August toss

A wise person I met in a wellness group, offered up a quick read.  The title is, “There is actually a link between Depression and Clutter”.

Next, I stumbled upon a quote by Joshua Becker, a blogger.  https://www.becomingminimalist.com/about-us/

“The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don’t.”

See where I am going with this? 

Join me, won’t you?

Yes, Marie Kondo’s book is really wonderful and encouraging.  It is just a big bite to take.

Let’s go simple.?  Let’s really accomplish this.

Every single day in August, I am going to toss one thing from my life.

Similar to my walking calendar for the month of June… I am going to reward myself with a butterfly sticker each day that I toss something.  By the end of the month, I will have 31 stickers on my calendar and at least 31 fewer things cluttering my life.

You can certainly toss or give away more than one thing a day, however, the goal is at least one thing EACH day.  Having a big ol fashioned yard sale and selling 31 items will only “count” for one day.  Yes, it will feel great, however, this is also about learning a process.  A small success EACH day.

After walking every single day in June, it has become a habit.  I continue to lace up my sneakers and get out there. Maybe, by tossing (or donating) one item each day for the month, it will become a habit I seek out?

Today, as I flipped open a cookbook, I found 4 loose papers stuck in between two random pages.   I gave a quick look and decided to toss.  Who among us doesn’t have one catalog or magazine on our coffee table that is 4 months old?  Why do I have two vegetable peelers?  Why am I keeping a pair of new shoelaces that don’t fit any shoes we own?

See this is going to be a snap!

For the month of August, I am going to seek out things I no longer need, use or want.  Heck, I could go 4 or 5 days tossing something daily from my make up bag alone!  Don’t get me started on the junk drawer ( we all have one, we all need to clean it out so the drawer will close with ease).  Our garden shed has plenty of cracked plastic plant containers, that alone will keep me on track for a week.

So, come along, please join me.  Just think, by the end of 31 days, we will be lighter in spirit and there will be less clutter around us.

First thing I am tossing?  My grater.  It has a couple of rust spots and I keep meaning to replace that thing.  This is the month!

In this together, friends,

Here’s to a healthier and happier spirit!

 

 

 

 

 

Who’s with me?????

Chat soon.

 

WIP wednesday

I have a cross stitch finish this week and 3 or 4 works in progress.

First, my finish.  I stitched it on a piece of scrap 36 count linen, using my new Yoctosun jewelers magnifying glasses.  36 threads to an inch are tiny to my eyes!

I used the moth motif from the pattern “a walk in the woods” by The Cricket Collection.

I didn’t have any phusis (means “nature” in Greek) pins, so I used a sewing pin instead.

I just love the seventh-grade biology “feel” of this project.  Makes me smile.

 

Next piece is a housewarming gift.  It was the second time and hopefully many, many more to come, I chose to work with Silk thread.  Oh, la la.  Such a beautiful medium.

I stitched the piece on 28 count evenweave. I found this pattern on Etsy.  Paid and printed.  Such a charming shape.

Then I passed it along to my friend, unfinished.

She is an expert at searching Vintage shops and thrift stores for old, crusty, beautiful, great character frames.   Then we will put it all together and give to the new homeowners.  We both get to sign the card.  I love being part of a collaborative project to create such a wonderful gift.

My other work in progress is “Awake My Soul” by La-D-Da.  I am stitching on the palest of blue, 28 count evenweave.   I ran out of thread and it has been ordered.  I am working around those spaces.  I am toying with the idea of adding initials throughout to turn this into a family sampler of sorts.

 

Here’s to creating beautiful things.  I would love to see what you are creating with your hands.  It will be our own private “Show n Share”.

Except when you have to get out the seam ripper and undo a few stitches, may you stitch your stress away.  🙂

In this together, friends,

Chat soon.

tap, tap

As I was driving to my friend’s house to pick her up for a coffee date, I reminded myself out loud, “Don’t stay too long, she is still in pain and a long coffee date might not be beneficial”.  Well, something along those lines.

