from the may quiet (and an apology)…

…or the quiet I am trying to create, I should say. My week’s break from work is nearing it’s end, so I am trying to finish up all of the to-dos I made for myself, slowly accomplishing them since Doug and I returned from a little anniversary get-away. To-dos and breaks don’t seem to go together at first glance, but everything I am doing will make my future days more simple and slow, so it feels good to do right now.

One of those to-dos was moving my newsletter mailing list from Mailchimp (busy! too many options!) to an uncomplicated sending of the every-month-or-so-posts here at my blog to your inbox. Unfortunately, getting that finally in place seemed to send a backlog of my blog posts to my inbox, and probably yours, so I do apologize for that! Inundating is exactly the opposite of what I was going for. : ) But from now on, being on my newsletter list will just mean the receiving of this sort of small note to invite you to come and visit my web-home to read the entirety.

If you’d like to respond, you can just reply to the note, which is easier than commenting. I’ve tried to make commenting straightforward, as I know I often don’t comment at other’s blogs if I have to jump through hoops. Aren’t we all so tired from the hoop-jumping online life seems to require of us? But I know it can still seem like too much trouble. As well, since I’ve been trying to post more regularly here, I have found that the spam comments far outweigh the lovely messages from you. And I became disheartened with my blog-renewal. Sifting through yucky spam comments is just the sort of thing I am trying to banish from my days. In future, here at the blog, I will close comments a few days after posting, before the spammers usually find me.

So the making of these posts into missives you’ve signed up for seems like a wise compromise. I hope you feel so, too. If not, there will always be an unsubscribe button at the bottom of each “postcard from the hedgerow” I send your way. It is, as always, a privilege. I hope this finds you well! It finds me healing from some new/old issues, moving very gently into the ever-so-green world-fully vaccinated, and continuing to try to find and keep my feet on the path of wild simplicity. I am glad to meet you now and then along it.

xo

Lesley

my own quiet energy

Dropping by for a quick hello on this April morning, sharing some photos from the weeks past…all yellow and purple with the early spring. But my world is leafing out now and soon, all will be lush and green, green, green. Last evening, a gentle thunderstorm came along as the sun was setting behind a soft, grey curtain of clouds in the west. Then the sun peeked through and a rainbow appeared in the east and I took my Van Gogh-sunflower-yellow umbrella outside to the garden and stood, while the rain fell and sparkled, Jasper leapt and posed, and the white cherry blossom and deep pink apple blossom buds shone around me. These spring moments are held so dear…

We are in the midst of our slow spring cleaning at Wisteria & Sunshine and I shared this a few days ago, from the book Sweeping Changes…

“There is no need for you to be relentless. It is more a matter of finding the easiness that comes from using your own quiet energy. There’s no need to strive for total cleanliness and purity. Even perfect clarity is not without its problems.”

Some of these photos are from my bedroom spring cleaning, accomplished and now being enjoyed. But my living room refreshing is taking even longer than than the week I had intended for it. I am slowed down for bodily reasons, yes, but it is more a lingering pleasure in the paring down, the caring for and the adding of spring-like touches and layers. I do believe it also has something to do with tending the oldest part of our home…it draws me and feels most…mmmm…home-like. It’s mysterious.

If I could, I would spend all the coming days and weeks and months using my own quiet energy to clear and nurture my home and my garden, my life and my connections. This sort of work is nurturing for me and for whatever I am putting my hands to. As well, it gives me time and space to let my mind find clarity (never perfect!) about so much. As it is, I manage it in between my studio work, my rest and my watching of another episode of whatever British detective show I’ve found to enjoy. : ) But, the world is beginning to open up, as is my small world. In a month I will be fully vaccinated. Tomorrow, Doug and I will venture into town to a small, outdoor market and musical offering. And I’ve received my first invitation to an indoor/outdoor party. Tho’ I have pretty much decided against that one. Twenty people and being sociable on that level feels beyond me at the moment. I’ll stay with my peaceful spring rhythms for as long as I can, I think. As summer approaches and more and more hindrances fall away, that will be the time for opening more to the sun and society…for blooming…in the ways one wants to, at least.