What is inspiring you or bringing you joy currently? Please join me in comments, in your journal, or on your blog!
š·Iām grateful today forā¦š·
||for newly minted 14 yo daughter š„°||her delight in completing her Redwall Series collection ||reliving memories and enjoying photos of almost 2 months of participating in a local production of The Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe, what a wonderful experience and lots of new friends ||people who devote themselves to care for others in dangerous or difficult places|| those who are adoptive or foster families || new to me music, Sarah Sparks || for Jane Brocket, Sarah Clarkson, Tresta Payne, andTerri Conlinās email newsletters, full of beauty, encouragement, and delight || for my church ladies Bible study on Philippians||
||sunlight on forsythia and Charlotte Mason, glimpses of spring hope || springy play lists || for little boys who ask for Christmas trees š during spring snow storms || friends who send me videos and photos of our local Aurora Borealis sightings || prayer š || daffodildowndillys and the promise of tulips š || clothesline flapping noise|| cat snuggles, whiskers and darling purring with contented closed eyes || lovely return visits to favorite reads, in this case The Alpine Path by LM Montgomery || warm, brown sweatshirt and oversized cozy black sweater || warm, cozy glow of lamps||
|| birds daintily eating dog food on deck|| wrestling with a short piece on Gerald Manley Hopkins for friendās magazine ā„ļøšæāļøš||time away with hubby learning about serving our world with love, with a bit of space for quiet contemplation|| delicious, quiet breakfast with our pastor and his wife|| enjoying the nooks and crannies of our hotel|| long car conversations with my husband ||birthday surprises arriving and special food ingredients waiting on countertop ||little boy excitedly helping me wrap gifts for sister|| trying how to figure out how to send a surprise to Canadian penpals ššš¤šš¬š¦ šøš¤š|| lovely books stacked everywhere here to dip in and out of||
||our friendly local public library || a felted bit of sunrise, gift from a daughter, shining into my soul||magazines +coffee + Trader Joeās + my sisters = ā„ļøā„ļøā„ļø||contemplating books that impacted as a woman/mother/caretaker in an ongoing series|| sunshine š in Wisconsin, never take it for granted ||plan to take daughter & friend to craft store and fancy ice cream š¦ soon, sheās so excited ||
I believe this is āLa Discessa dello Spirito Santoā mentioned on pg 155, School Education by Charlotte Mason ~ so gorgeous! {Google image} If itās not the right one, oh well, I still love it! šā„ļø
ā¢monochromatic children playing in school yard, black & bright splashes against the drab gray of early springā¢ puddles fizz-pluming under my tiresā¢theater life, two childrenās makeup-encrusted smiles, as they see me gazing up at them, role reversalā¢spring yard clean up, imprints left in the soaked grassā¢ bags of purge waiting to be someone elseās treasureā¢ruddy grinning cheeks, watery eyes, runny noses, muddy springy play, cold wind grasping at strawsā¢
ā¢bookish mugs for bits & bobs, gifts from friends ā¢ soft-colored sticky tags, enough to shareā¢ splashes of color against red-brown brickā¢ discussing Grapes of Wrath, sipping oat milk latte, and conversation with a sweet friendā¢ foam heart on latte, day of small thingsā¢ little boy with bandana, ninja, he saysā¢ blocks on book shelf in alternating patternā¢ epic soundtrack as I slip through gray countryside, just a hint of green under her skirtsā¢an unexpected flash of stain glassā¢
ā¢little bodies being compass roses, pointing arms northā¢almost 14 yo birthday gift buying, disconcertingly not little girl things anymore ā¢ shafts & shadows of longer sunlight ā¢shockingly orange chairsā¢ midwestern goodbyes ā¢surprise book won, Katherine Wentworth by D.E. Stevenson ā¢ reviewing, revamping, & renewing rhythmsā¢ charming nooks & cranniesā¢
ā¢wee flicker of little candle āChristmas at the Burrowāā¢ the warmth and deepness of freshly ground and French-pressed black coffee in Christmas mugā¢the glimmer of light off the gingerbread men salt & pepper shakerā¢little, snowy glass cottage trinketā¢reading Beauty Chasers with Annie, chapter by chapter, discussionā¢Sophie racing around the house, her orange-y tail twitch, her sweet whiskers, her ācat-ti-tudeāā¢the glow of the old-fashioned Christmas tree lights ā¢ Ellaās Christmas spirit and excitementā¢ a juicy, sweet pineappleā¢ Gideonās love of bathsā¢Schielch animal dioramas everywhereā¢ a friend talking books with meā¢ zoom reading nights with online kindred spirits ā¢Peanuts postage stamps from dadā¢rubbing coconut oil into little chapped handā¢dipping deliciously into aggressively happy by Joy Marie Clarksonā¢finding swirls, sparkles, and wind sighs in the coldest time of the yearā¢
The work of humanity is to see one another safely home. ā„ļø
What is inspiring you or bringing you joy currently? Please join me in comments, in your journal, or on your blog!
