it. Thanks so much for sharing your "little things" with us.

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    1. Thanks, Joy, for sharing in this little conversation about 'little things' and the joy they give as we go about our days. Heart thoughts....xo

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  2. Life is made of little things, how true! I had a chuckle as I read that first quote as I've been pondering for myself the very idea! I love how a theme can float in the air, so to speak, and be everywhere at once. It does feel magical! Your "little" things for today-- soup, calendar, online friends, books--feel very apropos for the turning of our season and turning inward to home and hearth. Happy weekend!

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  3. So many lovely little things here, Brenda. I was very excited to see the announcement about the JL Advent Calendar, too, and will be placing my order very soon. I still have the Nordic one and my two youngest grandchildren still love watching the videos, and have learned (at age 2 and 3) to touch the screen to play them and find another when one is done.
    Our long summer ended abruptly, although not with snow. Tonight the wind is roaring around the house after a day of rain. I walked through a garden store today that was all decorated with Christmas, and that urge to start preparations filled my heart.
    Thank you for these "little things" that mean so much.

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    1. We are off to a garden store this afternoon. Rick is chasing down a certain house plant he wants to grow and has invited me to accompany him in his search. It's a beautiful sunny wintery day here, perfect for such an outing. I might bring home a poinsettia if they are out already. Thanks, Lorrie, for your lovely note. Happy day....xo

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  4. Good morning, fellow lover of simple things/the little things! you have added a sparkle to my morning and a reminder to not let the big things snuff out the joy of the little. thank-you<3 'feeling the shift' hit me esp. in this edge season, both in nature and life!

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    1. Thank you, dear Janet, for your sparkly note. I am glad we are fellow enjoyers of the simple things in life. Such bounty we enjoy!

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  5. Yes! “Little things “ are SO capable of bringing great joy!!!
    Brenda, your thoughts always bring enjoyment and “Joy” to a new day!! This warm November in Ohio has been a gift!! Today we are expecting a Windy Day but snow is not in the forecast!
    I will imagine a day like yours and just might pull out my Susan Branch cookbook to enjoy on the first snowy day.☺️
    I love your “Five on Friday!!” Thanks so much!!!! ~ Ann

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    1. Ann, it delights my heart to imagine that these posts bring enjoyment into your days. Thank you!

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  6. You have snow! I'm so jealous! My son was born on a record breaking snow day in October in a state that is lucky to see snow in December. I guess some of us are kids at heart when it snows. Your bean soup and corn muffins would be ambrosia to us here. I think I'll have to check on your Advent calendar suggestion. For years I sent Advent calendars to my granddaughters until they had quite a few that their mom saved for them. Maybe an e-calendar would be just the ticket now.

    Brenda, I too adore books "in season" and I never seem to tire of pulling them out year after year. Most of them are by authors from past decades and it would be lovely to find someone writing that genre now who I felt simpatico with. I'm going to go look for Wintering now! If I put it into my file of books to be found it may get lost and this sounds as if it is one that would be a blessing now. I went to your link for Brenda of Coffee Tea Books and Me and naturally had to keep reading a while. Found out that she also follows Parisienne Farmgirl, a favorite of mine, and that she loves the book An Everlasting Meal. That essay/cookbook was life changing for me and I still follow her principles in the kitchen.

    How wonderful is the Einstein quotation! This makes me like him so much and I can tell that you try to live what he believed.
    And it is the little things that bring so much joy!
    Dewena from Dewena's Window

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    1. Like you, I'm a kid at heart when it comes to snow. Especially those first snows of the season. I so enjoyed reading your note, Dewena. I hope you'll find Wintering to your taste when you read it. Books in season are so important, in my view, not so critical in the natural seasons, but those seasons of the heart when the timing matters. Out of season, and we might not be ready for what it has to say to us. I had Katherine's book in my 'to be read' cupboard for months before I finally felt drawn to it. With my pencil excitedly underlining this and that in recognition of kindred thought. Happy day to you.... xo

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  7. The quote from A. Einstein is really insightful. We can learn so much from each other when we read our favorite blogs. I'm always happy for each day and the delights they bring. I am thankful for the life I have and like to be around people that lift me up...like you! Hugs, Diane

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    1. It's wonderful to wake up happy and anticipating the delights of the new day. So true, we learn so much from each other as we share on our blogs. I love blogging. Thanks, Diane!

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  8. Einstein's quote is quite lovely itself, but those blessings would not be enough for me. There are even more important things than Kindness, Beauty, and Truth as important as they are. I hope that your weather moderates. This is much too early to be tossed headlong into winter, even if you love it. ☺️ Your meal for a chilly evening sounded most pleasant.

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    1. I would agree, it's first knowing Jesus who perfectly embodied the Father's Kindness, Beauty, and Truth and showed us the way to live them in our own lives. I love that verse in the New Testament (Rom 2:4) that says it's the kindness of God that leads us to repentance (a change of heart). How often I have been drawn to His deep kindness toward me and learned to trust him. Thanks, Vee, for expressing your thoughts; it's good to expand and clarify.

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  9. Brenda, what a lovely post.

    I love the coziness of this time of year. Snuggling in with a good book, or watching a movie together, sharing a home cooked meal.

    Deanna Rabe

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    1. Thanks, Deanna! I find it a cozy time of year and don't mind the dark, cold days at all.

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  10. Truly, life is made up of little things! Thank you for noticing the little things and sharing them in your own lovely way.

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    1. I love that we share a mutual love for the little things in life that give us so much joy. xo

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  11. Giving you a "High Five", on your five!

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  12. The Frank A. Clark also resonated with me. I'll have too see if my library carries an e-version of the Wintering book.

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    1. I hope you find a copy of Wintering at the library. I hope you'll find it enjoyable.

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  13. I enjoyed your five little things who are, of course, not little at all. While the weather is still light and mostly sunny around here, it grows dark very early now that we've moved back the clock and the long evenings change the whole tone of the day. More home coziness, more crafting, more cooked dinners, more time for reading, I love this time of year.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. As you say, the long evenings change the whole tone of the day. I love it, my mother does not.

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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