sunshine, coffee, flowers. my sunday morning is starting slow. i’m savoring all the tiny things and moments nature is providing this morning.
and you? how is your sunday going on?
Tag: Photography
Details
“The beauty of life is in small details, not in big events.”
Jim Jarmusch
Hope your day is going well. Stop few minutes and pay attention to the detail of the things around you. It can be the prettiness of the tiny petals inside hibiscus flower if you are in a garden. It can be a small crack in your cup of coffee if you are in the office. It can be the dripping of water from the tap if you are in the kitchen, it can be … so many things that we don’t pay attention in the hurry of getting ‘big’ things done.
Don’t forget: Stop; Breathe; Listen
Hugs,
E.
Sharing with Nurturing Thursday and
Cee’s Flower of the day
Freshness
“Freshness is essential. That makes all the difference.”
Julia Child
We have lots of fresh produce here in Ontario right now. Farmers are everywhere selling their harvest: Blueberries, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, cherries, rhubarb …
Hubby got strawberries and blueberries yesterday. The kitchen smelled freshness as soon as he opened the shopping bag.
Sadly this freshness doesn’t last long. By the end of August, we have to go back to the supermarket and buy fruits and vegetables imported from other countries. These fruits come by ship, so weeks traveling before reaching here. They have almost no taste and zero smell.
Each season has its own offers, so I’m enjoying the freshness of summer!
Hugs,
E.
Gardening
“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature.
To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.”
Voltaire
I’ve to confess that this year I didn’t dirty my hands with soil. Hubby did all the work of adding new soil and seeding the gardens in our backyard.
Now, I’m doing my part. I touch and talk to the plants. I’m nurturing them and at the same time, they are nurturing me. I can’t forget to tell you I’m a tree hugger too!
Have a great Saturday!
Love,
E.
Listening
Taking easy, listening to the wishes of my body. I’ve learned I can’t hurry. I need to stop and check with my body. Listen to all parts of it and respect my limits.
My mantra is STOP, BREATHE AND LISTEN. I put these words together a few years ago. My intention was to listen to the things around me, mostly the sounds of nature. Now I know the most important sounds I need to listen are inside me; in my mind and in my body.
My morning has started slowly. I was still in bed at 9 am! I did heart space meditation that my friend Delicia posted on her blog today. It’s a simple but powerful meditation. You can find it here.
I hadn’t practiced yoga for more than 6 months, today my body asked for it. I felt ready to start this practice that was part of my morning routine for many years. I was surprised at how well my body responded to the poses, of course, they weren’t perfect, but good enough to know that I’m ready to practice yoga again.
Now, after a healthy breakfast, I’m writing this blog post for you. How is your Friday going on?
Love,
E.
Words
Laying down words
From my soul to the paper
Secrets are written
Wishes are made
Sharing with Nurturing Thursday
Trying
Trying to make sense
To go ahead
Without looking back
Fresh
Organic and fresh
Little pleasure
Nature’s gift
Harvested from my garden
Delicious in a salad
June moments
Can you believe today is the last day of June and the half-year is gone by?
Being at home has proportioned me with tiny pleasures that before were reserved only for the weekends.
ENJOYING – I’m spending lots of time in my backyard. I enjoy looking at the flowers and the insects that visit them, like butterflies and dragonflies. Lots of birds visiting my yard as well. We have a birdbath and I love watching them playing in the water.
CREATING – My creativity is low right now, I’m not sure what is going on, but I don’t have any enthusiasm to be in my art room. I managed to make a notebook and few art cards this month.
BAKING – I’m testing new recipes for both baking and cooking. Up to know they have been a success, like this apple cake.
READING – I’m reading a lot, all kinds of books. The library in my city has a great collection of books: old and new. I like to read 2 books at the same time, one fiction and another one non-fiction or poetry.
FOCUSING – On tiny things. Observing details that generally we are too busy to see and be grateful that I have the opportunity to be a witness of the magical nature around me.
Wishing you a lovely July!
“Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” Buddha
My journaling practice
Hello,
I’ve been away from this space for several months because of health issues. I’m back now, I miss this space where I can share my thoughts with you. I’m still recovering, so I’m planning to post once a week and I wish my posts can inspire you. My posts will be about my journaling practice, art journal, books I’m reading, my garden…, beautiful things around me.
Why do I journal?
I’ve been journaling, almost every day, since 2013. Generally, I write 2 to 3 pages in the morning before starting the daily chores. I need to lay down my thoughts on the pages of my notebook to understand my feelings, to answer questions that are floating in my mind and to discern between what is really important to me and the other stuff that I must let go.
I didn’t start to journal without any guidance, I read lots of books about journaling and writing until I settle down with my journaling style. Here, here and here are three books that I keep on my desk as a reference and inspiration for my journaling.
My Journaling style
It isn’t easy to transform our thoughts into written words, at least for me. I need silence and a pleasant environment, so I go down to my studio taking with me a cup of tea. I light one or two candles and I warm my wrists with essential oil. I take few deep breaths and I’m ready to open my notebook and decorate the pages. I use lots of washi tape and clips from magazines.
As inspiration, I use Oracle/Tarot cards or poems/quotes, generally from Rumi and Hafiz or any book I’ve close by.
I believe that our minds keep secret messages from us and writing is a way to discover these messages. I’m always surprised with the messages that come up while I’m writing.
Hope you enjoyed to know a little bit of my journaling practice.
Elizabeth
Tea & Paper 