Absolutely, positively, certainly 2016
I’m still here. Hope you’re still there! Another reblog; originally posted on November 27, 2012:
Fresh flowers bought for a few dollars at the Kroger markdown bin give us days of enjoyment, and lift my spirits every time I come into the kitchen. Here’s to inexpensive joys!
“In our rush for newer, quicker, better, we seem to be missing out on what we fundamentally crave, a calmer, gentler, sweeter and more gracious life. Is it easy to achieve such a life? Definitely not. Is it possible? Absolutely, positively, certainly, yes. (Don’t look for impossible from me; I’ve never found a solution in cynicism.)”
— Alexandra Stoddard
I’ve always loved Alexandra Stoddard’s writing. Her words are calm, measured, and unfailingly optimistic, and she understands that life is a gift to be treasured in all circumstances. As we struggle with the toughest challenges, we find renewal in seeking for good wherever it can be found. May your day be blessed with eyes, heart and mind sharply focused on the abundance all around us.
This post was first published seven years ago today. The original post, comments and photo are linked, along with two other related posts, below. These links to related posts, and their thumbnail photos, do not appear in the blog feed; they are only visible when viewing the individual posts by clicking on each one. I have no idea why, nor do I know how they choose the related posts. That’s just the way WordPress does things.
- Posted in: Uncategorized
- Tagged: beauty, flowers, home, joy, mindfulness, optimism, simple pleasures
Defeat Despair 
Good morning, Julia!
The night before it first frosted a few weeks ago, I picked every remaining lively bloom, and as many large, unopened buds. The blooms have long since gone, but amazingly, many buds have opened into smaller blossoms. I may have a few days enjoyment of these, yet, as long as the kitten doesn’t take EVERY ONE of them out of the vase, like he did yesterday! Crazy kitten.
I’m sure I’ll be joining you at the markdown bin soon!
Hi Susan, I’m so frightfully late getting to these comments, that by now you will have learned the fate of those blossoms. Enjoy your crazy kitty! They are lovable even when maddening.
Happy Thanksgiving Julia, my dear friend! I so appreciate the Thanksgiving postcard and the thoughtfulness, always.
We have 2 new great grandchildren at our Thanksgiving table this year. Baby Kya Gray is 6 months old and Baby Wells was welcomed just 6 weeks ago! Granddaughter Emma was married last weekend in Loganville, GA, her hometown now, and another great grandson will be born there in February. Our Vann clan is growing! Just a little update there.
I hope this finds you doing well. We are long overdue for a Verandah visit, pass the sweet tea! The road to a friend’s house is never long! 🧡🍁
Hello dear friend, I have a long-overdue thank you coming your way (postally) in the near future, I hope. Congratulations on the newest members of the Vann clan! And yes, put the kettle on for that long-overdue Verandah visit. So much to catch up on, I will hardly know where to start…
Rereading Alexandra Stoddard’s words, I’m reminded of how blessed we are by women who write Just imagine if women kept their ideas to themselves – that would be sad!
I’m so glad we have these women authors, and look forward to the day when women everywhere are free to share their ideas and opinions.
Yes, Susan, women writers share a long and proud tradition, nowhere more so than in my native South. And not everything is getting better in this woe-filled world, but I do believe that one improvement we now see is the ability of women from all cultures to be published and read worldwide. Surely that’s a step forward that is worth celebrating.