Live Simply Simply Live
  • Blog
  • Studio
  • Home
  • Cards
  • Coronation Wood

Simply..the good news....

31/1/2020

8 Comments

 

I have signed up to The Optimist Daily today and loved the item about the community in West Bengal who imptoved their environment and their lives beynd recognition by planting trees twenty years ago.

Officialdom and bureaucracy can do what they like on bits of paper but I live on the continent of Europe and am and  will always be, happilly, European!

:-)
8 Comments

Simply..question time....

30/1/2020

8 Comments

 
You know I like a good question.

Here are three which I find helpful.

As I began thiis blog and focussed on simplicity I often asked myself when I was unsure of how to proceed What would be simplest? I found that i nearly always knew the answer to this question - then I just had to do it.

The second question is helpful in putting any dilemma into perspective. Is this a life changing decision? More often than not it isn't! You can also put the issue on a scale of 1 - 10 in importance....

The third question is a new one for me. My word for the year is strong and I find myself asking Does this kind of self talk/train of thought/potential action/way of dealing with this make me stronger? I've been finding this really useful.

Do you have any good questions?


8 Comments

Simply..go buy yourself....

28/1/2020

12 Comments

 
..a big bunch of flowers!

Whyever not?

Give me five good reasons!

These spark joy every time I look at them, which is a hundred times a day.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Especially important when it is like this outside.
Picture

Though I have to say the red gate sparks joy whatever the weather.

What is sparking joy for you right now?
12 Comments

Simply..still time....

27/1/2020

10 Comments

 
It's still January!

There is still time to do January/beginning of the new year things - refresh, reset, renew, retreat, reinvent, reconsider, revive...

I took a few days retreat to myself after coming back from my trip to the cities. I'm lucky I can plan my own time but if you have a busy life/home/work schedule can you find an hour, an evening. a day or a weekend to have to yourself?

All those re- words! Meaning again. (It's Never Too Late To Start Again is the title of a good book by Julia Cameron).

Refresh

What needs refeshing? The water in the flower vase? The paintwork? Your memory? My wardrobe needs refreshing.

Reset

I wish I could reset my sleep pattern to sleep at the same time as the rest of the world!  It would be so convenient. I am working on it. A Wim Hof Breathing Method and Meditation video helped before bed last night
What would you like to reset, and how will you do it?

Renew

A subscription? I need to renew the back of the shed and my travel insurance.  This is turning into a to-do list! But I don't mean it that way - I am just thinking of it as a prompt for slightly different ways of looking at things. You might also renew your commitment to something. Or to someone.

Retreat

Since I went on Katrina's marvellous retreat in January 2017 I have realised the value of retreating from the everyday, and intend to explore it even more. (See Katrina's blog here). There are humdreds of types of retreats or you can just invent your own.

Reinvent

Not the wheel please - is there any area in your life where you are doing that? We can reinvent ourselves to a degree. When I found the courage to call myself an artist my life changed. When I stopped calling myself a wimp I got stronger.

Reconsider

Sometimes I have to reconsider what's feasible, or a decision I've made which I am unsure about.

Revive

As nature miraculously revives the garden I have to revive my interest in caring for it.  Perhaps you would like to revive an old interest - something you loved to do as a child? Something you love that's got crowded out?

Maybe one of these words speaks to you.


10 Comments

Simply..the in-between....

26/1/2020

8 Comments

 
I bought a little notebook long and narrow, for lists. I do like lists! It was divided into Morning Afternoon Evening and In-between.

Using it for the first time to plan my day I filled in various tasks under each heading and when I got to In-between I was about to add a few more chores when I thought No, In-between should be pause for thought, consider what I've just done, ask how successful it was, or wasn't, or how it made me feel, take a breath or a break before rushing on to the next thing....

It's quite important with big things too. A major project at work or at home, an excursion, a holiday, a family event happy or sad.

One thing about this time though - you have to take it. The chances are no-one will give it to you!

I've grown to love the In-between times, they bring me back to myself, whether it's a minute or two between phone calls, or a few days of juicing and retreat which I've had this week.


I forgot to link to Toppings Booksellers. I see they have shops in Ely, Bath, and St Andrews as well as Edinburgh.


Picture
8 Comments

Simply..Topping....

25/1/2020

12 Comments

 
Picture
Topping and Company Booksellers in Edinburgh is a very welcoming bookstore first brought to our attention by Karen of Cornflower Books.
Picture
Welcoming (though you are not really meant to stand on the tables..).

