tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60175399256206420592024-03-18T16:08:46.203-06:00Brenda @ It's A Beautiful LifeBrenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.comBlogger1131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-22289871019194016962024-03-15T12:21:00.006-06:002024-03-16T17:42:36.943-06:00Friday Pleasantries<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIl_8S877A2DcunI3941Af-r7U8UscA8_DYmt07QQglIMhxcQYSdH3wPDONbITpW14Z7FeCbyYBGUzyPEOgWwI_2iZ2adwF7OdROq2-xI7VMSREI6XEC_RO3GCdXcboWwcnFw5cgsriNudVTywFcdgXKuRkE8VY8DYqcmmSEsholwzQxpCqnAkhiqb86O/s1280/flower-4194968_1280%20Image%20by%20vinsky2002%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIl_8S877A2DcunI3941Af-r7U8UscA8_DYmt07QQglIMhxcQYSdH3wPDONbITpW14Z7FeCbyYBGUzyPEOgWwI_2iZ2adwF7OdROq2-xI7VMSREI6XEC_RO3GCdXcboWwcnFw5cgsriNudVTywFcdgXKuRkE8VY8DYqcmmSEsholwzQxpCqnAkhiqb86O/w640-h426/flower-4194968_1280%20Image%20by%20vinsky2002%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"I know the world is filled with troubles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and many injustices, but reality is as beautiful</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as it is ugly. I think it is just as important to sing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">about beautiful mornings as it is to talk about the slums.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just couldn't write anything without hope in it."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>While spring shakes off the vestiges of winter in the great outdoors, I'm still inside sorting my current material possessions, deciding what to keep, what to give away, what needs to be tossed. Time has slipped away, and here it's time for a new blog post. Yesterday I set up my draft, searched for a suitable photo (above), and whispered a prayer for a spark of inspiration to get me started. I hoped it might arrive in the night hours while I slept.</div><div><br /></div><div>I follow Austin Kleon, artist/author from Texas, and this morning his weekly newsletter popped in my inbox. On reading his heading "Basic Pleasantries", I felt the spark of interest and began working on my own simple and hopefully pleasant Friday post. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #f4cccc;">ONE. <i>Spring is in the air</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The snow is melting fast. The house finches are singing to beat the band. And Rick spotted the first Canada Geese flying overhead towards the storm pond. It's still frozen but these early birds are eager to find the best spots for raising this season's batch of goslings. If that's not a cheering sight, I don't know what is.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #f4cccc;">TWO. <i>So is love</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>My sister sent a charming news article of a young woman who met her future husband at the Honolulu airport. Awww, it was a lovely read. If you're interested, you'll find the article <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/she-thought-she-d-never-see-the-stranger-she-met-at-the-airport-again-then-they-unexpectedly-reunited-1.6808772" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Pssst. We think there's a love story unfolding nearer to home in the family. It's an exciting time of year for young love.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #f4cccc;">THREE. <i>Tea samples</i></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>A lovely friend who'd been vacationing in Victoria, BC, sent me a small package in the mail. It included samples of the teas she purchased at the well known <a href="https://www.murchies.com/" target="_blank">Murchie's Fine Tea & Coffee</a> shop: <i>Publisher's Blend</i> ("a chocolatey, nutty and malty blend of black teas, best accompanied by stacks of manuscripts that need reviewing.")âI'll be sipping that with my latest book; and <i>Russian Caravan</i> ("a blend of black teas and smoky Lapsang Souchong (to) recreate the campfires and brisk, starry nights experienced by the caravans carrying tea to the Russian Czar.")âmaybe I'll pull out some Tolstoy to read with that tea. Also included was a fragrant bag of <i>Lavender Cream </i>("A beautifully balanced lavender black tea with creamy vanilla.")âI love lavender tea. Looking forward to trying them.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #f4cccc;">FOUR. <i>Basic pleasantries</i></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>We were ordering cups of tea and coffees from the clerk at the order counter - for four. The polite middle-aged woman was patient as we decided what beverage, the size we wanted, and whether we needed milk, cream, or sugar. Was that everything? Yes, said Rick, getting out his card to tap. But then she spotted me still eyeing the muffins in the showcase so she waited a nanosecond until I decided on a Bran Muffin. For some reason, I felt this woman noticed the little things, she paid attention to her customers, and I felt that slight connect of the heart. I smiled and thanked her warmly for serving us. It's a day later and the warmth of the tiny exchange still resonates. I appreciated her awareness of me as a customer. I felt seen. I hope she felt the same in our brief exchange of pleasantries. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #f4cccc;">FIVE. <i>A quote that caught my eye</i></span></b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> "Grace is like a blanket of hope</div><div style="text-align: center;">that covers you at night when you</div><div style="text-align: center;">don't think you have what it takes to</div><div style="text-align: center;">get up in the morning."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">CAROLINE MYSS</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank God for that grace every morning!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a beautiful weekend,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Image by vinsky2002 from Pixabay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-35533217462445013242024-03-08T01:00:00.153-07:002024-03-09T10:24:49.111-07:00Emily Dickinson: A Literary Hero (Part 3)<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJE49Cb5cP9Vhe1xgw8q8bISIAunlxEk9Z74g-7hZyKsLpeWlKmcgNEpgjtPk1MEXiDewTZSWL4bZa0dC7Wg_D9jNhyphenhyphen-J1FNvyhW7iEvT7KwAZUjnE5f8CbAblPwaIBOScX-kkKu0hST4-4Nlofs7NtKYeCZQzDuXXEaI0UbHNr_AGH0hLjDI3xfSghvF/s1815/IMG_7641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1815" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJE49Cb5cP9Vhe1xgw8q8bISIAunlxEk9Z74g-7hZyKsLpeWlKmcgNEpgjtPk1MEXiDewTZSWL4bZa0dC7Wg_D9jNhyphenhyphen-J1FNvyhW7iEvT7KwAZUjnE5f8CbAblPwaIBOScX-kkKu0hST4-4Nlofs7NtKYeCZQzDuXXEaI0UbHNr_AGH0hLjDI3xfSghvF/w534-h640/IMG_7641.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I dwell in possibility..."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>EMILY DICKINSON</b></span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Emily Dickinson and her poetry left its mark on my heart, and I didn't realize how much until I began working on this post. I don't exactly recall how I came to know Emily or her poems. I don't remember learning about her in school. Perhaps I first saw her poems quoted in women's magazines my mom used to read. Or, maybe an aunty or school teacher penned a well-intentioned few lines in a girlhood autograph book: "If I can stop one heart from breaking . . . If I can ease one life the aching / Or cool one pain / Or help one fainting robin / Unto his nest again / I shall not live in vain".</div><div><br /></div><div>I do know my imagination felt a buoyancy when I first read: " 'Hope' is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul...". And then there were these lines: </div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">"I'll tell you how the Sun rose â</div><div style="text-align: center;">A Ribbon at a time â"</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Who can forget such a phrase! I don't understand some of Emily's poetry, but some pieces, some lines truly are unforgettable... and gorgeous. Emily wrote nearly 1,800 poems; only a handful were published in her lifetime. People knew she wrote poems, for she often included them in letters when writing to friends and correspondents. And she created small handmade books of them. But no one knew until after her death how prolificâor brilliantâshe was.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><div>What fascinated me about Emily was her decision to live as a recluse. For reasons unknown to anyone, from an early age she chose to restrict her social involvement and activities, preferring to live in the heart of her family home. I never desired to be a recluse the way she wasâyes, I'm an introvert but I also have a bit of social butterfly in meâbut I think I get it. For I can be quite content with my own thoughts, happy with my own company and books, at my desk by the window writing... being in the heart of my home, happily pottering about.</div><div><br /></div><div>I imagine Emily sitting at her desk near a window probably overlooking the garden or her neighbourhood, and from that place, writing her 'letter to the world'. Even as a recluse she left her mark on the literary world. Though her world was small, she had a keen poet's eye for description. I often wondered how she was so insightful. Surely a curious mind and a sense of wonderment sharpened her ability to pay attention to what went on around her. In retrospect, I also wanted to sharpen my own sense of curiosity and wonderment - I wanted to be able to express what I saw and felt so others could see and feel it too.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>According to letters and documents from her family estate, Emily also enjoyed gardening and was an accomplished cook, taking pride in making cakes, cookies, and candies, both for her family and as gifts for friends. I especially loved the story of Emily carrying a basket filled with freshly baked cookies or gingerbread to an upstairs window in the rear of the house and lowering it to the neighborhood children who'd been playing 'pirates' or 'circus performers' in the Dickinson orchards. The kids must have loved her kind generosity, and she obviously took delight in handing out yummy treats to them. Years ago, I contacted the<i> Emily Dickinson Museum</i> in Amhurst, Massachusetts, asking if I could obtain a copy of Emily's gingerbread recipe. Unfortunately the recipe wasn't available for public distribution at the time. I was disappointed. Perhaps I envisioned myself imitating Emily handing out gingerbread to kids in my own neighbourhood (although maybe not using baskets from an upper window).</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I was happy to discover, while searching out some information for this post, that the recipe is online in an article written by <a href="https://www.burleighmuten.com/" target="_blank">Burleigh MutĂŠn</a>, a children's author and tour guide at the<i> <a href="https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Emily Dickinson Museum</a> (they do have a lovely online store)</i>. The recipe looks deliciousâI'm going to try it and, if it turns out, share some with my neighbours. You'll find the recipe <a href="https://thecookscook.com/columns/the-kids-cook/emily-dickinson-poet-baker/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div><br /></div><div>Like Emily, I sit at my desk, look out into the snow-clad garden, and gaze past my neighbour's roof top into the blue skies. I muse and watch and write my own letter to the world. And so today, I honour Miss Emily Dickinson. In her small world, she found her life and lived it beautifully. I'm inspired by that. As with my other literary heroes, I fervently hope I will one day meet her in the next life to say thank you for her gentle, poetic influence in my life. We just never know, do we, who or what our lives are touching! </div><div><br /></div><div>On that note, I close with a few other favourite quotes of Emily's which I hope you will enjoy.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaln2Xg1yGSyY4QEtwLk_Gk-wpBJwdB-BQxT_QS3n3Sn4qAjgtNMPyBvORPDKT9_zATqLrnLhsHcGufIaaw6FJrWosyicZmaT3iNxRtiPkUiv6l_vJkdsBEi6LFenrQpfjEQhE_EWCcDLvM-Ua6IgRh8VbYDCC-8M8895uERgN77-vu0DMxT9ktP3CF6Qv/s1609/IMG_7644.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1609" data-original-width="1512" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaln2Xg1yGSyY4QEtwLk_Gk-wpBJwdB-BQxT_QS3n3Sn4qAjgtNMPyBvORPDKT9_zATqLrnLhsHcGufIaaw6FJrWosyicZmaT3iNxRtiPkUiv6l_vJkdsBEi6LFenrQpfjEQhE_EWCcDLvM-Ua6IgRh8VbYDCC-8M8895uERgN77-vu0DMxT9ktP3CF6Qv/w535-h568/IMG_7644.jpg" width="535" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A few quotes by Emily Dickinson</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"One step at a time is all</div><div style="text-align: center;">it takes to get you there."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Tell all the truth but tell it slant..."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(That's a good line for when we're trying to</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>remember </i><i>our stories but the details are vague)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"The Heart wants what it wants â </div><div style="text-align: center;">or else it does not care"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(There's no use telling it to smarten</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>up, </i><i>for the heart will yearn.)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"If you take care of the small things, </div><div><div style="text-align: center;">the big things take care of themselves. You</div><div style="text-align: center;">can gain more control over your life by paying</div><div style="text-align: center;">closer attention to the little things."</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>"Saying nothing...</div><div>sometimes says the most."</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"If I feel physically as if the top of my head</div><div style="text-align: center;">were taken off, I know that is poetry."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(For me, it's as if </i><i>my skin wants to </i><i>burst</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>like an overripe tomato.)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">"They might not need me; but they might.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll let my head be just in sight; a smile as small</div><div style="text-align: center;">as mine might be precisely their necessity."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Links to My Earlier Literary Heroes Posts</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Part 1: <a href="https://beautiful.wordfromhome.com/2019/10/lucy-maud-montgomery-mentor.html">Lucy Maud Montgomery</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Part 2: <a href="https://beautiful.wordfromhome.com/2024/02/a-literary-hero-part-2-mother-teresa.html">Mother Teresa</a></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On that note, I'm wishing you a beautiful weekendâand don't</div><div style="text-align: center;">forget, it could be your smile that fits precisely someone's necessity today.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Heart hugs,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Images by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-64710155968193494202024-03-01T01:00:00.233-07:002024-03-02T09:31:39.068-07:00Five on Friday: Tulips, Thrift Store Finds, and Other Thoughts <div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuAjwpdmyUIdrWFInSKFWvhC5PkAY5WsjU2Z6z-waPISw-YeZ8JKBBumOf3zWdWZ3rQE3m23mzmdbW7rdpGg7QhCPZaSM9dFYfOYYqXcnIymy_Bo4YYCaaXUJ4OouXoeeJ_WH_Qc2VT35YKYzAF2CBkES6AvhYYtzVwOtnve55uRa-_4Qq4N1LFcxpMb0/s1280/IMG_7616.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1280" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuAjwpdmyUIdrWFInSKFWvhC5PkAY5WsjU2Z6z-waPISw-YeZ8JKBBumOf3zWdWZ3rQE3m23mzmdbW7rdpGg7QhCPZaSM9dFYfOYYqXcnIymy_Bo4YYCaaXUJ4OouXoeeJ_WH_Qc2VT35YKYzAF2CBkES6AvhYYtzVwOtnve55uRa-_4Qq4N1LFcxpMb0/w662-h430/IMG_7616.jpg" width="662" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"There is so much peace that comes with</div><div style="text-align: center;">learning to live comfortably with what we have,</div><div style="text-align: center;">with feeling a sense of enoughness..."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>@the lukhouse on Instagram</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Friday... and the First Day of March! Even with the extra day in February, the month has flown by in a hurry. We've had a quiet week, hunkering indoors during a snowstorm. Have been sorting through my materials possessions, of which I seem to have quite a few. I sure am a lucky/blessed girl!</div><div><br /></div><div>Of late, Rick and I have been pondering our future plans for the next few yearsâmy 70th and his 80th are approaching although they are a ways off but the days are tickingâas we begin thinking about downsizing and eventually moving to a smaller place. Although plans are in the embryonic stage, afar off, yet still I feel equipped to consider what I should do with my things, and especially what I can at last let go of because I have a foreseeable, tangible path ahead. I truly want to be the caretaker of fewer items. To have more time for loved ones instead of things. More time for my writing and self-care as health issues start to creep in. To keep only what still makes my heart happy and continues to make daily life for us comfortable and cheering. Already it gets easier in my mind to start letting go. And I begin to feel at peace, as the quote above says, to live comfortably with what we have, with that very real sense of 'enoughness'. I love that word. To recognize our own sense of enoughness in this stage of life. We start small... clearing out one small pile, one drawer, a single cupboard... revisiting the equipment and tools we no longer use or need, realizing our memorabilia doesn't need to be held so tightly, that maybe we don't need all the touchstones we once thought we couldn't live without.</div><div><br /></div><div>Enough pondering on that for now... here is this week's edition of Five on Friday. I hope you enjoy.</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaU6TEGBIAhfL0NwYHRzeWkHApYtghqeDwIWLgUL5d94LTV_gn_GRW_Uj03GfouG0Pw1HQ4wsi8B9ku-HyPzJ2jkpU1u7j33MfctbBL5raUiMCzCRIxh8HY_sr4Smml_UqCjUeLjJsMxnDQ_01WkF09o3KdUwL2rXhBGIsdua0MHzYowdJvmuBRmbHhnZw/s1732/IMG_7621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1732" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaU6TEGBIAhfL0NwYHRzeWkHApYtghqeDwIWLgUL5d94LTV_gn_GRW_Uj03GfouG0Pw1HQ4wsi8B9ku-HyPzJ2jkpU1u7j33MfctbBL5raUiMCzCRIxh8HY_sr4Smml_UqCjUeLjJsMxnDQ_01WkF09o3KdUwL2rXhBGIsdua0MHzYowdJvmuBRmbHhnZw/w558-h640/IMG_7621.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">One. Outside My Window</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></b></div><div>I peer out my study window into sunless skies awash in pearl grey. Tree branches stand in stark contrast while shrubs bounce with the flurry of birds eager for nourishment. Blustering north winds shape small snowdrifts on the neighbour's roof. And there's talk of more snow this afternoon. Although I think they jest, for isn't that a wee glimmer over there that feels like maybe the sun could peek out? (Note added later... forget the sunshine, it's getting grimmer and greyer and blusterier as we type.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-fpP2-zh9vdV13zvZDuFNi7K7uGlJdKYckNAcF9-6YKeFcz67bhj0kwjTleI0U3M3OM1a0PPX7V7sUBUtP_U1EKo0xlXw_xSYVHG9h4av4UZc9u7OwQxXghDsC_A9phf4wuAw895fMKcKGJXyO55Ksw7inCxV-16RkWIfVy_jEnZ7Z1JMWI6RAGsFI8S/s1730/IMG_7626.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1730" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-fpP2-zh9vdV13zvZDuFNi7K7uGlJdKYckNAcF9-6YKeFcz67bhj0kwjTleI0U3M3OM1a0PPX7V7sUBUtP_U1EKo0xlXw_xSYVHG9h4av4UZc9u7OwQxXghDsC_A9phf4wuAw895fMKcKGJXyO55Ksw7inCxV-16RkWIfVy_jEnZ7Z1JMWI6RAGsFI8S/w565-h459/IMG_7626.jpg" width="565" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Two.</span></b><b><span style="color: #ea9999;"> Inside My House</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Rick and I just had a mid-morning break. He's been painting the closet in his den, and I'm working on today's post. We enjoyed a small cup of coffee (my first of the day) with a toasted hot cross bun and a bit of Havarti cheese. It was yum; I feel sated. My inner world feels brighter.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I'm admiring the wee picture (above) I found at the thrift store for three dollars. I fell in love and my fingers reached for it without a second thought. Methinks Madam Bunny is pleased too.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBpfqRYtxOLsHc1v52yM8Zihzv3djJ79EPbYlCl3otsY1tdVtKWVrj5HrRNUEOziENW_0d7OyJDPdOTQY7rZ2XAHfwXzVy6xjfCWKr7PrgTajCup6jjiu1KagjNEtox8Py4IC1YvOQOg3c2JZRR6nh4SGIh_6FX6dCo6gC7Fy5xavYCsbdQrsXZQNXxVP/s2016/IMG_7614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="729" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBpfqRYtxOLsHc1v52yM8Zihzv3djJ79EPbYlCl3otsY1tdVtKWVrj5HrRNUEOziENW_0d7OyJDPdOTQY7rZ2XAHfwXzVy6xjfCWKr7PrgTajCup6jjiu1KagjNEtox8Py4IC1YvOQOg3c2JZRR6nh4SGIh_6FX6dCo6gC7Fy5xavYCsbdQrsXZQNXxVP/w548-h729/IMG_7614.jpg" width="548" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Three. Thrift Store Book Haul</span></b></div></div><div><br /></div><div>First, I dropped off a bag of items for donation at the thrift shop. Then I went round into their shop to check out the book section. In less than 15 minutes, my arms were loaded with these finds (I should have stopped for a shopping basket):</div><div></div><blockquote><div>- <i>Mrs. McGinty's Dead</i> by Agatha Christie (Poirot mystery)</div><div>- <i>Dead Man's Folly</i> by Agatha Christie (I read all the Miss Marple novels last year, now I thought I'd read through some of the Poirot mysteries.)</div><div>- <i>Agent in Place</i> by Helen MacInnes (espionage novel set in the 1970s. I read something of hers last autumn '<i>While We Still Live'</i> which I found beautifully written, thrilling, and thoughtful. Look forward to reading this one.)</div><div>- <i>Gaudy Night</i> and <i>Busman's Honeymoon</i> by Dorothy L. Sayers (These were on my 'to find' list. I've been reading about the author's life lately and so I want to reread her Wimsey novels); </div><div>- <i>Romancing Miss BrontĂŤ</i> by Juliet Gael (historical fiction novel about Charlotte BrontĂŤ); </div><div>- <i>A Long Shadow</i> by Charles Todd (Inspector Rutledge mystery set in post-World War I);</div><div>- <i>The Best of James Herriot </i>(a lovely collection of excerpts from his books that he 'almost never wrote' along with other material about him and some lovely photographs of the Yorkshire Dales).</div></blockquote><div>Undoubtedly you will recognize, as I have done, the thrilling sensation Kate Morton describes so aptly in her novel <i>Homecoming</i>: "As Jess stepped out of the shop and onto the pavement, she was filled with the lightness of spirit and free-floating sense of possibility that always claimed her when she had a brown paper bag containing new books under her arm." E.x.a.c.t.l.y !</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1rR-LOMHte6UpcIrBkgg_4hI0SFQ__yPpLLv3ZgytiQMwNxizLJVv7umq2P2ORhvhTMeCtkhFM05iLnNoFBrlSBZYSrixH2rfLeaLUtyDtxRZ8SpJBbSZbcOkCjNg3d4XTTT43Zu_92G3ZafSKuIKbLAk6R6UCk-s0q3zqKjvLHWwB8vleXvdLix0DWl/s1512/IMG_7618.