simplicity and ivory soap

I've always associated memories with scents. Yesterday I was brought back to Sunday night baths as a kid after getting all dirty playing outside in the yard. The scent of Ivory soap. What a flashback. I loved it. Reminded me of making mudpies, playing in the woods in the yard, riding bikes, boat rides, laying in the grass, climbing the pine tree in the front yard, or the apple tree. Simpler times. The label on the soap even read...

"Simplicity is the essence of happiness."

Upon looking closer I found that each bar of soap in the pack has a different "simple" statement.

The next bar reads...

"The road to a friend's house is never long, and the directions are simple."

How nice! A wonderful reminder of my "one little word" this year...

SIMPLICITY.

monday gratitudes

Today I am grateful for...

• houseplants
• how owls remind me of Grammy
• sun
• the end of the semester
• students who make my job amazing
• strawberries & blackberries
• good coffee
• time in the morning
• sun in the window
• sleep
• late night talks
• container gardens
• knitting
• my sister
• support
• my laptop
• lemonade

Off to the college for another "last class" of the semester. Have lots of grading to do and things to wrap up. Loving this summer-like weather! It makes me happy. Finally caught up on some of my sleep though I went to bed much too late.

Thinking of stopping at Barnes & Noble on the way to work. Need a good, somewhat light book to read. Any suggestions?

Happy Monday!

summer in spring

flowering tree - April 2009

It has been a very long week and not-so-great start to the weekend but all is good now. I have some errands and stuff to catch up on today before the start of another very busy week with end of the semester/graduation stuff coming up. We have truly had summer in spring here in Massachusetts. I got some new chair cushions yesterday and hope to get a side table for my balcony today. Now that all our bags of belongings are off the balcony and {mostly} put away I can fix it up like I did last year. I'd like to get a few flowers out there too today. It sounds like this nice weather, though cooler, is going to continue this week. Yesterday was my 1st official "flip-flop-wearing-day." Yeah! Definately a mood booster. Well...off to finish laundry and get some other things done before I go out.

Happy Sunday!

Patriot's Day Gratitude List

Today I am grateful for..

• Patriot's Day
• memories of going to Aunt Esta's to watch the Boston Marathon for my entire childhood
• the sunday knitting circle.
• walks in the woods.
• birds singing.
• pens.
• music.
• normalcy returning.
• chicken pot pie.
• clean sheets and pillowcases.
• inspiration to get me through
• planting flowers and veggies on my balcony to look forward to.
• my parents being good and present when I was growing up.
• colors.
• "In Memory" at the Vietnam Wall and Uncle Lauri.

Happy Monday!

sunny sunday

shades of grey - beach rocks ~ April 2009

Putting the some of our pieces of our apartment back together after getting word from the ext that we can start putting our stuff away. I'm nervous the problem will come back or not be gone. But SO EXCITED to be living {somewhat} normally again after almost 4 months!

Also have a pile...or I should say box...of papers/journals to read and grade for my classes I teach. Plus 7 senior theses to read in prep for watching thier presentations on Friday.

Lots of work.

Didn't get as much done yesterday as I wanted to {needed to}. So today I will do more. Also going to my weekly knitting circle at my LYS after visiting my family. I haven't done much knitting all week. So I'm looking forward to working on my sweater.

But for now...off to start cleaning!

Happy Sunday!

stop. slow down. be present.

An empty beach

Today was such a busy, rushed day. I rushed through a busy day at work. Rushed to get home and cook a quick supper before Cary went off to work. Rushed.

I needed to stop. Breathe. I told myself I would do that today.

So after he left I took a walk down the boulevard. It was so cold with the wind off the water. Refreshing though. I sat on a quiet rock for few minutes. Then exercised with the rest of my walk. Saw people walking their dogs. A Husky playing catch along the water edge. Saw boats coming in. The tide washing in on the rocks. People walking after thier days. Cars going by. The sun getting lower. The wind getting colder.

It helped me to slow down even by walking quickly in the wind.

Noticing things around me. Feeling present. Prioritizing what is important. Wishing I hadn't rushed through cooking supper and didn't really just enjoy the little time I had to spend with Cary. Wishing I had not been so frantic to get "things done."

I will do better tomorrow...

monday gratitudes

Today I am grateful for...

1. Spring flowers in the house. Tulips & Daffodils make me happy.
2. English Muffins with butter.
3. Starbucks coffee in my Easter basket.
4. Piles and piles of Easter candy.
5. A late start to my Monday.
6. A more relaxed Monday as compared to last week.
7. The sun.
8. My family.
9. Blue Willow china.
10. My contacts.
11. Running water.
12. Faith.
13. My co-workers at the college.
14. The time I have with Cary before he goes to AL.
15. Dishwashers.

Happy Monday!