The Friday Recliner ~ October 2nd

Hi friends – welcome to The Friday Recliner

Around here we still do the politically incorrect “pinch and a punch for the first day of the month”. The kids love to catch me out and get in first. I used to tone it down to a kiss and a hug for Livvy when she was little but she preferred the original version. Anyhoo in that spirit I’m sending you a virtual high five and a first day of October hug for yesterday.

The year is marching on (sigh of relief from all) and it continues to remind us good and proper that life is a gift and that love and joy are precious and powerful commodities. Not just a whim or a fancy but the sort of things that can push back darkness in the world. We’ve had to go looking for that joy a bit harder this year, dig a little deeper, not able to rely on the usual distractions and I think were all the fuller and wiser for it.

This week, on the home front we had the gale force winds for a few days taking a bit of our verandah roof with them, followed by the kind of balmy sunny spring days that soothe like a love song. Its a roller coaster friend.

On that note then, lets ease on into the weekend – – –

A Good Word

There are no small pleasures. Pleasure is pleasure and if you can find things to enjoy, it no longer feels small, it feels beautiful.

Mary Pipher

A Good Look

Hang out with a friend. You’ll feel better

A Good Idea

by Shannan Martin

Tidiness is Overrated and Gardens are Lifesavers

I once read that you can tell what a woman is like by the condition of her kitchen sink. I’m not usually a fan of those broad, often condemning quips but in this case it holds water.

(Like my sink), I’m a little gritty, a championship multi-tasker, unbothered by low-grade messiness, and I always have salsa somewhere within reach.

(In the garden) what started as four boxes full of old dirt became a place of comfort and curiosity and dinner. All I can tell you is that the wilder it grows, the more I love it. Much like my family. My neighborhood. My church. My community. Tidiness is overrated. If you don’t believe me, just ask the volunteer cherry tomatoes growing straight through the tangled Cosmos stems, unbothered and somehow better for it.

The Cosmos have bloomed and my little garden is still saving my life.

My mind is spinning, my heart is aching, but walking barefoot across the lawn and nosing around in the dirt always, always helps.

What’s saving your life right now?

A Good Read

What 5 Days at an Archaeological Dig Taught Me About My Lifetime of Stuff

In June of ’17, my family of five had the unique opportunity to travel across the world and participate in a real-live, full-fledged archaeological dig. My parents arranged the trip as their 50th anniversary celebration, and it was an amazing experience.

I thought I’d share the things that went through my head as I scraped dirt into dustpans all day every day for five straight days. I’d just finished (just = days before we left) writing Decluttering at the Speed of Life. That book is about decluttering, so naturally my thoughts went there.

A few things before I share my decluttering analogies:

We were grunt workers for the fifth week of a five-week dig that was the beginning of this “tel” which will likely take years and years to excavate. That means what we saw and experienced was a tiny blip of what will go down at this particular site.
All we did was dig. And carry dirt. And move rocks. And ask lots and lots of questions to the people who were the actual archaeologists and did all the intense tracking and marking and analyzing.
Any archaeological terms I use, may or may not be correct. Sometimes I hear things in a way that’s very different than what the speaker said. Conversing with archaeologists sometimes feels like conversing in a language you don’t speak.
I started writing this post in ’17, but it was overwhelming because there was SO MUCH I’d learned and I couldn’t figure out how to boil it down to one blog post. I happened upon the draft last week (in 2020) and realized it was pretty much complete. Time and distance helped me see what was important – – – – Keep reading

And I love these sweet posts from A Cup of Jo

12 Feel-Good Reader Comments

And the latest from Water into Wine Blog

If Journaling Is Not Your Thing – Try this

Till next week friends, have a beautiful weekend – rest up, do something you love xx

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