“Freely you have received; freely give.” – Matthew 10:8 This skeleton is part of a Halloween display in our neighborhood — and his hat made me laugh. But it also made me think. A skeleton giving life advice…. Does he have a regret of not being kind enough? Did he give beyond his means? What’s…
Reluctant
C’mon, autumn. Let’s get this party started. (21 of 41)
Wishes for the week ahead
I wish for… Opportunities for rest during the rain. Bits of the extraordinary in the most common situations. (No, seriously. Look at the size of this blueberry. It’s like three normal blueberries combined.) Signs of love, even in the mess. My kitchen was in a state of chaos this weekend, but this little sticky heart…
Breathtaking
I don’t care what performance you’re there to see, the Fox Theater in St. Louis is worth the price of admission based on atmosphere and architecture alone. (19 of 41)
The best validation
“You are the person your dog thinks you are.” That is the sentiment on the front of a greeting card that was given to me by a friend. I cannot think of higher praise than that, so I keep it on my fridge for encouragement. I can only think of perhaps one nicer thing to…
Waiting
“Notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.” — Friedrich Nietzsche This was one from a series of fall photos that popped up in my memories today. I took it exactly one year ago. The leaves have not quite begun their transition yet this year…and it dawned on me that…
Feelin’ Fine
Finnegan. Face. Flower. And a Fall walk with my favorite fur friend. (Brought to you by the letter F.) (16 of 41)
Slow going
Colors are slow to arrive this year. But I’m fully embracing every bit I find. This last one made me laugh. This is literally the only branch on the entire tree that has made the turn. I guess somebody had to go first. (15 of 41)
Valid points
“Can we stop acting like joy has an age limit? If buying a stuffed animal, rewatching cartoons, using a coloring book, collecting cute stationery, or sleeping with a fuzzy blanket brings you peace in this chaotic world, that’s valid. The world is heavy. Bills are real. Burnout is constant. If something soft or silly makes…
Weekend colors
Just a few images from a weekend spent celebrating my mom’s birthday. Beautiful in every way. (13 of 41)
Listen and remember
“Music, at its essence, is what gives us memories. And the longer a song has existed in our lives, the more memories we have of it.” — Stevie Wonder A vivid memory from my childhood was my mom’s record collection. I always loved when she played Anne Murray, the Carpenters, and (especially) the Partridge Family…
Novelty
“Studies show that short, novel experiences — a day trip, an unplanned hike, exploring a new street — boost dopamine and reset mood. You don’t need a vacation. You need interruption. The brain thrives on small doses of novelty. Routine keeps you alive. Novelty makes you feel alive.” I fully support vacations, don’t get me…
Friends
“Money can buy you a fine dog. But only love can make him wag his tail.” – Kinky Friedman There are some great little cut-through paths connecting the streets in our neighborhood that have become part of my regular walks with my dog. These little pathways are lined with tall landscaping and privacy fences, so…
At my doorstep
“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” – Vincent Van Gogh In this case, I found beauty on my front stoop. Something about it stopped me in my tracks. I just thought it was so lovely. (8 of 41)
Fingerprints
“Never apologize for your eccentricities. They’re your fingerprint.” – Diane Keaton A lone tomato ripening on a vine draped over the wrong side of a privacy fence — with a heart-shaped leaf, I might add. A blue rubber duck randomly perched on a curb. An expressive garbage can. A leaf showing off in the sun….
The call
“The world has lost Robert Redford, Jane Goodall, and Diane Keaton in one month. Three extraordinary souls who reminded us what it means to live with purpose. Their legacy is a call…to rise with kindness, to protect what is sacred, to create boldly, and to love without apology. The next chapter belongs to those brave…
Cookie class
Today I taught a few friends how to decorate cookies with royal icing — fall and Halloween-themed. And appropriately enough, this little ghost face formed as I was creating some of the icing colors. What a fun time! I loved being able to share this craft with others and pass along some of what I’ve…
Not even close
“As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas and colours enough to paint the beautiful things I see.” – Vincent van Gogh (4 of 41)
Maybe…
Maybe the clouds and the trees and the flowers all love looking at you, too. (3 of 41)
Hold on there, girl
“I’ve been thinking about the way, when you walk down a crowded aisle, people pull in their legs to let you by. Or how strangers still say “bless you” when someone sneezes, a leftover from the Bubonic plague. “Don’t die,” we are saying. And sometimes, when you spill lemons from your grocery bag, someone else…
Temporal
“We collect moments like we collect anything else — without thinking much about it. A hand reaching across the table. The sound of a name in a particular voice. Morning light that only exists for an hour. None of it keeps. The truth is simpler: Impermanence is not a thief. It is the thing that…
41 days
“In the Bible, it rained for 40 days and nights. Day 41 came and the rain stopped. Moses went up on the mountain for 40 days. On day 41, he received the Ten Commandments. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Year 41, they walked into the Promised Land. Goliath taunted Israel for…
Hello, friend
It seems like I have a barred owl visit at least two or three times a year. I can’t imagine this is the same one from years ago, but who knows. Offspring, perhaps? Either way, I’m happy to see him and he’s very welcome here. He’s been here two days in a row…I’m hoping for…
Rhythms and Reminders
“May you honor the ways you find light and hope in these days. May you find comfort, strength, and rest in the unexpected moments. May you be open to receive everything that God has for you, even if it looks so much simpler and quieter than you expected. “May you cultivate hope on purpose. May…
hey there, friends 