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1512" height="487" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1rR-LOMHte6UpcIrBkgg_4hI0SFQ__yPpLLv3ZgytiQMwNxizLJVv7umq2P2ORhvhTMeCtkhFM05iLnNoFBrlSBZYSrixH2rfLeaLUtyDtxRZ8SpJBbSZbcOkCjNg3d4XTTT43Zu_92G3ZafSKuIKbLAk6R6UCk-s0q3zqKjvLHWwB8vleXvdLix0DWl/w551-h487/IMG_7618.jpg" width="551" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Four. Tulips on the Dining Table</span></b> </div><div><br /></div><div>A breath of spring on this dullish day. How these tulips cheer the place up and make me smile every time I walk past them. Tulips bulbs are still worth their weight in gold; thankfully they are within easy reach of my much slimmer purse. đ</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbRoi0bOz-47BItwR3F5Hl3NKt2FQ1q37V5mGdB6bU7iq1Su0fivVXCnGHmBi_-CI24I0gEKKSt6GNHNAEqs8yvjZVfV7Wj_jzI88F4DP1NHqwBy5T5Q7I8oqtvg_rRUBTzIJQ2psDeahomh5HKYN_9kvQFJSQY3DjFwuxys2BjN33iic6IRQJ3u44WMQ/s1340/IMG_7615.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1305" data-original-width="1340" height="529" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbRoi0bOz-47BItwR3F5Hl3NKt2FQ1q37V5mGdB6bU7iq1Su0fivVXCnGHmBi_-CI24I0gEKKSt6GNHNAEqs8yvjZVfV7Wj_jzI88F4DP1NHqwBy5T5Q7I8oqtvg_rRUBTzIJQ2psDeahomh5HKYN_9kvQFJSQY3DjFwuxys2BjN33iic6IRQJ3u44WMQ/w542-h529/IMG_7615.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Five. Wise Thought from Susan Branch</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div> "Try and fall in love with as many things as possible, every day things like the dawn, the moon, the way your flannel shirt feels, clothes warm from the dryer, singing in the car, the first words to a delicious new book, hot brownies and cold milk . . . take nothing for granted; that way all your days will feel like miracles." </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>On that sparkling note, I'm wishing you a beautiful weekend,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Today's photos are mine</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-50101119532034016272024-02-25T15:03:00.003-07:002024-03-08T17:03:26.521-07:00Creating A Book List: Would You Share Some Favourites?<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWgknX2ITaDH_fhJwNJznde5hXl-6QcXOyuGjs702ZisjI2rww-q380N6ZxqanwC6rhiek2SiOHN1pcJZ3AY1GdlxqAfbBUlJeaRXRWHsaNL48Xv1U9OiXjmu3Tzks27PkgJttXKpQCqq273-ydbjIZ5lUAUDcLMcMTngEvZLK_FF-ItoMYWAGBUq24Mb/s1280/bokeh-3997525_1280%20Image%20by%20Ylanite%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWgknX2ITaDH_fhJwNJznde5hXl-6QcXOyuGjs702ZisjI2rww-q380N6ZxqanwC6rhiek2SiOHN1pcJZ3AY1GdlxqAfbBUlJeaRXRWHsaNL48Xv1U9OiXjmu3Tzks27PkgJttXKpQCqq273-ydbjIZ5lUAUDcLMcMTngEvZLK_FF-ItoMYWAGBUq24Mb/w640-h426/bokeh-3997525_1280%20Image%20by%20Ylanite%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">that your longings are universal longings, that you're</div><div style="text-align: center;">not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong."</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>F. SCOTT FITZGERALD</b></span></div><br /><br /></div><div>On this snowy afternoon, I'm thinking about making a book list. I enjoy reading book listsâwhether they are created by publishing houses, the New York Times, the local bookstore, or fellow bibliophiles. I cast my eye down the lists to see what's making someone's chart. I feel the delight when I recognize titles and maybe have read one or two, but mostly I'm looking for new books that sound promising.</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple of years ago, I read a novel by Sarah Nisha Adams called <i>The Reading List</i>. A delightful tale of an aging widower and a lonely teenage girl who form an unlikely friendship through books. It starts with a mysterious list found by someone at the library. . . 'one lonely folded scrap of paper sitting on the desk . . . the lettering is neat, looping, warm, inviting' :</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;">Just in case you need it :</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;">To Kill A Mockingbird</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;">Rebecca</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;">The Kite Runner</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;">Life of Pi</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;">Pride and Prejudice</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;">Little Women</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;">Beloved</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oregano;">A Suitable Boy</span></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Who made the list? Who left it at the library? And so begins this wonderful, heartwarming tale. I've now collected the books on the listâsome I had already, some I needed to find. Although I've read a few in the past, I wanted to read them in the order of the list and follow along as I reread Sarah's novel.</div><div><br /></div><div>On a slightly different note, today I'm also interested in starting another book listâone with you, my blogging friends, in mind. If you are interested in joining in, this is what I'm looking for: favourite title(s) you enjoy in each of the following categories. They can be current favourites or books from long ago, fiction or nonfiction, current or classics, bestsellers or little known gems. Share your list in the comments section or on your own blog, whatever works for you.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll start:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">1. A favourite (or two or three) from your childhood.</span></b> <i>Heidi, Anne of Green Gables, Pippi Longstocking, Mr. Popper's Penguins, The Elephant's Child (Kipling), Little Women, Pollyanna, Nancy Drew series, The Secret Garden, Little House on the Prairie, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Little Engine that Could, Egermeier's Illustrated Bible Story Book, Fairy Tales </i>by Hans Christian Andersen. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">2. A book you once read that you couldn't stop thinking about.</span><span style="color: #e06666;"> </span></b>I read <i>Gone with the Wind </i>when I was around eleven or twelve. I was so sad for Scarlett O'Hara when she became a very young widow and then had to act like an old womanâwearing horrid dark 'widow's weeds', no more pretty dresses, no more flirting with handsome young men, no dancing at parties. I was haunted at how awful she must have felt and still so young. Maybe it was one of my first experiences of feeling the pain of someone I met in a book. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>3. One book that shaped your life. </b></span><i>Living A Beautiful Life</i> by Alexandra Stoddard. I came across this book back in the early 1990s. It grabbed my heart when I read how we could live our lives more beautifully. This book and the original Victoria magazines were a godsend - they fed something deep in my soul.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">4. A book you couldn't put down.</span></b> <i>The School of Essential Ingredients</i> by Erica Bauermeister; <i>A Time for Mercy </i>by John Grisham; <i>All the Devils are Here</i> by Louise Penny; <i>A Gentleman in Moscow</i> by Amor Towles. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">5. A book that deepened your thinking.</span></b> <i>Ordering Your Private World</i> by Gordon MacDonald; C.S. Lewis's writings; <i>From the Father's Heart </i>by Charles Slagle; <i>Life of the Beloved</i> by Henri Nouwen.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">6. A book with a favourite heroine.</span></b> <i>Rose in Bloom</i> by Louisa May Alcott. I read this book decades ago and loved watching young Rose growing up in this coming of age story. She holds a tender place in my affection.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">7. A book that creates a safe place when you need rest in your soul. </span></b>Jan Karon's Father Tim novels set it Mitford. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">8. A book that lifts your spirits and makes you feel happy. </span></b> Susan Branch's memoirs, <i>The Isle of Dreams </i>and <i>The Fairy Tale Girl</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">9. Something you want to read but haven't got to it yet.</span></b> <i>1984</i> by George Orwell and <i>The Brothers Karamazov</i> by Fyodor Dostoevsky. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">10. A book you like to read over and over.</span></b> Every December, I pull out <i>Winter Solstice</i> by Rosamunde Pilcher.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">11. A book you just finished and loved. </span></b><i>Homecoming</i> by Kate Morton.</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>12. A book you just started and already know you'll like it.</b></span> <i>Growing Pains</i> by Emily Carr, an autobiography of one of Canada's well-known artists. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">"I love the solitude of reading. I love the</div><div style="text-align: center;">deep dive into someone elseâs story, the</div><div style="text-align: center;">delicious ache of a last page."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">NAOMI SHIHAB NYE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>Wishing you a beautiful week ahead,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Top image by Ylanite from Pixabay</span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-11373036292139549932024-02-18T12:01:00.005-07:002024-03-06T16:06:45.900-07:00A Literary Hero (Part 2): Mother Teresa<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwmSRLSN1DF6lMRPVwFVxL5KFLrDJ0CkUFXtWMn8T2-jmwF7i2QUCdvBeIl_2oauvBdNZYib38FAf9Apj4aBgMy-h8SWft8t83qK3YJDlYeKcCu4me08kB4GBhfPKZ44Tl_kSDIY1lZxyKJOsr4vQDRgoxqsJVbJoqSh3ioyaz_mKd4Yg748vtPe_0Jhw/s1920/hellebore-4836323_1920%20Image%20by%20Annette%20Meyer%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwmSRLSN1DF6lMRPVwFVxL5KFLrDJ0CkUFXtWMn8T2-jmwF7i2QUCdvBeIl_2oauvBdNZYib38FAf9Apj4aBgMy-h8SWft8t83qK3YJDlYeKcCu4me08kB4GBhfPKZ44Tl_kSDIY1lZxyKJOsr4vQDRgoxqsJVbJoqSh3ioyaz_mKd4Yg748vtPe_0Jhw/w640-h426/hellebore-4836323_1920%20Image%20by%20Annette%20Meyer%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">"Lord, give me an open heart to find You everywhere,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">to glimpse the heaven enfolded in a bud, and experience</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">eternity in the smallest act of love."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"><b>MOTHER TERESA</b></span></div><br /><br /><div>It was after attending a zoom event on the discussion of literary heroes that I stopped to consider who are my own bookish heroes. I always enjoy that kind of pondering, and it didn't take long for my list to form. </div><div><br /></div><div>In my <a href="https://beautiful.wordfromhome.com/2019/10/lucy-maud-montgomery-mentor.html" target="_blank">first post</a> on my literary heroes, I wrote about Lucy Maud Montgomery, so well-known for her creation of Anne of Green Gables. In my case, both Anne and Lucy Maud are literary heroes, Anne in my girlhood and LMM in my young adulthood. If you missed the post, you can find it <a href="https://beautiful.wordfromhome.com/2019/10/lucy-maud-montgomery-mentor.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I should clarify what makes a literary hero for me. It's a person I met in a book, whether she/he is fictional or real life. These individuals made a difference in my life, and I looked up to them the way a child might look up to Superman. Through their lives, they showed me something about myself, something I needed to know. They showed me what a strong, courageous person looks like when they demonstrate selflessness and compassion amidst their own struggles, relationships, and disappointments. Usually their stories were unforgettable and stayed with me a long time, as I mulled their own discoveries about what mattered to them. I came to see that I wanted to emulate them in some way. </div><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">â</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Today I want to share another heroineâMother Teresaâwhose photo hangs in my mind's literary hero gallery. For many, she is a spiritual hero, but I think of her also as a literary hero, because her story and wisdom came to me through the books I read about, and by, her.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>As a young woman, I was in awe of her loving service to the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, a woman who identified herself with human suffering and privation, giving herself so completely to loving God and through him loving her neighbour. What often grabbed my heart were the words she spoke with such humility and grace. Many of those wise words were etched on my heart and still resonate all these years later. Not only had I come to appreciate the inspiring things she said, but through one story she told, I found the courage to fully step into my own life, doing so without guilt or fear.</div></div><div><div><br /></div><div>A little background to the story of how she became a hero for me. I don't know about you, but in my lifetime, I came across people who believed so strongly in their own passion and calling for their lives that somehow they implied everyone else should take up the same worthy mantle and follow in their footsteps... and if you didn't, you couldn't be doing 'God's will'. Unsure of what I should do with my own life as a searching young woman, that message settled in my heart and it caused me to worry and fret in the secret places of my mind 'how will I know... what if I miss my path'.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wondered if Mother Teresa would be such a person, but one little story* showed me something different. The anecdote, as I remember it, was about a woman who came to work for a season with Mother Teresa. It came time for her to return to her own life and workâI think she worked in an elite beauty salon in a large city in Europeâand she wondered if she should give up her life and come work with Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa recommended she return to her home and continue her work among the privileged... because 'they need love too'. The woman went back to her own life. <i>*I have no idea anymore of where I read this account to confirm the details, but it's how I remember it all these years, and maybe that's best.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Those words lifted that sense of guilt I carried, where I wondered if I was pursuing the life meant for me, always with that niggle of worry it wasn't worthy enough. I settled into my lifeâinto the joy of knowing where I lived and worked, whoever I worked with, they needed love too. I aimed to live my best life, walking in the beauty and love as best I knew how. Right where I was.</div><div><br /></div><div>And that's how Mother Teresa became a heroine in my life. After that, I was ever on the look out for other wise words from this humble and influential woman. I found gems that have kept me company along the way, including that lovely one at the start of this post which eventually became the cornerstone for this blog. Here are a few others that continue to shine light for me:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGeoZ6wgOG2I26uKTZNrAQZgqkYFTG0ywHvJ2bCS8z1Bp4YHzF6FDzvxSXCgVYLRC-F2hXRUq6Rq7_n6xGN8-0eEqgbCw5fx3TMN_QYQIvTqILFPQwfpVrhv4PxLzs-dud8eXMMprlzivgMEITYlW7WJZ8lQMWcztgf6qW1Yx1EMlsNTpB1GRddOrzKjl/s320/fbmn08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="320" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGeoZ6wgOG2I26uKTZNrAQZgqkYFTG0ywHvJ2bCS8z1Bp4YHzF6FDzvxSXCgVYLRC-F2hXRUq6Rq7_n6xGN8-0eEqgbCw5fx3TMN_QYQIvTqILFPQwfpVrhv4PxLzs-dud8eXMMprlzivgMEITYlW7WJZ8lQMWcztgf6qW1Yx1EMlsNTpB1GRddOrzKjl/w163-h124/fbmn08.jpg" width="163" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div>"Never worry about numbers. Help one person</div><div>at a time and always start with the person nearest you."</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">â</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Not all of us can do great things.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But we can do small things with great love."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">â</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>"If you can't feed a hundred people,</div><div>feed just one."</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">â</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>who is sending a love letter to the world."</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">â</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Now let us do something</div><div style="text-align: center;">beautiful for God."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I am so glad the writings of Mother Teresa came to me at a time when I needed the courage to settle into my own life path. She could never have known that her advice to one woman would help another who lived far away on another continent, in another world.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you are interested in reading something about her, I recommend the little book <i>Something Beautiful for God</i> by Malcolm Muggeridge. Although biographical, it's more a tribute to her and includes a transcript of his conversations with Mother Teresa.</div><div><br /></div><div>To close, I want to share a line I recently read in Margaret Dulaney's collection of memoirs <i>To Hear the Forest Sing</i>: "I cannot imagine who I might have been without the encouragement of certain sources of light along my own night's journey." This is how I feel about my literary heroes, I cannot imagine life without them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Who is one of your favourite literary heroes?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a beautiful week ahead,</div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Top photo by Annette Meyer from Pixabay</span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Floral graphic by antiqueimages.blogspot.com </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-47588969162249029862024-02-11T16:43:00.004-07:002024-02-15T13:58:30.871-07:00Daybook: February Edition<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyJ3qo4eCKxhSFMDNgF9iXh32IoDwwT2fiPAELwREaQyG1ebG_SWw1hPUfZfkaMOVMmXPelodDJzZUe0pD9wuzbzhyFMynids0JsJsQdwv9nvYaScGmdT0xkhEQkKNI9ZUgQuLKCDYGPh_UAtsdYUa_03-NPy2MAuq7q_CSeMnYJsMLRkHHbhs1ZQQVX_/s1280/beverage-3837111_1280%20Image%20by%20boaphotostudio%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyJ3qo4eCKxhSFMDNgF9iXh32IoDwwT2fiPAELwREaQyG1ebG_SWw1hPUfZfkaMOVMmXPelodDJzZUe0pD9wuzbzhyFMynids0JsJsQdwv9nvYaScGmdT0xkhEQkKNI9ZUgQuLKCDYGPh_UAtsdYUa_03-NPy2MAuq7q_CSeMnYJsMLRkHHbhs1ZQQVX_/w640-h426/beverage-3837111_1280%20Image%20by%20boaphotostudio%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"All you need is love. But a little</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">CHARLES M. SCHULZ</span></b></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>The last few weeks I have been in the middle of an editing project for an anthology my writing fellowship plans to publish later this year. The day I finished my assignment, I looked up and realized January had melted into the past, and here we were in Februaryâwith it being nearly Valentine's Day. I weary myself to lament yet again 'where has the time flown?" so I'm trying not to say it aloud this time. I'd much rather note from my window perch staring into the snow-covered garden that the daylight hours have l-e-n-g-t-h-e-n-e-d and the sunsets are pushing themselves further into late afternoon. The chickadees have begun their spring singing, and Madam Downy Woodpecker pecks busily for supper. I feel the joy of it splashing over my heart. </div><div><br /></div><div>During this season, with a few bumps along the way and still dealing with some health issues, the Daybook edition I used to post monthly slid right off the radarâwhich means it's more than high time to dust it off for a meandering muse here on the blog. Without further ado, let's begin...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmNFFzUerdDNmM_KMZtu0m-h2nShDxuuSztBvsfm23Gc2mosE5GdU1yfWw8kUiYJfRTtotWujYTYeoDUEXsEi47M0hBtUiE9VZsqo69BtTh-rCJR_Rskdmb2-dlvTLKuSXdLxt36IO4bx-GsKtExFxBw0IEtu-injs_OhP2ZK62L_TA5m6wwmCSgYsEEL/s400/Tulips-Pink-GraphicsFairy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="286" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmNFFzUerdDNmM_KMZtu0m-h2nShDxuuSztBvsfm23Gc2mosE5GdU1yfWw8kUiYJfRTtotWujYTYeoDUEXsEi47M0hBtUiE9VZsqo69BtTh-rCJR_Rskdmb2-dlvTLKuSXdLxt36IO4bx-GsKtExFxBw0IEtu-injs_OhP2ZK62L_TA5m6wwmCSgYsEEL/w167-h233/Tulips-Pink-GraphicsFairy.jpg" width="167" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #e06666;">FOR TODAY</span></b></div><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Outside my window...</span></b> What a difference a day makes. Yesterday our corner of the world was settled in thick grey stillness with no sign of sunshine. This morning the heavy clouds are gone, the sky is awash in that February pale blue, and the sun makes the snow sparkle.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>In the garden...</b></span> Everything is covered in fluffy fresh piles of snow. Birds flutter in the branches looking for spots to sit and soak in the sunshine. No sign of anything else in the garden - far too early for snowdrops or anything springlike.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">I am wearing...</span></b> black jeans, a black and white floral blouse, with a spritz of Christian Dior's JOY Eau De Parfum, which I received as a Christmas present from a certain someone. Every morning I give myself a wee spritz to start the day. The scent instantly lifts my spirits.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">I am thankful...</span></b> that when I experience a technical difficulty, I can count on there being someone else 'out there' who is likely experiencing the same issue. For several days I had problems with my emailânew messages wouldn't load, and outgoing emails had an error code saying the message couldn't be saved to the 'sent' file. I finally realized the problem was not going away; a quick Google search, with a tiny prayer for help, brought me a simple solution. Those other more tech-savvy people with the same issue offered solutions that worked for them. It was a simple change in the settings, and all was rectified. <i>Only the Shadow knows for sure what made it go off the rails in the first place.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BE2uDGSlSQW3iUCs3LGr5-nXH_6iNIyg0E1mi7hVpW7CBu2e9XHApk239MtxK0rcfuwRt-Ur2YDwE160T_-XKc84gR2kuRM_IfPGTdvfI8nYW3ciSiqd4rRuXkGkwJiW1M2a-3DfSLsHkC3Xxxs1AOCqPYJJ06elIaff7bIrfU7GzPeYN7cpqt27t8jX/s1772/IMG_7531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1772" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BE2uDGSlSQW3iUCs3LGr5-nXH_6iNIyg0E1mi7hVpW7CBu2e9XHApk239MtxK0rcfuwRt-Ur2YDwE160T_-XKc84gR2kuRM_IfPGTdvfI8nYW3ciSiqd4rRuXkGkwJiW1M2a-3DfSLsHkC3Xxxs1AOCqPYJJ06elIaff7bIrfU7GzPeYN7cpqt27t8jX/w546-h640/IMG_7531.jpg" width="546" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Women Holding Things</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>by Maira Kalman</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">One of my favourite things...</span></b> this past week was the arrival of a book I've had in my shopping cart a long while. I finally ordered myself a copy of <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Women-Holding-Things-Maira-Kalman/dp/0062846671/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2M8T9HZOY7KV3&keywords=maira+kalman+women+holding+things&qid=1707504389&sprefix=maira+%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><i>Women Holding Things</i></a>. What a lovely collectionâher artwork is whimsical and charming, her tiny essays poetic. As one reviewer noted, Ms. Kalman is "an extraordinary observer of people". Through her art and simple text she explores what women tend to hold: from the ordinary and mundane through to the hurt feelings and heartbreak in relationships to the joy and delight of holding vases filled with flowers.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>A favourite quote...