Beautifully fitted out,  an old clock, and rugs seats and tables, coffee, writer's talks - it has everything you would want in a bookshop. Mary found a few titles she had been looking for. It gets crowded at weekends and it's very easy to lose a friend in the warren of rooms!


Picture
The RSW exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy is very good this year. The luminous quality of Winter Sun, Cromar by Chris Bushe stopped me in my tracks.
Picture

Mary had booked tickets for the Joshua Bell concert with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in the Usher Hall well in advance. It was breathtaking. For me the highlight of the virtuosic performance was the exuberant Four Seasons of Buenos Airies by Piazzolla. You can get a flavour of it in this 4 minute mix...or you can hear the whole Piazzolla version by other artists on YouTube.

Loved it.

12 Comments

Simply..city buzz Edinburgh....

24/1/2020

5 Comments

 
We used the Edinburgh Hop On Hop Off tour bus too, and took in an exhibition and a concert and a visit to Topping's Book Shop (thank you Karen of Cornflower Books).

Click on first photo for full images.
Duke of Wellington without traffic cone (much more respectful in Edinburgh!).Original Leonardo drawings still on at the Queen's Gallery..
Look at that blue sky!

Candles and outside tables in January! Outside of Stocks where we had a very good meal.  I was surprised at how busy Edinburgh was - we couldn't get a table at Urban Angel where I had planned to have one of their scrumptious almond croissants for Sunday breakfast. But there are hundreds of places to eat.

We also ate at The Dome. Oh, the high life!




5 Comments

Simply..city buzz Glasgow....

23/1/2020

11 Comments

 

Have you explored your own home ground as if you were a visitor?

(Click on photo to see full images in this rather random selection.)
..


11 Comments

Simply..city buzz....

22/1/2020

14 Comments

 

I was lucky to make it to Glasgow as the ferries were off due to gales later last Thursday afternoon!

Picture
A choppy crossing!

I was meeting Mary. Many of you will know Mary from her comments on this blog. She is from Washington DC and I think I should persuade her to write a travel blog. She has travelled the world with family, but also independently and I picked up a lot of tips from her about what to take with you, how to pack it, what to wear to be comfortable and look good (those scarves work Mary!), how to be efficient but flexible about arrangements, pace yourself, and keep a sense of humour when things don't go as planned.

Most things did go to plan for us and the weather was kind as we began a tour of Glasgow. It's interesting seeing your own city through the eyes of a visitor.

On the way to Rogano's for dinner we meandered through Merchant City admiring the architecture and a gorgeous hat shop, Looked into MOMA and smiled at The Duke of Wellington - can you make out the traffic cones on the heads of both the Duke and his horse? I don't know who started this joke and for a long time the cones were removed by officials, but they finally gave up and the image has become a Glasgow icon (which perhaps says something about Glaswegians irreverent attitude to figures of authority). Better images here

Picture
MOMA
The next day we used the City Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off bus - a really neat way to get around and I learned a few new things about my city! But first we had breakfast at Mackintosh At The Willow. Most Mackintosh interiors are private or in museums with an entrance charge so to be in this restaurant and enjoy the experience of sitting in and using the surroundings as they were meant to be used is well worth the price of breakfast (or just a coffee if you wish, but the breakfast is very good). They have a good website here.

Hopped Off for coffee at Kember and Jones and bought some food to take back to the apartment for supper.

And as I am sure you can imagine talked and talked and talked.....
14 Comments

Simply..savouring the silence....

21/1/2020

16 Comments

 

The odd tick from the heater in the hall.

A crow caw.

My own breath.

Otherwise, utter silence.

Picture

I put a log on the fire and light a candle.

My head is processing all the excitement of a few days in Glasgow and Edinburgh with Mary, and I'll be posting about them soon, but today I have become aware of how important the in-between times are.

Today I am having a retreat day.
16 Comments

Simply..bin it....

15/1/2020

18 Comments

 

(Recycling bins of course.)

I did appreciate all your suggestions, but after reading a story about someone who hoarded old shoes, I went through the house binning all the things which once sparked joy but were now sparking regret/anxiety/guilt/sadness/nostaliiia/uncertainty and indecision.

