Observation – Small Simple Things of Life

Choose Joy

October 1, 2021September 30, 2021 Beth

The phrase "Choose Joy" is a common one; we hear it and see it frequently. It really is true. We have to choose joy because it doesn't come find us and choose to inhabit our thoughts. When I saw this cutzie Halloween season mug it gave me joy, so I choose it and brought it… Continue reading Choose Joy

Observation

Close to home

March 28, 2021 Beth

In the Spring 2021 AAA Explorer magazine travel essayist Pico Iver shares a discovery that came to him and his wife as a result of the COVID lockdown. In The Wonders Close to Home he provides an enjoyable narrative of beginning the practice of taking walks with his wife in their Japanese neighborhood where they have… Continue reading Close to home

Observation

Deciphering Changes That I Don’t Want To Make

March 17, 2021 Beth

I saw down this afternoon to start a post, but instead found myself extremely frustrated with Word Press. If you use WP then you know about the Block Editor. I know about it, but haven't devoted time to learn to use it. I still switch back to Classic Editor. However, today Classic was MIA and… Continue reading Deciphering Changes That I Don’t Want To Make

Observation, Seasons, winter

Winter

February 28, 2021 Beth

Winter appears to be almost over where I live. We've had 3 snow falls and record breaking cold in spite of the fact that it was predicted to be a La Nina winter with warmer temperatures and dry conditions. We certainly had (and continue to have) very dry conditions, otherwise, La Nina went elsewhere. Oh,… Continue reading Winter

Observation, Seasons

Almost Gone

August 30, 2020 Beth

One more day and August 2020 will be finished and we will turn the calendar to September. As we all know, nothing will change and we will move through another month just as we always have done. However, this year it seems that August has been a blur, a very fast blur. I haven't felt… Continue reading Almost Gone

Observation

The Time Drainer

July 21, 2020July 21, 2020 Beth

Being informed is a virtue. It helps us make better decisions and encourages us to take action. Getting hooked on an endless scroll of media inputs is not the same as being informed. There’s long been a business model of urgent news (“man bites dog!”), but now it’s been leveraged, amplified and optimized to suck… Continue reading The Time Drainer

Observation

A Story About Completing Projects

June 9, 2020 Beth

Just before everything had to shut down in March I saw this beautiful pink floral fabric in a local quilt store. I passed it by as I had no project to use it for and no need to continue to stockpile (hoard) fabric. I kept thinking about it and just before the shut down went… Continue reading A Story About Completing Projects

Observation

An Esperanza Sunday

May 3, 2020 Beth

From time to time I have what I call "church in the park" on Sunday morning. I load up one of the dogs, water bottles, and we head to San Pedro Springs Park. On Sunday morning there are only a few people out and about, much like I am, walking their dog and getting a… Continue reading An Esperanza Sunday

Observation

The 10 year re-start

March 25, 2020 Beth

As I started to write this post I realized that exactly ten years ago today, March 25, 2010, I created the Small Simple Things of Life blog on BlogSpot. Today I had the intention of writing a post on the practice of restarting something that's been abandoned for a period of time, mainly this… Continue reading The 10 year re-start

Observation

Survival and/or Sensibility

March 14, 2020 Beth

This afternoon I was thinking about the craziness going on in our grocery stores right now when I remembered the book of World War II rationing coupons my sister and I found in some of my Mother's papers when we were cleaning out her house. I'm sure my Mother had found this memento in my… Continue reading Survival and/or Sensibility