</b></span> from Maira Kalman's book:</div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"What do women hold?</div><div style="text-align: center;">The home and the family.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And the children and the food.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The friendships. The work.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The work of the world.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The work of being human.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The memories</div><div style="text-align: center;">And the troubles</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the sorrows</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the triumphs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And the love."</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">I am watching...</span></b> an Agatha Christie film found on YouTube <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gspQjDlhqGc" target="_blank">The Case of the Middle-Aged Wife</a>.</i> This is one I have enjoyed several times. Maria Packington notices her husband is taking a too-active interest in the pretty young typist in his office. Maria becomes so unhappy about it she responds to an ad in the newspaper to ask Parker Pyne for help. I love his advice to Mrs. Packington, and I love how the story plays out. This was the first episode in the 1982 TV series <i>The Agatha Christie Hour. </i>Gwen Watford plays Maria Packington - you'll probably recognize her as Dolly Bantry, alongside Joan Hickson, in the Miss Marple films from that era.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>My favourite vlogger is...</b></span> Miranda Mills who vlogs about country living in Yorkshire, UK. She is a passionate reader and creates 'content that fosters connection between literature, art and the natural world'. Not only does she chat about books, but she shares recipes of yummy things she bakes. And she takes her followers on vlogging outings to interesting bookshops, lovely teahouses, museums, and literary places like Jane Austen's home. She is the charming and insightful hostess, along with her mom, Donna, of the monthly <i>Comfort Book Club</i>. You can find the current book she is reading for the monthly discussion <a href="https://mirandasnotebook.com/the-comfort-book-club" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>. Miranda is all about living a beautiful life - a girl after my own heart. For more, check out her YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MirandaMills" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>. She is also in Instagram, if that's where you like to hang out.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">I am listening to...</span></b><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>Classic FM which streams my favourite classical music all the way from England. Loving all things English, this gives me a little heart connection to my favourite place in the world.</div></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6pLVKQ64hb_GBI1U84RdK1lbkAclq736r4FNa4UDJEcSNvPAemXAtwySaoIwZy9ClsGpOQ6qptQGBE8I_MYWS4B7FI6BFkzmoOQ_jmSxYPyFD78PVqzj8TNY-SvP1nSD6B1Qe8bSEcCLvXwYmwC4YZQztsi89L9uSXRpsEIYrMTQVrbE07C6qcKcjpdJ/s1527/IMG_7551.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6pLVKQ64hb_GBI1U84RdK1lbkAclq736r4FNa4UDJEcSNvPAemXAtwySaoIwZy9ClsGpOQ6qptQGBE8I_MYWS4B7FI6BFkzmoOQ_jmSxYPyFD78PVqzj8TNY-SvP1nSD6B1Qe8bSEcCLvXwYmwC4YZQztsi89L9uSXRpsEIYrMTQVrbE07C6qcKcjpdJ/w634-h640/IMG_7551.jpg" width="634" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>I am thinking...</b></span> about the books I have currently lined up to read. Just a little stack (đ) out of the couple of hundred shelved and also awaiting their turn in my lap. Books truly beguile me. Can one ever have too many books? I don't think so. Although I can hardly be tempted to the usual human vices, just mention books and reading, and I'm instantly in the line up. Of all the interests and passions I have enjoyed over my lifetimeâmany have come and goneâbooks remain the constant. I hope my home in the next life has a comfy, cozy, library with nooks and crannies stuffed to the rafters with all the books I never had a chance to read in this life. Plus, all the favourite volumes of which I never grow tired. That would be paradise for me. And to make it perfectly perfect, all my loved ones would be nearby, each one following pursuits for which their own hearts beat rapturously.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">PS...</span></b> I just love the photo above. The afternoon sunshine was streaming in on my bedroom floor. I gathered up the books I wanted to share and set up the scene. I am quite pleased with how it turned out. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">A list of the titles and authors in the photo above (in case it's hard to read):</span></b></div><div><i>The Country Child</i> by Alison Uttley (children's);</div><div><i>The Sleeping Car Porter</i> by Suzette Mayr (novel - Scotiabank Giller Prize winner);</div><div><i>Pictures at an Exhibition</i> by Sara Houghteling (novel);</div><div>Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy (novel);</div><div><i>The God of Small Things</i> by Arundhati Roy (novel - Winner of The Booker Prize);</div><div><i>Women Holding Things</i> by Maira Kalman (art/essays);</div><div><i>The Bird in the Tree</i> by Elizabeth Goudge (novel);</div><div><i>Snow Road Station</i> by Elizabeth Hay (novel - coming of age middle-age story);</div><div><i>Pilgrim at Tinker Creek</i> by Annie Dillard (biography/autobiography/literature);</div><div><i>Apples on the Windowsill</i> by Shawna Lemay (meditations on still life, photography, beauty, marriage);</div><div><i>To Hear the Forest Sing, Some Musings on the Divine</i> by Margaret Dulaney (memoirs);</div><div><i>A Rhythm of Prayer</i>, <i>A Collection of Meditations for Renewal</i> edited by Sarah Bessey (prayer);</div><div><i>Square Haunting, Five Writers in London Between the Wars</i> by Francesca Wade (biography/literature); <i>Thin Places, a natural history of healing and home</i> by Kerri NĂ Dochartaigh (memoir/nature);</div><div><i>Windswept, Life Nature and Deep Time in the Scottish Highlands</i> by Annie Worsley (nature/memoir);</div><div><i>Mrs. Van Gogh</i> by Caroline Cauchi (novel).</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">I am hoping this week for...</span></b> some nice weather, a continuous supply of small treats, joy in my work, and good things to laugh about with friends and family.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">I am learning...</span></b> it is best to take things one day at a time. As a Facebook friend, Colleen, often mentions: "Stay in the day. Just do the next right thing with love."</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">In the kitchen...</span></b> Saw this little menu on social media attributed to Whitney Gaskell and her book <i>Table for Seven</i>. My mouth waters at what sounds like a delicious dinner to make and share with special people. It would be perfect for Valentine's Day. No recipes were given but I'm sure a Google search could come up with something similar:</div><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>"WARM GOAT CHEESE SALAD WITH PEARS AND WALNUTS</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>INDIVIDUAL FILETS EN CROĂTE</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>PARSLEY LEAF POTATOES</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>ASPARAGUS</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME"</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>- Whitney Gaskell, Table for Seven</b></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">Closing notes...</span></b> I was Guest Blogging over on InScribe last week. I wanted to give you a chance to read my little post titled <i><a href="https://inscribewritersonline.blogspot.com/2024/02/we-nourish-others-by-brenda-leyland.html" target="_blank">We Nourish Others</a></i> in case you haven't seen it. I'd love to hear from you if you enjoyed the piece.</div><div><br /></div><div><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFlTft9gT40L5HP0r9uviC2AlSKzEr7FF4nI8u1IG6t9jl6pWNB_jqr4cit9u_cmfdQEi1DeIJBhJJdsN2jHNsIoPbO3llQDkXk3k9Ad9BqbPJwLwEUHrI-MLPPPc0CIWpPzI6-Se3UxKBlKfXqjAl24GYM42nDOhxsrM2RWw_mTzsbfNCyaUtP4T56c2/s400/RetroGirlValentineGraphicsFairy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="378" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFlTft9gT40L5HP0r9uviC2AlSKzEr7FF4nI8u1IG6t9jl6pWNB_jqr4cit9u_cmfdQEi1DeIJBhJJdsN2jHNsIoPbO3llQDkXk3k9Ad9BqbPJwLwEUHrI-MLPPPc0CIWpPzI6-Se3UxKBlKfXqjAl24GYM42nDOhxsrM2RWw_mTzsbfNCyaUtP4T56c2/w154-h163/RetroGirlValentineGraphicsFairy.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Too much of a good thing can be wonderful."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">SUSAN BRANCH</span></b></div></div><div><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: terminal, monaco, monospace; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Wishing you a heart-happy week,</div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credits:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">- Top Image by boaphotostudio from Pixabay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">- Tulip Image by TheGraphicsFairy.com</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: small;">- Valentine Image by The GraphicsFairy.com</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">- The book photos are mine</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Acknowledgement with thanks to Peggy at</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href=" http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: courier;">The Simple Woman's Daybook</span></a> <span style="font-family: courier;">for some of the prompts used in this post.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-46595429256648531072024-01-22T17:56:00.001-07:002024-01-22T17:59:07.743-07:00Quotes that Resonate this January<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyz9U1yM57vWZTuLWW9NQeWj5OJg0j9R84tYNbwzWSuVMe2o7Nl14429kuBoJ5Uh8y6LE0Ztdnvi4J3Cfy-vby7YTcC0Jbzod_WPsH8EVG84Az1llbg5dPy1u_nLTpVpuP52uqEVcemTZhgxORPm_SAyHTi04GMeTY5EQSo73MGFlShyphenhyphenYCqpbgqfgKSdg/s1280/camellia-5994233_1280%20Image%20by%20Nennieinszweidrei%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyz9U1yM57vWZTuLWW9NQeWj5OJg0j9R84tYNbwzWSuVMe2o7Nl14429kuBoJ5Uh8y6LE0Ztdnvi4J3Cfy-vby7YTcC0Jbzod_WPsH8EVG84Az1llbg5dPy1u_nLTpVpuP52uqEVcemTZhgxORPm_SAyHTi04GMeTY5EQSo73MGFlShyphenhyphenYCqpbgqfgKSdg/w640-h426/camellia-5994233_1280%20Image%20by%20Nennieinszweidrei%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">"A commonplace book is a highly personal anthology,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and part of the joy in creating one is that it gives a</div><div style="text-align: center;">deeper sense of self: by selecting fragments of language</div><div style="text-align: center;">that speak to you, you become more aware of your</div><div style="text-align: center;">own taste, beliefs and judgement."</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>MIRANDA MILLS, YouTube vlogger</b></span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Posted here are a few lines that I have gathered into my journal these beginning days of January. Each quote for me has meaning and brings a little something to the table while I dreamily mull what 2024 might look likeâwhat I wishfully hope for in real life as the days unfold.</div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps you will find words that resonate with your own soul as you start a new week. I hope so.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: Marck Script;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Marck Script; font-size: x-small;">đ</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">December 29th</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Marck Script;">(As a writer I want to bring these words with me into the New Year)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Because right now, there is someone</div><div style="text-align: center;">out there with a wound in the exact</div><div style="text-align: center;">shape of your words."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">SEAN THOMAS DOUGHERTY, <i>The Second O of Sorrow</i></span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Marck Script"; font-size: small;">đ</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">January 1st</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"What a wonderful thought it is</div><div style="text-align: center;">that some of the best days of our</div><div style="text-align: center;">lives haven't even happened yet."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">ANNE FRANK</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Make something you</div><div style="text-align: center;">can give away."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>SUSAN BRANCH</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Marck Script"; font-size: small;">đ</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">January 2nd</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I'm getting better, happier, and</div><div style="text-align: center;">nicer as I grow older. So I would</div><div style="text-align: center;">be terrific in a couple hundred years."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>MAEVE BINCHY</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: "Marck Script"; font-size: small;">đ</span></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">January 3rd</span></div><div>"Because even with the dark parts and</div><div>the light parts and the good parts and the</div><div>bad parts, dinner must still be served."</div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PATTI CALLAHAN, <i>Once Upon A Wardrobe, p. 102</i></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Marck Script"; font-size: small;">đ</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">January 4th</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">The word 'restoration' has been singing in my heart of late.</div><div style="text-align: center;">As I ponder what I yearn for in my life words begin to flow;</div><div style="text-align: center;">I write them down:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Restored health for my body,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Restored joy in my writing,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Renewed hope in God's goodness,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope and healing for our world,</div><div style="text-align: center;">My dreams and purpose restored,</div><div style="text-align: center;">A restoration of true hospitality with ease and grace,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Order, simplicity, and beauty in my home.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">My own thoughts</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Marck Script"; font-size: small;">đ</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">January 5th</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"(The) world remains 'bent' and smudged by generations</div><div style="text-align: center;">of the sins of humanity, but it is, deep down, still fresh</div><div style="text-align: center;">and radiant with the unquenchable glory of God, made</div><div style="text-align: center;">manifest to those with the eyes to see."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>JANET MORLEY, <i>Haphazard by Starlight, p. 142</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Marck Script"; font-size: small;">đ</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">January 7th</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"But there always have been and always</div><div style="text-align: center;">will be people who are . . . starved for</div><div style="text-align: center;">nourishment. I am one of those readers and I am</div><div style="text-align: center;">also one who can occasionally provide this food.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That is all that really matters to me this morning."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>MAY SARTON, <i>Journal of a Solitude, p. 68</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Marck Script"; font-size: small;">đ</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">January 10th</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Always be on the lookout</div><div style="text-align: center;">for the presence of wonder."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>E.B. WHITE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"It is no bad thing to</div><div style="text-align: center;">celebrate a simple life."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">J.R.R. TOLKIEN</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: "Marck Script"; font-size: small;">đ</span></div><div><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">January 12th</span></div><div>"Let go of old and tired things."</div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>As seen on Instagram</i></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Marck Script"; font-size: small;">đ</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">January 15th</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Because you see so much</div><div style="text-align: center;">to make you sad, that doesn't mean</div><div style="text-align: center;">it is your duty to be unhappy."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>HELEN MACINNES, <i>While Still We Live, p. 228</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Marck Script"; font-size: small;">đ</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">January 19th</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I'm beginning to suspect that the second half</div><div style="text-align: center;">of life is about learning to let go of everything</div><div style="text-align: center;">I feverishly collected over the first half that</div><div style="text-align: center;">wasn't loving or human."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>MICHAEL XAVIER</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"If a book is well written,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I always find it too short."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">JANE AUSTEN</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Marck Script"; font-size: small;">đ</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">January 20th</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Snow had fallen, snow on snow."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">CHRISTINA ROSSETTI</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Marck Script;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Marck Script;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Marck Script"; font-size: small;">đ</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Marck Script;">January 22nd</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">"I scribble my list of promises.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The ways I hope to be kind.</div><div style="text-align: center;">To be gentle. To forgive.</div><div style="text-align: center;">To try and try again."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>BARBARA MAHANY, <i>The Stillness of Winter</i></b></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">"It was her habit to build laughter</div><div style="text-align: center;">out of inadequate materials."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>JOHN STEINBECK, <i>Grapes of Wrath</i></b></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you dear friends a beautiful week,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo Credit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Image by Nennieinszweidrei from Pixabay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-7896616742704888812024-01-13T14:07:00.008-07:002024-03-05T14:00:23.866-07:00A Literary Hero (Part 1): Lucy Maud Montgomery<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTL5ANduL-E_lfEAvOuFVLB3ZXsAfvgal8l5pHZNU01VESPNa2EccmkWkBYLLQ4ztru8UUY-66foBP-9pEND6ZrMcGclY3YB2ZZOC84I_A6UKeC_oXkIiM08lVuSzSjIAPikPCdg9A9Gps-Kgltph92odHcl_OJdCPDrZAPEwkrTeSl3puDp9thqhCMs5/s1280/old-books-6162715_1280%20Image%20by%20Pat_Photographies%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="1280" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTL5ANduL-E_lfEAvOuFVLB3ZXsAfvgal8l5pHZNU01VESPNa2EccmkWkBYLLQ4ztru8UUY-66foBP-9pEND6ZrMcGclY3YB2ZZOC84I_A6UKeC_oXkIiM08lVuSzSjIAPikPCdg9A9Gps-Kgltph92odHcl_OJdCPDrZAPEwkrTeSl3puDp9thqhCMs5/w640-h420/old-books-6162715_1280%20Image%20by%20Pat_Photographies%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I'd like to add some beauty to life," said Anne dreamily.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">"I don't exactly want to make people KNOW more... though I</div><div class="MsoNormal">know that IS the noblest ambition... but I'd love to make them</div><div class="MsoNormal">have a pleasanter time because of me... to have some little joy or</div><div class="MsoNormal">happy thought that would never have existed if I hadn't been born."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>L.M. Montgomery, <i>Anne's House of Dreams</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Recently I attended an online Afternoon Tea event with Hayley Solano at <i>The Enchanted Book Club</i> and author-artist Susan Branch. Their discussion was about literary heroes, in which Susan shared the book people who were her inspiration over her lifetime, people like Mark Twain, Beatrix Potter, Gladys Taber, and characters like Pollyanna who gave the world her glad game idea.<br /><br />At the top of my list would be Lucy Maud Montgomery. For so many girls in my generation, it was almost a right of passage to be introduced to Ms Montgomeryâs Anne of Green Gables. I remember the thrill of learning that both Anne and her creator were Canadian. Just like me. And I grabbed hold of that beloved phrase 'kindred spirits'. Even at an early age, I longed for that special kinship, and I recognized that it could happen even with someone found in a book. They were, after all, real people. In my formative years, it was the storybook heroines like Anne and Emily who captured my imagination. Later it was Lucy Maud herself who became my inspiration as I began to make my way in life, trying to figure out how to live a beautiful life. I loved learning that Lucy Maud and I shared interests in things domestic, gardens, kitty cats, beauty in nature, and books. I think she gave me permission to allow myself to take pleasure in the beauty of the world around me, that it was okay to enjoy what I loved doing, to know myself better and like who I was. I appreciated knowing that Lucy Maud loved solitude but also truly enjoyed the society of others. I felt a kinship in that. Both her novels and later her published journals drew me into her world, a world that even helped me understand a little of my grandma's era who was born in the mid-1890s. I could picture things in my mind by her descriptions.<div><br /></div><div>Eventually I found myself wanting to emulate Lucy Maud: I developed my letter writing skills; I took a more active interest in reading poetry and trying my hand at writing it; and I undertook what was to become a life-long joy in journaling. All because of her. My hitherto hidden interest to write surfaced - I yearned to write, just like LMM (my nickname for her). Looking back I can trace how LMM influenced my life:<div><br />- She gave me heroines in my girlhood who were so real and alive to me. From Anne Shirley and Diana Barry to Emily of New Moon, I learned about friendship and getting along with people, dealing with life's disappointments, and taking joy in the little things around me.