Daily Peace: Have Patience

"Have patience with all things but first with yourself.
Never confuse your mistakes with your value
as a human being.  "
- St. Francis De Sales

This was my message in my "Daily Peace" book today. It was one I needed to read. Lately I have been so impatient with myself. I have also been hard on myself for silly mistakes I have made. I have been discouraged with myself because I have set too high of goals for myself.  I need to find patience and peace within myself even when I don't reach my goals or even when I make silly mistakes. After all, I am human. Repeat to self, I am human.

The Shed Notebook: Winter Keeping Away Spring

According to the calendar, spring does not officially begin until March 20th.  Around these parts people are ready for spring to begin today. Weather has been quite a topic of conversation because we are still buried in snow and we are waking up to temperatures below 10 degrees. Many days roads have been difficult for travel, and our dogs are tired of being couped up.

Arriving at a grocery store and seeing a display of primroses, a rack of garden seeds, and Easter decor makes that desire for warmer weather even stronger. When I revisisted my Facebook memories I was reminded that two years ago, we had sunshine and green grass and JEJ was building our new raised beds. Today we can't see any grass and the raised beds are buried in the drifts of snow. 

I am taking advantage of this longer hibernation period. I am planning my garden beds, getting caught up on reading, and moving slowing toward creating a studio in the basement for my creative ventures. I am saving money on gas by not traveling as much, but I am missing being able to get out and exercise. Soon enough is will be safe. 

I just love the quote below. I do love all four seasons. It is certainly a process. Yes, I am working on growing in life also. I am getting better. 

"I believe in process. I believe in four seasons. I believe that winter's tough, but spring's coming. I believe that there's a growing season. And I think that you realize that in life, you grow. You get better. "

Steve Southerland

Sibling Assignment #206: I Want to Write a Book!

Sister Carol gave Sibling Assignment #206: "What is something you have never done but hope to do or hope to have accomplished in the next five years?" You will find Bill's here and Carol's here.
I have never published a book. I want to.
I don't want to publish a book to make money.
I don't want to publish a book to become famous.
I don't want to publish a book to go on the speaking circuit.

I want to publish a book to preserve my ideas into a form for keeping. I want to publish a book to spark conversation among other readers and wriers. I have a list of ideas of what I want the book to be about, but I am keeping those ideas to myself. I have taught writing, I have participated in writing retreats, I have written blog posts, journal entries, and newspaper articles. I want to take this a step further. I want to challenge myself.

Sister Carol said in the next five years. I hope to do it before then. What do I need to do? Make writing a part of my daily routine. Not many authors sit down on a Saturday and write a book. They work bit by bit day by day to create a manuscript. They reread, revise, edit, do it again, and finally come up with a completed book. 

I guess I better get started!

Sibling Assignment #205: My Spiritual Home In Nature

Lake Roosevelt close to home.

Brother Bill gave Sibling Assignment #205:"Write an essay explaining where you find your spiritual home and why." You will find Bill's here and Carol's here.

spiritual: of or relating to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature

spiritual home: A place in which one feels a strong sense of belonging.

lilypads, Heyburn State Park

Today I chose to write about my spiritual home as defined above. My spirituality related to my religious beliefs is private. I know what my beliefs are, but I have a hard time explaining them to others.

My spiritual home is outdoors away from town. I started camping when I first met JEJ and quickly found that being in the woods, standing by a lake, gazing at the stars, or sitting by a campfire was my spiritual home. I could always release the stresses of week and find a calm place in the outdoors.  I didn't care if it was raining, hot, or freezing cold. Any weather, any location worked just fine for me. I just dressed for the weather.

French Rock, Lake Roosevelt

When we lived in northeastern Washington we were surrounded by a large scenic lake, numerous campgrounds, calming creeks, and roaring rivers. We didn't have to drive far to be away from people and responsibities. I always made sure I packed great food, great beverages, great books, a journal, and a camera.

I felt a sense of belonging in my spiritual home in nature even more when I began using a camera earnestly. It caused me to pause and take in more of my surroundings. It gave me images to keep as a remembrance of a specific campground, hiking trail, or lake. Time stood still for me. The only schedule I had was getting home before I had to return to work.

