Waking up to the sound of rain is one of my life’s great joys.
Would I like to be out hiking right now? You bet I would. I badly need the exercise and fresh air. My spirit, mind and body crave the feel of earth beneath my feet and tree bark on my fingertips.
But going to sleep without setting an alarm is a luxury. Combine that with awakening to the soft tapping of rain against the window and that, friend, is a sweet trade.
Factor in a soft bed, warm blankets and a little black cat snoozing at your feet and this becomes the definition of happiness. And then the cat begins to gently snore and you know he understands this is a happy moment as well.
Wherever you are today, stay warm and dry. If you’re out exploring, I expect a full report. As for me, I’ll adventure another day.
I occasionally find myself standing in a checkout lane holding a coaster, lotion or tv remote that belong on my nightstand. You see, Scout enjoys knocking things down to watch them fall. Sometimes those things fall on the floor but they often land in my open purse to be discovered later.
He’s a cat and that’s the sort of thing cats enjoy. I just call them “presents.”
Yesterday I was digging through my purse at work only to discover he had left me something else this time – one of his beloved catnip filled mousies.
You can tell it’s well loved. I’m honored he would trust me with this treasure and it brightened my day.
The little things really do make all the difference!
Darkness has fallen, Scout is sitting in a box I had hoped to use, and sweet potatoes are roasting in the oven. The wind is vicious here on the ridge and it’s raining hard enough that I can’t help but wonder what it would look like if it were a few degrees colder and snowing.
It’s the week between years. Those precious few days between Christmas and New Year’s where we are all in a cookie coma and no one knows what day it is. It’s going on 5:30 p.m. and I can honestly say, I don’t recall looking at the clock even once today.
I don’t care what time it is.
Instead of following schedules and clocks or responding to buzzes, dings and rings, I’m simply enjoying the quiet of my home. Truth is, my home is a bit of a disaster as I continue disassembling Christmas and reimagining some pine and lights into something beautiful for winter. I have been putting away Christmas gifts, pausing some to read a chapter in my book and allowing Scout the chance to enjoy my being home. Every time I sit to read, he cozies up next to me for a catnap and a good snore.
This is the week I typically spend preparing for the next chapter. After months of adventuring followed by a season of gluttony and spending, it’s time to dial back the celebratory, almost uncontrolled aspects of my lifestyle into a season of wintering.
I’m so excited for this upcoming season of hibernation and rest. I will take my cue from nature and spend the next couple of months quietly resting, recharging and nurturing myself.
Each January is defined by a No Spend Challenge. This serves many purposes for me and is something I eagerly anticipate every year. I have written about this before and will again soon but, in short, it’s a time to reset habits and to go back to the roots of who I am and what I value. January is defined by staying home to rest and to appreciate all that I have already. It’s defined by finding creative solutions and using what I own rather than embracing the cultural norm that new is always better and that spending can solve every problem.
I reduce food waste, read lots, create more and feather my nest in ways big and small.
Sometimes the challenge lasts just for 31 days while some years it extends into February and March. Some people in my life think it’s silly or that it’s a form of deprivation but they couldn’t be more wrong. It’s about celebrating all that I have and realigning my values so that I’m using my time and resources in ways that are meaningful to me.
Those sweet potatoes in the oven have been languishing here for a while. They could easily be wasted if forgotten. They will be used as a base for bowls for a few days – breakfast bowls with eggs over easy, sauteed peppers and onions as well as perhaps a salmon bowl or two with chipotle ranch dressing, spinach and green peppers. Every ingredient will be from my fridge or pantry and will require no store runs for oddball things that will be used just once.
My mental shift into January has begun although, it turns out I have a return to make at TJ Maxx tomorrow. Since I’ll be in that store and a few others, I’ll look around but am hoping the sight of what’s left on the bargain table carcass after the post holiday sales will leave a lasting impression of just how much excess junk there is out there that I simply don’t need.
Meanwhile, my friends, I hope you are enjoying this week between years and that you are living your very best life embracing what you value. Have a great evening!
It’s a quiet early September Saturday morning. Last night’s rain cooled things down so we decided to postpone our hike to late morning. This gives me the chance to rest a while after a busy week at work preceded by several days of travel and adventure.
Morning light streams through the windows. I’m curled up with a book and soft fall throw. It’s plaid and beautiful, soft and warm. The cat sits in the window watching the world go by as only a cat can do. He eventually relocates to a patch of warm light where he quietly bathes. I marvel at how quietly he can do that during the day and how noisy the slurping is at night when he’s sitting next to me.
My most prominent worry today is how to dress for the hike on this cool morning. It has been so hot and dry for so long, I think I have forgotten how to function when the temperature dips.
It’s going to be a beautiful day. Your responsibilities can wait. Go enjoy it, friends.
Graffiti isn’t cool but I sure did giggle when I saw this. It’s an ink doodle inside the Mill Branch Covered Bridge at the Barlow Fairgrounds. You can read about that bridge here.
Graffiti isn’t cool but I sure did giggle when I saw this. It’s an ink doodle inside the Mill Branch Covered Bridge at the Barlow Fairgrounds. 
Happy Friday, everyone! We made it! Let’s all be ambitious and productive today, shall we? With any luck, we’ll roll right through without difficulty!