Basically, Don’t talk too much!

….famous last words.

You see, she is recovering slowly from two broken arms.  Yes, you read that correctly, TWO. I was anxious to see her, I just didn’t want to tucker her out.

Side note:  we are fortunate to have a brand new car.  Saturday, before our coffee date, I practiced driving, parking and changing lanes etc.  I wanted to make sure I could do a good job of taking my friend out for coffee. 

Thanks to Mr. Right, you KNOW the gas tank was full, the car spit spot clean, sparkling inside and out.  You already guessed he made sure I had extra spending loot and he told me to drive safe.

Their home overlooks a huge park where they hold summer festivities.  This time it was a ginormous car show with oodles of people everywhere and not a parking spot in sight.

My friend and her husband were out on their sidewalk waiting for me to pull over.

Anyway, we excitedly said hello, she got in and situated.  Her husband helped her and made sure she was comfortable.  I passed him some fresh eggs and we were set to go.  He told me to drive safe.  He closed the passenger door and tapped the roof two times.

tap, tap.

Off we went to the coffee shop.  Dang, I love that girl.  We have been friends for 44 years.  No, that is not a misprint.  Yes, we have been friends that long.  She has always been a beautiful blond who defies the traditional blond jokes.  There is no joke about how intelligent she is. That girl is wicked smart with a side of humor.  Oh yeah, I am lucky to have her in my tribe.

We enjoyed coffee and shared a treat between talking and talking and talking.  At one time, I had a faint, fleeting thought, “keep it short this time”.  Then I asked how her daughter was and she mentioned they had set the date for their wedding…………….well, settle in folks.   I hadn’t seen a smile on my friends’ face like that in ages!

Happily, down the wedding rabbit hole, we went.

Okay, it really was time to wrap it up and get her home.

I was sad to hug goodbye.   Like we always do, we promised each other we would do it again soon.

I phoned Mr. Right to tell him I was headed home.

As I drove home, like a good ending to a Sherlock Holmes movie,  our coffee date replayed in my mind…. going over details, reliving the goodness.

In my mind, I heard it again.

tap, tap.

Earlier when I heard that, it didn’t register.

tap, tap.

That was her husband’s rough, huge, tough, capable hand on the top of our car.  He’s probably done that over a thousand times in his life.  He was a marine, in Vietnam.  He was a firefighter. He was a paramedic.  He has put so many people in helicopters, ambulances, and aid cars, that he most likely can’t remember the number of times.

I would venture to guess, he doesn’t even think about it.

tap, tap.

The other day, another friend mentioned that when she sees married couples who seem to be happy and thriving in their marriage she asks them, “What’s your secret?”

PSSSSSSST!          I know one of the secrets.

tap, tap.

You know that moment in a wedding ceremony when you promise to love, honor and cherish?

He cherishes her.

The word cherish is a verb and it means to protect and care for (someone) lovingly. 

When he taps the door or top of the car, he is letting the driver know that the passenger is safe, protected and ready to be transported.  ……….Take care of this woman because I cherish her and now I am entrusting that you will protect her while she is with you.

That man cherishes his wife.

You can see it.  You can feel it.

During this time of her having two broken wings, it is a little more noticeable to the rest of us.  He irons her clothes, cooks and cleans and wait for it……he washes her hair.  Swoon, is there anything more sensual, personal and wonderful than when your man washes your hair?  SWEET JUNIE MOON!

If you would like an excellent, well-written book on the topic, I highly recommend the book, “Cherish”.   The author is a childhood friend, Gary Thomas.  https://www.amazon.com/Cherish-Word-Changes-Everything-Marriage/dp/1531834256

So, to answer the question “what is the secret to a thriving, loving, happy marriage”? I am pretty sure one of the answers is to cherish your spouse.

How do I know?

I witness it through watching my friend and her husband.

I witness it through my brother in law and sister in law.

I live a life of feeling cherished every single day and I cherish that man I call Mr. Right.

tap, tap

In this together, friends,

chat soon