šIām grateful today forā¦š
āFor it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness šÆ, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.ā šŖ
2 Corinthians
|| searching for cemeteries || diluted sunlight, cool breezes|| another daughter enjoying Black Beauty || learning about Stalin, fascinating discussions || nature journaling paraphernalia spread out || wild flower weed bouquets || candle-lit chili suppers ||cardamon cinnamon, those words AND the new tea || new notebooks || orange-y, brown, green, and purple-y pens ||the wonderful words: russet ā¢ plum ā¢ golden ā¢ scarletā¢ || roar of wind through remaining leaves ||
|| chasing words || trees at local arboretum, so many varieties in one delicious spot || Joni Mitchellās songs, art, and dipping a little into her biography || #380 of the Creative Pep Talk Podcast || Vincentās letters to Theo || acorn tops in bottom of tote bag || box of raspberries || piece of paper birch bark || zoo ticket memories repurposed as bookmark || kitty sleeping on me, all stretched out, so warm || watching āYouāve Got Mailā with hubby, an autumn tradition || golden hue of this time of year || thrifted moccasins ||
|| perusing earrings and rings while thrifting || little animal vignettes in surprising places about home || Tombrow pens š || stickers of trees and acorns ||my little one falling asleep on me while reading the Tailor of Gloucester || every morning, his soft squishy Ezra Jack Keats poem and snuggling moment with me || Old Farmerās Almanac tidbits || mums and fat squat pumpkins all in a row || cardigans swinging from back of all the chairs -|| new pencils, crayons, and composition notebooks ||bells ringing on church ||
What are you noticing today? Iām so grateful for the little gifts all around me! š„¹ā„ļø
What is inspiring you or bringing you joy currently? Please join me in comments, in your journal, or on your blog!šš
Iām grateful today forā¦
šæthis quotešæ
āā¦Love watches, and sleeping slumbers not; weary, is not tired; straitened, is not constrained; frightened, is not disturbed; but, like a living flame and a burning torch, it bursts forth upwards and safely over-passes all.ā ~Thomas A Kempis
||Psalms 143|| delicious words swirling around me|| first homeschool co-op of the new school year, seeing friends and āmeetingā new ones in the musicians, artists, and writers we will be enjoying together||my baby sisterās 30th birthday ||daughterās excitement over hairdo change and getting ears pierced||celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary||
||golden-tinged Septemberššš||sonās excitement about helping friend work in Colorado||beginning Christmas planning|| The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange – enchanting!||P.G. Wodehouse audio books, hilariously ridiculous || āHoney in the Rockā by Brooke Ligertwood|| āFind Me in the Riverā by Delirious||an Oswald Chamber quote texted to me from my sister||
||Jesse Ahmannās instrumental cello on YouTube ||foggy pauses||cool, crisp early morning air, with a hint of autumn||laundry snapping on the line||hubby finding a praying mantis on lawn||hard but good conversations||duvet put back on bed, cool and soft||Amish woodsmoke on the wind||bits of red-tipped sumac peeking around bends in the road||Bull thistle fluff blowing in the air, sunset blazing through it||
||Middle-Earth mornings ||harvest moon shining on my face as I awake from sleep||new tea, cardamom cinnamon coming in the post||letter writing to friends in Canada||homeschool mom chat||autumn stationary perusing||journaling saving my sanity||listing gratitudes helping rightly order my heart||purr of Ghibli, our adore orange tabby kitten||piles of books to try and soak in||
How about you? Anything just really bringing you joy currently? Watching anything good? Reading? Creating? Iād love to hear. Happy End of Summer, friends. May you get the chance to soak in the remaining warmth and light of the year! ššš Peace & love, Amy ššš¾ššššæšš¬š¤šāļøš«š¾ššššā„ļøš¤šæāļøš¬šš¤
Early morning prayer and Bible reading outdoors has been life giving the last few weeks šæā„ļøšæ
āļøDear Friends,
What is inspiring you or bringing you joy currently? Please join me in comments, in your journal, or on your blog!ā„ļøšæā„ļø
Iām grateful today forā¦
This šæquotešæā¦
It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind.
