Monday, May 27, 2019

Loose Ends * May 2019


Hey Friends!

We're perpetual students, you and I.  This little online community is filled with curious, inquisitive types, open to gleaning something new, putting our sometimes weird and wild observations on the table, never arriving at some kind of magical destination where we've somehow morphed into some kind of professional know-it-all.  We continue to opt for opportunities to grow deeper or stronger, wiser or more creative.

Maybe even more so as the years progress.

So here's a selection of the bits and pieces of recent weeks, the odds and ends that didn't make it onto the blog that I think you might be interested in checking out.  No, nothing profound or earth-shaking awaits your perusal, but sometimes it's the small things that catch our eye or touch our heart, upending our lives in the most glorious of ways.







I do love sharing resources and stuff with you.

Like this gorgeous Sea Glass Wreath I somehow stumbled upon at The Handmade Home.

Really.  Isn't she a beauty?



I've been collecting washed up pieces of faded glass from the sea and rivers and lakes for eons now.  It's a passion you might say.  You can read more about my sea glass life right here.  And while you won't find me gluing my treasured finds onto some random piece of artwork, I would consider pulling this lovely door hanging together with bits of purchased glass.

This might be a fun family crafting project or something for you and a friend or three to pull together some leisurely summer evening!




go here to buy the frosted light blue glass







This is why I'll never consider myself a gardener.

From my journal, May 9th ...
I'm puttering outside almost every day.  Waiting for the sunflowers to arise, finding just the right place for the crock of pansies, the wooden bins of geraniums.  Transplanting Tyler's daffodils from church on Easter, the Scottish wildflowers grown from seeds Jenn brought back from her trip.

May 27th update ...
The sunflowers were yanked right out of the ground by some malicious critter before they had barely sprouted from the soil.  I'm guessing the same turkey or rabbit or deer gnawed my beautiful pansies right down to the nubs ... and chomped off precious new growth on the little maple sapling we planted with such anticipation last fall.  The geraniums are vigorously blooming in the bins and the daffodils seem to have survived the cold rainy weeks.  I'm very hesitant to transplant those wildflowers.  I have a feeling something is just waiting in the woods, sharpening his teeth, ready to polish off their leafy fronds.

Sigh.







And I'm totally applauding this simple 3-steps mantra from my favorite home decorator, The Nester.


More often than not, simple common sense is our best option.  It's far too easy to make a great big deal about following through on decisions /  rhythms that we know are best for us, that we truly do want to live out.  Why not start with what you already know?  With what you already have on hand either literally or in your brain?

You've got a lifetime of hard earned experiences and knowledge at your fingertips.

And for sanity's sake, let's finish up whatever it was we've started and put to the side for whatever reason.  Or pack it up and send it on its way.

Make just one choice today.  Write it down.  Take care of business.  And then cross it off your to-do list.

Tomorrow?  Maybe jot down two or three to-do's.  No more.  For heaven's sake, let's keep it a whole lot more simple, please.

Most of the choices we want to make aren't all that difficult to carry through on.  It's when we've let them stack up sky high that we get all kinds of overwhelmed and discouraged.

Let's not go there anymore.







Speaking of choices that beg to be taken care of, here's a big one I made just this morning.

I can easily be the Queen of Excuses.  I've been putting this one off forever.  After a year away from Weight Watchers and gaining 10 pounds in the process of grazing unfettered, eating whatever I pleased, I signed back up again.  What can I say?  This is the weight loss program that works for me.

Summer is a great time with the sheer bounty of fresh fruits and veggies available.  With the app, it's a no brainer to keep track and there's 200+ foods that have zero points.  You can join with me by clicking this link ... you'll get one month free and so will I {thank you very much!}

Sometimes you just have to do the next right thing.  And for me, this was it.  I already feel 100 pounds lighter.

No joke.







Meanwhile, here's a bunch of thought-provoking links for you to check out ⇨

Linda Stone

Jared Wilson

Debby Hudson

Jolene Underwood

Courtney Carver

Relevant Magazine

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Seth Godin

Ed Stetzer

Aimee Kollmansberger







All is good, all is well with my soul.  My inner gratitude list is long, and certainly flourishing far better than my sandy backyard garden.  There's peace and joy mixed in with all those concerns and hopes I muse over.  All is well when it's freely placed in God's keeping.

Please catch me up with what you've been learning in the comment section.  And if you've written some kind of end-of-the-month post, please share the link with the community here.  I'd love them to get to know you better ...
Linda

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Emily  .  Mary  .  Sue

49 comments:

  1. I always love these little updates on your month! The seaglass wreath is beautiful, but I'm sorry about your flowers being destroyed. I've only read one of the links you shared (Debby's) so I'll need to come back and check out some more. Some of the titles are intriguing.
    My end of month post is here: https://lifeinthespaciousplace.wordpress.com/2019/05/26/may-round-up/

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    1. I love that you've included your link! Thanks for the invitation to join you! I'm heading there right now, friend ...

