Nothing is so lovely as a quietly snoring dog and some evening Brahms, as you sit in a comfortably overstuffed chair with your feet on the footstool.
I tell myself to slow down and appreciate the now. Still, the cool and darkening days leave me with a desire to put up the new non-traditional Christmas tree (it’s taller than the simple Charlie Brown birch tree of last season, but otherwise exactly the same). It’s not technically a Christmas tree so I think I could pull it off. But I won’t. Not yet. At least not until November.
For now, the outdoor furniture and pots have been put away, the garden is barren but for Swiss chard. A paper bag with garlic bulbs in it waits by the back door for planting. My cozy reading socks have come out, and I’ve switched up the clothes in my closet. I bought a pair of shoes (shoes!), and my flip-flops and ballet flats have given way to socks and shoes.
I’m embracing the change this year; settling in and getting comfortable, like I have done with this age and stage of life. It’s a good life. It’s not always easy, and there are still burdens and concerns, but overall it’s a very good life. As my granddaughter says: hashtag blessed.
That’s the view from here.
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Today, gathering with my Bible study women, and anticipating the delivery of a new book, On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life Through Great Books. I can’t wait to brew a cup of licorice tea, pull on my reading socks, and curl up under a quilt with it.
This pooch photo is the cutest thing I’ve seen all week. Bless you.
Bless you too, my friend. Hope you’re having a great week.
So much to comment on your LOVELY post here. Hashtag: blessed. Love that! And your pooch – so cuddly and sweet. And the idea of us accepting the seasonal change, embracing it. I have a hard time doing that (being a Californian in many ways, now in New England). Plus, this Fall has been so warm here! Yesterday it was 80+ and humid. Last weekend we needed to have a fire in the fireplace. Hard to settle into one season. But embracing ourselves and others with love and acceptance – I hope to do that every day.
Oh my yes. It must be a challenge to embrace any season with temperature fluctuations like that! As you say so well “embracing ourselves and others with love and acceptance” is one, and arguably the best, way we can live each good day to,the fullest. Thank you for the reminder.