Photo Phriday

For the past three years we've had a family of robins making their nests in our backyard. Two years ago is was lodged in a space between our house and a climbing rose bush. Last year (and completely unaware) they made their home in our Japanese Maple near the back of the yard. This year they choose to nestle in some English Ivy we have climbing outside our kitchen window. This makes for nice entertainment while I am drinking my coffee in the morning or straightening up after dinner in the evening. Another benefit of this is being able to see that the babies have been hatched and are dutifully being attended to by their mother and father.

My photo for this Photo Phriday is of our three new house guests sleeping while mom is away gathering the next meal.

Happiness...

I have been absent for a few days. Sorry. I will do my very best to get back into my regular routine soon; hopefully tomorrow. And who knows, maybe there will be some new content.

More on that a bit later.

I have made it a focus of this year, and all my years yet to come, to strive for happiness. Not that I am not happy, but I can be happier and I can work to sustain happiness for longer periods of time. Happiness is our right, you know, "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." But it is also a choice. We have to choose to be happy. Then we have to choose to work towards being happy. And this requires choices. It may mean changes in lifestyles or habits. But the changes are worth it. As I have come to realize, and perhaps have written before, I have fewer and fewer "one of these days left in me", so perhaps I had better make the choices that lead to more happiness now!

But right now I just wanted to share a quote I reread this morning. It is comes from January 2011 issue of Real Simple magazine (I really like this magazine). The quote is:

"Happiness comes in small moments while you're pursuing the big stuff. After a while, the small moments become the point."

~ Marcia Menter

On this chilly Saturday morning, I wish for you and myself, many small moments.

Something On A Sunday

Hall House 07.06.08

I appreciate interesting interior design. I don't think I am that good at it, but I have an appreciation for those who are. I tend to alternate between a nicely cluttered home or one that is ordered, much in the style of Feng Shui.

One goal I have set for myself in this new year is to downsize and simplify. But in doing so I don't want to lose the essential essence of how I live and how I interact with my family. What am I getting at? I had a conversation with a good friend a few weeks back and the subject of downsizing and simplifying came up. He asked me about my memories of growing up with my parents and grandparents and the feelings I had for their homes. I recall that they had the feeling of being lived in and not museum pieces. Then he asked, "What do you think your grandchildren will remember best, a home that is cluttered with all the things that reflect who you are and make your life what it is, or a home that is Feng Shui?"

He made a good point.

I still will strive to downsize and to simplify, simple because it is needed. But in doing so, I will be mindful not to give up what makes our house a home; not to lose who we are.