      ;-}

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  2. I always feel as if these monthly check ins are a virtual visit. So sorry about your ravaged flowers! My garden is planted and the Have a Heart trap is at the ready. I know there's a ground hog out there somewhere just waiting for the salad bar to open!

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  3. My excuse for weight gain is muscle weighs more than fat. AS IF-LOL~
    Blessings, My Friend!

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    1. Oh I doubt you've got too much fat on your lean, adventurous frame, my friend! You show us all how to get on off the sofa and get out into the world and explore.

      I admire you immensely and travel vicariously through your exploits!

      ;-}

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  4. I'm sorry about your flowers! Frustrating! I enjoyed the link about lifelong mothering.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Yep, once a mama, always a mama.

      My girls would roll their eyes in agreement ...

      ;-}

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    2. I stopped back by to post my May recap: https://barbarah.wordpress.com/2019/05/30/end-of-may-musings/.

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    3. Oh I'm so glad you came back with your link, Barbara!

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  5. Linda,
    I was laughing and nodding along with some of your "loose ends". Finish what you started. The running family joke is the cross stitch stockings I started for my "kids" when they were infants. They are now 30 and 26 and, you guessed it, the stockings were never finished. I need to be as good a "finisher" as I am a "starter" lol. I still persist with gardening even though the critters are definitely ahead in the munch what she plants game. I have taken off 13 lbs. that multiple surgeries and recuperations have put on, so I join you in that challenge. I am currently learning (again) one half day at a time as crews are ripping my first floor apart from major water damage from a leaking pipe. This wasn't on the schedule so I am learning to adapt, adjust, and improvise. With God's enabling I'll go ten minutes at a time if I have to...loved your loose ends!!
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

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    1. And I love that so much that stumbled onto this post resonated with you, Bev! I'm guessing that more than a few of us have those kind of 'stocking' projects stashed away in the back of some closet.

      ;-}

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  6. Sorry your garden was eaten by something - maybe a very high wire fence around the sunflowers next time!!

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    1. mmm ... pot-gardening far from the woods is looking better and better. Maybe I'll borrow Michele's Have-a-Heart trap.

      Although you know that Tim wouldn't have much of a heart if he caught one of those varmints bellying on up to our sandy salad bar.

      ;-}

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  7. I'm looking forward to checking out a few of these links. Things are swirling about these days so I may have to save them. I so appreciate your monthly links.

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    1. I'm thinking of you lots as things swirl, as you say good-bye, as you transition.

      Can I go out on a limb and tell you that the best is yet to come?

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  8. I love the colorful pinwheel. We used to keep a pinwheel on Kali's grave year round. It was comforting to me to have movement and life there when we visited.

    I love that mantra too. I just copied it down for myself. :)

    So many great things here. Thanks for compiling and sharing, Linda!

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    1. Lisa, thanks for telling me about Kali's pinwheel. What a wonderful idea. I'm going to keep my eye out for the perfect one to take next time I go to visit Tyler's grave.

      I really appreciate you mentioning this lovely idea.

      xo

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  9. I once waged a savage war
    with the gophers in my yard.
    I'd barely get things in afore
    the monsters played their part.
    They ate up all the iceplant
    before it could even bloom,
    and all the young strawberries went
    down to their dining-room.
    Traps set were avoided,
    they built dams to keep from flooding,
    gas-bombs were diverted,
    and soon nothin' was budding.
    Since they would not their Maker meet,
    I played the man, and took defeat.

    https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2019/05/your-dying-spouse-623-despair-is-bridge.html

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    1. Oh this is just TOO funny -->'all the young strawberries went
      down to their dining-room.'

      Too true for sure, Andrew.

      ;-}

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    2. Linda, I actually saw a strawberry being pulled underground. Never would have believed it.

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    3. Yep. I was standing over the plant, saw it start to shake, and ZIP the strawberry went under.

      With that kind of panache, the gophers deserved the victory.

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    4. You need to borrow Michele's Have-a-Heart trap ...

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    5. Linda, I'll do that. With that kind of courage, the critters deserve my best.

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  10. I love these goodies, Linda. I kind of got lost at the Handmade Home. :) A couple of the articles intrigued me, too. I'm pretty sure I'd be one of those who have email apnea... I love the sea glass wreath. I've always admired your sea glass collections. I'm sorry about your flowers. :( We used to plant marigolds around our garden to deter rabbits, but I doubt they will work with deer or turkeys. :( I'm so glad Tyler's daffodils didn't get chomped off. Love and blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Yeah, the email apnea predicament from a decade back has only gotten worse with the advent of endless social media 24 / 7. No wonder we're so scattered, exhausted, unfocused.

