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56. the random Messy Beauty of everyday life
I bought a new photo app for my phone the other day for 99 cents. While playing around with Nofinder (just pushing buttons, in other words) this photo was the fourth one I took. I was shocked. It was...
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61. A Short Treatise on the Accumulation of Material Goods; or, Too Much Stuff
I have stuff. My husband has stuff. We have stuff. Too Much Stuff. Have you heard that song? The lyrics stick in my brain these days and I hum it often –even sing out sometimes — when no one is...
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62. Take a Stand Against Stuff
Dear Readers, I have lots to say about too much stuff. Stuff is taking over my life, and I am taking a stand! In the last post I promised that we would talk about Richard Foster’s suggestions for...
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63. Apple Blossoms, Lilacs, and Birdsong
This is part 3 of several posts discussing Richard Foster’s chapter on Simplicity in Celebration of Discipline. Ahhh, spring! The flowers, the colors, the smells, the birds, the sun… It’s just good for...
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65. More Stuff on Stuff
This is part 4 of several posts discussing Richard Foster’s chapter on Simplicity in Celebration of Discipline. Of the ten practical ways to embrace simplicity in your life that Richard Foster...
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67. Gadget stuff
This is part 5 of several posts discussing Richard Foster’s chapter on Simplicity in Celebration of Discipline. I need want a new IPhone. There is nothing wrong with mine, except it’s old. A 3GS. If...
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75. Listen, your stuff is talking
This is part 7 of several posts discussing Richard Foster‘s chapter on Simplicity in Celebration of Discipline. This past week a group from our church spent four days in Manasquan, Mantoloking, and...
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82. Plus ça change…the circle of life
Life in August and September has been lively: anniversaries, birthdays, the start of school, funerals, a wedding, and two houses that compete for our attention. The start of school means back to work —...
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85. Dithering
We spend a lot of time dithering… Trying to figure out every angle before we start, so we won’t be surprised. It never works, and we just end up with a work stoppage. Yesterday, after a morning of...
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86. Demolishing the strongholds
We strapped on our armor this past week. We were doing battle. Against the creatures who have lived and died in our walls. What is living in the walls of your house? The better question might be...
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88. Stories from Apple Hill
It is the season of giving thanks and remembering our blessings. And while I have much to be thankful for at the cottage (new windows, new insulation, and lower gas bills) today I’m going to be...
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89. Plain, Mundane, and Common
My inbox is filling up with Christmas ideas: Group your Christmas trees together in threes and make a statement. DIY giant Glitter Snowflakes Twelve Days of Cookie recipes 22 best kids’ gifts under...
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90. Blessings on your house
For the rest of Advent and Christmas I will be finishing up my gratitude project for the past year. It was never intended to be anything but for me to document my gratitude and blessings, and help me...
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91. 14 for ’14
Reblogged with additions for 2014. Happy New Year everyone! Thanks for reading. There are two kinds of people in the world: 1. those who would go to Times Square for New Years Eve, and those who...
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98. Holding the phone next to your heart
The orange phone has made it into previous posts. We inherited some kitschy items with the cottage, and in 10. Clara’s Kitsch, I conducted a poll to discover readers’ favorites. The orange phone won by...
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102. The Vintage Firetruck and its story
We’ve been fighting with our stuff these last few weeks. It’s been getting me down. I haven’t written about stuff lately; I’ve been shredding it, organizing it, recycling it, boxing it up, throwing it...
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103. Why Did I Buy This Three Dollar Sign?
Imagine if I hung this sign outside. Who would stop? Strangers? Friends? Would the sign slow down an angry world? Or rust? Would I serve what was needed? Gourmet or comfort or soul food? Or would I,...
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105. Sundays at the Cottage
There’s been much chaos in my life lately…. Dashing between two houses, fixing up one to live in, fixing up one to sell, both of us working jobs, and trying to balance everything? I am failing BIG...
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106. These days…
“The purpose of art is washing the daily dust of life off our souls.” — Pablo Picasso The last few weeks there has been a lot of daily dust on my soul. On my body too, as we sweep the city house clean...
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113. If it’s Worth Doing; or, A Treatise on fixing other people’s mistakes
The DIY era is generally considered a good thing, right? In this age of instant how-to information, anyone can do anything. And lately I’ve been wondering if that is a good thing. I’ve had lots of time...
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