<br /><br />- She gave me words and lines on which I could pin some of my own thoughts and desires, like the familiar, hopeful words, "Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it...yet." Written directly into a notebook for future reference, I cannot recall how often those words comforted me at the end of a day or week fraught with mistakes and missed opportunities. I was ever grateful for Anne's Shirley's optimism.</div><div><br /></div><div>- She gave me a glimpse into a writerâs life - her struggles as well as her triumphs. This ignited something within me. I wanted to sit on the back step on a summer's evening and muse over lines of a would-be poem that described what I saw and how it captured my soul's imagination.<br /><br />- Through her words, LMM let me delight in her discovery of beauty around her. Anne continued to be a shining example of someone ever seeking for what was good and lovely in the world. As Anne, via Lucy Maud's pen, described the joy of apple blossoms in spring, the full moon in a winter sky, or the softness of a kitty purring on a lap, I knew that's what I wanted for myself.<br /><br />- LMM showed me how she felt about her own life and place in the world. She was clear in her own mind and heart. Which I believe helped me to come to some understanding of my own place in it. "The work for which we are fitted â which we are sent into this world to do â what a blessing it is and what fulness of joy it holds!" <i>From The Selected Journals of Lucy Maud Montgomery, Volume II, 5/23/1910</i><br /><br />- She showed me how to journal. I was so excited to find her first journal, published in 1985, at the library. I chomped at the bit until the next one was edited and released. As a writer, LMM knew her journals would eventually be made available to the public. My own first attempt at journaling started out chunky and choppy but as I matured, thankfully, so did my writing. Even when it was for my eyes only. It became good practice for when I'd write for a wider audience. And what fun to reread something I'd described in an old journal of mine and discover that it wasn't half bad. In her journals, LMM strove to write out her feelings both glad ones and sad ones as well as her thoughts and beliefs, her friendships, struggles, and experiences of the late 1800s and into the early 20th century. She wrote in such a way that sparkled with truth and creativity. I was inspired to describe my own life and the era I lived in, discovering how I felt about it all.</div><div><br />- Then I found out LMM was a keen letter writer. Of course, that was the way people stayed connected back in the day. Writing letters in my youth was still important, and it was through Lucy Maud's published collections of correspondence that I began to see how I could be more creative and interesting in my own letter writing efforts. I enjoyed reading about her literary friendships over several decades with her Scottish pen friend, George Boyd MacMillan, and with Ephraim Weber, who was a struggling young writer living in Alberta, Canada, when he began corresponding with LMM.<div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">"... nothing gives me such a sense of life still being worth while</div><div class="MsoNormal">as to receive a letter from one of the 'kindred spirits' of the</div><div class="MsoNormal">leisurely old days. For a moment or two I find myself back there</div><div class="MsoNormal">in the unhurried years and emerge from my brief communion</div><div class="MsoNormal">with the past refreshed as if I had drunk a rejuvenating</div><div class="MsoNormal">draught from some magic spring."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>L.M. Montgomery, <i>Letter to MacMillan, August 26, 1924</i> </b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">All these years later, Lucy Maud Montgomery remains my favourite literary hero and mentor from afar. I hope to meet her one day in the wild blue yonder so I can say thank you for her gentle guidance and influence over my life. She holds a special place in my heart.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There are others whose photos hang in my literary hero gallery, and I hope to write about two in the near future: Emily Dickinson and Mother Teresa. Now, who would you consider a literary heroâthat special person you met through a book?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a pleasant bookish day,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Image by Pat_Photographies from Pixabay</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-75150052241982022792024-01-07T11:27:00.003-07:002024-01-08T09:58:05.536-07:00My One Weakness... Or Two or Three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gk68xUyiOILGpYL2k09GXXRJRrJbziSP0i8iE7qQ3ylVoudxF-XGqvTDkZ_mMDZRxB1UoxSlPlqkIlykxJ7or_fp9jTY-MrBPqUsiZ5X9dIad26USivZ51ZdcuoEqxVdLWgDwbl3Obhyphenhyphen0EcDWCDZYuQrtBdM89b7bX7vhom1uJKvlINCXutSpYl8HfOI/s1280/ai-generated-8092295_1280%20Image%20by%20erika14666%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1280" height="626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gk68xUyiOILGpYL2k09GXXRJRrJbziSP0i8iE7qQ3ylVoudxF-XGqvTDkZ_mMDZRxB1UoxSlPlqkIlykxJ7or_fp9jTY-MrBPqUsiZ5X9dIad26USivZ51ZdcuoEqxVdLWgDwbl3Obhyphenhyphen0EcDWCDZYuQrtBdM89b7bX7vhom1uJKvlINCXutSpYl8HfOI/w640-h626/ai-generated-8092295_1280%20Image%20by%20erika14666%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"I should warn you, I am far from perfect.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have many, many weaknesses."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Miss Dorcas Lane, <i>Lark Rise to Candleford</i></b></div><br /><br />The other morning Lorrie on her <a href="https://fabricpaperthread.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>Fabric, Paper, Thread</i></a> blog pondered what she feels she cannot resist. I enjoyed her list and was immediately reminded of Postmistress Miss Dorcas Lane on the well-loved PBS television series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lark-Rise-Candleford-Complete-Collection/dp/B003WEAW18?ie=UTF8&tag=thjaauficl-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i>Lark Rise to Candleford</i></a>. She was often known to mention something she considered her 'one weakness'. A person didn't have to watch long to realize that Miss Lane had a number of these little harmless weaknesses she couldn't resist.<div><br /></div><div>It turns out, I have more than a few myself. And in making my little list, I realized several are food-related. Here are some things I cannot resist - the list is by no means exhaustive (wink):</div><div><br /><div><div>1. Tea sandwiches. A plate of tiny sandwiches and I'm in seventh heaven.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Cake. A slice of delicious layer cake.</div><div> </div><div>3. Chocolate. Jacek's bar of dark chocolate with sea salt. A single square smoothly satisfies. These are made from a local award-winning chocolatier. </div><div><div><br /></div><div>4. <i>Cheetos</i> Crunchy Cheesies. These are my favourite salty treat with <i>Miss Vickie's</i> potato chips a close second.</div><div><br /></div></div><div>5. Stationery. I am beguiled by pretty book covers, well-designed notebooks, and artsy greeting cards.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. Books. Mysteries, memoirs and biographies, historical novels, art books, to name a few. I never tire of books or reading. Seeing a used book store and my feet go there automatically.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>What do you find hard to resist?</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a beautiful day,</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Top Image by Erika14666 from Pixabay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-13921347635757924102023-12-30T11:14:00.004-07:002023-12-30T11:18:02.642-07:00'A Quilt Made of Days'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje19-Wt9Yv6ajGOX4RpgbOKjQNikIWmfgx262rYAL9qfJXOsLWSgsuWeyCJA1G_E09EaSExu48Ehpz7ukRi1-bAOa0KWgb-nRfJ8ibftcETEY78UhK23A_VZMIuTTMajwd4O6ejh_f6C-BlpUPZCS0_e0PIOS8ghulB53XIXghhYRTTNyDSxIC-LP9APR5/s1084/quilt-background-7566184_1920%20Image%20by%20chenspec%20from%20pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="1084" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje19-Wt9Yv6ajGOX4RpgbOKjQNikIWmfgx262rYAL9qfJXOsLWSgsuWeyCJA1G_E09EaSExu48Ehpz7ukRi1-bAOa0KWgb-nRfJ8ibftcETEY78UhK23A_VZMIuTTMajwd4O6ejh_f6C-BlpUPZCS0_e0PIOS8ghulB53XIXghhYRTTNyDSxIC-LP9APR5/w640-h558/quilt-background-7566184_1920%20Image%20by%20chenspec%20from%20pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">"Each day is like a panel in a quilt. Some days are</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">ugly and some days are raw and some days are chaotic</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">and some days are colorful and some days are orderly</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">but if you keep adding them up they turn into something."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>AUSTIN KLEON, <i>"A Quilt Made of Days"</i> online article</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div>'A quilt made of days.' That phraseâborrowed from Austin Kleon who wrote about his idea <a href="https://austinkleon.com/2021/04/08/a-quilt-made-of-days/" target="_blank">HERE</a>âcaptivates my imagination. Although I am not a quilter, I am an ardent admirer of talented seamstresses, including my mom, who skillfully piece swatches of fabric into gorgeous patterns that become something beautiful and useful in one's home. Their creativity inspires me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps that's why I gravitate towards creator/author Austin Kleon's words. His comment above seems particularly fitting as we stand on the cusp of a brand new year. The days yet to come in 2024 are unknown to us but we guess that some will arrive bright and colourful; others will show up muted and dull, some will be raw with pain and filled with chaos. And still other days will arrive, thankfully, with calm and peace as the order of the day. To create an actual physical quilt, crafters start with a plan. They know the pattern they want to create; they have chosen their colour scheme. They carefully pick out the fabrics, cut them into the appropriate shapes, and sew them together into the design they dream about. When it comes to creating the more ethereal quilts made of days, in life we aren't given the materials ahead of time; we can't plan the pattern, we must make use of what appears. Still, if we pay attention we can make use of what shows up and gather the piecesâmemories, experiences, eventsâthat are our life story. We can watch as patterns emerge. We can learn to recognize the value each block brings to the developing design.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>When I took a water colour painting course years ago, I came to see how paintings need contrasts: they need dark to show light, shadows to give depth and perception, darker backgrounds to set off brighter foregrounds. For me, I found the most important contrast was the juxtaposition of using something plain or dull, maybe even ugly, in order to set off a thing of beauty. It was a life lesson to learn that maybe we need ugly and pain to truly realize the immense value of beauty, order, peacefulness, and joy. I'd rather not experience the pain, but would I know the great joy without it to compare?</div><div><br /></div><div>It's the same in the world of quilting with fabric... or the days of our lives.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have always been drawn to Victorian crazy quilts (see the photo above for an example). Rather than blocks that march squarely into place, there's a kind of creative higgledy-piggledy that makes use of the tiniest bits of fabric alongside the larger pieces, all in various shapes, colours, textures, and patterns. Victorians would use scraps of fabric, often from worn out clothing and linens. They'd include swatches that had been handed down from one generation to the nextâmaybe from a great grandmother's wedding dress or a baby's christening gownâcreating these lasting works of art that burst with texture and colour, embroidery and ribbonry. Fashioned from the days given to them.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I said earlier, I'm not a quilter, but I'm mulling what a quilt made of days would look like for me. I'd probably fashion a 'quilt' from the bits and pieces of how my life unfolds in 2024, and rather than sew or craft with fabric or paint, I'd probably create a 'quilt' using words, watching for the patterns, hoping for more red letter days than chaotic ones. And when something ugly turns up, dear Lord, I'd want His help as I waited for the beauty when it isn't yet fully evident. Taking days as they come, all the while learning to walk with confidence and hopefulness, being comforted during trying moments embroidered with prayers, when laughter and cheer have flown off. There is something comforting about recognizing there's a bigger picture, one I cannot yet fathom, of One who is making all things work together for good, One who is creating something bigger than our individual lives. For in God's created world, we believe there is a greater plan and purpose, trusting that He is taking all things and fashioning them into something truly exquisite and out of this world.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wonder what kind of a quilt it will become. With the craziness of life in our upside down world, I'm pretty certain my quilt of days will have its own slant on crazy quilt. While things happen to me and around me, it's also up to me to do something with what's given, whether I think a piece will fit or not. It's my job to creatively work my attitudes, gratitudes, prayers, and dreams, staying hopeful through the storm darkened days, enjoying the small joys 'that tip the balance towards hope'<i> (a phrase borrowed from Sarah Clarkson)</i>. All the while imagining something beautiful... my own quilt made of days.</div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year to you, dear beautiful friends!</div><div style="text-align: center;">With love and heart hugs,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Top Image by chenspec from Pixabay</span></div><div><br /></div></div><div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-88790956737645120792023-12-22T14:52:00.003-07:002023-12-24T13:05:57.750-07:00Almost Christmas<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHr3OISF2Nd7J_o4eq74GUpc9ElcK1cZICZ23wQWtH5PosRBlsd0DhjAd2_QBjmRNMQvbgiJPVxSZfhFD5Gb96RYnYb8a7PVebcPImW7os3GSMng2adVkoZEj1PSqW_zfH7-uN2mvwNIMaC3tzYoIer3MCIurNcYcSK6PmdK0fIvNQhwuKTMNlI3M9Q60/s865/christmas-8429720_1280%20Image%20by%20StoryTaler%20from%20Pixabay%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="853" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHr3OISF2Nd7J_o4eq74GUpc9ElcK1cZICZ23wQWtH5PosRBlsd0DhjAd2_QBjmRNMQvbgiJPVxSZfhFD5Gb96RYnYb8a7PVebcPImW7os3GSMng2adVkoZEj1PSqW_zfH7-uN2mvwNIMaC3tzYoIer3MCIurNcYcSK6PmdK0fIvNQhwuKTMNlI3M9Q60/w632-h640/christmas-8429720_1280%20Image%20by%20StoryTaler%20from%20Pixabay%202.jpg" width="632" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Christmas always rustled. It rustled every time, mysteriously,</div><div style="text-align: center;">with silver and gold paper, tissue paper and a rich abundance</div><div style="text-align: center;">of shiny paper, decorating and hiding everything and giving</div><div style="text-align: center;">a feeling of reckless extravagance."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>TOVE JANSSON</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's almost Christmas. The presents are all wrapped and most have been handed out already. We celebrated our family Christmas last weekend. The big rush is over, and now we gently feel the growing anticipation for the awe of Christmas Eve, which for me is still my favourite day of the year.</div><div><br /></div><div>In our house, we have one cozy spot that feels Christmas-y with the pencil tree, glittering lights, and a big white poinsettia in the corner. Otherwise our house has been topsy-turvy as we had new flooring installed earlier this week. The timing for it wasn't perfect, but since we weren't having guests here this year, it was fine. And now, while we wait for Christmas, we're slowly putting our possessions back in place, culling as we go. I am truly enjoying the spaciousness of my study without all my 'stuff'. I feel the expanse of this empty room which seems to echo an expansiveness in my soul. I usually like lots of my things near to hand, but this feeling of openness with little around me is quite lovely. I think it requires some pondering and further mulling, especially as we see the new year peering 'round the corner.</div><div><br /></div><div>For Five on Friday, I'm sharing a tiny 'Something' list.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">One. Something lovely outside my window. </span></b>Watching the moon these past few nights has been a joy. In its waxing (getting fuller) phase, it's been so bright against the deep midnight blue skies.</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Two. Something yummy. </span></b>We stopped at our French-style Duchess Bakery to pick up their to-be-baked Quebecois <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/article/the-meaty-history-of-quebecois-tourtiere/" target="_blank">Tourtière</a> (meat pie dish) for Christmas Eve. Standing in the line that snaked along the display case, I caught sight of a delectable looking croissant sandwichâa large crisp buttery poppy seed croissant filled with slices of chicken salami, cheese, and mayonnaise. For the life of me, there was something else tucked in, but I cannot recall it now. All I know, it was satisfyingly yummy.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Three. Something new to drink. </span></b>Found a new-to-me tea called Winter Spiced Pear that was specially blended by the Duchess Bakery for the holiday season. The name alone draws me in. It's a special blend of Assam tea that features dried pear, clove, anise, ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla. It's delicious and it pairs perfectly with a Christmas treat or two. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Four. Something Christmassy and cozy to read. </span></b><i>Chronicles of Christmas</i> (memoir, recipes, nature) by Nigel Slater; <i>Winter Solstice</i> (novel) by Rosamunde Pilcher; <i>Home for Christmas</i> (childhood memories) by Susan Branch; <i>A Mind of Winter</i>, Poems for a Snowy Season selected by Robert Atwan; the newly published novel <i>Hercule Poirot's Silent Night</i> by Sophie HannahâI'm looking forward to reading this over the holidays.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Five. Something that delights my heart. </span></b>I love when I'm inspired with gift ideas I think will delight someone's heart. This season I felt that inspiration a few times, and it came with a certain glee as I imaged someone's face when the wrapping fell away and all was revealed. This is one of my favourite things about Christmasâthe joy of giving gifts to loved ones.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>With every fiber of my being, I'm wishing you a Happy Christmas. May you find gifts under the tree that delight your heart. And, among them, I hope you also find good health, heart contentment, and sweet peace of mind. All wrapped with ribbons of sparkling joy for good measure. As I close, I think of that dear old Christmas song <i>Away in a Manger</i> I loved as a little girl. Especially the lines that I sometimes still whisper, "Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, and fit us for heaven to live with Thee there."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3Kjp7Cs1_wrMG1iWSUGlvHGKM8KIyO8jmXIIzRBBALV2JlcQK5XzpAEk9Jb-krIwz57tBkbLCEZ8O5t6bG5SFPPUDzRyBl3XmhkPHo20be3zWevMiOYHoGBg_el8xph2w7Gk_bkNFiJEI7rultWKYE71VjqAgSlvlt7erMtwBE9OuEBIMvNoSPAvJLFm/s195/Holly%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="195" height="76" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3Kjp7Cs1_wrMG1iWSUGlvHGKM8KIyO8jmXIIzRBBALV2JlcQK5XzpAEk9Jb-krIwz57tBkbLCEZ8O5t6bG5SFPPUDzRyBl3XmhkPHo20be3zWevMiOYHoGBg_el8xph2w7Gk_bkNFiJEI7rultWKYE71VjqAgSlvlt7erMtwBE9OuEBIMvNoSPAvJLFm/w78-h76/Holly%201.jpg" width="78" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>Wishing you moments that delight in the days ahead.</div><div><br /></div><div>With love,</div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Top Image by StoryTaler from Pixabay</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-46407813496915511252023-12-17T14:34:00.000-07:002023-12-17T14:34:45.698-07:00Waiting, Listening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbBHWrDeX9QAvdCuOIs0qtVrXAzx0CKZzxu_XPIueeQt_ave90vfMhy_LyKpIVxjzru2lvbS9PjSkX7V8OwSZgZ3fo1tFF6z3Y50Zky8poTAhjug7e7iMfNYF5ifU0itIequzuLVGX-aPI2qfjqjZxRRq8_sh_u5OvU_EumaYJ4_uAZxMPOI-A1QTERQt/s1280/christmas-rose-7631380_1280%20Image%20by%20Neelam279%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1280" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbBHWrDeX9QAvdCuOIs0qtVrXAzx0CKZzxu_XPIueeQt_ave90vfMhy_LyKpIVxjzru2lvbS9PjSkX7V8OwSZgZ3fo1tFF6z3Y50Zky8poTAhjug7e7iMfNYF5ifU0itIequzuLVGX-aPI2qfjqjZxRRq8_sh_u5OvU_EumaYJ4_uAZxMPOI-A1QTERQt/w640-h410/christmas-rose-7631380_1280%20Image%20by%20Neelam279%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Let us have music for Christmas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sound the trumpet of joy..."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>MILDRED L. JARRELL</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Advent is an expectant season. We wait poised for what Frederick Buechner names "the extraordinary moment." In the excerpt below, Buechner utilizes the image of an orchestra conductor waiting... until he has the full attention of his orchestra, the full attention of his audience. It's that moment just before the music begins. I've been in an audience where the maestro knew how to build that moment of exquisite anticipation. We almost hold our breath as we wait for that first note to be played. </div><blockquote>"The house lights go off and the footlights come on. Even the chattiest stop chattering as they wait in darkness for the curtain to rise. In the orchestra pit, the violin bows are poised. The conductor has raised his baton. In the silence of a midwinter dusk, there is far off in the deeps of it somewhere a sound so faint that for all you can tell it may be only the sound of the silence itself. You hold your breath to listen. You walk up the steps to the front door. The empty windows at either side of it tell you nothing, or almost nothing. For a second you catch a whiff of some fragrance that reminds you of a place youâve never been and a time you have no words for. You are aware of the beating of your heart . . . The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment." - <i>from "<span>Whistling in the Dark"</span></i></blockquote><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i></i></span></b><div>These days before Christmas, I am listening to the music of the season. There are definitely pieces that create longing in me as I wait for the first sweet note to begin. Especially when it's a favourite carol such as the beautiful and centuries-old <a href="https://youtu.be/yxDZjg_Igoc"><b><i>Wexford Carol</i></b></a> as it's performed by soloist Alison Krauss and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Some historians believe this Irish song originated in the 15th or 16th century.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Here in the 21st century, it remains a firm favourite in my Christmas carol repertoire. It touches a chord of poignant delight within. Two other carols that do it similarly for me include <i>O Holy Night</i>, <i>Once in Royal David's City</i>. Do you have a favourite carol that has you waiting with baited breath for its first notes to begin?