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity – a friend on IG reminded me of this quote and it was exactly what I needed.
||pressing pizza dough down into three pans, flour-y hands|| talking with 3yo about his Schliech puma and jaguar toys||our new rescue kitten, Ghibli or Gibs||laying in the breeze and looking up through the Honey Locust to a patch of blue above||Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz, an unique, adult murder mystery within a murder mystery ||Black-Eyed Susanās opening their eyes||
3yo and Iās snuggle reading š one dayā¦
||my daughterās chamomile flowers|| a wildflower bouquet from my oldest son|| new paneling slowly going into the bathroom || delish iced coffee made by friend, talking about homeschooling, life, and books with my bookstudy women||Christmas gift planning, thrifting and homemade ideas|| catching 3 yo on floor with pile of books, slowly turning the pages|| looking up and around and seeing 3 children reading near me ā„ļøš||
||stacks of picture books to put away|| Malcolm Guite reads C.S. Lewisā poetry at The Kilns ||zucchini, cucumber , and lovely green peppers from Amish stand||glorious sunrises breaking the darkās hold || star-drenched skies|| paper bits, quotes, snippets, collage journal resurrected || jalapeƱo tango paint color still growing strong from Menards|| the summer smell, new mown hay, a friend said it āsmelled greenā and I looove that šæš³šŖ“š||
Book choices for an upcoming road tripā¦ššš
Whatās on your gratitude list? Are you still soaking up summer or gearing up for autumn? Iām praying and planning a bit, but Iām still loving summer. Iām sooo enjoying reading š outdoors and hanging out our š§ŗ laundry. šæšā„ļøš»šæ Have a wonderful weekend, friends!
What is inspiring you or bringing you joy currently? Please join me in comments, in your journal, or on your blog!
Iām grateful today forā¦
The Gale by Winslow Homer – Wikipedia Commons
-and-
Les Maisons by Chaim Sountine – Wikipedia Commons
||making ice coffees at home|| Gerald Manley Hopkins wordsmithing || Karen Andreolaās books and back blog posts. || paper & river birch trees || sunlit diamonds on river and lake || buying just one book treasure from my favorite used bookstore || a favorite book, Fog Magic, found in a Little Free Library || washing my hair in the lake || making my very first šµ matcha latte, so good || Regina Spektorās āThe Callā || sunlight glinting off web as spider lowers herself to the floor ||
Green, white, and blue ā„ļø
|| extended family picnic in the shady, sun-flickering light of my childhood backyard || a lovely friend, Kathy, passing on a free Sense & Sensibility outdoor theatre ticket to me, it was a wonderful performance || the gift of a pedicure from and with my sister || reading The Mysteries of Uldolpho with a Booktuber friend || finishing I Capture the Castle and the feeling of wanting to start it right back over again immediately || Still thinking on Tove Janssonās The Summer Book and itās quiet and gentle exploration of youth, aging, and how the natural world ties us all together in understanding. I loved this book. || early cabin mornings, drenched in pine scent, quiet prayer with my coffee || time with cousins, sister in laws, and camp friends for my children and I|| daughter taking me for iced coffee ||
Deceased Common Sulfur my daughter found – so beautiful!
How well I remember that run through the stillness, the smell of wet stone and wet weeds as we crossed the bridge, the moment of excitement before we stepped in at the little door! Once through, we were in the cool dimness of the gatehouse passage. That was where I first felt the castle – it is the place where one is most conscious of the great weight of stone above and around one. I was too young to know much of history and the past, for me the castle was one in a fairy tale; and the queer heavy coldness was so spell-like that clutched Rose hard.
Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle
Illustration by Tove Jansson, The Summer Book
|| Nancyās opening talk on Joy at the Living Education retreat || White Pelicans at sunrise || watching a Kingfisher land on tree, then dive into lake for a catch || the joyful swooping, diving of fork-tailed Barn Swallows, over lake and over me when Iām lawn mowing, one my my most favorite summer joys of all! Their iridescent coloring is stunning || Artās talk on joy and sorrow, the interweaving of Biblical truth, Charlotte Mason, the thoughts of Catherine of Siena, and Hans Christian Andersenās āThe Wild Swansā together in a beautiful way || talking about hospitality with Brittany and a few other ladies || mozzarella, balsamic, and tomatoes sprinkled with basil || early morning meditations near lake and worship in teeny chapel || chapel windows, stained glass and unique way of opening ||
Forget-me-Nots and little bridge over stream ā„ļø
|| my sonās excitement as he shared what he had learned in Donās Critical Thinking session || camping through a rain storm in our tent with my son, using my umbrella inside, memories || gifts from friends, healthy banana pumpkin walnut muffins, special flavored Scandinavian falk salt, new coffee mug, salsa, and a lovely photo of us, framed || listening to A Wrinkle in Time with my son as we drove to the retreat in Minnesota || Amberās lovely thoughts on poetry, learning new-to-me poets to explore, Effie May Newsome and Gwendolyn Brooks || all the wonderful conversations I had over good food or near the lake, so encouraging || meeting three Instagram friends, IRL! So exciting! || forget-me-nots || driving through Mankato, MN home of Maud Hart Lovelace, inspiration for Deep Valley || new book titles to search and look forward to || lovely tote bag with bookmark, card, and journal gifted to attendees ||
What is bringing you joy? What are you thankful for? Lots of love, Amy ššš
|| cozy lifestyle vlogs, Hyonyeo, cakes and cats in South Korea || popcorn and oatmeal cookie picnics while reading Prince Caspian under the tree|| lawn lounging days, my Motherās Day hammock from a few years ago is getting a lot of use || our first bonfire, slowly burning up last years Christmas tree, my 3yo calling the sparks āfire birdsā ā„ļø|| Mary Azarianās woodcut picture books || ponytails and rooster tails || swimming for the first time this summer ||
Lake and Dickens daysā¦
|| reading short story Watter Mitty and then watching older version with Danny Kaye together- so silly and hilarious! We also love the newer Ben Stiller version of it, too. || SundryWords bookmarks || the haunting, new-to-me author, David Almondās book, Skellig || TWO recent mail surprises {including a Moomin journal š} from a Texan friend, Kim, THANK YOU! || Rae of Sunlightās back Booktube vlogs || making a summer bucket list with the kids ||
Summer is so lovelyā¦Tornado watchesā¦gorgeous, angry skyā¦we had to go into the basement, but rain and high wind were the extent of itās bite. Do you like storms or wild weather? Summer snoozes, dirty, darling, little boy feetā¦A friend gifted me peonies two summers agoā¦first bloom!
Whatās bringing you joy? Iām so very blessed š„¹ and I just love recording it! ā„ļøšā„ļø Grace and peace to you, Amy
What is inspiring you or bringing you joy currently? I hope to start a new series here. Please join me in comments, in your journal, or on your blog!
Right now, Iām lovingā¦
|| the Betsy, Tacy, and Tib series by Maud Hart Lovelace || āWith Youā sung by Jimin and Ha SungWoon – I actually reimagine this as a love song to Jesus ā„ļø || āThe Peace of Wild Thingsā collection by Wendell Berry || barn swallow watching || Seattleās Best decaf – thanks to Booktube friend, Tiffany for this recommendation || searching for new-to-me mystery series ||Kate Howeās Booktube || a new to me Booktube, A Day of Small Things || finding 100 Days of Dante podcast || starting L. M. Montgomeryās Selected Journals Volume 3 ||
|| Harney & Sons Paris tea, fruity Earl Grey || first peony bud on bush friend gave me two summerās ago || Salt & Sound music || Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright, anticipation for the sequel || bird and rabbit watching || rereading Little House series this summer with my younger children || endless cloud-filled skies || finding a math tutor for my son || Paul Johnsonās A History of the American People, who knew a tome like this could go down so smoothly? || contemplating reading some Moomins or another Tove Jansson book with friends || little boys in flannel button-downs || Schliech animal scenes perpetually in living room || Totoro socks from daughter || vignette series rattling around in brain || thinking back over favorite summer reads in years past, what are your favorites? || new fresh slate to start drawing upon for next homeschool year ||
Double-headed dandelion my daughter found ššš
Whatās on your joy list?
Happy Friday, friends! Lots of love from Hearth Ridge, Amy šæā„ļøšæ
A.M. Pine - Hearth Ridge Reflections 