Category:

Simply..mindful....

23/9/2020

Mindful Escapes: Breathe, Release, Restore is a new programme on BBC 4 with truly wonderful nature photography. The very best thing about it is not being told that all the fabulous plants and animals are facing imminent extinction and that it's all our fault!!

There is very little commentary - we are allowed to gaze in wonder and amazement....

Here is a short sample from YouTube..just three minutes but the programme is 30 minutes long and late in the evening. Perfect before bed.

Now tell me that didn't slow you down!

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Simply..chill....

31/7/2020

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It seems you have to sign up for emails from Marie Kondo at konmarie.com to get this little meditation video. I can't link to it directly. I do find the emails attractive and short and not too frequent, so you might like to give it a try?

I will keep this on my phone to use anywhere, anytime I need two minutes to chill.

Lovely.

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Simply..Midsummer magic....

21/6/2020

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Simply..chill!

18/6/2020

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A cool moment..

Small pot of espresso

Dissolve tblsp sugar

Pur over lots of ice cubes

Add 100ml milk

Enjoy!

This is the first time I have made an iced latte

In fact it's the first time I have had an iced latte

It won't be the last.

Do you have a favourite hot weather drink?

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Simply..slowly does it....

17/6/2020

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I think if this pandemic experience has taught me anything it has taught me to be more patient.

To appreciate slow.

To take the time to do ordinary things properly.

Mindfully.

Ready for ripening seeds..

I wonder if when it is over I will speed up again?

Has coronavirus taught you anything about yourself?

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Simply..the kiss of the sun....

26/5/2020

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Don't you just love that moment..

..when the sun comes out from behind a cloud just as you sit down with a cup of tea.

Bliss.

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Simply..optimistic....

10/2/2020

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Whyever not?

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Simply..the in-between....

26/1/2020

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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.

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Simply..savouring the silence....

21/1/2020

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The odd tick from the heater in the hall.

A crow caw.

My own breath.

Otherwise, utter silence.

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.

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Simply..do you ever....

11/11/2019

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...put off asking for help even when you know you really need it?

And then finally ask and find it is freely given and wasn't a big deal?

We think we ought to do everything ourselves, don't want to be a nuisance or a burden, are afraid of looking foolish because we don't know how to do something, or we dread being told no and then we might die of embarassment. Somehow it is very hard to say the simple words Would you help me with this. (For some weird reason I can remember how to say it in Swedish but find it sometimes almost impossible to say in my own language.)

I have an eye condition which means that in certain light I don't see very well and I have had to learn to speak up and ask for help on many occasions. I have found that people love to help. I have never been refused help when I have asked for it (and I do know that no-one actually dies of embarassment!)

So I turn things around in my head and ask myself If someone asked me to do this would I think they ought to do it themselves, or they are a nuisance or stupid? In all likelihood I would think they must have a reason for asking and I'd probably be happy to help if I could.

There's also perhaps the idea that to ask for help is to show weakness but knowing what courage it sometimes takes I prefer to think it shows strength to be able to ask for what I need.

Always learning...

What do you think?

First snow on the tops means it's time for the orange and cinnamon candle. Love it.

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Simply..self indulgent?

15/10/2019

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Sitting on the porch with a snuggly soft blanket and a cup of hot chocolate yesterday.

I reached for the old threadbare travel rug as it was a bit chilly to sit out, but felt the thickness and softness of this one under my hand - it was on top of the other in the cupboard. It seemed ridiculous to use this lovely bedroom blanket outside but I took it anyway, and found myself making hot chocolate instead of coffee.

The experience of sitting there was such a delight that I began wondering about my attidutde to self indulgence. Pampering was not a word in my vocabulary growing up. We were brought up to be hardy! I can remember as a very young child my Dad rubbing me down with a hard towel after swimming (or I should say being in tthe chilly water - I couldn't swim) and telling me it was good for me.

I had loving parents and we were never treated harshly, but we were not indulged either!

Maybe this is why it feels special.

So all this gorgeous 'hygge and the candles and cushions and throws and taking photographs of it all don't come naturally. I make a conscious decision to do these things in the knowledge that the small 'indulgences' and lovely photographs help me through the hard times. They don't make me soft, they make me strong. They make me grateful.