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you sweet moments in the week ahead,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Image by neelam279 from Pixabay</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-33684765130531416112023-12-09T10:57:00.001-07:002023-12-09T10:59:52.660-07:00What Are You Dreaming Of This Christmas? <div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AXPRUTlEtm5Vnh6Liye0r2wWKtDfg5S-gl_RTPjTUnDegMSeK7TdJn9L0bUkppOS8rYGJHtmG9yrsQYxw5mslOX85fg3KLqXPYdU-VzzFrWoa9N1rA0GJFhZ9pqJCEy4bBPzF8PIJM-d9k5m5OagJ0Pc7bK28q4Gw1s4nqwJqWfu6Oo2CVjJtSPqnGAM/s1280/cookies-7613531_1280%20Image%20by%20Hansuan_Fabregas%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AXPRUTlEtm5Vnh6Liye0r2wWKtDfg5S-gl_RTPjTUnDegMSeK7TdJn9L0bUkppOS8rYGJHtmG9yrsQYxw5mslOX85fg3KLqXPYdU-VzzFrWoa9N1rA0GJFhZ9pqJCEy4bBPzF8PIJM-d9k5m5OagJ0Pc7bK28q4Gw1s4nqwJqWfu6Oo2CVjJtSPqnGAM/w640-h640/cookies-7613531_1280%20Image%20by%20Hansuan_Fabregas%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Christmas enters, streaming lights of joy,</div><div style="text-align: center;">ringing bells of hope and singing carols of</div><div style="text-align: center;">forgiveness high up in the bright air."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>MAYA ANGELOU, "Amazing Peace"</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I love that cookie tin filled with those yummy looking spice cookies all gussied up in icing art. And that cup of coffee creamed to just the right shade for my taste. I want to hop into the picture, the way I used to long I could live inside the fairy tales I read as a girl. In this dreamy picture, I wouldn't have to worry about how many grams of sugar are in one cookie. And I could enjoy one or two with impunity, savouring their spicy sweetness in every bite, crunching on the little sugar balls. The moment gently cheers. It seems filled with a quietude and maybe relief. Perhaps it's Christmas Eveâwhere one relishes the moment when the last gift's been wrapped and beribboned. In that bubble of time and space, a holy hush creeps in on the frosty air and whoever that cup of coffee belongs to sits with baited breath. It's the moment she's been waiting for.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I sit here thinking about what to write today, as I think about all that needs doing, the words I recently read <a href="https://writingonmyheart.wordpress.com/2023/11/25/do-not-postpone-joy/" target="_blank">HERE</a> by my lovely blogging friend, Caitlynne, settles on my heart. She mentions how she's been feeling the weight of lists of things to be done, problems to solve, people to take care of. And in the midst of all of that, how these cheering words came to lift her up, "Do not postpone joy." She says there is a call to joy and it's easy to miss, especially when the daysâas she puts itâare filled with many brambles to tear through. But then this gentle reminder comes along that no matter what is going on, we must not postpone joy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am tickled by that thought and am reminded of that verse in the Old Testament about the joy of the Lord being my strength. How often I repeat the sounding joy of those words when I feel weak or burdened. They are words that somehow energize me to carry on with a lighter heart. So no, I must not postpone the joy that, almost like something miraculous, transforms into strength. I let the joy seep into my heart and mind. My chin lifts and my lips curve upward at the corners. I come away feeling lighter... ready to carry on.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"And that, of course, is the message of Christmas.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent..."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">TAYLOR CALDWELL</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning I came to this post empty worded. I had no agenda, but my heart knew of what it dreamed. A big thank you to Caitlynne for giving me the words I could not find. I wish you all a merry week ahead. May your burdens be lighter and your cares less weighty. And may Joy be your strength.</div><div><br /></div><div>On a closing note, it snowed earlier in the week, and we've been delighting in a winter wonderland. I'm starting to finally feel more myself in my body - the dizziness is fading. Thank you for your care and concern. I've been wrapping presents and writing out Christmas cards, letting the lights of the tree twinkle at me, even through the day when the sun is shining. We're dreaming of a beautiful week ahead, and I'm wishing you the same. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Heart hugs,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">(Top) Image by Hansuan Fabregas from Pixabay</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-57896711752880810842023-12-01T14:05:00.009-07:002023-12-02T10:42:23.430-07:00Hello December: Full Steam Ahead to Christmas<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_sSwi9qrB20af5WqirIuQgAHmUCYw-JO3FNAEAOIrDh6bdIRHBRrYFg5W7e3ynoogBKAJybqaHTlYfGpLkGTmDnKLTLTc_sqlzZrcRbAu9ACdHF31rMu9cGggZ_AUyEkZWdawkBZCuiWphum1hgtN3GdgTg1r-u2W7oJa1JuVDIeUl2SPtEHZjGa5GuI/s1557/christmas-2961386_1920%20Image%20by%20Jill%20Wellington%20from%20Pixabay%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1557" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_sSwi9qrB20af5WqirIuQgAHmUCYw-JO3FNAEAOIrDh6bdIRHBRrYFg5W7e3ynoogBKAJybqaHTlYfGpLkGTmDnKLTLTc_sqlzZrcRbAu9ACdHF31rMu9cGggZ_AUyEkZWdawkBZCuiWphum1hgtN3GdgTg1r-u2W7oJa1JuVDIeUl2SPtEHZjGa5GuI/w526-h640/christmas-2961386_1920%20Image%20by%20Jill%20Wellington%20from%20Pixabay%20copy.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">"May you treasure wisely this jeweled, gilded time</div><div style="text-align: center;">And cherish each day as an extra grace."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>ANDREW GREELEY</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hello December! We've been waiting for you. On this first day of my favourite month of the year, it's full steam ahead to Christmas. My seasonal books are at the ready, cards are waiting to be written, and the decorating is slowly happening.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There's no snow around here yet. Without it, there is nothing to trigger that wintry feelingâit still feels like late autumn. Unseasonably warm, I'm still wearing a light jacket and no gloves. It's lovely getting around, but for sparking the Christmas mood, snow really is a must to make us feel the tingles and excitement. Of course chocolate peppermint tea helps too.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On a different note, I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I have been feeling unwell. November was not a great month. I'm still under doctor's care and starting to find my way out of the dizzy malaise. I think, fingers crossed and prayers whispered along with the start of a new medication, there are definite hints for better days ahead. I'm so glad. Who wants to feel unwell when Christmas is upon us. This weekend I want to put up my pencil tree with its cozy twinkle lights. Little decorations are showing up around the place; candles and fairy lights help make the evenings cozy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been a busy week, so for today I'm posting three for the usual Five on Friday. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfzOqADaDbIRGHm8oHo4fxtDmswKMbeAn5D12HwelAANgs4cY6jR589zbrgf51W_zN6ouu8UJ7CDevKWxTIWEC_xXMhc_ZyULrOd2mquoCP5gNMQhdZaIkvFU1vUO4ZI33SayCQXTD54zFtszrpUDIpNOi43QfJeNrLTF9MHY7QfF-lKeDDOMO1WIGicm/s1943/IMG_7320.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1457" data-original-width="1943" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfzOqADaDbIRGHm8oHo4fxtDmswKMbeAn5D12HwelAANgs4cY6jR589zbrgf51W_zN6ouu8UJ7CDevKWxTIWEC_xXMhc_ZyULrOd2mquoCP5gNMQhdZaIkvFU1vUO4ZI33SayCQXTD54zFtszrpUDIpNOi43QfJeNrLTF9MHY7QfF-lKeDDOMO1WIGicm/w640-h480/IMG_7320.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEN_Jp4zBEEoX_JfjVN5wnxCN1uGaCRJC4xb0TGXlyMQ7-RdW8bkkX7M5h_4zkX5m8p_i5rwiLKy6lYrz39eVD0MGEbMruFZN6S1mO9_cUkw23tTh35jYZzjbmuluaA7YEyAhdhwoGsG5RHeDo0iipNJqzGvspdcXU1FhFh1o9yn0QpczIkhGW50pYah_y/s1863/IMG_7318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1863" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEN_Jp4zBEEoX_JfjVN5wnxCN1uGaCRJC4xb0TGXlyMQ7-RdW8bkkX7M5h_4zkX5m8p_i5rwiLKy6lYrz39eVD0MGEbMruFZN6S1mO9_cUkw23tTh35jYZzjbmuluaA7YEyAhdhwoGsG5RHeDo0iipNJqzGvspdcXU1FhFh1o9yn0QpczIkhGW50pYah_y/w640-h520/IMG_7318.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">One - Books for the Season</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I've already been dipping into a few of my seasonal books. I wasn't going to start my actual Christmas reads until December 1st but they were so tempting sitting there on the shelf. They are perfect, like chocolate truffles, for nibbling on while cozied up with a favourite beverage. I like anthologies and small collections for that reason.</div><div><i></i></div><blockquote><div><i>Christmas in the Heart</i> compiled by Joe Wheeler is a small collection of short seasonal stories sure to warm the heart. It's great for dipping in and reading whatever catches your eye.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Rumpole at Christmas</i> by John Mortimer. Seven amusing tales of how Horace and Hilda Rumpole celebrate the holiday season.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>An Irish Country Yuletide</i> novella by Patrick Taylor. If you enjoy the Irish Country Doctor series, you will enjoy this new seasonal glimpse of Irish country life in Ballybuckleboo and how the good Doctor Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, now married to Kitty, celebrates the holidays. </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Christmas Classics from The Modern Library</i>, an old library sale purchase, includes excerpts from novels like <i>Little Women</i> and <i>A Christmas Carol</i>, a few short stories like <i>The Blue Carbuncle</i>, and poetry by well-known poets like Clement Clarke Moore. A lovely selection of songs and carols, along with the old familiar story from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, round out the book.</div></blockquote><i></i><blockquote><i>Star Over Bethlehem, Poems and Holiday Stories</i><div>by Agatha Christie</div></blockquote><blockquote><i>The Christmas Journey </i>(novella set in mid-1800s at Christmas)<br />by Anne Perry</blockquote><div><i></i></div><blockquote><div><i>Murder Most Royal</i> (the Queen solves another mystery)</div><div>by SJ Bennett</div></blockquote><div></div><div><br />Also lined up on the book shelf waiting their turn include these books:<div><i></i></div><blockquote><div><i>A Christmas Memory</i></div><div>by Truman Capote</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Christmas Poems</i></div><div> by Wendy Cope</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>A Mind of Winter, Poems for a Snowy Season</i></div><div> selected by Robert Atwan</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Haphazard by Starlight, A poem a day from Advent to Epiphany</i></div><div> by Janet Morley</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Winter Solstice </i>(an annual favourite)</div><div>by Rosamunde Pilcher</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Little Women</i></div><div> by Louise May Alcott</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good</i> (the story is a lovely run up to Christmas)</div><div>by Jan Karon</div></blockquote><blockquote><i>Shepherds Abiding</i><br />by Jan Karon</blockquote><blockquote><div><i></i></div><div><i>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe</i></div><div>by C.S. Lewis</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Once Upon A Wardrobe </i>(a novel related to C.S. Lewis's beloved classic)</div><div> by Patti Callahan</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Christmas Chronicles, Notes, stories & 100 essential recipes for midwinter</i></div><div><i></i>by Nigel Slater</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Christmas from the Heart of the Home</i> (recipes and other seasonal tips and ideas)</div><div>by Susan Branch</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Home for Christmas (her tiny memoir)</i></div><div>by Susan Branch</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Christmas Treasury </i>(a treasure trove of children's stories and wonderful illustrations)</div><div>by Jan Brett</div></blockquote><div></div><div><br /></div><div>One book I ordered for Christmas that I'm waiting to get is the illustrated poem by Robert Frost <i>Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening</i>. Shhh, this is for my brother-in-law. As long as I've known him he has enjoyed quoting this old poem, one he memorized as a boy in school. The book, a beautiful keepsake edition, is illustrated by the award-winning P.J. Lynch and celebrates the poem's centennial. It looks gorgeous - you can take a peek <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Stopping-Woods-Snowy-Evening-Robert/dp/1536229148/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1C6FKW43JWQAM&keywords=robert+frost+stopping+by+woods+on+a+snowy+evening&qid=1701451749&sprefix=robert+f%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmU9gvlsGWIYQcgX9cYrZdKo0wc4MgMTNeHSDrdFhvZXC99O0IlKhdZBydlfSWN5oAq0CG7FnqWzMnB2_Nb3nvKdt2qarzzU1eoubKxwT2Zg_IcYzLlortz30KDaQWlKflxbFSDhtX0PeZP_AiwB2s7SDYLewNxOutMNM5-zVr8Z7RGEFekiM52IQv_Ui3/s1942/IMG_7314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1942" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmU9gvlsGWIYQcgX9cYrZdKo0wc4MgMTNeHSDrdFhvZXC99O0IlKhdZBydlfSWN5oAq0CG7FnqWzMnB2_Nb3nvKdt2qarzzU1eoubKxwT2Zg_IcYzLlortz30KDaQWlKflxbFSDhtX0PeZP_AiwB2s7SDYLewNxOutMNM5-zVr8Z7RGEFekiM52IQv_Ui3/w640-h498/IMG_7314.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">Two - Christmas Cards</span></div><div><br /></div><div>One of my favourite things is writing out Christmas cards and notes at this time of year. I love to go in search for the cards I'll use each year, including the tiny tuck-ins to pop inside the envelopes. I'll be starting those this week.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXibNvrtVJU34fIB8zgQvf83Q85sZQg9rSqKdfCe_0obiFskZtAehakjfXYDARax_LGK8jqF7vII-BL81l02YlqHXEXtkFImCl7fvHQJSgQIkeXuUUSNaIfS9iCy4YRD1BDK5iYxFPhDHXCVkHtMj-1Qaw5hPdSvOH1Vx1Fo7HjTgNy_tTK18UMmV05IC/s1626/IMG_7323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1626" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXibNvrtVJU34fIB8zgQvf83Q85sZQg9rSqKdfCe_0obiFskZtAehakjfXYDARax_LGK8jqF7vII-BL81l02YlqHXEXtkFImCl7fvHQJSgQIkeXuUUSNaIfS9iCy4YRD1BDK5iYxFPhDHXCVkHtMj-1Qaw5hPdSvOH1Vx1Fo7HjTgNy_tTK18UMmV05IC/w640-h596/IMG_7323.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">Three - Christmas Tree Pillow</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard, or too sad when</div><div style="text-align: center;">you've got a Christmas tree in the living room."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">UNKNOWN</span></b></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I came around the corner and there sat this cute pillow in a shop I was visiting. I knew I had to get one, no-no, I had to get two. In my mind, I knew my mom, who said she didn't want to decorate a tree this year, would love this. It's already decked out with sweet red cardinals - no assembling required.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiKlLTKIVv97uzyvroYdpYH90YkgjSmewzgV3ghvRNhKMKDma6Z8BrgElIBDZJGvs55ey1Yfi0GmGNLyNps7todFdn0yMReLhhVN_VO3-jwyXO6PlsHh98WVNITKT4dS9nQ-uUg0w9zPX9HEtcAhGDedE5ePM8Gqh6azmlj0mmJDuuDRYEaJa4Tk-Zqq6/s1280/trees-ge0b6c9652_1280%20Image%20by%20Peggychoucair%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiKlLTKIVv97uzyvroYdpYH90YkgjSmewzgV3ghvRNhKMKDma6Z8BrgElIBDZJGvs55ey1Yfi0GmGNLyNps7todFdn0yMReLhhVN_VO3-jwyXO6PlsHh98WVNITKT4dS9nQ-uUg0w9zPX9HEtcAhGDedE5ePM8Gqh6azmlj0mmJDuuDRYEaJa4Tk-Zqq6/w640-h360/trees-ge0b6c9652_1280%20Image%20by%20Peggychoucair%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">Bonus - A Seasonal Quote</span></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"So quiet and subtle is the beauty of December that escapes the</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">notice of many people their whole lives through. Colour gives</div><div style="text-align: center;">way to form: every branch distinct, in a delicate tracery against</div><div style="text-align: center;">the sky. New vistas, obscured all Summer by leafage, now open up."</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: small;">FLORA THOMPSON</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a merry and beautiful week ahead,</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credits:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">(Top)Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">(Middle - books, cards, pillow) Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">(Bottom) Image by Peggy Choucair from Pixabay</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-35029188856339214712023-11-19T14:48:00.006-07:002023-11-29T09:42:29.463-07:00Small Pockets of Hope<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgKQ8GUFPfPN6nalJkC4qPw8umCHqPVbMtzP_gZ_kA21wncjorflwmRvfMQp3i_Uzmlcoo3DwoHCt5IGb_ZcsEG5G1jGpAuwC1B1ZL25XEdnYhDrJIKY3oDZciAXZOJBeg9JHaKu7fYlfj2duBKDMADuVwtfQZHOwuMbeGzn-8eqzwQyx8VST-1-DXcB4/s1280/autumn-woman-8254399_1280%20Image%20by%20R-region%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgKQ8GUFPfPN6nalJkC4qPw8umCHqPVbMtzP_gZ_kA21wncjorflwmRvfMQp3i_Uzmlcoo3DwoHCt5IGb_ZcsEG5G1jGpAuwC1B1ZL25XEdnYhDrJIKY3oDZciAXZOJBeg9JHaKu7fYlfj2duBKDMADuVwtfQZHOwuMbeGzn-8eqzwQyx8VST-1-DXcB4/w640-h426/autumn-woman-8254399_1280%20Image%20by%20R-region%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">"Limbo isn't exactly a place for our mental health to thrive. In the</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">absence of being able to look forward to things with certainty, the best</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">we can do is create small pockets of future hope in the meantime."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">ANNA BORGES, <i>from Self.com</i></span></b></span></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone needs something to look forward to. Whether it's going on a holiday, waiting for the weekend, celebrating a birthday party, lunchbreak with a friend, or a snack in the middle of the afternoon. We especially need them in uncertain times and hard situations when things feel bleak, hopeless, or dismal. As the quote above says, "(i)n the absence of being able to look forward to things with certainty, the best we can do is create small pockets of future hope in the meantime."</div><div><br /></div><div>Isn't that a wonderful phrase 'create small pockets of future hope'? It gives great scope for the imagination and reminds us that perhaps there is something we can do to make things a little better. Enough to carry on with for the moment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Many of us have probably learned that skill along the way; we've learned that setting one foot in front of the other, putting our head down and just getting through whatever it is, is how we survive sometimes. The idea that we also can create pockets of future hope for ourselves, and others, is comforting. It's not totally hopeless and we don't have to be completely helpless. Life isn't always full of hard things; then there are the times when life is mundane, ordinary, bleh. We need a little something to keep the excitement in life. Well, maybe not excitement exactly, but we seem to work better, live better, feel better when we have nice things to look forward to. By 'nice' I mean that something is pleasant and still worth noticing, even when it doesn't have the out-of-this-world wow! factor.</div><div><br /></div><div>Something else I've learned, don't use all the 'treats' up at once. Be sure to keep something in reserve. Save it for later. Because you'll need it then, too. Which means, perhaps, keeping a list of things we know we look forward to and being prepared... from the tiniest to the biggest, from immediate pleasure to delayed gratification to long-term dreams to anticipate. Make a lifestyle of creating small pockets of things we can look forward to.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlocYUWzfB_C6DHJmFMsB9ObO5f89yAclSM3VuZsYYyzzRmdIXqUC9X_ITu2yUsZ-k1KLkvS9ewJBViic3DxyUEwKnzrCirUA3E4_QTDJlLnN2OToRCu5o5NjkKxg1oX7e9Ggr3ugj14ny1boAVOgKXlP_3tsyAWDmHVDG_v4ovmnb77V76JicOcYUefiz/s2016/IMG_7283.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlocYUWzfB_C6DHJmFMsB9ObO5f89yAclSM3VuZsYYyzzRmdIXqUC9X_ITu2yUsZ-k1KLkvS9ewJBViic3DxyUEwKnzrCirUA3E4_QTDJlLnN2OToRCu5o5NjkKxg1oX7e9Ggr3ugj14ny1boAVOgKXlP_3tsyAWDmHVDG_v4ovmnb77V76JicOcYUefiz/w480-h640/IMG_7283.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">"Everyone needs things to look forward toâ</div><div style="text-align: center;">big things and small things,</div><div style="text-align: center;">on good days and on bad days;</div><div style="text-align: center;">things that will buoy our spirits and make</div><div style="text-align: center;">us laugh and help us feel alive."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>SOPHIE BLACKALL, <i>Things to Look Forward To</i></b></span></div></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>I want to mention a lovely book in my collection that got me thinking about all this: <i>Things to Look Forward To, 52 Large and Small Joys for Today and Every Day</i> by Sophie Blackall. Written and illustrated by the author during the global pandemic, Sophie Blackall encourages readers not to lose sight of beauty and those things that create wonder and delight. For good days and bad ones. That make us laugh and help us feel alive.</div><div><br /></div><div>For instance, she writes about Diesel, a neighbouring dog who comes to visit her; she says, "We walk him home and then he walks us home and we walk him home again. And on the way we talk about chasing rabbits and rolling in burdock...". <i>(In case, you're wondering, it's a weed of some kind, not...)</i> I feel a smile breaking on my face just reading that Sophie takes joy in that furry fellow. She also mentions looking forward to learning new things: teaching children while working from home, living with people in small spaces, not to panic, to remain helpful, and learning new words. She also looks forward to watching the full moon on a dark night.</div><div><br /></div><div>For me, the list could look something like this. I look forward to:</div><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠sleeping on clean sheets</div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠browsing a new recipe or seasonal craft magazine</div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠coming home after running errands and plopping on the couch</div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠popping something yummy in the oven (or my mouth)</div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠that first mug of fresh brewed coffee</div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠a snowfall that turns the world into a fairyland</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠planning something nice for someone - muffins, a card, a phone chat</div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠holding hands with a certain someone on a walk</div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠planting spring bulbs for next year</div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠sprucing up the place for Christmas</div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠turning on the twinkle lights as evening draws early</div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠starting that new novel I'm saving for the holidays</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">⧠crawling into bed at the end of the day</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm closing with one of my favourite quotes by British novelist, Iris Murdoch: "One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats." Having a plethora of them to look forward to truly adds to the pleasure of being alive.