Old favorites…{Day 35}

Sunrise and Honeysuckle

Do you find yourself returning to old favorites and habits in times of stress and upheaval? Sometimes, for me, this isn’t a good thing, because I have to work very hard to make good choices in a few areas where I’m prone to excess. However, books, music, and nature or domestic detail photography all have their place in a kind of “on-the-spot therapy” for me. I am definitely a rereader especially if a book encapsulates a certain ‘feeling’ I’m after or setting I love.

Poetry that I return to again and again!

Wild, windy days and whipping yellow

I recently pulled off my shelf a favorite reread series that’s so interesting that I got immediately sucked in all over again. I was reminded how much I love rereading, because so much more can be caught and different things highlighted. The Mirror Visitor Series isn’t perfect, but it has so many interesting characters and so many ideas to think on, I just love it. I was again reminded that it’s not always good for me to rush reading or be trying to keep up with all the new stuff. One big downside to Bookstagram and Booktube. Poetry, too, is something I absolutely have favorites of, I’m so rewarded and surprised as I cracked open the pages and take a deep drink all over again.

I don’t own a PB copy of the last book, The Storm of Echoes yet, can’t wait to collect it for the gorgeous cover alone. My favorites are the first two, by far, but they are all so immersive.
Josh Garrels oldie, but goodie

I’m very eclectic in my reading, listening, and watching tastes. I like quirky, kind of off-the-beaten-track things with a side of classic. I’ve noticed a shift lately back to my old Josh Garrels listening, instrumental BTS (my one and ever only K-pop fandom), a craving for films like Sound of Music, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Babette’s Feast. I watched a few episodes of Over the Garden Wall with my kids the other day. It’s a bit toooo creepy for us, but some of it is interesting and has such a gorgeous atmosphere. How about you? What do you gravitate towards when life is feeling weighty?

Two reread favorites 🥹♥️

Tree gazing and listening to…what are they whispering?

Hello light, my old friend.

How ‘bout you? What are some healthy ways you refresh yourself? Do you need something new and different? Or do you return to your comfortable, hole-y sweater of inspiration? It goes without saying, that the Holy Bible is super comforting to me because it shows that there is nothing new under the sun. We are all so flawed. I need deep gulps of Jesus.♥️ I definitely occasionally need a ‘Tookish’ adventure to get me out of a funk, but generally, returning to my old Baggins favorites and home comforts blesses me immensely. What richness we’ve been given! ☺️♥️🕸️🕷️🌿🍂🍁🍄🌾

~I remember the days of old;

I mediate on all you have done;

I reflect on the work of your hands.

I spread out my hands to you;

I am like parched land before you.

Selah

Psalm 143: 5-6 CSB

…joy in the morning… {Day 33}

Hello 👋 ~ it’s been awhile! Life got a bit life-y and I had to step away. I’m back, though, and excited by all the bits of loveliness and joy around me, if I really take the time to see.

Gratitude list..

~reading about the prophet Elijah the Tishbite, in 1 & 2 Kings~

~Irish Spring soap 🧼 smell, packaging saved for bookmarks~

~Elizabeth Foss book lists~

~ October loveliness over at Elizabeth’s Inkberry Hill Cottage ~

~fat, jolly pumpkins and gourds~

~twinkle lights, flick & flare of my alpine forest candle lit first thing~

~older kids watercolor class~

~ reading Sam Campbell’s nature memoir together, a new-to-us author that we are loving~

~ nature ramblings with local friends~

~ library hauls, especially picture books~

~cardigan, sweatshirt weather, hooded little people, stocking-capped big kids~

~ 5 yo’s new habit of putting hands in pockets, so cute~

~ trying to resurrect a writing practice, lost my way in media jungle, Neil Gaimen’s Instructions intrigues me and is inspiring~

~using my older son’s Bluetooth speaker~

~my Kindle, trying A Portrait of the Malefactress as a Young Women by Karilyn M. Van Brugge, currently~

~ Victorian literature, especially Sylvia’s Lovers by Elizabeth Gaskell, just so cozy and rich in character~

~photography eyes, peeking around corners~

~shaking pumpkin spice into my ground coffee before brewing~

~kids and I journaling to Vivaldi, a child told me it helps them concentrate 🥹♥️~

~Christmas gift secrets beginning around the house~

~long talks with 17 yo on commute to church~

~watching a Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes episode on YouTube with that same son~

~dipping into Susan Branch’s Autumn 🍂 book~

~ ‘try a 100 pages’ rule working well to weed out reads that aren’t for me~

~1/2 hour of reading/quiet while waiting for violin lesson to finish~

~first frost on pumpkins~

~Tombow Fudenosuke pens, swoon~

~podcast episode with my favorite musician~

~bringing all my geraniums indoors~

~feeling of pizza dough as I knead it~

~YouTube/Instagram breaks~

~Michael Hague deep dive with younger kids~

How about you? What is reaching out to you? 🍁♥️

Wednesday Wonders {Day 32} 🍂🎃🖤

Listening…

We’ve been enjoying Josh Garrels ‘Rise’ and Andrew Peterson’s ‘Sowers Song’ together as a family. Our homeschool hymn and folk song are current favorites, too!

Reading…

I’m deep into my Victorian selections which I’ve been talking about a lot, 🤣 but I have plenty of light things to try/reread in between my tomes! Have you read any of this stack? 🤓🤓🤓

Watching…

I’m so enjoying Chantel’s beautiful lifestyle vlogs, especially her reflections on life and nature footage. I’m also so excited to continue watching this channel and I got via Kindle her debut novel!

Noticing…

I absolutely love driving down the road with leaves falling on my van and then glancing into the rear view mirror for the swirl up and around of the leaves as we drive through them. Sigh. 😌 🍁🍂🍃 We have gone on a few nature rambles and plan on a couple of more soon with friends.