Out went the shoes the boots the sandshoes and the slippers. The dying plant. the old breadboard which goes black when I cut fruit on it, the dusty wreath, an old bag with an inkstain on it, the packaging from the new juicer (the old one blew up!), another pair of shoes which I never really liked, some old tired underwear (is there anything sadder than old tired underwear?) and everything in the fridge past its sell by date!!

No regrets.

Feels good.

Something else which feels really good is spending some fun time with Mary from Washinton DC - long time commentator on this blog. Mary blew into uk on storm Brendan and if the next storm allows and the ferries are still running we meet tomorrow for a Scottish cities trip!


Picture

Meantime here is my own little bit of cherry blossom. Prunus subhirtella 'autumnalis'. Photographed mid-December and hanging on through the recent gale force winds.
18 Comments

Simply..did you know....

14/1/2020

8 Comments

 
..about this lovely project?

some beautiful things are happening in the world.
8 Comments

Simply..love this....

12/1/2020

10 Comments

 
10 Comments

Simply..so hard....

12/1/2020

23 Comments

 

Of all the hard things in life throwing away old shoes shouldn't really rank highly. But I find it really really difficult!


Picture

The faded purple sandshoes. There's somethin.g very nice about faded sandshoes on a hot summer day in the garden or on the beach. Though I also have a faded grey pair. Maybe I'll keep the spotted laces

The slippers are pretty horrible and I was given money at Christmas for a new pair.

Apart from a pair of tan patent shoes with a silver buckle which I bought when I was about eighteen from Russell and Bromley no less, these lime green Fly shoes are my favoutite shoes ever. One of them has a big hole in the sole. I bought another pair but they are a very slightly duller green - they don't have that zing whch makes my heart sing when I look at them. There is an old fashioned cobbler in Byres Road - the kind of man who is interested in shoes - I might just ask him if anything can be done....

The little boots, ten or more years old, have been so useful. Or they were until they began letting in water. You could put them in the washing machine.

Even books are easier to part with than shoes!

What do you find hardest to let go of?
23 Comments

Simply..inner calm....

11/1/2020

15 Comments

 

Pure white tulips.

Outer order, inner calm.

Picture
Picture

This is the title of Gretchen Rubin's latest book, but I've long been a convert to this principle.

It really works for me.

Does it work for you too?
15 Comments

Simply..glittering....

10/1/2020

8 Comments

 
As a beautiful finale to the festive season we went to Scottish Ballet's The Snow Queen last night.
(Scroll down on their webpage for excerpts with the wonderful Rimsky Korsakov music.)

Even the journey there was magical with snow on the Arrocher Alps and there was bright frost and moonlight on the way home over the Rest and Be Thankful.

Picture
Picture
Picture


I am both rested and very thankful!  I watched the ballet all over again at breakfast - it's on BBC iPlayer. I was able to see all the detail I couldn't see very well in the theatre.

Wonderful.
8 Comments

Simply.. live a little....

9/1/2020

24 Comments

 

I've been writing about feeling a bit nervous about my plans for 2020.

Among other things I plan to finish editing my novel, live for a month in Venice, and start work on a big solo exhibition. 15 - 20  large paintings. Date is being decided....

No pressure then, as they say!

Gulp.
24 Comments

Simply..strong?....

8/1/2020

10 Comments

 
Strong is my word for 2020.

Sometimes I don't .feel strong. Sometimes I scare myself with the ideas I come up with!

Like when I had my first exhibition.

I was working at beautiful Beningbrough Hall and looked at an exhibition of paintings in the gallery there and thought I could do that. (I hadn't painted for years.) So I went to the administrator and said, diffidently, Do you think maybe I could have an exhibition here one day? Vaguely thinking a year or eighteen months away, knowing the gallery got booked way ahead. There's just been a cancellation for August - I'll put you down said Ray. This was May.

I came down the stairs from that office feeling a bit shaky and thinking What have I just done?

The exhibition was a great success and I painted and exhibited for the next twenty years.

Can you think of a time when you were thrown in at the deep end, or  jumped in yourself as I did,  and found that actually you could swim?

Scary, but exciting...


10 Comments

Simply..battening down hatches....

7/1/2020

10 Comments

 
Picture
Or at least battening down the rarpaulin on the logs. Gales tonight. The Country Living magazines don't show you what hard work living in the countryside is!

To cheer myself up I went looking for the shed in prettier times....

Picture
Picture
Picture
That's better!

Did anyone else see the giant white bird and the small black one in yesterday's photograph?