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a beautiful week ahead,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">(Top) Image by R-region from Pixabay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">(Bottom) Photo by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-17108475064782662702023-11-11T11:53:00.002-07:002023-11-12T01:48:11.527-07:00Weekend: Old Photos, A Book, Apple Recipe<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXlFgFQZCUJs2i0ONLJCssXfuD9XGEdFM1Yu4BH_vpXAoTg6itVw8P7JvQ9i2rHQLo1Fs6t4nrAVsOEoNoETeVDTPm0EWE1S1qbgWFzvN74n2aQyQRsfPpzFnEM-hB3WnFADgvuDXP58vQhAzMpYJWIzstizOcxyKyCoc3lANwHfIIJGT65VqRMawIiig/s1280/IMG_7274.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="1280" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXlFgFQZCUJs2i0ONLJCssXfuD9XGEdFM1Yu4BH_vpXAoTg6itVw8P7JvQ9i2rHQLo1Fs6t4nrAVsOEoNoETeVDTPm0EWE1S1qbgWFzvN74n2aQyQRsfPpzFnEM-hB3WnFADgvuDXP58vQhAzMpYJWIzstizOcxyKyCoc3lANwHfIIJGT65VqRMawIiig/w640-h444/IMG_7274.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Photographs are the reflection of untold stories,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">unseen beauties, unexpressed emotions, and the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">unheard songs of life."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">DEBASISH MRIDHA, <i>as found on GoodReads</i></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div>Another week has flown by. As for me, I'm in the middle of another sorting project. Last week it was dealing with my growing collection of old greeting cards and letters; if you haven't already, you can read about it <span><b><a href="https://beautiful.wordfromhome.com/2023/11/sorting-sentimental-stuff-greeting-cards.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></b></span>. This week, I'm gently working through 25 years worth of pre-digital photos; thankfully they are neatly filed by year in three containers. They start from when Rick and I married - the beginning of our new life together - until we got a digital camera in the 2010s (which changed everything in the world of photography). It's high time to get these paper copies out of their developing envelopes and into simple albums for the time being - may digitalize them down the road. I'm culling as I go, discarding any pics that don't add to the story. Hopefully making my home a little less cluttered and my personal world simpler to caretake.</div><div><br /></div><div>The photos above were taken when Rick and I got engaged 25 years ago. No grey hairs then yet, and I don't think any wrinkles. But the love was there in spades... it still is. </div><div><br /></div><div>Haven't been feeling well this week. It's some kind of dizzy going on in my head - and I am in doctor's care. Please don't worry, I'm doing okay, just have to be careful how I go about my days, no rushing to and fro.</div><div><br /></div><div>The weather has been beautiful, no sign of any more white stuff for now. Fingers crossed for a few more days. The sunrise was a glorious fiery red across the eastern sky this morning. But with its grand work done for the day, the sun must have booked off for the weekend - it's turned grey and overcast as I type.</div><div><br /></div><div>A good day to cozy up inside, I'd say. Just started the new book by SJ Bennett, <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Murder-Most-Royal-SJ-Bennett/dp/0063307928" target="_blank">Murder Most Royal</a> in which Queen Elizabeth surreptitiously solves another mystery as she goes about her queenly duties. I've had the book a while but held off reading it. The story is set in Sandringham and it's Christmas time. Which makes it a perfect read for this season of the year. It's Book 3 in the series.</div><div><br /></div><div>Plus, for an afternoon tea treat, I'm going to make a baked apple dish. Saw the recipe on social media, and I jotted down the ingredients; it's simple and sounds delicious:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Simple Baked Apple Dish</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>Turn oven to 400 F</div><div>Butter a baking pan</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">four apples, sliced or wedged</div><div style="text-align: center;">handful of sultana raisins</div><div style="text-align: center;">handful of flaked almonds</div><div style="text-align: center;">3 Tablespoons coconut</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 Tablespoons sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp gr. cardamom</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp nutmeg</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp cinnamon</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 Tablespoon butter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Scatter apples in pan</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sprinkle with raisins, almonds, coconut, sugar, spices </div><div style="text-align: center;">Dot with butter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bake 25 minutes, or until apples are tender</div><div style="text-align: center;">Serve warm in bowls with ice cream</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqw5y66-L3q3B3dW7L82pg0tp3l-bCODLlNj8LwJV7Blyi_QpBexaCudelEXkr6L01qlzYV_VViiQ5z7obsaSCexqO6-iEiRv06IlWXwhb-rXmVkwMLDFLAkDeX8T7TOhPestAZC1V0MD2zZuWMzFofrnQBGzP_tzR2lT5BnBar-FTxxVY6bSCDsMhjrcB/s1280/poppy-5238035_1280%20Image%20by%20Illuvis%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1175" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqw5y66-L3q3B3dW7L82pg0tp3l-bCODLlNj8LwJV7Blyi_QpBexaCudelEXkr6L01qlzYV_VViiQ5z7obsaSCexqO6-iEiRv06IlWXwhb-rXmVkwMLDFLAkDeX8T7TOhPestAZC1V0MD2zZuWMzFofrnQBGzP_tzR2lT5BnBar-FTxxVY6bSCDsMhjrcB/w189-h206/poppy-5238035_1280%20Image%20by%20Illuvis%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="189" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">On this November 11th,</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Remembering"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a beautiful day,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Top photo by Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Poppy Image by Illuvis from Pixabay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-52250352635937374372023-11-05T11:05:00.003-07:002023-11-06T15:03:40.628-07:00Sorting Sentimental Stuff: Greeting Cards<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtRzwqR9tkx4bYV6YEGxN_E5ND_JXIKwFq4K7IgkFO8hwuFPNJRspHjik6KNu9hQbDnJrl01cxrAnm_8zJw2cAVXr20xVXyaEm4A3dNlkVNSQ1NxVvfQBqKcyXBpvk3ey1IuAUVvcZVoCdsrNo9C9G4BifySIIYLhTFBf2RGrQL4jwJvCL9aX85BXt6_V/s1920/old-text-4095909_1920%20Image%20by%20margarita_kochneva%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtRzwqR9tkx4bYV6YEGxN_E5ND_JXIKwFq4K7IgkFO8hwuFPNJRspHjik6KNu9hQbDnJrl01cxrAnm_8zJw2cAVXr20xVXyaEm4A3dNlkVNSQ1NxVvfQBqKcyXBpvk3ey1IuAUVvcZVoCdsrNo9C9G4BifySIIYLhTFBf2RGrQL4jwJvCL9aX85BXt6_V/w640-h426/old-text-4095909_1920%20Image%20by%20margarita_kochneva%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">"...you need to assess what you love right now and what</div><div style="text-align: center;">is authentic to your way of living in this season of life."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">MELISSA MICHAELS, <i>quote found on GoodReads</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The last few years I've been going through boxes of old papers, scrapbooks, photosâall in the effort to downsize my personal effects into something manageable as I draw nearer the next decade of my life. At every stage of life it seems to get easier to part with certain items. I've outgrown them; I no longer need them; I've written down the stories to remember them. As life circumstances change, what once was important also changes. In order to move on, and not stay in a rut, this includes adjusting my material possessions.<div><br /></div><div>Most recently, I've been focusing on my stacks of boxes filled with old greeting cards. What fun it has been to go through them. Finding cards from people I haven't seen in years, from people long gone from this earth, from ones I still love and hold dear. </div><div> <div>Traditionally greetings cards are meant to be fleeting sentiments to be enjoyed for a short time, then discarded. Why do so many of us hold onto boxes of old cards? Basically, because they often still tug at the heart strings. I can't bear to throw away cards with such charming pictures and artwork. How quickly the era of the time sifts up just by looking at those cards. And inside, the lovely personal notesâfingerprints of kindness, concern, and friendship that left their imprint on my lifeâall dear reminders of certain people, places, and seasons that meant so much at the time.</div><div><br /></div><div>I found the stack of boxes carefully labelled 'love letters' holding all the cards and letters Rick and I exchanged from the very beginning of our life together. There are quite a fewâI tell you, we must have kept <i>Hallmark</i> and <i>Carlton</i> in business. I keep the cards on display a long time before they are finally packed away. I've never gone through them, but as we near our 25th anniversary in a few weeks, it might be the year to pop those lids and reread all that we'd given each other in the written word. What I did find hard was going through the pile of sympathy cards from when my dad passed awayâtwenty years ago next month. It brought back all those memories, fraught with sadness. I'm grateful for the care of my friends at that time, but I won't be revisiting those cards anymore.</div><div><br /></div><div>All that being said, I no longer want to caretake all these cards. I won't part with them all, but I also don't want to leave a mess for others to deal with... down the road. <i>What to do, what to do?</i> Here are a few things I'm doing with them. And if you care to share, I'd love to know how you tackle your old card collections:</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>1. If I'm going to cull it, I read the card one last time, think nice thoughts about the person, whisper a thank you, and let it go.</div><div><br />2. If the card fronts are too beautiful to discard, I repurpose themâcutting into gift tags, tree ornaments, or embellishments for scrapbooks, journals, and envelopes. I love to use floral cutouts as surprise inserts in cards and notes I send out. Other cards, such as pop-up cards, make great additions to photo shoots for future blog posts. Or Instagram posts. I know some people make junk journalsâold cards would be perfect additions in such a creative project. The cards haven't disappeared but have reappeared in other forms, which is fun to spot. </div><div><br /></div><div>3. Write blog posts about them. One thing I have discovered is that when I write down these sorts of memories, often in blog posts and essays, I no longer need all the physical touchstones, including the cards, as reminders. <br /><br />4. The cards that still bring me immense joy when I look at them, that remind me of a special relationship or unique time in my life, well, those I put back into the 'keep these' box. Some things are just meant to 'stay' until we no longer need them.<br /><br />5. Cards I don't need to keep, I remove the personal notes and donate the fronts to our local recycling centre for crafters and schools to use. It makes me happy to think that someone will get pleasure out them one last time.</div><div><br /></div><div>On that note, I find these words attributed to Albert Einstein a fitting closure for today's musings: <span style="text-align: center;">"Out of clutter find simplicity...".</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's wishing you a beautiful week ahead,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo Credits:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Top Image by Margarita Kochneva f</span><span style="font-family: courier;">rom Pixabay</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-86830240699777590772023-10-27T01:00:00.507-06:002023-10-27T06:44:14.646-06:00If You Like This Classic Then You Might Enjoy...<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_2Zw3Dk2YIbARlQYi5OMNDR0e2up4iF4VrwJ2MKwVRf4MNBd7LdVv1eLLYwlVHJmPzv5eaZKXNmFsN6xZSnfTyc1M98KTF0_5u-_K_QpztxAbf9yYpnRNNPo-rBxEYzaORsJRqZXNxvceRKSt-GXLl_Nhyphenhyphenj57-rPHmD-Vv0rZ0Hqhihw0B5FGwD5lO58/s1430/IMG_7236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="1430" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_2Zw3Dk2YIbARlQYi5OMNDR0e2up4iF4VrwJ2MKwVRf4MNBd7LdVv1eLLYwlVHJmPzv5eaZKXNmFsN6xZSnfTyc1M98KTF0_5u-_K_QpztxAbf9yYpnRNNPo-rBxEYzaORsJRqZXNxvceRKSt-GXLl_Nhyphenhyphenj57-rPHmD-Vv0rZ0Hqhihw0B5FGwD5lO58/w640-h622/IMG_7236.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"A classic is a book which with each rereading</div><div style="text-align: center;">offers as much of a sense of discovery as the first reading."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">ITALO CALVINO, <i>found on AZ Quotes</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><br />When a modern author writes a sequel or prequel to a famous classic book you love, are you in the front of the line to read it? Are you eager, or reluctant, to see what a present day author creates from a favourite old novel? I admit being one who has been slow to be won over; I ask, how can anyone other than the original author write a book that equals, say, <i>Pride and Prejudice </i>or <i>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe</i>? Thankfully, I stopped being a snob about itâthere are authors with great imagination and skill who have written some wonderful and compelling stories inspired by those original tales. Here are five titles I recently finished. And loved.<div><div><div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>If you loved Jane Austen's 1813 novel <i>Pride and Prejudice:</i></b></span></div><div><i></i><blockquote><i>Death Comes to Pemberley</i> is the 2011 novel by British mystery fiction author, P.D. James. The book is a sequel of sorts; Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are now wed and living at Pemberley. Things aren't quite so 'happy ever after'âMr. and Mrs. Darcy are about to host a grand autumn ball and then a body is discovered in the nearby woods. I love how the author skillfully weaves threads of the original Austen novel throughout her own well-told Regency murder mystery. I really enjoyed it.</blockquote></div><div><i></i></div><blockquote><div><i>Longbourn</i>, the 2013 novel by British author Jo Baker, gives the reader a chance to see an alternative view of the <i>Pride and Prejudice </i>story as seen through the eyes of the family servants. While the Bennet family lives their story upstairs exactly as told by Jane Austen, their servants downstairsâbarely visible characters till nowâsuddenly come alive in our imagination. They take centre stage, and we begin to see them as living, breathing people with names like Sarah and James who have their own hopes, dreams, and sorrows. I had a hard time putting this book down.</div><div><div><br /><i>The Other Bennet Sister</i> by Janice Hadlow was published in 2020. In this imaginative novel, the author focuses on plain and nerdy middle sister, Mary Bennet, and sets her in the limelight as the novel's heroine. I soon came to empathize with Mary as she struggled to find happiness and fulfillment in a world that basically ignored her. From the first page I was drawn in, reading every chance I could, even well into the night a couple of days, because I had to know - does Mary find her life, and love? Well worth reading. </div></div></blockquote><p>I found it an altogether enriching experience to read these three novels alongside Jane Austen's. I think the authors did a great job of entwining the old and new story lines into one.</p><p><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">If you enjoyed L.M. Montgomery's 1908 <i>Anne of Green Gables:</i> </span></b></p><blockquote><div><div><i>Marilla of Green Gables</i> by Sarah McCoy, published in 2018, lets us imagine Marilla Cuthbert's young life at Green Gables long before Anne enters the picture. She gives the reader a wider look into Marilla's world, picking up threads dropped by Miss Montgomery in the Anne books, including how and why Marilla never married John Blythe, who was once considered her beau. It's a charming tale and fits perfectly as a prequel to the well-loved Anne stories. Delightful and a bit wistful, I'm glad I read it. </div></div></blockquote><p><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">If you are charmed by C.S. Lewis's 1950 <i>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe:</i> </span></b></p><blockquote><div><div></div><div><i>Once Upon A Wardrobe</i> by Patti Callahan was published in 2021. If you love <i>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe</i>, you will enjoy this charming tale in which college student Megs Devonshire tries to fulfill her younger brother George's last wish to discover the truth about his favourite Narnia story. Beautifully imagined, charmingly told, this is a book you might want to save for the weeks leading up to Christmas. I'll be re-reading it this holiday season.</div></div></blockquote><div><div><br /></div></div><div>Have you discovered other good sequel/prequel-like books that happily co-exist with your favourite original novels? Do share your recommendations.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She reads books as one would</div><div style="text-align: center;">breathe air, to fill up and live.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">ANNIE DILLARD</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a beautiful day,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-64259753735194543822023-10-20T13:29:00.003-06:002023-10-20T14:01:00.045-06:00Words That Touch Me This Week<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge75k3c4kf1jXaJKmjohwnlWVDh6i3vtVdU2j4IfWYYdOV3YIpuBnO2WpgLYh5FK5XM3lUPc3KH-axEJCAWV9fbxdPheLkGo2W2_Cfhb6CztOZdOkF0uyK9_RCcpH_IDz_irg_nEw1e9L2c0ozQ4zozncoJN4s16-mavuzonnNSP23aY0m8Gs9porS382/s1280/autumn-dahlias-2663164_1280%20Image%20by%208926%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1280" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge75k3c4kf1jXaJKmjohwnlWVDh6i3vtVdU2j4IfWYYdOV3YIpuBnO2WpgLYh5FK5XM3lUPc3KH-axEJCAWV9fbxdPheLkGo2W2_Cfhb6CztOZdOkF0uyK9_RCcpH_IDz_irg_nEw1e9L2c0ozQ4zozncoJN4s16-mavuzonnNSP23aY0m8Gs9porS382/w640-h518/autumn-dahlias-2663164_1280%20Image%20by%208926%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>"I do not fear this day for You are with me."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">BODMIN HERMIT</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Life feels fraught with distress and anxiety these days - so many people I care about are dealing with health scares and concerns. I have a couple little issues of my own to add to the mix. And then there are all those horrid events destroying lives around the world. Life does not feel beautiful some days, and yet a lifetime of learning to watch for the beauty and ask for His infinite grace, helps me to navigate moment by moment through these troubling times. For that I am grateful.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I feel overwhelmed, I search for words to calm and steady my thoughts. How often I have found good thoughts being offered by fellow life travelers in their writings and social feeds. On this sunny Friday morning, with wind sweeping through bare treetops and waning flower gardens, I share these few words with you... hoping your own heart is steadied by something you read here.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"><b>One</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Although the world is full of suffering,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it is also full of the overcoming of it."</div><div style="text-align: center;">HELEN KELLER</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"><b>Two</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"There must be a silk purse</div><div style="text-align: center;">in here somewhere."</div><div style="text-align: center;">JULIA CAMERON, <i>The Sound of Paper</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"><b>Three</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Faith includes noticing the mess, the</div><div style="text-align: center;">emptiness and discomfort, and letting</div><div style="text-align: center;">it be there until some light returns."</div><div style="text-align: center;">ANNE LAMOTT, <i>as seen on social media</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"><b>Four</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">When my heart is overwhelmed,</div><div style="text-align: center;">lead me to the Rock that is higher than</div><div style="text-align: center;">my wisdom and abilities.</div><div style="text-align: center;">BASED ON PSALM 61:2</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"><b>Five</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dear Lord and Father of mankind,</div><div style="text-align: center;">forgive our foolish ways!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Re-clothe us in our rightful mind;</div><div style="text-align: center;">In purer lives Thy service find,</div><div style="text-align: center;">In deeper reverence, praise.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Drop Thy still dews of quietness,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Till all our strivings cease;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Take from our souls the strain and stress,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and let our ordered lives confess</div><div style="text-align: center;">The beauty of Thy peace.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><i>Dear Lord and Father of mankind, Stanzas 1 and 5</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sending heart hugs and wishes for a beautiful weekend,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Image by 8926 from Pixabay</span></div><br /><br />Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-47550245424443773322023-10-15T02:00:00.002-06:002024-03-09T20:07:53.054-07:00The Dilemmas of a Book Nerd<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdrUvbWffd3Be8XstV7ApdAsEfz7o0Yo_YVue4nBxX4709V5DddUOpbBqh3UDgWkqINFKVa5aHxUbXMWOCsEDsnydCcrCJDXwU7Qc-lV7Q_zpaHkiOQpeqLOHqJ6oKWtS7AcFKS7S9UMeCxYdoRww-QoCYXyGSaEGf1Ix_Y6YfiVf2z3DnAkEYweK2l5X/s1920/coffee-8227641_1920%20Image%20by%20Kiberstalker%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="1920" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdrUvbWffd3Be8XstV7ApdAsEfz7o0Yo_YVue4nBxX4709V5DddUOpbBqh3UDgWkqINFKVa5aHxUbXMWOCsEDsnydCcrCJDXwU7Qc-lV7Q_zpaHkiOQpeqLOHqJ6oKWtS7AcFKS7S9UMeCxYdoRww-QoCYXyGSaEGf1Ix_Y6YfiVf2z3DnAkEYweK2l5X/w683-h382/coffee-8227641_1920%20Image%20by%20Kiberstalker%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="683" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Can you think of anything nicer than sipping a favourite</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>hot beverage while delving into a delightful new book?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div>I seem to be talking about books more often these days. Perhaps it's the season of the yearâautumn is always a good time to curl up with a good book. Perhaps it's the season of lifeâI'm less involved out there in the world, so I'm able to take time to read more, which delights me deliciously.