      Enough already!

      And thanks for noticing that Tyler's daffodils didn't get carted off. I didn't put 2 + 2 together. Now THAT'S something to be super grateful for.

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  11. I forgot to include my May Roundup link! :) https://freedtofly.me/2019/05/28/may-roundup-of-hope-resources/

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    1. Oh thanks for coming back and sharing!

      Just too kind ...

      xo

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  12. Linda, I enjoyed reading your “loose ends”. If only I would finish what I started, I have a problem with procrastination. Oh, the pesky varmints that wreak havoc on the garden. We have them all, deer, raccoon, opossum, turkeys, and armadillo! I think they invite all of their friends to come and join them.

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    1. Oh my goodness, you've got a whole zoo! An armadillo, OH MY!

      I can't even imagine ...

      And you're always sharing the most beautiful photos of your stunning flowers. You must be doing something right, Pam!

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  13. Oh those critters are cute until they get into your things! And the 'finish what you started'? Boy, I can struggle with though especially with writing. I have a few novels and stories and essays in various stages! Have a wonderful week. And yes, summer can be easier time for healthy, living eating with all the fresh produce. Browsing outdoor markets is a summer-time activity to enjoy.

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    1. I so admire that you've got novels and stories and essays all in the works, Lynn. So impressive.

      You're one creative woman, friend. And don't even get me started on your photography. I'd love to hear how you fan your creative life into flame, how you stay inspired and motivated, how you birth your ideas ...

      ;-}

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  14. I like to think of myself as a perpetual student. Thank you, Linda! Love the sea glass wreath. It brings back memories of collecting sea glass with my great aunt when I was a little girl. Sorry to read about your sunflowers!

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    1. Yep, we're always learning, gleaning, morphing, growing. I think that's one of the best things about blogging, the ways we get to learn from each other's experiences, wisdom, joys, and sorrows.

      I'm so glad you're in my world, friend. As you share your stories, you continue to remind me how important it is to take care of my body ... a needed, welcome nudge.

      Bless you.

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  15. I know a good story about procrastination. I'll tell you about it some other time.

    God bless.

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  16. Such a great edition of your e-zine, my friend. I LOVED that sea glass wreath! I honestly don't have time to even attempt to make one of my own right now, but I can admire yours. :)

    I'm so sorry about your gardening sadness. We have bunnies in our back yard, and they are so stinkin' cute. BUT, I knew they'd be a menace to anything I tried to grow. A couple of years ago, a friend built me a garden box, slightly raised . . . with sides and a top that have chicken wire on wooden frames. I like having it because it makes it harder for birds and bunnies to get in. However, some insects are harder to block. Sigh.

    I hope your week is beautiful, my friend!

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    1. I'm glad you're here ... bunnies, birds, and all, Jeanne!

      ;-}

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  17. I'm smiling real big. It is such a joy to visit here and catch up on your loose ends. The sea glass is beautiful and I can see myself making that wreath this summer. The Nester's wisdom is one I heard on Emily's The Next Right Thing. I meant to write it down, but now you have done it for me. Thank you for all the beautiful links to read. Sounds like a good thing to do on vacation next week. :)

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    1. The Nester and Emily ... two of my all time favorite bloggers ... so incredibly creative and wise in their own unique ways. What a sister act!

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  18. Linda, I am so sorry about your flowers. We have a family of groundhogs who live under our shed. And we've been here now 28 years this summer. Every year we have chased them out from our fenced garden. They go under and over. This year there is no garden due to other circumstances. There had been no sighting of our furry friends until recently. Would you believe I actually missed seeing them!! But they are now out and about our yard :) I always enjoy your posts and will be checking out the other links as well. Blessings!

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    1. Groundhogs, mmmm ...

      Run free, furry friends ... far from our gardens!

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  19. Oh my inner gratitude list is long as well! (and it is indeed well with my soul)! And, yes, gardening makes me sigh too!
    (Love that photo of your cute pup)!! Have a wonderful week!

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    1. She is cute, isn't she! Spied her out our car window, gazing at the ocean. How could I resist snapping a quick shot of her sweet face ...

      ;-}

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  20. Linda, I’m loving your sea glass life! You’ve inspired me so! Thank you.

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    1. Oh I'm so glad, Kelly! Few things make my heart skip a beat or two like spying a rare beauty peeking out of the sand ...

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  21. That seaglass wreath is lovely! What a fantastic idea! I remember owning 3 pieces of seaglass when I was kid. They were so beautiful, and I loved to hold them, feel them, and look at them.
    Thank you for inviting us to share our own links, too. Here is mine:
    https://amandadzimianski.com/what-im-learning-spring-2019/

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    1. Thanks for stopping by today, Amanda ... and for sharing your link! I just love when people take me up on my offer!

      So good to rub shoulders with you over at Emily's, too.

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