I am sure it is was a good omen....or I would be if I believed in omens. :-)
10 Comments

Simply..dreich....

6/1/2020

10 Comments

 

A good Scottish word for grey and rainy. This was the only bright moment in the weaher today. It's been a bit like Thomas Hood's poem lately!.

Picture
10 Comments

Simply.. courage....

5/1/2020

10 Comments

 
It takes a little, sometimes a lot. of courage to make a new start, write on a fresh page. paint on a blank canvas.

Today I slowly took down the Christmas decorations - it always makes me a little sad. I had a very comfortable and cosy time preparing for the festive season - it felt like a time to indulge myself and relax, to take it easy, to just be. I am replacing the Christmas things with other winter decorations - I still want that hygge feeling and the weather is dull and wet and the days are still short and dark.

Picture
Picture

I have some big plans for 2020 and I'm feeling a bit nervous about them today. Will I find the energy? Have I over committed myself? What if....Self doubt creeps in - no, rushes in!

I couldn't think quite how to finish this post, and as I was scrolling down through the categories to decide which one to put it under, I realised some answers to my fears were in there.

Let me explain. I started from the top of the list -

Live Simply - well yes, I need to remember that is what I am trying to do. That grounds me a little.
Simply Beautiful. I do have some beautiful ideas for 2020.
Simply Bin It.  Could I just throw some of my fearful thoughts in the bin?
Simply Chill. Yes, I need to chill by doing something else for a bit (I listened to Private Passions BBC Radio 3)
Simply Christmas. Well I am saying goodbye to Christmas 2019 which was lovely, so of course I feel a bit sad.
Simply Do A Good Deed. I could distract myself by thinking of one....

By the time I had got down the list I was already feeling better! 

Perhaps this strategy would work for you if you need to change your mood/restore your confidence/find a way out of a mild panic? 

I'd love to think so...(the list is on the sidebar).

I finally filed  the post under Simply Live, because that is what we must do with 2020.

Live it to the full.
10 Comments

Simply..a bargain....

4/1/2020

8 Comments

 

I do love a bargain and perhaps because I am a small size I am very lucky in the sales. In fact I rarely pay full price for anything.

This year I have bought a big warm scarf (50% off), a pair of shoes (25% off - so glad I waited) and this hat which I simply adore. (Children's department of M&S £12 reduced to £4.)

Don't laugh. It's age 6 - 10!  I'm not that small! Chilfdren these days must just have big heads....

Picture
Picture

It's my Venice hat.


Has anyone else been to the sales?
8 Comments

Simply..a fresh start....

3/1/2020

14 Comments

 


I will of course start eating sensibly again, but first I have to finish off the leftover cake, biscuits, ice cream and chocolate covered raisins because I can't possibly eat well while they are in the cupboards and the sooner I scoff them all the sooner I will be eating healthy again. I know there is a flaw in this train of thought but I can't quite see a way out. I mean it would be wrong to bin all that nice food and I have given away as much as people are willing to take (they all have their own hoard).

However, after a day of indulgence, which I didn't really enjoy, I am ready for a fresh start.

I like new beginnings, a new notebook, a new resolution, a new page, a blank canvas...

So, open all the windows - even if its raining and blowing


Picture
Picture

Empty the rubbish bins, recycle the bottles.

Picture

Ear vegetables, drink water.

Picture

Clear off one surface - even if that means just piling it all up on another surface for now...

Picture

Light a fresh candle.

Picture

Get outside. I was only going to the bottle bank but bumped into a friend and went a much longer walk. You know you will feel better for it.

Picture
Picture
Then make a cup of coffee and sit down and write about it!

Even if you don't write a blog - a new diary? Your own Thought For The Day? A new list?

Blogging is an odd thing in many ways, but it certainly makes my life more fun!

I'm off to do Fly Lady's Home Blessing Hour - I listen to her as I do it - she's so wonderful and  makes me laugh.

Laughing as I do the housework? Who'd have thought it!

Have a great day.
14 Comments

Simply..so much beauty....

1/1/2020

19 Comments

 

..we need to look after.

Picture

A perfect message for a new year from my perfect present - Charlie Mackery's The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse.
19 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Art
    Simply..A Student Of Old Age
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write


    Author

    An artist seeking a simpler life - (but not too simple!)

    All words and images copyright Freda Waldapfel 2010 - 2020

    Archives

    July 2025
    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.