</div><div><br /></div><div>Recently I found Miranda Mills's 2019 YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvRCoqzFwD8&t=177s" target="_blank">vlog</a>, in which she joined a Book Tag answering ten questions about the dilemmas of a book nerd. As a self-confessed book nerd myself, I thought they'd be fun questions to answer - I've shared my responses below. Hope you enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnmDIhwdSm-zweXed_-IaqV659x-mICbODgfKqXB8pPn60nbsk-gZ7IlCb-qilk6ZpuppAJ1SSdCwBP_NZI9eE4XFAVZe8J78JDUJ8MUlcFj2PbgnsRtJWacjcgBAl5g7Fn114oVkVTE6kQBVM5ZzltNrOqzBt4umQc4Lpnw2mX-l24HabDo_fC4_lLl_/s1280/flower-1131826_1280%20Image%20by%20ArtsyBee%20from%20Pixabay.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1280" height="69" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnmDIhwdSm-zweXed_-IaqV659x-mICbODgfKqXB8pPn60nbsk-gZ7IlCb-qilk6ZpuppAJ1SSdCwBP_NZI9eE4XFAVZe8J78JDUJ8MUlcFj2PbgnsRtJWacjcgBAl5g7Fn114oVkVTE6kQBVM5ZzltNrOqzBt4umQc4Lpnw2mX-l24HabDo_fC4_lLl_/w150-h69/flower-1131826_1280%20Image%20by%20ArtsyBee%20from%20Pixabay.png" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Dilemma #1: Book Storage â How do you store and organize your books?</span></b> All my books are shelved. Except for two small boxes in the closet downstairs - books I'm done with but not ready to let go yet as they are historical markers of my earlier life. My study walls are filled with bookshelves and they are filled to the gills with my Nonfiction and To Be Read books. All my Fiction and Christmas-themed books are on our family room shelves. Cookbooks and food related volumes nestle, of course, on the kitchen bookshelf. My new collection of Miss Marple mysteries with their pretty bright covers are in the vintage style case in the living room. And my small Children's collection and most of my Yet to be Read collection of thrift store, used bookstore, and library sale finds are housed in the large cupboard with built-in shelves in Rick's den. (He also has his own large bookshelf in that room but I'm overflowing into his cupboard space; thankfully he doesn't complain.) </div><div><br /><div><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Dilemma #2: Tracking â How do you keep track of what you have read and what books you own?</span></b> Until recently, I didn't keep track of what I read (except for some notes and tons of quotes in notebooks), and I never had an organized master list of the books I own. I have far too many now to remember titles or authors by heart. Since 2018, I started tracking what I read each year - a simple list of title and author (which I need to expand to include a bit of info on the book and my response to it). The growing 2023 list is on the sidebar of my blog and will eventually be stored in a Word doc, along with the others. As for tracking the books I own... since I don't have quite the same recall of my youthâwhere I could put my finger on a book in a moment's noticeâthis past summer I created a catalogue in Excel (title, author, date acquired, categories, where shelved, to whom it's lent). </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Dilemma #3: Borrow â Do you lend your books out?</span></b> Not often. I used to lend out books. I like to share my love for reading with others, and when I find a book I really love, I want to share that information. But I don't lend out much - favourite books sometimes didn't get returned or they arrived in a state I was not happy about. I do make pencil notations in my books, but I don't bend their spines or dog-ear pages, and I don't read while eating food that can create sticky messes on the covers. I entrust my books to a handful of people who I know will take care of them, and more importantly, return them. Usually they are kindred book lovers who <i>know</i> what our books mean to us.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Dilemma #4: Buying â How do you buy or acquire your books?</span></b> I love books. I love collecting them, with every intention to read them. I love going into bookshops, browsing thrift stores, secondhand bookshops, and library annual book sales (when paperbacks are fifty cents and hardbacks are a Loonie - one dollar). Quite often the books I'm looking for aren't stocked in the local shopsâmy tastes don't always run to bestsellers and the books I often want sometimes take several weeks to arrive. So I use Amazon. I will put books on their online wish list or titles directly into the Shopping Cart as I come across them. Then I go back and decide what to buy now or save for later. I follow some people who are booklovers and if they are kindred-style readers, I'll often follow through on many of their recommendations. (I mention a handful of them <a href="https://beautiful.wordfromhome.com/2023/09/where-do-you-find-your-book-reading.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.) I love gift cards to bookstores - if I have to choose between clothes or books, it's most often books. One last note on this, I don't buy all the books I read. While I own many, there are still many others where I use my library card to borrow and read. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Dilemma #5: Comments â How do you respond to the âHow do you read so muchâ comment or similar comments?</span></b> People don't generally ask me that question. I don't get a lot of books read in a year; usually the count is under a hundred. I could probably count, on one hand probably, the days in my entire life when I did not read a book, even in my childhood. I have never made goals to read a certain amount of books in a year. I read every day because I <i>have</i> to - it's like breathing for me, something on the inside feels unfulfilled otherwise. Sometimes I read books quickly - easy cozy books, for example; other books I take my time through them. I try to remind myself I'm not in a race. I want the books to stay with me. If I hurry, the books start melting into each other, and I wonder what event happened in which book. It makes it difficult to tell someone about the great book I just read if I can't talk about it properly.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Dilemma #6: Next Book â How do you pick your next read?</span></b> My frame of mind or mood will often shape what I read next. Sometimes I want books to meet my mood or need, books that encourage, comfort, inspire. If something happens in the news and I'm unsure of its history, say women's rights or civil rights, then I search out books to inform me. If a 'famous' person dies and they've written books or poetry, or were a Nobel Prize winner or well-known person in their field, then I search out something of their works, to be a kind of witness as they pass from their lives on this planet. If I'm in the middle of a series I likeâLouise Penny comes to mind as does Donna Leon, SJ Bennett, and Charles Toddâthen quite often I'll read the next in the set. The seasons of the year also guide what I read next. I look for nature books set in the season we're in at the time. I look for novels that either begin or have great seasonal descriptions in them. Some books have a mood that feel conducive to certain times of year. My choosing by seasons started years ago and is most evident in my growing collection of Christmas-themed books that I always bring out, ready to reread in late November into December. I enjoy coming upon the seasonal descriptions that creates or matches the atmosphere and ambiance in real time. When it comes to choosing books, I am much like a magpie; if someone suggests a book on their blog that interests me, I'll go in search of it.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Dilemma #7: Travel â How do you pick what book(s) you bring on vacation with you?</span><span style="color: #e06666;"> </span></b>There's a good question. If I'm looking for a book or books to read while traveling long distances, then I usually want something that draws me quickly into the book and holds my attention. Most likely, a novel. If I'm on a road trip with Rick, then we sometimes pick an exciting thriller audiobook to listen to. We don't usually find ourselves on a tropical beach on vacation so I don't know what I'd read there, probably a good mystery or maybe a book set in a tropical place. Light reading, for sure. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Dilemma #8: Annotate â Do you write or highlight or mark up your books in any way?</span></b> I do. That's one reason I love paper books over Kindle. I like to read with a pencil in my hand. I do make notations in the margins if I'm compelled by what I'm reading. And I like finding those notations when I flip back through the book. Although recently I had a sudden insight, what will be done with all my books with all these notations when I'm gone? No self-respecting secondhand bookshopâwho are usually strident about gently used, clean copiesâwould take my marked up copies. I NEVER dog ear my books or break the spines; that irritates my soul, but pencil markings help me find what I'm looking for when I want to revisit a passage. I like seeing, when I'm browsing through a book, what struck me when I read it last time. Some people make notes elsewhere, not in the book itself, but that means these notebooks have to live in proximity to the bookâit probably wouldn't work for me. I imagine that notebook being somewhere else when I need it. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Dilemma #9: New or Backlist â Which do you prefer, new releases or backlist books?</span></b> Backlist, for the most part. Unless I'm addicted to a particular series where I wait with bated breath for the next in the set. I find I dislike, in other cases, to be rushing along with the crowds for a copy of the next 'bestseller'. I often come late to the party with books that have been out for months, years, sometimes decades. I want to read it in my own timing. There have been times, though, when I wondered why I waited so long to finally pick up a book that fans stopped raving about years earlier, but I firmly believe there is a right timing for me to read my books.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Dilemma #10: Sequels â Do you read books as they are released, or wait for an entire series to be published before reading the first book?</span></b> I could never wait for my favourite author to finish her series first before beginning it. Some authors take years to complete a set. If I'm interested in a series, I will get the books as they are released. And if I get introduced to a book in the middle of a series, I never mind to start wherever; I eventually go back to the beginning and read them in order, but I don't mind reading them out of order in the meantime. Sometimes copies aren't available when I'm ready for them.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e69138;">(Added) Dilemma #11: Keeping Books - Do you keep books that you probably will never read again, on the off-chance that they might 'improve' with age? </span></b>Some novels or nonfiction books I know immediately I'll never read again for whatever reason - boring, not my usual genre, too horrible a story, or badly written. Those go immediately into the Give Away box to pass along. Some books that I might not have quite gotten into the first time but they have enough good in them to try again later - those I will keep for a while. As for my favourites, I enjoy re-reading my favourite books - some are annual visits, much like visiting old friends. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And so, I've mused and amused myself into mid-Sunday afternoon. Darling Rick has made the tea, and I'm off to join him for a cup and a pumpkin spice muffin. Our autumn days are still quite lovely around here, not too cold yet. Life is good, and I'm grateful. Please take care and we'll see you soon, beautiful friends. Happy reading! </div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a beautiful week ahead.</div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Image by kiberstalker from pixabay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-46324733824761429792023-10-08T16:04:00.006-06:002023-10-15T13:24:36.921-06:00Being Thankful!<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoBBq_CIATpfWi8Txeu5tSw3XJQvV8fC3ZykOU2ffZavA6egjuVBcYADauGFw_CAC3lncQ8d5CviZLQdfzDpHmexrhvSl49Dl_WOsp5CzpmLKM1xzzN3L3ilxgKCb9hogmBZNiYGmOlpRNKMPwgW9REjCAqrS-NldZBFPtgGh-9FLNcDTF9CLsP85ELD9/s1280/fall-1713231_1280%20Image%20by%20castleguard%20from%20pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1280" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoBBq_CIATpfWi8Txeu5tSw3XJQvV8fC3ZykOU2ffZavA6egjuVBcYADauGFw_CAC3lncQ8d5CviZLQdfzDpHmexrhvSl49Dl_WOsp5CzpmLKM1xzzN3L3ilxgKCb9hogmBZNiYGmOlpRNKMPwgW9REjCAqrS-NldZBFPtgGh-9FLNcDTF9CLsP85ELD9/w640-h408/fall-1713231_1280%20Image%20by%20castleguard%20from%20pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Be present in all things and</div><div style="text-align: center;">thankful for all things."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">MAYA ANGELOU</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>This weekend in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving. And what a glorious few days it's been with its bright sunshine and blue, cloudless skies. The brilliance of all the colours of recent weeks has now muted into what Sarah Addison Allen once described as 'a world covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon'. Aptly described as we saw during our afternoon drive in the countryside.<div><br /></div><div>On such a day, it's not hard to be filled with gratitude. I'll assume many of us practice the art of gratitude and thankfulness all year long, but there is something extra-special about a day aside for counting our blessings. One Thanksgiving years ago, I started a list of what I was grateful for, and upon reading it to Rick, he said he'd add Brussels sprouts... well, each to their own. Sure, I can be grateful for this cute cabbage-like vegetable, for I do enjoy them, but let's just say, I'd have to be running out of favourites before I'd ever think to add them to a listđ. <div><div><br />Today I'm thankful for turkey dinner and French apple tart. I am grateful for health and vitality. I am so thankful for my dear mom who truly has been the best mom in the world. I am over the top thankful for my sweetheart of a husband who is one of the kindest men I know. I am thankful for my dear siblings and their partners, my wonderful nephews and nieces, and my lovely set of friends who help make the journey through life bearable, enjoyable, and so worth it. Let's see... I'm also grateful for coffee, tea, and books. Chocolate. And for roses, sweet peas, and marigolds and for eyes to see their beauty and colourâthey're still blooming in the backyard. I'm so glad for a nose to breath in scentâthe fragrance from the sweet peas I picked yesterday is incredible. I'm grateful for plenty to eat, shelter in a cozy home, and peace in my heart and neighbourhood. It's a long list... still thinking of so much more. </div><div><div><div><br /></div>As I close, I pray for blessings of good gifts to come to every person in this big old world. I sure hope you have your share of them. And I hope your heart sings with gratitude - I'm humming my own melody as I type. </div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a beautiful week ahead.</div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Top Image by Castleguard from Pixabay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-4005191271474262892023-09-30T10:34:00.014-06:002023-10-03T04:57:18.370-06:00Where Do You Find Your Book Reading Inspiration?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxevjxDVLYIgOJYpXur9uoUQzHqpBbv1JPu1h6sXrFupL2fQLF6M1J9JFp9MygxT_R7RChcsdc3EKYl86tAl3JkyWI_jfYZQ83TuWQkvzEsAjBo0LAGvHUXgBCkpnoQUre7lxg9qZRlH0f8cKcjpEY4SSEtiG-OZgSXf6yGj09Y4xdlCpkK-D8CBnKavc_/s1280/book-nook-7617330_1280%20Image%20by%20FreeFunArt%20on%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="784" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxevjxDVLYIgOJYpXur9uoUQzHqpBbv1JPu1h6sXrFupL2fQLF6M1J9JFp9MygxT_R7RChcsdc3EKYl86tAl3JkyWI_jfYZQ83TuWQkvzEsAjBo0LAGvHUXgBCkpnoQUre7lxg9qZRlH0f8cKcjpEY4SSEtiG-OZgSXf6yGj09Y4xdlCpkK-D8CBnKavc_/w392-h640/book-nook-7617330_1280%20Image%20by%20FreeFunArt%20on%20Pixabay.jpg" width="392" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"Happiness is a crackling fire, a cozy book,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a cup of hot cocoa, and an autumnal nook."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">ANGIE WEILAND-CROSBY </span></b> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">October is almost here, and autumn is drawing nearer to the cozy centres of our lives. Those places where warm nourishing food is prepared, where enticing books gather in piles, and where cozy corners invite, and we don't really mind that long cool evenings are about to descend. For book lovers, like squirrels busy gathering nuts for winter, we search far and wide for reading materials to match the mood and the season.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Where do you go to find your book reading inspiration? I do have a few favourite places that are guaranteed to inspire me. Of course, the local library and bookstores are a givenâlovely places to visit and browseâbut what I'm thinking of today are those spots I visit online that usually have me coming away with lists of inspiration. Here are five places I enjoy visiting:</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e06666;">1. The Queen's Reading Room.</span> </b>"Discover new books each season & meet the extraordinary people who create them."<b> </b>This is HM Queen Camilla's book club which is wrapping up its eleventh season. Her Majesty The Queen picks four favourite books per four seasons (Jan to Mar, Apr to June, Jul to Sep, Oct to Dec). Recommendations are a mix of classic and new published works. A sample of the books I have read and enjoyed from previous seasons include: <i>Where the Crawdads Sing</i> by Delia Owens, <i>A Gentleman in Moscow</i> by Amor Towles, <i>The Remains of the Day</i> by Kazuo Ishiguro, <i>The Woman in White</i> by Wilkie Collins, <i>Magpie Murders</i> by Anthony Horowitz, <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> by Jane Austen, <i>The Book Thief </i>by Markus Zusak, and <i>Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris</i> by Paul Gallico. You can find The Queen's Reading Room on her <a href="https://thequeensreadingroom.co.uk/" target="_blank">website</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thequeensreadingroom/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> page.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e06666;">2. Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN.</span></b> This independent bookstore, owned by author Ann Patchett, gives weekly updates about current releases. I started following Ann and her shop during the pandemic. It's always a breath of fun to watch as she and Sparky (her dog), along with staff members, share enthusiastically about their latest favourites. Ann can be found on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/parnassusbooks/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and the store <a href="https://linktr.ee/parnassusbooks" target="_blank">website</a> which includes Staff Picks, Ann's Latest Picks, and musings on the Parnassus blog. Her latest novel <i>Tom Lake</i> was a great read, and I absolutely loved her book of essays <i>These Precious Days</i>.</div><div><b><span style="color: #e06666;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: #e06666;">3. Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, DC.</span></b> I first came across this bookstore a couple of years ago when I signed up for an online author interview with Canadian writer Louise Penny. Louise had chatted about writing her latest Gamache novel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoGkhxqo60o" target="_blank"><i>All The Devils Are Here</i></a>. It was held during the pandemic, and one good thing that came out of this terrible season, so many in-person events had to be presented as Zoom events. Which meant a person living thousands of miles away could attend, and that's how I came to know about this bookstore. I still check back on their <a href="https://www.politics-prose.com/" target="_blank">website</a> once in a while to see what new books they are talking about. They continue to do their events online. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e06666;">4. The Enchanted Book Club with Hayley Solano.</span></b> If you've watched any of Susan Branch's recent interviews with Hayley, you will know about The Enchanted Book Club. The book club "is a kindred community that reads a different classic every month... perfect for fans of Jane Austen, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women". Hayley also presents online events with beloved authors, hosts literary travels (Paris is on the list), and more. The book selection for October is <i>Far from the Madding Crowd </i>by Thomas Hardy. I'm enjoying revisiting some of the classics I so loved as a girl and young woman. They are still a joy to read. You can find lovely Hayley on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hayleysolano/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and her <a href="https://enchantedbookclub.com/meet-hayley/" target="_blank">website</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #e06666;">5. Miranda Mills on YouTube and Comfort Book Club.</span></b> Miranda from Yorkshire, UK, posts weekly vlogs about her favourite books and seasonal living in the English countryside. I love watching her weekly enthusiastic videos... my bookshelves are filling (as we speak) with her delightful cozy and 'comforting' recommendations. Miranda and her mom, Donna, host the monthly <a href="https://mirandasnotebook.com/the-comfort-book-club" target="_blank">Comfort Book Club</a>. âClick there and you'll find the books selected for discussion in upcoming months. September's selection was an old classic <i>Goodbye, Mr. Chips</i> by James Hilton. For October, Miranda has selected the new release <i>Marple: Twelve New Mysteries</i>, which are short stories by current authors written in Christie fashion. Miranda can be followed on <a href="https://www.mirandajanemills.com/instagram" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/mirandamills" target="_blank">YouTube Channel</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm wondering, do you have favourite online places where you find inspiration for your reading life? Could you share below?</div><div><br /></div><div>To close, Elizabeth Lawrence wrote in <i>A Southern Garden (2001)</i>, "Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." Oh yes! Let's sit still and watch the leaves turn on our trees and turn in our books.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm wishing you a beautiful weekend,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Image by FreeFunArt on Pixabay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-33610113627337490882023-09-24T20:26:00.002-06:002023-09-25T04:35:45.463-06:00Autumn Reads & Creating a Library Catalogue<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBkOQZ6AyLpQymzN19w_F7ERBykWCjTmhqbACV8qLmmY0ejRdnK-YwL1ulpGJS9YxPhgKcmZLe2VKPKUPWiqxP474TRQn5AvVqKB7pctgPOmMKnCV3suKORP8zT4AskXWqDE04sppM9LClNZOMmTILnqDjfQ72mqU3k69CjpTeVUqdXHGk9E25U7BE1ey/s1280/yellow-chrysanthemums-g873f21906_1280%20Image%20by%20Manfred%20Richter%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBkOQZ6AyLpQymzN19w_F7ERBykWCjTmhqbACV8qLmmY0ejRdnK-YwL1ulpGJS9YxPhgKcmZLe2VKPKUPWiqxP474TRQn5AvVqKB7pctgPOmMKnCV3suKORP8zT4AskXWqDE04sppM9LClNZOMmTILnqDjfQ72mqU3k69CjpTeVUqdXHGk9E25U7BE1ey/w640-h426/yellow-chrysanthemums-g873f21906_1280%20Image%20by%20Manfred%20Richter%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Ah, September! You are a doorway to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the season that awakens my soil."