Consider: Second Chances 🌿

If the old earth could wash herself and begin again so often and so humbly, why could not a man do the same?

  • A City of Bells, Elizabeth Goudge

What are motherhood, art, our very life but second chances, beginning again, over and over? ‘Second-chance’ is a term that the book industry labels romances that have the same couple making another attempt at a relationship. This is a very narrow definition. We take second-go-arounds at multiple things DAILY. Our faith walk, being kind, loving on those tough to love, and asking forgiveness over and over again. There are so many wonderful stories and art that when you dig deep, focus on a chance to begin again. I want to focus my attention on a few of these with an expectant heart for what truth the Lord wants to show me. I’m not sure how this will play out as I have so much swirling in my heart. A couple of stories that really jump out to me are Marilla, Matthew, and Anne’s from Anne of Green Gables, Valency from The Blue Castle, Jocelyn from A City of Bells, and Mary from The Scent of Water. All these people have been given a chance to start again or at least begin to truly live. I actually made a huge list of stories from books and films that mean a do-over and fresh mercies to me. I was so surprised by how many of my favorites fall into that category!

2nd ~

my hundredth and one
second chance,
leaves curl into bud
faithfully once again

A.M.Pine 🌲♥️

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? 🖤🍂🍁🍃💀👀♥️🍄🌕

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? 🍁♥️

Wednesday Wonders {Day 9}

Sticker-ed my new prayer journal! 🧡

Listening… I’m interested in learning more about communist history and there’s a readathon on Booktube/Bookstagram in September called RedSeptember. I don’t necessarily follow the prompts etc, but I started early listening to Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang. Fascinating and heart wrenching memoir looking at the cultural revolution in China. I’m hoping to listen to Animal Farm by George Orwell next.

Reading…I’m working hard on Charlotte Mary Yonge’s, Dyvenor Terrace and The Cross by Sigrid Undset. I’d love to finish them by September! The Kristin Lavransdatter saga is so beautifully written, however the story was heavy! I’m going to be processing for awhile.

The Cross

Watching…I recently got The Boy and the Heron from the library and hope to watch it soon. I’m a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki. I’ve heard it’s a bit dark, so want to preview it without children! 😅♥️

Noticing…We saw a ‘V’ of Canada Geese last night! 😭 I noticed a cluster of beautiful brown, amberish colored cones at the tippy tops of our blue spruce trees. Autumn 🍂 is creepy in…🧡🤎🖤

I’m reading this on kindle, but saw this original illustration online! 💕

How about you? What are you listening to, reading, watching, and noticing? 🍂🌿🖤

Wednesday Wonders {Day 3}

Listening… I’ve been loving these playlists! So peaceful and calming.

Reading…This essay from Joy Marie Clarkson and this essay from Carol Hudson! Both have excellent food for thought.

Watching… I love the peaceful atmosphere of Cath’s vlogs. If you love cozy stationary, journaling, or slow reading reflections, her channel is for you. We don’t perfectly line up in reading tastes, but I enjoy her videos so much.

Noticing…the grasshoppers fleeing the edge of the road as I crunch past on my walk. The golden edge to the weeds and fields.

What are you listening to, reading, watching, or noticing? 🥰♥️

Wednesday Wonders 🌿💜🌿

Listening… I’m rereading (listening) to Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury in anticipation of facilitating discussions in our co op High School Literature class. I’m excited to see what the kids think of this one! 😄♥️🌿

Reading…some Voxer friends and I are beginning the third book in Kristin Lavransdatter tale, an epic Norwegian fictional story following one woman’s life during medieval times. Fascinating, beautifully written, but a torturous story in some respects. It will definitely be a favorite of the year for all the religious and moral questions it raises, the immersive setting, and gorgeous nature passages. The story itself is heartbreaking. 💔 I’m so enjoying reading it with a few other ladies and discussing. I’m also continuing on with my Pilgrim at Tinker Creek reread.

Watching… I’m on a bit of a YouTube detox, but I hope to watch some Booktube soon. I’m especially looking forward to this one! Jenna dives deep into what she reads. FYI: haven’t watched yet so can’t vouch for content! 😂😉

Noticing… the way that light glints off things. Little pockets of beauty everywhere.