Our favorite spiritual home, Canyon Creek Campground

Finding my soul in nature didn't happen right away.  At first I was always on a mission to find a certain trail, locate the perfect camp site, or gather firewood.  As I spent more time in nature I unwound easier, slowed myself down, and read, wrote, and reflected more often. It was good for my soul. It was what I needed.

Now that I am retired and we relocated, we left camping behind. I miss it, but in northern Idaho we again are close to lakes, streams, rivers, and mountains. Now we can find a place to appreciate nature, but not stay overnight.  I still carry the camera and continue to find perfect subjects for pictures.  The best part is that I found God in those times in nature. I always feel closer to him in my spiritual home.
Enjoy some images I have captured in my spiritual homes in nature.

Kettle Falls Campgroumd

“We need to find God and God cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature—trees and flowers and grass—grow in silence. See the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life.” - Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Barnaby Island in winter, Lake Roosevelt

Sibling Assignment #204: Winter Beauty

I gave Sibling Assignment #204. "Do a photo walk and take time to observe what beauty is created in nature". Post a series of pictures or do a slide show." Sister Carol's post is here and brother Bill's post is here

All three of us have been walking on the trail,in our backyards, and along the river recently and posting pictures that depict winter beauty. I did a few photo drives around town with my camera right after a snowfall. I ended up taking many of my photos from the car because I didn't want to try to use my cane and take pictures.

Recently I found a wide open spot west of home that the dogs can run free and get exercise. We happened to be there late afternoon many days so I was able to capture winter sky pictures as dusk was approaching.

I also walked around my yard and found beauty that was created in nature. I then created the following slideshow. I threw in a few of my favorite sunset photos also. Enjoy.

The Shed Notebook: Hey Marie Kondo: Bookshelves Full of Books Can Spark Joy!

 When I read Marie Kondo's book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up right after it came out, I did what any thoughtful reader does. I took the information that mattered to me and used it. Kondo's method emerged in popularity again recently when her series began its run on Netflix. Her philosphy is this: if something sparks joy in your life, consider keeping it. If not, get rid of it. I haven't watched the series yet, but I have seen lots of photos on social media of people motivated to organize shelves, closets, and junk drawers.
One area of decluttering that hit a nerve with book collectors was her section on discarding books. Many book lovers went into panic mode online about paring down their book collections to thirty books. "I love my books. How can I get rid of them?"  "A library of books brings me comfort". "Why thirty books?"

part of my writing resource collection

I reread her section on getting rid of books. She said she would only keep thirty books. Besides, if Marie Kondo suggests you get rid of books, it is a suggestion. Keep those books you book collectors, The Spark Joy police is not coming to your house any time soon. I have more than forty cookbooks alone and I have pared down that collection. The ones I kept spark joy, If The Boxcar Children brings you joy by remembering your first grade teacher reading it to you, keep it! The photo at the top of the post are all books I saved from my mother's home library. Each of them brought her joy. Will I reread them?  Maybe not, but I love having them close.

part of my poetry collection

Now I didn't take all my books and put them in a pile like she suggested. Mine are spread all over the house and in the She Shed.  I did revisit my book shelves and found books that no longer sparked joy.  I had books I had read, but didn't need to keep. Also there were books that were outdated, worn out, or damaged, Did I throw all of them away? No. Did I tear out the pages that had parts I liked? No. I gave them away or donated them.

part of my cookbook collection

I am not a minimalist. I like books to surround me. I have books I use for reference, cookbooks I read and use all the time, a collection of poetry books I reread often, and books that have sentimental value. I also have the pile of books I plan to read soon or someday. Today I did revisit the shelves knowing I am going to the thrift store tomorrow. I found some titles that weren't sparking that Marie Kondo joy anymore. Another reader can enjoy them.

Her philosophy makes sense, but each person is unique in how they declutter. What sparks joy with one person may not with another. I do recommend her book and hope to watch the series, but I am still keeping my books. Every single one of them.

Do you have books you want to donate? This list has some good ideas. https://www.moneycrashers.com/where-donate-used-books/