Just Life12 Comments

Around Here.

mere2007

I hung the last photo on the Advent tree this morning. We are still waiting for the amaryllis to bloom. The house smells wonderful. Holly’s afternoon walk was delightfully pleasant with breezy blue skies. I’m especially grateful for yesterday’s visit with my sister. We had lunch and watched White Christmas (an annual tradition that took a little break the past two years). Yesterday was even more special because – in an “abundance of caution” – we aren’t going to the big family gathering next week. We are still planning tomorrow with Katie and her family and we’ll get together with … Continue reading Around Here.

Just Life19 Comments

TGIF | Two Weeks Left in 2021.

mere2007

Yeah. Two weeks. and one week from right now, I’ll be watching our church’s Lessons & Carols livestream (or, depending on how long it takes me to write this post, maybe settling in with a glass of wine and putting the finishing touches on whatever we’re having for dinner!) Here’s another look at right now: Thinking about … finishing regular. Emily P. Freeman talked about it on her podcast this week. She walked through five steps – Be Kind, Be Growing, Be Honest, Be Yourself, Be Done – and I realize this is just what I need. I initially thought … Continue reading TGIF | Two Weeks Left in 2021.

Just Life16 Comments

TGIF | Early December.

mere2007

Hello friends and Happy Friday! It’s been a wet, gray day here but not too cold (Marc’s sister who lives in St. Paul just shared that they’re expecting a foot of snow in the next 24 hours – whoa!). I spent the afternoon finishing the first sleeve on Humulus and listening to Stanley Tucci narrate his delicious memoir Taste. Except for church on Sunday morning, I’m not planning to leave the house. Bring on the cozy and the twinkle lights! and a quick reflection on right now through one of my favorite lens: Thinking about … what to knit next. … Continue reading TGIF | Early December.

Books12 Comments

Reading Better | November.

mere2007

Buckle up – it’s another epic post! If you’re not into the numbers, you might want to scroll down a bit – I have a delightful backlist recommendation and some Thoughts on Reading Long Lists. I added 18 books to my Read shelf last month, bringing my YTD total to 192 (Goodreads link). Here are a few more stats from November’s book journal summary page: one-third (6/18) were audio and the other two-thirds, including my three very-favorites, were paper. nearly two-thirds (11/18) were borrowed, and seven were purchased (five “new”, and two “used”) – pretty consistent with previous months. five … Continue reading Reading Better | November.

Just Life9 Comments

Looking Back | November.

mere2007

“…photography: the paying of attention, the capturing of time.” ~ Lauren Groff, Arcadia I usually think of October as our month of crisp, blue skies, and this year, November was the real star. We had the most glorious fall I can remember. It was another month of staying close to home, save the gathering at Katie’s on the 6th to celebrate fall birthdays, and a trip into town on the 18th that afforded that gorgeous cityscape sunset. We had our first freeze and my tires didn’t like the cold one bit – the tire pressure warning light came on the … Continue reading Looking Back | November.

Just Life16 Comments

TGIF | Hello December.

mere2007

TGIF and Hello December! There’s a whole different feel to the holidays this year – all good! – for the first time since 2013 our plans don’t include airports, we have plans to gather indoors (with food!) with family, church is live-streaming Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve, and my mom gifted us waxed amaryllis bulbs (pictured above – so far, I’m a fan!). Thinking about … menus and details for those family gatherings. We have Hannukkah tomorrow with Katie and her family, a family cookie swap on the 18th, Christmas (at Katie’s – just our little family), and the … Continue reading TGIF | Hello December.

Just Life11 Comments

Choose | November 2021.

mere2007

Hello friends! It’s the last Tuesday of November and time for another check-in with my OLW – Choose. If you’ve been reading along with me this month, you know that I’ve focused on Choosing Gratitude. I’ve shared a deep dive into four aspects of my life that regularly inspire gratitude (Dark Early Quiet Time, a Morning Walk, Fiction Matters, and Family). You might also recall that this year’s OLW and the “Choose Gratitude” idea was inspired by Diana Butler Bass’s book Grateful and the Thanksgiving Prayer she shared last year. She shared another thought-provoking post this Thanksgiving suggesting we broaden our … Continue reading Choose | November 2021.

Just Life15 Comments

TGIF | Late November.

mere2007

Hello friends. first, thank you for all your comments on my latest posts. For the benefit of all, no, we did not plan our outfits for that November 14 photo (but we all noticed it – even Marc! and Sara who took the photo) and I love that it was a synchronicity of spirit. and Humulus, whoa, I knew it was popular with my “friends” but I had NO idea what that really meant. Seems like every single one of y’all has either knit that pattern and loved it, or wanted to knit it. and now it’s my turn. Thinking … Continue reading TGIF | Late November.

Just Life15 Comments

Family.

mere2007

I saved the best for last. Today’s dive into gratitude is about family. All of my extended family – save a niece in Nashville and a nephew in Washington DC – live here in Atlanta. We haven’t had the whole family together since 2019, and it likely won’t happen this year, but 2022 shows promise. I’m especially fortunate to have family who are friends. I love getting together with these three ladies (my sister Karen on the left, my mom, and my sister-in-law Lydia on the right). We haven’t found a post-pandemic rhythm to our gatherings, but we are getting … Continue reading Family.

Knitting10 Comments

On the Needles.

mere2007

Hello friends and happy Wednesday! It’s been a while since I paused mid-week to share an update on my knitting – wanna see? First up, the project that has seen no action since November 7 – yep, Shifty. (Ravelry link)I got the second sleeve started that Sunday and then set it aside for a project that required a lot less focus (not gonna lie, all those ends – and that’s just the body – there are even more on the sleeves! … aren’t that exciting either). That would be Caramel (Ravelry link). Inches of 2×2 ribbing with a whole lot … Continue reading On the Needles.