Today in Simple Abundance, Sarah writes about secret anniversaries, those special memories that mean something to us personally, which we honor in private, such as a first kiss or the last moment we spent with someone dear who has since passed on. Colors, scents or seasons of the year may trigger a remembrance of those occasions. This year my husband and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. While that was not a private celebration, this sun sculpture always brings to my…
a perfect web
May 31, 2016Is there anything more perfect in nature than a spider’s web? It simply amazes me. How can a tiny being create something so perfect ?! Without plans, without blueprints. It boggles the mind. A perfect web, many times larger than the spider’s own little body. Simply amazing! I go out of my way to save spiders when I find them inside the house or office, although they do sometimes creep me out. They are beneficial. Besides, anything that can make…
friendly garden snakes
May 11, 2016When we first moved to this property, we very quickly noticed that there were snakes a plenty…in the pond, in the garden, on the driveway. Luckily, they have been on the small side and it’s not too often that I encounter one. In addition to the real live ones, we found rubber toy ones too, just lying around near the house. My husband thought it a good idea to set them on my potting bench to help me get used…
one sunny day
May 7, 2016color me peaceful
April 27, 2016Getting some annuals planted. This year I’d like to keep the brights to a minimum and go for some softer “off” colors or whites and neutrals. Maybe that reflects my frame of mind more than anything else. Striving to cultivate an ever peaceful state of being, these colors work well. This planter is one of the last things I see when I leave home and one of the first when I get back. Will that influence my mental state? I’d…
vibrant morsels
April 25, 2016Today in Simple Abundance, Sarah reminds us to look at the blue sky, hear the grass growing beneath our feet and inhale the scent of spring. She quotes naturalist Diane Ackerman, who says “The senses don’t just make sense of life in bold or subtle acts of clarity, they tear reality apart into vibrant morsels and reassemble them into a meaningful pattern.” I love the phrase “vibrant morsels.” Don’t you think these plants might be considered vibrant morsels, assembled to the…
unfazed
April 14, 2016The tulips have survived all the temperature dips, frosts and freezes, that we’ve had over the past week. They are one of only a handful of flowers to otherwise survive at our place without human intervention, in the way of fences or deer repellent. I am glad the weather didn’t take them. It is nice to have some color.…
a little further south
April 4, 2016While spring is just arriving here, we enjoyed the greenery and blooming trees this weekend during a visit with my family, who are a bit south of us. Ah, nothing like spring flowers! I believe that this particular tree is called a Redbud; however, if anyone knows differently, please do share in the comments. We were so fortunate to see such a beautiful day.…
a little garden friend
March 31, 2016I found this little kinda big toad while preparing one of the garden beds for sowing. This is one the largest toads I’ve seen around here, in fact. I am calling him my little garden friend. He was under a pile of wooden stakes that were laying flat across the soil. When I picked up the stakes, there he was. I think the sudden sunlight surprised him. Maybe he had hibernated there all winter, as he was burrowed into the soil. I…
the best medicine
March 25, 2016Today’s entry in the Simple Abundance book speaks to us about feeling blue. Occasionally, these feelings get the best of us. Sarah offers to us several ways to cope with these feelings, ranging from brewing a fresh pot of tea to clearing your head with a walk around the block, to preparing a new recipe for dinner. I love all of these suggestions. I especially take to heart her suggestion of cleaning our desks and organizing our papers. This never…
