by Kat | Sep 28, 2018 | General, Words
Happy Friday, everyone! We made it through another week and while my list is not entirely finished this morning (I hope yours is!), I am confident that it will be done by the days end! And, so with that list in hand, I am doing a TGIF post today – sans links…and I am sorry if that is what you stop by for on Friday’s.
Thinking About: I continue to contemplate all I learned during the last three weeks of the Busy Boycott. There is so much to consider and “try on” and it will be an ongoing process as I figure out how to implement some of the things I learned about myself in the last few weeks. One thing I know for certain – that “just because I always have” is not a good reason for doing anything. I am excited to see where this leads me!
Grateful For: Time away! And, I mean really grateful! I am really looking forward to spending time away from media and electronics and being present in my life with my kids (and especially with Genevieve!!) The weather forecast is looking seriously wet, but I am not letting that ruin one second of my time in Michigan. **FYI there won’t be any regular blogging during the week – but I will have a post for Unraveled Wednesday for those who like to play along!
Inspired By: The arrival of autumn, a change in the weather, and yes – cooler weather meals! And, I have found some great inspiration on Pinterest for squash!
Fun, fun, fun: I have my list of “things” that I like to do when in Michigan from the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive (and walk!!) to the Empire Hops Festival to visiting some of the new breweries my son says have popped up in Traverse City. This year it includes a Fiber Festival in Leland and a stop at Wool and Honey in Cedar! While, I won’t be posting here every day, you can follow me on Instagram to catch all the fun! Who knows, I might even figure out how to do an Instagram story or two! Ha!
That is all I have for this week – I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
by Kat | Sep 27, 2018 | General, Words
Asking women why they didn’t report their sexual assault right away is akin to asking someone why they didn’t report their own kidnapping – Aparna Nancherla
Today, my thoughts are with Dr. Christine Basley Ford as she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee and while I had hoped to never see a repeat of what happened to Dr. Anita Hill – I fear that is just what will be in store for her today and it makes me so very sad.
I am also thinking about Deborah Rodriguez and Julie Swetnick, too. Their bravery at speaking out is powerful!
I believe them all – entirely, completely, and without any reservation or hesitation.
And, while it seems the tide is turning – that the moral arc of the universe is bending towards justice – we still have a very, very long way to go.
**Photo by Lum3n.com from Pexels
by Kat | Sep 20, 2018 | General, Words
It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about? Henry David Thoreau
This week it is all about redefining busy.
Thing One:
Thanks to Kym, I am focusing on looking at the busyness in my life and I am well into week two of The Busy Boycott. I have been focusing on redefining and protecting my time. This week’s challenge is “do less” and in total honesty I am struggling with this one! Greatly!!
Thing Two:
In this effort to redefine busy in my life, I have been looking at this blog… Are Monday – Friday posts necessary? Do I have something significant to share? Steve had an interesting idea and I am thinking about how to make that work. Lots of things are rambling about my brain and change is coming, but what that change will be I am not exactly sure!
Thing Three:
The final thing I am looking at is Knit Night. While I enjoy getting out and the camaraderie of being with other knitters some weeks Tuesday’s just feel so rushed. So, I am pondering a bi-weekly schedule to see if that will alleviate some of the rushed and harried Tuesday’s.
This exercise in busy has truly been eye opening for me. Are you doing The Busy Boycott? If so, how are you feeling?
Want to see more lists? Head on over to Carole’s!
by Kat | Sep 18, 2018 | General, Words
I have been trying to up my poetry reading this year and this month brings me to the poetry of Michael Longley – a very prolific poet and I am fortunate that my library has a collection of his works. It has been fascinating to read bits and pieces of his work each morning as part of my morning meditations. Longley’s works provide the loveliest way to start the day and I thought I’d share one of the poems I read this week with you.
Northern Lights
by Michael Longley
When you woke me up and showed me through the window
Curtains of silk, luminous smoke, ghost fires,
A convergence of rays above the Black Mountain,
The northern lights became our own magnetic field –
Your hand on my shoulder, your tobacco-y breath
And the solar wind that ruffled your thinning hair.
Happy Tuesday everyone!
by Kat | Sep 13, 2018 | General, Words
I had a moment of panic this morning when I looked at the calendar and realized that we are almost midway though September! Here are some of the things that are on my list this week!
Thing One:
The summer months were so wonderful, and the extended daylight made it so easy to ‘blog in the moment’ and that early morning light worked well for that day’s inspiration. However, darker mornings (as well as the recent spate of grey, rainy days) have really thrown a monkey wrench into that process. I need to get back to Blog Planning and my list includes getting myself back to doing that. Yes, this means less spontaneous posts – but it also means less stress about photos and content for the day!
Thing Two:
Likewise, summer meals also fit into the ‘in the moment’ category with practically no planning at all. However, as we enter fall that same meal spontaneity is not working quite the same. I need to get back on track with some actual meal planning. My list today includes doing some of that so there is a reduction in the recurring ‘what’s for dinner tonight’ conversations where the answer is ‘I have no idea’ LOL.
Thing Three:
Finally, two weeks from tomorrow we head off to Michigan to visit the kids. Two weeks! I need to get my list going! Every year we take way too much stuff. This year, I am hoping to curb that significantly by curating last year’s list. Yes, past me made notes for future me in my journal! Hopefully, this year we will take just the right amount of stuff!
There you have my things for today! What are you planning this fall?
Need more things? Head on over to Carole’s!
by Kat | Sep 6, 2018 | General, Words
Recently, Kym shared some excellent inspiration about checking in on your year. These were excellent reminders for me and have me thinking about some needed “course corrections” to move me back on track.
It is funny how easy it is to think you are on track but when you review where you are you realize that you have drifted off course a bit.
Thing One:
I have let activity slip and have become an expert excuse maker to myself to “make this okay.” And, while walking in gazillion degree heat might not be fun or making time to do Pilates can get lost in the shuffle, these are necessary for feeling good and more importantly – sleeping well – every day!
Thing Two:
The Art of Being Busy can be overwhelming. I moved a couple of things off my “things I have to do list” but I am certain that there is more that I can do so I took Kym’s suggestion and have signed up for the “Busy Boycott” and am really looking forward to the changes this will bring! This challenge starts on Monday – so there is still time to sign up!
Thing Three:
Finally, the change of seasons brings me to closet organization! (This looks really interesting, but I am not sure I am ready for that level of minimalism…yet!!) But, my plan is to begin Operation Closet Reorganization this weekend and focus on it for the next week or so. Yes, I am also being realistic in understanding that this will not be a quick project – which is a challenge in and of itself. I like to tackle things that will be easy to finish, and I tend to avoid things that are not. But, setting the expectation that this will take time will hopefully help the process!
There you have my things for this week! Want to see more interesting things? Head on over to Carole’s!
