cff April 2015 | Simple and Serene Living

Friday, April 24, 2015

SMALL SPACE PATIO GARDENING

Many people who live in small spaces also have small outdoor spaces. It may be a patio, porch, or if they are lucky a small yard. 

Even though these spaces are small, there is no reason for them to not be beautiful. One person who does an excellent job with this is Brenda at Cozy Little House. She definitely doesn't let her small patio space stop her from enjoying her passion for gardening. 

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It is filled with flowers, herbs, and critters.

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This wonderful space is a narrow city townhouse garden. The owners have imbued it with a variety of potted and in ground plantings, along with pea gravel and pavers. 

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If there is enough light on your patio, it can also be a great place to grow vegetables.

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When you have a small indoor space extending that space to the outdoors can make it seem much larger.

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I would be happy with any of these spaces. Love this time of year.



Monday, April 20, 2015

SHARE YOUR LIGHT

We are often fearful that if we share our light, it will somehow diminish us, but the opposite is true.


When we share our light with others the light spreads out and soon it lights up much more of the world. 

So don't hide your wonderful light and don't be afraid to share it. You will find that not only are you enriched, but those that you have shared it with are enriched also. 

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P.S. There is more Inspiration on a Monday here.

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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

A WALK IN THE MOUNTAINS


I can't imagine anything more wonderful than a walk through the woods, up in the mountains, on a beautiful spring day. 

A well worn path calls my name.


Soft light filters through the trees. A rustic bench provides a quiet place to rest. To listen as the birds call to their mates. Spring has arrived in the mountains and nature is awakening.


Prehistoric rock formations hover over my head as if defying gravity. The elements have carved lines on their faces, speaking of wind, rain, and snow. 


As I step out from under the trees there is a silence so profound I can almost imagine I have been left alone in the world.


The path winds far below me, and I know that it is for another day. For now, I know I am on the path that is right for me.





Monday, April 6, 2015

LIFE IS LIKE A RIVER

Yesterday was spent enjoying the warm sunshine along the Red River in the Kentucky mountains. The recent heavy rains caused the river to overflow its banks in many places creating what looked like acres of new lakes in some places and bringing down trees and rocks in others. 


Life is like a river. As we move through it we watch it spread out around us, twist and turn, bring things crashing down at times, and roar and splash as it makes its way around hurdles in search of a serene and smooth path.


Just like a river we may find that our lives take a different path than what we originally planned, and just as a river does we must create our own paths.


Because the path that is truly ours will lead us to a simple and serene life.


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P.S. Check out more Inspiration on a Monday

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Friday, April 3, 2015

I NEED TO BORROW SOME WATER WINGS


Rain rain go away
Come again another day
Little Laura wants to play
Rain rain go away

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I am happy it isn't snow, but when I was startled out of a sound sleep at 4:30 this morning with a National Weather Emergency alert I wasn't happy. My first thought was that we were having a tornado and I was ready to head for cover, but then they said it was a flood warning. Really!!! Do I look like I am out driving in the middle of the night. SIGH!!! 

It was then I heard a steady plunk, plunk, plunk that sounded suspiciously like it was in my bedroom. Feeling quite certain that I was mistaken I rolled over and tried to get back to sleep. That was when I heard something hit my blinds. With one eye open I turned on a light and saw that the frame above the window was leaking and plaster was falling off. That was the end of sleeping. SIGH!!!


I'm thinking I might need that row boat I featured in my last post here, as it rained 5" overnight and is supposed to rain the rest of the day. Or maybe I could dig out those thirty year old water wings my children used to wear. Surely they would keep me afloat. 

Seems like a good day for making mud pies and building dams in the gutter. Did anyone else do that when they were kids. We didn't need a lot of fancy toys back then. Nature provided us with plenty of resources for creative play.

Maybe I need a nap before I think about heading out. Then I can look around for some water wings, a snorkel, and oxygen tanks. (I'll need the oxygen after digging around in the garage).

Hope everyone has a wonderful Good Friday. Stay dry wherever you are. 

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