One Of The Ways I Combat Daily Stress

I've always been a big fan of Aromatherapy. It started many years ago, when my children were babies and I went through one of the most stressful times in my life. 

That's a story for another day, but suffice it to say, I used Aromatherapy regularly as one of the things that got me through that terrible time.  Candles, essential oils, linen mists, body sprays and lotions....you name it, if it was scented with essential oils, I used it.  It's amazing how a particular scent can lift your mood or calm your mind.

Oh, and then there was wine. That helped, too.

Life Is A Gift...Focus On The Present

As a gardener, I think I am always looking for what's blooming next. What's budding. What's doing well. What didn't work. What did better last year. 

Sometimes I think I look right past what's blooming now. 

Real Life and The Little Things

It truly is the little things, isn't it?

They add up to create a space and a life that makes us happy. 

Finding the Balance

My little mountain top house has been a busy one lately. 

For many, summer is a time to slow down and take it easy. The lazy days of summer. 

For me? Not so much. 

Happiness

There are so many things right now that just make me want to do a happy dance - isn't that just the best feeling? 

Simple things that make me grab the camera and try to capture the moment forever. 

Counting My Blessings

We had a crazy thunderstorm yesterday evening which is not common for us at this time of year. Normally our thunderstorms are in late spring and summer. 

It all goes hand in hand with this bizarre weather we've been having.

Coming Home

My favorite part of the day is coming home. I finish up at the office, drive the short trip home up my beautiful country road, and pull into my garage. 

I'm home. 

I put my key into the lock at the kitchen door and I hear the pups raising a racket downstairs. 

One of My Favorite Books of All Time!

As you can tell by my last few posts I'm getting a little itchy for spring. I'm excited to see what plants survived the winter and to put some more work into my new garden. 

However, I still have a long way to go until it's time. 

One of the things that will tide me over until I can get my fingers in the dirt is reading my gardening magazines and getting ideas. And, of course, browsing around online. 

I just renewed my subscription to Garden Gate Magazine for 2 more years and I can't wait until the next issue arrives!

But as it gets closer and closer to spring the thing that really gets me in the mood to get out there and play in the dirt is reading my favorite book. 

I have to tell you outright, this is not a sponsored post, nor is it an affiliated post. I just truly love this book. 

Out in the Garden - Growing a Beautiful Life

I found Dean Riddle's book quite by accident the first year I moved up to the country from New York City. I was browsing around in a little village called Phoenicia and wandered into a super cute home store called The Tender Land Home.  The book was on display and I snatched up a copy to give it a read. 

And I was completely and totally hooked. 

The author, at the time of writing, was splitting his time between an apartment in NYC and a small rental cottage near Phoenicia. Despite not owning the cottage he put in the most lovely garden that has been featured in many, many publications through the years. 

Dean Riddle's Garden

I was fortunate enough to visit Dean's garden during a garden tour that first summer I lived in the Catskills and I fell instantly in love. I could very easily spend every waking moment in that garden and never grow tired of it. 

Dean's book is about so much more than just gardening. It's very much about the connection between yourself and the environment around you. He has been living simply and mindfully for many years, and inspires me greatly to do the same. He embraces the beauty around him and the quiet simplicity of a country life. 

Dean Riddle's Garden When Dormant

Dean's garden is equally beautiful when at rest, which is the hallmark of a truly talented gardener. 

Dean Riddle's Garden When Flowering

When it's in flower the garden is beyond beautiful. It's a riot of color and texture - I could spend hours examining every plant, every combination of color and form. 

Dean Riddle's Garden

Dean's writing is beautiful and poetic and he weaves stories of his life among stories of his garden and humble home in the Catskills. 

I hope to be able to incorporate even a small portion of Dean's incredible garden style into my new garden. 

And I hope that you give Dean's book a read. 

And that when you turn that final page you put the book down with a sigh and the urge to read it all again from page one. 

I'm very much looking forward to my pre-spring ritual. 

What's yours?

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Friday Weigh In and Happy Things

The Irish believe that things happen in threes. 

Bad things tend to happen in threes. 

But good things also happen in threes. 

Last night when I got home from work there were three deer in my back garden. I was happy to see them as I had been hearing the hunters in the woods not so long ago. 

