I would like to thank all of you for being Followers of Terre’s Blog – Women of All Seasons. Some of you have followed from the very beginning over the past 4 ½ years and I am very appreciative of your support. But as life moves in different directions as it often does… I feel I must close my blog to…well continue down my path of living fully in the moment. I have enjoyed your blogs and have learned much through this experience.
So as I say Goodbye, I wish each of you happiness, good health, and blessings for all good things in your life adventures, including your writing. Take care and farewell. ~ terre
Took a Fall road trip to Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains last week. The autumn leaves are just starting to turn and probably won’t be at peak until close to a couple more weeks. I kept hearing about how they are a little later this year. There are beautiful spots just starting to change colors to hint of what is to come. I was waiting for this doe to turn around, but she too seemed to be intent on looking at the Fall sight in front of her.
“Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful.” ~ William Morris
(As we move closer to winter and being indoors more, I find myself cleaning out and getting rid of stuff. I am kind of like a bird making my nest cozy. Of course, many of them are flying south for the winter which also sounds like a plan. Since the seasons continue to change, I think it is timely to reblog the post below that was one of the first I wrote. I hope you enjoy. I would also like to thank all my followers who have stuck with me through this learning process of doing and learning about this blogging world. — So a huge Thank you! ~ terre )
While it is good to be blessed, some of those blessings that come in forms of “stuff” can become overwhelming! Sometimes a life event such as a birth of a child that you need to make room for, downsizing, or moving to a new house or even office; especially a long distance move, can force you to make some hard decisions about what to keep and what to take. Often this motivation is fueled by the cost to ship, move, or will it fit in the car or trailer. The point is, it may be easier to simplify and de-clutter along your life journey than later when someone accumulating has been in the same house for a long time, say 30 or more years.
A lesson on how to do this efficiently and within budget can probably be learned from our military families who often move frequently. Recently I learned about an intriguing idea that I personally have found useful, especially in letting go of sentimental items that I really do not need to keep any longer. This idea is from the work of Marie Kondo*, author and organizing consultant, who suggests asking yourself does the item bring you joy? If it does not, can you give it “gratitude” for serving you in the past and then let it go?
Yes, I thought “thanking” inanimate objects might seem kind of silly, but I have found it useful for those harder items that I felt I needed to hold onto throughout the years. I have also found that it is better to save sorting through the sentimental items, pictures, and paper files for another day all its own when you are especially ready, time-wise and emotionally to do this. Saving the harder items for another day will not impede your progress “today” when you are really wanting to get some noticeable de-cluttering done. Remember, the goal is to bring you happiness and peace to your space! De-clutter and simplify until you reach your comfort zone.
Comfort zones are individual and may change depending on where we are in life.
Below is a check list to help you in your own goal of simplifying and de-cluttering.
“7 Simple Questions to Help You to De-clutter Your Space”
1. What is it’s purpose in your life?
2. Do you use it? (When was the last time?)
3. Do you need it?
4. Do you really enjoy and appreciate it?
5. Does it have sentimental value?
6. Can you live without it?
7. Can you “Thank” it for serving its purpose and then re-home it? (Pass it on to an admirer of the object, sell, donate, throw it away)
Of course, I am not advocating that you go bare bones. Remember it depends on “your” comfort level. And let’s face it, there are some things that each of us have that we will probably never get rid of as they remind us of another time too precious to forget in our lives. I know for me two items that bring me joy are two tiny pottery treasures made by my sons little hands that continue to hold their place of honor on the mantle. So here is to making your own nest into what makes you comfortable and happy. Live, Love, Laugh, and Learn.
This is a beautiful old door I passed on a dream trip to Rome (2006) that I never thought would ever happen. Each region and city of Italy that I visited was beautiful in its own way. My trip to Rome though was extra special. This is where I was able to add on days at the beginning of my trip (before actually joining the tour). This gave me extra time to explore more in-depth this wonderful city and to make sure to see the sites that I absolutely did not want to miss.
It was here that I learned what ‘Rome was not made in a day’ really means. Whether you are hitting the tourist hot spots such as the Pantheon, Coliseum, or just enjoying a cup of cappuccino, so much of ancient history is still very visible almost everywhere you look. I could not believe that not only could I see the road where Caeser’s chariots drove, but that they were not roped off and I could actually stand where ancient rulers had.
While there I was treated to great music everywhere on the streets, in restaurants, and all around while I also learned how to properly drink and enjoy wine, which is a big deal for someone who doesn’t really drink much at all. So my appreciation of good wine starts here and I still think of Italy with each glass of white wine especially. If you ever get to visit Rome, don’t forget to toss a coin in the baroque Trevi Fountain, so as legend has it, you will hopefully get to visit the eternal city of Rome again. ~
I call this large female Pileated Woodpecker a visitor, but she and her mate appear to have moved in. They are the largest birds we have here regularly (about 16 1/2 inches), besides an occasional visit from a hawk… then everyone scatters, including the squirrels. ~
ISO 1000, 1/250sec. f6.3. 600mm, Nikon, cropped only.
“Write a novel if you must, but think of money as an unlikely accident. Get your reward out of writing it, and try to be content with that.” ~ Pearl S. Buck, (1892 – 1973).
Pearl Buck was a prolific writer and the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1938 for The Good Earth. She was the daughter of missionaries and spent the majority of her formative years in China as well as her early adult life. Her Chinese name is Sai Zhenzhu. She wrote extensively in her novels about the plight of women, the poor, and social injustices.
This image was taken while on a rural road trip through West Virginia. I wasn’t expecting this to be here, so it was a great surprise! The stately rural home is now a museum. It was not only an interesting experience, but educational, and the staff was so welcoming. The natural beauty of this part of West Virginia is so breathtaking and is a journey I would love to take again. Oh, and don’t forget to stop along the way for a slaw dog, a menu specialty throughout West Virginia. ~