Snuggled on the porch for half and hour with the sun on my face, some gardening done (I have to 'earn' it of course!), listening to the robin and the wren, watching the light and the shadows change...

Pure pleasure.

Whyever not?

I can;t think of a reason.

Can you?

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Simply..two more lessons....

29/9/2019

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Continuing Life Lessons From Phoebe.

Lesson nine : play every day.

Never ignore a ball that comes your way.

And if all else fails just run fast all around the house, hurtle up and down the stairs, dive on and off the furniture leaping in the air and round and round in circles.

At least once a day, more if you feel like it.

Lesson ten : Just be yourself. This is maybe the best lesson of all. Phoebe is never anthing but just Phoebe.

Shall we just be ourselves and be content?
We are enough.
At least for today.

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Simply..life lessons from Phoebe....

27/9/2019

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I've been cat-sitting, and cat wathing and learning a few important things. We had an unexpectedly warm day and I watched Phoebe set out for a place in the sun, and with nothing urgent to do I copied her for a day. I lay on the grass in the sunshine and did absolutely nothing for an hour.

Bliss.

Lesson one : Lie in the sun when you get the chance.

Phoebe

Lesson two : eat when you feel like it

and stop when you've had enough.

Lesson three :when you decide to rest for a bit, wriggle and squirm about until you are in a completely comfortable position

then let go totally.

It seems that with practice you can learn to do this anywhere.

By the end of day one I was so relaxed!

More lessons tomorrow,,,,

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Simply..be....

10/8/2019

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Just be.

While doing the dishes I paused to watch a blackbird. He was sitting on the grass, beak agape with his wings and tail spread out, basking in the sunshine, occasionally preening the odd feather. (Yes, another suuny day - they alternate between non-stop rain and hot sun!).

So I took a leaf from his book and went and sat on the doorstep among the flowers and the bees.

I pndered on how odd it is that this can be hard to do. Just being I mean - given that we are human be-ings.

Once past childhood we may have to re-learn it with classes and courses on meditation and mindfulness.

I sat there trying not to think of my to-do list and found that if I counted my blessings instead I could quieten my mind and more readily just be...

I have a doorstep!
I have a house
The sky is blue
It's not raining
The bees love my flowers
I love my flowers
I have peace. No-one is threatening me
A machine is washing my bedlinen as I sit here
The music of Bach is drifting through my home
I got a lovely message from a friend
I have friends
I can pay my bills
I have a kitchen full of good food
This is a paradise moment

You get the idea...I probably came up with 50 or so. I could easily come up with 100.
Of course then I began to compose a blog post and think about taking some photographs, but I did all that from a place of real relaxation and pure pleasure.

What works for you?

And don't you just love your freshly changed bed? Blessed indeed.

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Simply..what is it with Christmas lights?

8/12/2018

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We can send spaceships to Mars but we can't have Christmas lights that last from one year to the next!!

Plugged in. switched on - nothing. I summoned all my patience and read the instructions for changing the bulbs - they assumed that some were working so didn't quite make sense..

Brought them downstairs and put on some music expecting this to be a long process, plugged in, switched on and Lo!

Are your lights working?

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Simply..just looking....

13/11/2018

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Before I had made any Artist Date plans an offer came of a lift to the city and I said yes. I arrived in the Merchant City area which I don't know very well without my usual plans and lists, and realised this was the perfect opportunity for an Artist Date - just to wander and look, without a purpose, but with my camera.....

I also popped into some posh shops (a bit outside my comfort zone). Gorgeous fabrics - tweeds with a twist. Not really my style, but I did enjoy looking.

This was too far outside my comfort zone though! So I stayed outside it.

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Simply..a date....

12/11/2018

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..with your creative self.

I'm reviving a habit I picked up many years ago from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, and that is the Artist's Date. Essentially time out, once a week,on your own, doing things that spark joy.

It says a lot about my current habits that I am having to think quite hard about what they might be, and I have to be careful not to let it become just another thing on my to-do list! Not that I don't have fun (this blog is fun) but I need and like something different now and then. It's purpose is to delight and enchant you'says Cameron and to take you out of your comfort zone.