This morning when I was leaving for work there were three turkeys at the end of my lane. Which is rather unusual as they generally travel in much larger groups, known as a rafter of turkeys. 

And this morning when I weighed in (remember, Friday is weigh in day!) I lost exactly three pounds. 

YIPPEEEEEEEEEE!!

Is there some significance in the number 3 on this day? I don' t know. 

But I was happy. 

I feel much better than I did at the start of the year. 

My body is no longer craving cookies. Instead it craves fruit and greens. And whole grains. 

Yes, I still eat cheese. 

Yes, I still drink wine. 

But I have been trying to eat more whole foods and stay away from processed foods. I still eat 'regular' dinners - I just eat smaller portions. 

I am mindful of what I am putting in my body. 

And it's working. I'm down 7.4 lbs so far this month. And I feel so much better for it!

Other things that made me happy on this beautiful morning:

The sunshine through the kitchen window making the bottles glow. 

The daffodil that my daughter brought home from Trader Joe's last night and put in the kitchen window to make me smile. The rest are in her room. She adores daffodils!

The new fridge magnet the pups bought me for Christmas. Bold little furbabies!

And the one I bought for myself! Ha ha, I could have written this one!

The way the sun was streaming in the guest room window this morning. No wonder those plants are so happy!

The reflection of the Swiss Dot Sheers on the Big Green Monster. I have always, ALWAYS loved Swiss Dot Sheers on my windows!  And my paperwhites are starting to respond to all that morning sunshine. 

And both horses came to my bedroom window to say good morning on this fine day. 

What made you smile today? 

Motivation for a Healthier Lifestyle

So many of us are trying to move towards a healthier lifestyle, and of course the New Year is a great time to start. 

Via

But really and truly, any time is a great time to start. 

Any movement is better than no movement. 

Each and every healthy choice is an improvement over an unhealthy choice. 

Via

I really wanted to bring the leftover meatloaf for lunch today. But one of the things that works for me when I am on Weight Watchers is to keep my points super low throughout the day so I can enjoy a 'normal' dinner in the evening and a glass of wine. 

I'm also trying to incorporate more fruits and veggies into my meals as I feel I stepped away from that for a little while. 

Via

So, despite the meatloaf craving I took the time this  morning before work to prepare a spinach salad: baby spinach, scallions, tomatoes, sliced boiled egg, crumbled bacon, and Gorgonzola. Light on the bacon (1/2 slice, crumbled) and light on the Gorgonzola. A drizzle of olive oil, some mango balsamic, salt and pepper. 

It's not meatloaf but it's a mighty good salad. And in the end, my body will thank me for it. 

Via

Since I was struggling with the battle of the meatloaf I know many of you out there who are also trying to embrace a healthier lifestyle may also be struggling. 

Together we can work to motivate each other. Together we are incredibly powerful. 

Little changes can make a big difference. 

Via

We can do this. 

We WILL do this. 

Via

We can do it together. 

Who's in?


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Mindful

There have been a number of bloggers out there writing of "words" they select for the year ahead. Honestly, I never do that, and I had no intention of doing it this year either. 

Until I read Stacey's blog post yesterday.  Have you met Stacey over at Poofing the Pillows? Not only is she a kind and wonderful person but her blog is ever so inspiring! 

Stacey wrote a post about her word of the year for 2016. And at the end she asked her readers to share their word of the year. 

Immediately my thoughts went to "mindful."  And that word stuck in my brain and lodged itself there, good and proper. 

And I woke up thinking about it this morning. 

Isn't that what I've been trying to do with my goals for 2016? To sum it all up in one word, am I not trying to be more mindful? 

Mindful of what I eat. 

Mindful of my body and it's needs. 

Mindful of knowing exactly where my food comes from. 

Mindful of living a more simple life, bringing it back to basics. 

Mindful of taking time for me. 

Mindful of my spending. 

Mindful of the earth and how we respect it. 

Mindful of the people around me and their thoughts and feelings. 

Mindful of the beauty to be found all around me in simple, everyday moments. 

So I guess I officially have a word for 2016. 

And you know what? I'm excited!

It's a very, very good word. 

Mindful.