How about you? What are you listening to, reading, watching, and noticing? 🖤🍂🍁🍃💀👀♥️🍄🌕

A Mom’s Commonplace {Day 28}

Is there anything more cozy then journaling and journals? 😄♥️ It’s no secret that I’m a journal fanatic! We are trying something different this year in our home learning of combining our multiple journals into one. I’ve had the opportunity to journal alongside my children and it has been such an enriching experience. I don’t often share my children’s work, as that’s their own, but don’t mind sharing what I’ve been recording myself. 😆 So much richness! 😍I’m learning every day right along with my children. I have music lyrics, quotes, drawings, etc in here already! I treasure it. Do you journal?

What you learning or diving deep into? Isn’t life grand? 😄♥️🙌🌿🍄🌻

Wednesday Wonders {Day 27}

ListeningGreat Pumpkin and Harry Potter Ambient Music. I’m also enjoying Nicholas Nickleby audiobook while I follow along in the book.

Reading…I’ve begun a lot of my Victorian TBR, Dickens, Gaskell, and Yonge. but I’ve been enjoying light, cozy stories inbetween. Kiki’s Delivery Service, Thimble Summer, and The Language of Spells.

Watching…I’m back to watching YouTube/or going on Instagram only on Saturdays. It really helps my focus and sanity during the week. A new favorite YouTuber that I can’t wait to watch more of is CleoPatrick.

Noticing…the main thing I’ve noticed lately is that our Barn Swallows are gone. 🥲♥️ We’ve been seeing a few butterflies still and our temperatures are fluctuating a lot. My son saw a “V” of geese on Sunday. We’ve been trying to get outdoors more because we know the cold, snowy is coming.

How about you? What have you been reading, listening to, watching, or noticing? 🍁♥️

Saturday Examen + Homeschool Snapshots ~ first week {Day 20}

Cat fluff + sunshine = happiness 😄♥️🐈✨

“No one ever cared for me like Jesus
His faithful hand has held me all this way
And when I’m old and grey
And all my days
Are numbered on the earth
Let it be known in You alone
My joy was found”

~Stephanie Gretzinger

Song that has been carrying me through this week. 🥹♥️✨

We had a great start to our homeschool year this week. I changed our multiple journals that we’ve used in the past to one (plus a group one) for each of us and that is going very well! We so far are enjoying our books…the clear favorites of the week are our continuing a summer read of Jane of Lantern Hill by LM Montgomery, By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Around the World in 80 Days audiobook by Jules Verne. I attached some things to meal/tea time and it’s working well. I so enjoy reading public library picks with my youngers in spare moments. I’ve worked out a rhythm for working through individual work my youngest to oldest and it’s working wonderfully. We still have some wrinkles to iron out as my 12th grader 😭♥️ is working two days a week this year and we haven’t hit the co ops we are in yet. They start next week! Overall, I’m pleased with the forward motion. How was your week? Bless you as you put your hand to YOUR plow! ♥️✨🌻📚🥰☕️💌🖤

Saturday Examen {Day 15}

“Contemplation is life itself, fully awake, fully active, fully aware that it is alive. It is a spiritual wonder. It is spontaneous awe at the sacredness of life, of being. It is gratitude for life.”

Thomas Merton 🌿

Music for for your weekend . 🌿

Saturday Examen {Day 12}

Lord you have my heart
And I will search for yours
Jesus take my life and lead me on.

Lord you have my heart
And I will search for yours
Let me be to you a sacrifice.

~ from “Lord, You Have My Heart” by Martin Smith

Listen here!

♥️✨~

“ever-widening circles” – Rilke

Inspired by 지민

higher than the sky strangers

worlds apart, working on our art

ripples move outward, crisscrossing

your artistry, smiles, emotion,

dedication challenges me

maybe my covid-fueled

“mild-midlife crisis”

fandom can trickle

down into new fuel

for motherhood

for wifedom

and for my purple-tinged,

idea-driven

lifedom.

~A.M Pine 💜🌲💜

Wednesday Wonders

Day of small things ✨♥️

There is wonder all around us…

Listening…interesting audiobook by Gretchen Rubin and ‘Please Don’t Change’ ~ reminding myself of the unchanging faithfulness of Jesus!

Reading…finishing up the quiet, intriguing Makioka Sisters by Junichio Tanizaki.

Watching…reading journal setup videos! I’m much simpler than this style, but it’s still fun watching others ideas.

Noticing…the Beaver Moon and gorgeous sky lately. Lift up your eyes, friends! ♥️

Beaver Moon behind clouds ✨🖤🌕
Redemption is Nigh ✨♥️🥲🙏

What are you listening to, reading, watching, and noticing? 🖤✨🖤✨🖤

||on my mind||

•flamboyant feet•carhartt clavicles•winged words•living loved•grave gratefulness•pilgrimage path•long lingering•dirt death•soul soup•nourishing newness•single step•ugliness underneath•deep drought•creator’s creation•ravenous ravens•sojourner’s song•brewed breath•crushed comfort•yeasty yearning•hearth hopes•flowers first•purifying poetry•charcoal clinging•silhouetted self•death depth•wayfaring woman•soaked seed•milled manure•winnowed wine•loamy light•cruciform crush•affection advent• “speaking silence”*•indigo image•skeletal skies•seafarer’s seasons•pride pestle•ground grain•peeled pear•juiced joy•

Some of my inspiration:

RM’s song “Wildflower”*, the ritual and smell of grinding coffee, reading Joy Clarkson’s Aggressively Happy, watching a murder of crows in a stubbled corn field, reading Live No Lies by John Mark Comer, the new year approaching, and rereading The Broken Way by Ann Voskamp.