What are you listening to, reading, watching, or noticing? 🌿♥️🌿💜🌿♥️🌿

Wednesday Wonders

Listening… I really enjoyed Episode S6E85 Morning Time for Moms, Part 4, with Christina Baehr, here. I couldn’t figure out how to directly link. Christina is a cozy fantasy author and homeschooling mom who chatted with Cindy Rollins. Thanks to my friend, Kate, for telling me about it!

Reading… Know & Tell by Karen Glass. I was desperately in need of a refresher on all things Charlotte Mason as I plan our upcoming homeschool year. I’m entering my 15th year of homeschooling. I’m so thankful to God for His faithfulness. 😭♥️🌿

Watching… This YouTube channel about Charlotte Mason homeschooling.

Noticing… raindrops on hollyhock buds, endless blue skies, and the way the barn swallows swoop around me when I’m on the mower. Not to mention the smell of freshly cut grass! 🥰🥰🥰

How ‘bout you? What are you listening to, reading, watching, and noticing? ♥️🌿📚😍

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? 🖤✨🖤✨🖤

Wednesday Wonders 🎃🌓✨

There is wonder all around us…

Listeningslowly to this podcast – lots of food for thought.

Reading… I SO enjoyed Victober and am continuing my Victorian reading. Currently, I’m really enjoying the middle grade mystery, A Girl Called Justice, about a homeschooled girl in England who has to go to a creepy girl’s boarding school after the death of her mother.

Light ✨

Watching…I absolutely adored BBC’s Cranford miniseries and hope to get to Return to Cranford soon.

Noticing… the sky has been so expressive above the gorgeous tree tops.

What have you been listening to, reading, watching, or noticing? ✨🥀🌜🌧️🌤️🌾🍁🍂🍄

Wednesday Wonders

There is wonder all around us…

Listening… I dip into these podcasts, here and there.

Reading… this piece here about what the author learned this summer…thought-provoking .

Watching… really enjoyed Nicole’s footage and her thoughts on her Shakespeare reading journey.

Noticing…the dark lingering longer, the brilliance of the moon, barn swallows are still here, don’t go my friends!

The Golden Circle 🍂🌾🌻

How about you? What are you listening to, reading, watching, or noticing? 🌾🍂🍁🌻🥀🌚🌝🪵🐿️

Wednesday Wonders

Gorgeous illustrations- Longhouse by Hettie Jones

There is wonder all around us…📚☕️♥️🌿🌲🌻

Listening… Johnny Cash – there’s a bit of truth for life I can pull out of this classic. Thinking on it. The things IN my heart are what come out.

Reading… Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain. I’m interested in the history, but the portrayal of Joan is hard to swallow. So saintly she’s a bit bland? 😅 The writing is very flowery which I normally kind of like, but not loving it here. I’m going to see how much I can do by the end of this week and possibly attend Zoom discussion. Has anyone else read this?

Watching… I know very little about the Italian Renaissance. This was a fascinating chat about the history and some nonfiction book recommendations.

Noticing…the shift in the feel of the seasons – the crispness, golden-brown tinge, and gold fields against the blue sky. 🌾🌻☁️🌞🩵💙🤍

What are you listening to, reading, watching, and noticing? 🧡🤎🤍🩵💙

Wednesday Wonders

There is wonder all around us…

Listening… Risking Enchantment episode on Studio Ghibli themes. ♥️🍃

Reading… I’m loving reading along with the Librivox audio to Jerome K. Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of The Dog) . This is a hilarious Victorian story full of sarcasm and British wit. I’m really enjoying it. I hope to finish it this week so I can attend a Zoom discussion on it.

Watching… I found Half of Carla’s tips here about reducing stress to be helpful!

Noticing…we’ve had a super dry summer, but are having a high humidity wave currently. I love the warmth, but it’s not fun to work in! I’m loving the mixture of yellows and purples on the roadsides. Late summer flowers. ♥️

What are you listening to, reading, watching, and noticing? There is so much wonder! ♥️

🍃♥️📚🕊️💦☀️📚♥️