Hi friends welcome ! Friday again. You made it ! Three cheers all round !

So I’d love to know – do you have a Friday evening routine. A TV show you love to watch, maybe you take a soak in the bath, make a favourite drink, or there’s a meal you always cook? Maybe all of the above or none. It can be such simple things that help us celebrate the end of our week (whether we feel like we’ve hit a home run or not) and usher in, with wide open arms sometimes, the easier pace of the weekend.  Any special things you do? Take a sec and let me know in the comments below

First things first though  – – –

A Good Word

Image courtesy of Laura Tremaine

A Good Look

Some gorgeous, cozy, comfy, put your feet up and read a novel in one sitting inspiration for you. And maybe sip something delicious too.

More of this loveliness here

A Good Idea

Let the Good Stuff In

from Karen Harrison

She calls me out of the blue to tell me that maybe the  plugin air fresheners are causing my headaches. And then we are discussing the scented candles, lysol wipes and toilet bowl cleaner that make me so happy in life. While she lists the poison ingredients, I stare out my bedroom window, happy that they are open, fresh air pouring in. After a while I commit to make better decisions about what I bring into my home, grateful for her guidance and care for my well being. I treasure this woman so much.

But after I get off the phone, I’m thinking more and more about my home and all the things I allow to come in. It’s interesting when you start making lists of things, what pops up, things you never knew you needed to pay attention to, but now there they are, staring up at you from your paper, waiting for you to respond. What will you do about it? Seriously, I bet there are at least 10 things you allow in your space that have got to go. (not including your husband and crazy cat, they really should stay)

I bet if we made a big pile of all the things, we would gasp. We would be like, holy hannah is this how we live?  And we would rush them out to the back yard for a great big bonfire and watch the neon green and bright blue escape into the atmosphere. We would be horrified. And the burning wouldn’t just be of things, there would be attitudes and belief systems and rebellion and lies too. We would burn it all.

And after the burning, there would be so much beautiful space to allow good things to come in.

Things that wanted to come in, but couldn’t because the other stuff said NO you don’t belong. Well yes you do! My door is open.

Get in here, goodness and loveliness and holiness and peace. Get in here, positive attitude and baked bread and vegetables and unity. Get in here, fresh air, forgiveness and grace. Get in here, friends that care and encourage and love and lift up.

Please come in and stay forever and ever amen.

A Good Read

Two great reads from the New York Times and an easy weekend recipe thrown in for good measure.

‘Father of the Bride,’ the Pandemic and Me

Director Nancy Meyers explains how a sort-of sequel was born amid worry and a desire to help. George Banks would approve.

” I thought I was retired. After 40 years of making movies, I felt done. I was planning to travel more, start reading more. I wanted to buy a hammock. You know, all the regular stuff retired people want to do. Then Covid-19 came to America.

When I heard it had reached Seattle, I feared life was about to change. That’s when I started buying medical supplies, cans of beans, boxes of pasta and jars of almond butter.

It was on March 8 that I thought I had better get that pneumonia shot my doctor had been telling me to get for the past five years. I asked the pharmacist if she’d meet me in the parking lot so I didn’t have to go inside and potentially be near sick people. She kindly came out with the shot on a tray. She wasn’t wearing a mask. But I was. Two of them. I held my breath, got the shot and drove home. I haven’t ventured out much since.

My children say I’m a person who needs a project. Unable to see friends and staying socially distant from my kids and grandkids, I made my home my project. I became a dedicated house cleaner. In May, after two months of mopping, wiping, washing, disinfecting and endlessly buying new cleaning tools on Amazon, I knew I couldn’t go on like this. I needed an escape. I needed to go back to work” – – – Keep reading

How Covid-19 and Power Tools Helped Heal My Relationship With My Son

After I nearly lost him in the darkness of depression, we forged a new bond in glue and sawdust – – – – Read here

ANYTIME PASTA WITH SCALLIONS, PEAS, AND PARMESAN

Now if your like me you may need this bit of info: The difference between scallions, green onions and spring onions is age or the time they grow before being harvested. You can identify them by their bulb— scallions have the thinnest, usually no wider than the onion’s stem, while green onions’ bulbs are slightly larger and spring onions’ are round.

Find the recipe and the fun commentary right  here.

Remember you can browse through the  previous articles and posts linked to in The Friday Recliner right  HERE.

And if you enjoy The Friday Recliner. Copy the link and send to a friend to enjoy as well.

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