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PEGGY TONEY HORTON</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>Now that it's officially autumn and the days are cooling and more colourful, I find myself eagerly turning towards those books that make me feel cozy. When leaves start to jig in the brisk windsâand what fun it is to watch them while we sip our tea in the sheltered area of the gardenâit makes me want to pull my sweater closer and settle in with a book that is rich in colourful autumn descriptions. I like books that draw me into the season, whether it's poetry, a nature anthology, or novel. I like books that evoke a sense of place and offer a place that shelters. And I like books that inspire me to create and do something fresh with my days.</div><div><br /></div><div>My collection of autumn books is small but growing. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MirandaMills" target="_blank">Miranda Mills</a> on her lovely YouTube channel often has me clicking through to purchase yet one more of her wonderful seasonal book suggestions. <i>Goodbye, Mr. Chips</i> and <i>The Fortnight in September</i> are two I bought this year on her recommendation. I have already read both and loved them. Here are a few other of my favourites for this time of year:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Anne of Windy Poplars</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by L.M. Montgomery</div><div style="text-align: center;">(chapter one opens in autumn)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Autumn</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Susan Branch</div><div style="text-align: center;">(a lovely seasonal recipe book)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Autumn Anthology</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">edited by Melissa Harrison</div><div style="text-align: center;">(seasonal essays and poetry)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Cat Among the Pigeons</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Agatha Christie</div><div style="text-align: center;">(novel set as a new school term begins)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Death Comes to Pemberley</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by P.D. James</div><div style="text-align: center;">(the Darcy's host a ball in October)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Fortnight in September</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by R.C. Sheriff</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">(a family takes their annual holiday)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Garden Maker </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Growing a Life of Beauty & Wonder with Flowers</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Christie Purifoy</div><div style="text-align: center;">(see autumn harvest chapters)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Goodbye, Mr. Chips</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by James Hilton</div><div style="text-align: center;">(this classic is set in a boy's school in England)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Life Giving Home</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Sally and Sarah Clarkson</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">(see the autumn chapters)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Nature Writing for Every Day of the Year</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">edited by Jane McMorland Hunter</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">(short daily seasonal pieces) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Recipes for a Sacred Life</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>True stories and a few miracles</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Rivvy Neshama</div><div style="text-align: center;">(not autumnal, but nice reading)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Roots & Sky</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A Journey Home in Four Seasons</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Christie Purifoy</div><div style="text-align: center;">(look for the autumn section)</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>September</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Rosamunde Pilcher</div><div style="text-align: center;">(novel set in Scotland in the autumn)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Stubborn Light of Things</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A Nature Diary</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">by Melissa Harrison</div><div style="text-align: center;">(see autumn entries)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGssqTCQaRxwoWJfG95aOW2OGISy0UMc0KEyC7ctfzfCAHUcRhI2k-xfoXFZv-P-n-YBYCTNBvVlO4dd6x3yBK30VshHPAkO5G79HkGjLxx7xuVvYcTDtRetoFrvUBIkUYBvFPz1AseukHZMjiKpfm_tzdXQ5oA8n9qsKFYzKu8AfQ6U64qejy_Bcxcwyd/s1920/books-5899470_1920%20Image%20by%20congerdesign%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="1920" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGssqTCQaRxwoWJfG95aOW2OGISy0UMc0KEyC7ctfzfCAHUcRhI2k-xfoXFZv-P-n-YBYCTNBvVlO4dd6x3yBK30VshHPAkO5G79HkGjLxx7xuVvYcTDtRetoFrvUBIkUYBvFPz1AseukHZMjiKpfm_tzdXQ5oA8n9qsKFYzKu8AfQ6U64qejy_Bcxcwyd/w640-h438/books-5899470_1920%20Image%20by%20congerdesign%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Satisfy; font-size: xxx-large;">creating a library catalogue</span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>On other news concerning my books, as you may recall, we are in the midst of some house renovations, painting and replacing worn floors. So, at some point, my books will all need to be boxed and moved for paint jobs and new flooring installation. Perhaps that's what's driving me to get them cataloguedâwith a master list I'll know where to find them when I want something particular. It'll be weeks (maybe months?) before things sort back into that 'everything's-back-in-its-place' stage.</div><div><br /></div><div>In all the years that I've owned booksâand I've had books to call my own since I was a little girlâI don't think I ever created a list or catalogue. I might have done as a girl. I left the children's books for my younger siblings when I left home and took only a few young adult favourites. I housed my small collection on a shelf, dusting and lovingly caretaking them. I always knew what I had and where they sat. Everything was strictly alphabetical by last name. No worrying about categories or separating fiction from nonfiction.</div><div><br /></div><div>But over time the collection grew. Now I have quite a few, even though I cull what I no longer want or need. My mind doesn't always remember exact titles or authors as brilliantly as it did once, so if I am to keep track, I need a simple catalogue: two main sections, fiction and nonfiction. I separate children's fiction from the general adult fiction; otherwise it's all alphabetical by author's last name. Under nonfiction, I have five categories: Christmas/winter, General, Poetry/essays/anthologies, Reference, Writing. Also alphabetical by author. No Dewey decimal system... as much as I appreciate the fellow who designed that wonderful system.</div><div><br /></div><div>At present count, I have nearly 800 booksâwhich still doesn't include my food/cookbooks or my large coffee table and art books. The catalogue includes: title, author, category/subject, year acquired, where it's situated, if it's lent out (which is rare).</div><div><br /></div><div>My mind boggles to think of the number of books I've gathered over the years. Dozens upon dozens bought, read, eventually given away with hundreds more still nestled on shelves under my roof. I've noticed something while creating this list. It brings renewed order to my books, and it gives peace of mind; which in turns creates impetus to re-read my way through my own library. Bring on winter!</div><div><br /></div><div>Quite a few books are as yet unread, many of them found at library sales and thrift stores. I am a happy collector of books. They bring me joy, whether or not I've read them. When I scan through one, I'm always filled with that anticipation of the day I'll read it in earnest. I just know it'll be good, otherwise why would I hold onto it for so longâit's been years for some. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have learned not to force read books when it's not the right timing. I sincerely believe there is a right time and place to read certain books. And reading them when we're not quite ready for them can turn what should have been a joyful or life-giving experience into a loss. How do I know when it's not the right time? When the words drag on, when I read the same page over and over because I can't quite get into it. When my heart isn't in it. So, how do I know when it is a right time? When I'm drawn into the writing, either by the beautiful writing itself or by the topic that is so relevant to me at the time. When I'm instantly engaged and I feel like my soul is being watered and fed. When the still small voice says, read this now. I have read books when I wasn't ready for them and at the time I said, yah, it was okay, but meh. And then times passes, maybe even years, and I will be pulled back to the book (grateful I hadn't chucked it into the give away box). I'd start reading and this time it would blossom in my heart, and I'd think, well, I obviously wasn't in the right space when I last read it, this is so good, just what I need! Learn to listen to that, is my bit of unsolicited advice.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's Sunday evening as I'm wrapping this up; I meant to have this posted earlier in the weekend. I glance out my study window - the sky is stunning. Our September has been glorious. Makes me so glad to be alive to see and experience it. Now, I want to wish you a beautiful week ahead, one filled with glimpses of heaven in unexpected places. Be well, be grace-lifted.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Heart hugs,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credits:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">(Top)Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">(Bottom) Image by CongerDesign from Pixabay</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-45045868722371708102023-09-17T13:20:00.001-06:002023-09-17T13:23:01.629-06:00Embrace Something New<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIEJ0Du6eRNJit94hO7xZWeVs9yMAGRKkUuAVtO-Too61W5N2MoLiM3O_28V9MEcA2UnURxH6mEsVKkLhsgXQ7Oqh-iX1aTw0qqmQ4OXPuJ7O41V04VsDFYEDTvQ7F048_G5Dx33Y5uAG-RkVqtznMyBTajED5QvHYXko5r3iG4ec25sf6mLAir3rLxPE/s1280/orange%20bouquet-5458070_1280%20Image%20by%20Brigitte%20Werner%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="914" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIEJ0Du6eRNJit94hO7xZWeVs9yMAGRKkUuAVtO-Too61W5N2MoLiM3O_28V9MEcA2UnURxH6mEsVKkLhsgXQ7Oqh-iX1aTw0qqmQ4OXPuJ7O41V04VsDFYEDTvQ7F048_G5Dx33Y5uAG-RkVqtznMyBTajED5QvHYXko5r3iG4ec25sf6mLAir3rLxPE/w458-h640/orange%20bouquet-5458070_1280%20Image%20by%20Brigitte%20Werner%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>"Autumn shows us how</div><div>beautiful it is to let things go."</div><div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">UNKNOWN</span></b></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I love this time of yearâit makes me feel spirited and creative and alive. There really is something in September's atmosphere. Along with the deep blue skies, warm but not croaking hot days, the smell of harvest in the air, long shadows, and leaves dancing on the crisp breezes, something about it all makes me feel hopeful about life. And it comes with a readiness to begin again, which perhaps stems from childhood school days when a new school year created that frisson of new beginnings. New pencils, new notebooks, and days still new with no mistakes in them.</div><div><br /></div><div>So... let's fling off the remains of the old season. Believe something good is about to happen. Something that will jostle and startle our wonderment at being alive. And give our minds new patterns to play with and get us out of the rut.<div><div><br /></div><div>Today I'm inviting usâyou and meâto engage in the simple pleasure of embracing something new. Putting aside some of the usual routines and choices, and without thinking about it too much, doing something a little different, even if it's just for the day.<br /><br />Don't study the menu when you go out for lunch. Close your eyes and point to a spot on the page. Order it, even if you've never tried it before. And if it isn't quite to your taste, well, that's okay, isn't it? You've pushed the boundary, explored a little, maybe even created the start of a new blog post.<br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This morning choose something other than your favourite mug, blouse, or pair of earrings. Select something you haven't used or tried for a while. See with fresh eyes. Do you still like it? Has your soul outgrown it?<br /><br />Don't take the same route on your walk or trip to the grocery store. Take some other leafy street and crunch through a pile of dried leaves.</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't listen to the usual radio or streaming service. Choose a listening style not your usual taste. Appreciate it, even if it's for just a few minutes.<br /><br />Don't call your mom, sister, best friend to chat about the same old things. Introduce something new to chat about. Ask what she's reading, what she remembers about autumn days in her girlhood, what made her feel happy today.<br /><br />Don't sit in your favorite chair when reading or watching television. Pick a spot elsewhere in the room. Look around from that vantage point. Maybe you'll see something that should be fixed, rearranged, or tossed. Or you'll see something lovely you've not noticed before. A couple of quarters, perhaps?<br /><br />With it being just days before Autumn's Equinox, will you embrace something new to celebrate the new season? Will you share something with us?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>"I can be a light in darkness;</div><div>I can be a patch of blue sky;</div><div>I can be the pink hydrangea</div><div>alive on a cool September day."</div><div>BL</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a beautiful week ahead.</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Top Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span></div></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017539925620642059.post-56860507678184145492023-09-02T16:50:00.002-06:002023-09-02T17:36:48.416-06:00Friday Five on Saturday: Little Joys<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTxvov-DpBbh8kUd_cA4InIrdTfw8xxlPIjL8KTN6W4GsEqRWuHGNa-P7n3FUnwSjka-W5SfRFrEjTB9W3UQrhYsDjtl2XdXSHRhpJy4tTd31VyuK3F1cdtpVFM2M6FGN7M_QqxC_Y_QwyzdngKHe3EEO0oALLl6ci_3XW91JCnzGw4dITBSiVXrwF4uE/s2912/IMG_4414%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2912" data-original-width="2851" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTxvov-DpBbh8kUd_cA4InIrdTfw8xxlPIjL8KTN6W4GsEqRWuHGNa-P7n3FUnwSjka-W5SfRFrEjTB9W3UQrhYsDjtl2XdXSHRhpJy4tTd31VyuK3F1cdtpVFM2M6FGN7M_QqxC_Y_QwyzdngKHe3EEO0oALLl6ci_3XW91JCnzGw4dITBSiVXrwF4uE/w626-h640/IMG_4414%20(2).JPG" width="626" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"September is dressing herself in showy dahlias</div><div style="text-align: center;">and splendid marigolds and starry zinnias."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES </b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's the little things giving me joy this week. These heady dahlias were photographed last autumn at the St Albert Botanic Park. Their late summer display still makes my heart go zing.</div><div><br /></div><div>How can it be September already? I love this gorgeous month of the year so I'm not sorry it's arrived. As I begin to put away the summer things, I want to browse my shelves for books that suit the season and start shifting our meals of summer fare to more hearty and warm dishes. Some folks 'sniff' at all the pumpkin spice items available this time of year. Me, I'm eager for that first autumn latte. Which could even be this afternoon. I have always loved the pumpkin spice of pies, so why not add it to muffins, waffles, and beverages.</div><div><br /></div><div>I started this post on Friday so please consider it a Friday Five on Saturday. Happy Weekend!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6OcDPRaZG7zHJ7tGHHNPt8BmIEJoNJPPxHHRKb17etZ5Np8Fs9DOU4AO_SI-vVfxtEDk6XLwVpvA0-uFEUdbZs3nOGdhULrIeGWYzgzLHpVGZd71XrdKVky5Jqplh5BnfnoOFFdEnc4Ef4dvhJTgJK8HfXmDCItjTWFnSqfni9BSlFG6-t6eSgD_dZ28/s1280/tree-3812739_1280%20Image%20by%20MabelAmber%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6OcDPRaZG7zHJ7tGHHNPt8BmIEJoNJPPxHHRKb17etZ5Np8Fs9DOU4AO_SI-vVfxtEDk6XLwVpvA0-uFEUdbZs3nOGdhULrIeGWYzgzLHpVGZd71XrdKVky5Jqplh5BnfnoOFFdEnc4Ef4dvhJTgJK8HfXmDCItjTWFnSqfni9BSlFG6-t6eSgD_dZ28/w615-h409/tree-3812739_1280%20Image%20by%20MabelAmber%20from%20Pixabay.jpg" width="615" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>One - Sunsets and long shadows </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">September's sunsets and long shadows are usually a favourite delight at this time of year. But some days the sun is hidden in smoky skiesâsome days there are no shadows. And when the sun shines, it's amber orange. Still, trees are turning, and tiny piles of leaves gather along street curbs, enough to scrape one's toes into and hear a crunch. I've haunted the shops looking at new notebooks and pencils; let me just say I had great restraint from buying more, remembering a small pile of notebooks I bought last autumn still waiting to be pressed into service.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGM-stMRYHb6pq3e__5BDJNu0R9bGoPCmWuBPwWY8BFrLpkMiGfTesBCtrdZ7XZWEddBhEXqgbTnxGAQhICBEu8dgjKT0G8q0TW9Hid5CmxqKfmtuy3cgx4nMaVScyZDLnb3LPCuwe1b4VXWuL2upw3o-3o0pzkoQ8Nyan8Y2JADiN686EeVX56XWr4Zx8/s1618/IMG_7006%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="1618" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGM-stMRYHb6pq3e__5BDJNu0R9bGoPCmWuBPwWY8BFrLpkMiGfTesBCtrdZ7XZWEddBhEXqgbTnxGAQhICBEu8dgjKT0G8q0TW9Hid5CmxqKfmtuy3cgx4nMaVScyZDLnb3LPCuwe1b4VXWuL2upw3o-3o0pzkoQ8Nyan8Y2JADiN686EeVX56XWr4Zx8/w619-h431/IMG_7006%20(2).jpg" width="619" /></a></div><br /></b><b>Two - Gently used book finds</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Had the urge to pop into the thrift store for a quick look around the book section. In about five minutes, maybe ten, I had five books in handâbuy four and get the fifth free. Then I had a book to drop off at the library, and after a fast glance at their sale rack, the two Dorothy Gilman Mrs. Pollifax mysteries were added to the pile.</div><div><br /></div><div>Driving home with my treasures, I giggled to myself, thinking I'm like a squirrel, stashing provender for winter. Food for the mind is as necessary as food for the stomach. There's a gleefulness to seeing my shelves bulge with new reading possibilities. I don't think of myself as a book hoarder, though someone else around here might think they should take my temperature. Ha!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSq8a7KoblH1h-46Nyyn15y8RK3GpsQ2V9Jj2t0QBi2OX-I_Mf2Tw4EN2ZyqEZQWbLJtw6Vwz2cio61eNIfTyvXlS53L1YXjitdjzfVU1JWtgT1DqMC6dl8Nh9KomRtXAgb2jJxK_sANcgce7CCFIhgDdpdyhKdFoLJcZNsWcAKjBl0qabdyPOrGfeQzqO/s1752/IMG_7018%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1752" data-original-width="1451" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSq8a7KoblH1h-46Nyyn15y8RK3GpsQ2V9Jj2t0QBi2OX-I_Mf2Tw4EN2ZyqEZQWbLJtw6Vwz2cio61eNIfTyvXlS53L1YXjitdjzfVU1JWtgT1DqMC6dl8Nh9KomRtXAgb2jJxK_sANcgce7CCFIhgDdpdyhKdFoLJcZNsWcAKjBl0qabdyPOrGfeQzqO/w530-h640/IMG_7018%20(2).jpg" width="530" /></a></div><br /></b><b>Three - Bees in the Joe Pye Weed</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The other morning I was standing by this 10-foot king of a plant called a weedâit's a gorgeous weedâ watching the bees in the blossoms. I don't hear their hum as well as I used to, but the sight of them continues to give me a thrill. Alas, when I went to take photos this morning, every last hummer had gone elsewhere. So we're imagining their presence today.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAEgOz1YNJYC-3nrfzXh1E4_1DarLlr1DluULX7QfVmbHOFxm4mMPl48OLQ3YYME6ltF6NrO6_BWBBU3HcHVCSNZopniDpSOzDGR031Tzsrt4OAhOkmz-GMAjyudr4ib1BBKRarpKxEu1Uon6yOQex6cqLMojhZKIIZGeV7_kvo8EKy4H4GhfZCoNLZ9J/s1883/IMG_7029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1381" data-original-width="1883" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAEgOz1YNJYC-3nrfzXh1E4_1DarLlr1DluULX7QfVmbHOFxm4mMPl48OLQ3YYME6ltF6NrO6_BWBBU3HcHVCSNZopniDpSOzDGR031Tzsrt4OAhOkmz-GMAjyudr4ib1BBKRarpKxEu1Uon6yOQex6cqLMojhZKIIZGeV7_kvo8EKy4H4GhfZCoNLZ9J/w615-h452/IMG_7029.jpg" width="615" /></a></div><br /></b><b>Four - A stubby 8B pencil and a greeting card box</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Why does this 8B sketching pencil give me joy? I don't know exactly, except I love holding it in my hand when I'm reading. In case I need to gently underline or mark a passage. It needs to be short and stubby, well-used. I've laid the pencil on an old greeting card box, which gives you an idea of its cute short stubbiness. That box once housed a lovely set of greeting cards I ordered years ago from <i>Victoria</i> magazine. They were paired with translucent creamy velum envelopes. I never quite got over how exquisite they were - a real joy to write in and send out.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo6VhqYDbwEbUgEs2k-9P9MXzloDh2rxZiVG1AEK-JpUBfzjdMf-dsJsuPhN7WHAFHGV0ikR4tsCG5XAZLQBeVn5JP0mF846SdjNBKuMgqXTnlRd2LX06FgQCcSXlLBuTh87c70N_Sa1DcVjUuGtVVcvQToCMDIPWNDT9731nuS5Ap01rhZ3vgmy0M82D/s1873/IMG_7037%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="1873" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPo6VhqYDbwEbUgEs2k-9P9MXzloDh2rxZiVG1AEK-JpUBfzjdMf-dsJsuPhN7WHAFHGV0ikR4tsCG5XAZLQBeVn5JP0mF846SdjNBKuMgqXTnlRd2LX06FgQCcSXlLBuTh87c70N_Sa1DcVjUuGtVVcvQToCMDIPWNDT9731nuS5Ap01rhZ3vgmy0M82D/w615-h446/IMG_7037%20(2).jpg" width="615" /></a></div><br /></b><b>Five - Repurposing</b><b> a scented soap box </b></div><div><br /></div><div>I found a beautiful box of scented soap which smells like 'the scent of a garden in bloom'. When I set the bar out in our bathroom, I could smell it on the air for days. I was loathe to discard the box; not only was it pretty, it smelled good even empty. So, I cut it up into tiny bookmarks. They are now tucked inside books I'm reading, and when I open the pages I still get that tiny whiff.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>"But the days grow short when</div><div>you reach September."</div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>MAXWELL ANDERSON</b></span></div><div><br style="text-align: left;" /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Before I sign off, I wanted to mention that I won't be around for the next week or two. We're doing some home reno projects which means our house will be a little upside down. I probably won't get to a blog post. So I'll take this time to wish you a beautiful month ahead. I hope it's filled with tiny pleasures and a few big ones too. Stay safe, be well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">âŚ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wishing you a beautiful day,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Clicker Script", serif; font-size: 64px;">Brenda</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Photo credits:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">All photos are mine, except the</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Trees at Sunset by Mabel Amber from Pixabay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02955486477303938670noreply@blogger.com15