(Gulp. I can get very fond of my comfort zone., especially in winter.)

If you Google Artist's Date and/or Julia Cameron, check out YouTube, or click on See Inside on the book on Amazon you will get lots more detail if this concept is new to you.

This will be part of my Winter Plan, and I'll be checking in once a week with my friend M.

Will you join us? We are going for the widest possible interpretation of Artist and of Date by the way...

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Simply..take five....

24/9/2018

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If you'r a bit rushed or stressed try taking five minutes for a mini-meditation.

A couple of deep breaths and pay attention one by one to all your senses...

What do you see in front of you, to left and to right, in the sky above and on the ground below?

What can you hear close by and in the far distance?

What can you smell?

What can you taste?

What are you touching with all parts of your body?

How are you feeling?

Calmer hopefully, and grounded.

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Simply..stone....

20/8/2018

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A quiet walk on the shore. Time to think.

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Simply..enigmatic....

18/8/2018

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.

A quiet day at home.

One of my favourite books is one I bought at an extremely busy time of my life - children, full time work and study.

It's a particularly lovely edition (paperback, now well worn) with beautiful photographs.

Tao abides in non-action
Yet nothing is left undone

I couldn't claim then or now to understand the meaning but I liked the ambiguity and the apparent acceptance of mystery. I found it very calming.

Still do.

With the recent bout of clearing and talk of emptiness and space I find it grounding to look at this book.

Do you have a book that brings you calm?

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Simply..a change of scene....

3/8/2018

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I spent a lovely afternoon with Grace (regular commenter on the blog who lives in Paris).
We both grew up in Glasgow so especially enjoyed the exhibition Glasgow In Print at the Glasgow Print Studio.

A leisurely lunch at Rogano's (could be in New York said Grace) to catch up since we last met was delightful. Grace is off to climb Ben Nevis! We will be rooting for you and you must let us know if you get to the top. No pressure then :-)

Meeting some of my blog friends has been one of the greatest pleasures of Live Simply Simply Live and I did need to get away from the big studio clean up for a bit...

Don't forget to arrange a change of scene, however brief, if things get a bit intense.

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Simply..an English idyll....

28/7/2018

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The gardens at Newby Hall were looking wonderful.

There are 25 acres to explore and the double border above is 172 meters long - I was really impressed at how very good it all looked in spite of the heatwave.

We were given a pot of this!

The most idyllic part was a boat trip on the River Ure - I loved how modest and un-commercial it was. Just a lazy half an hour on a simple boat with a relaxed guy who loved the quiet and the wildlife of the riverbank and enjoyed sharing it - he knew where all the nests were, was sweet with the children and never asked for the money. You just gave him the £5 as you got off and I had the impression he really wouldn't have cared much if you forgot...

It was also cooler on the river! 28/29 degrees is too hot for me.

Makes me idle.

An idle idyll is no bad thing now and then... thank you Lynne!

How has the heat affected you this summer?

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Simply..a short break....

26/6/2018

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I'm taking a little blog break as I seem to have run out of steam! Lots of ideas but little energy to carry them out. Maybe it's the heat. We are not used to it here..

Maybe I should just gaze at the patterns on the water for a day or two.

Maybe I should eat less cake. (We had two cakes at the party! There were leftovers.)

Maybe I should just eat less altogether. I had lunch today with a friend who is a wonderful cook.

maybe it's because I still haven't caught up with my emails.

Whatever.

Any tips on restoring energy levels most welcome.

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Simply..calling to the wind....

29/5/2018

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and hoping you are all still there.

Comments are back! Yay!

I have been known to be desperate for sunshine and now I am seeking respite from it.

I thought I'd take a look at the shady parts of my garden (really only the storage space at the back of the shed during the day) but there are lots of little areas of dappled shade which look delicious in this heatwave we are having, and half way down the path to the shore my little seat was cool and shady for a read in the afternoon...

Hoping you too are having some sunshine and finding shade when you need it.

And if you have the patience to comment on previous posts I'd be most interested and glad to hear from you!

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Simply..searching for shade....

28/5/2018

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23C is too hot for me! And I am missing you all - wish Weebly would get the comments bug sorted.....

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<<Previous

Simply..mindful....

Simply..chill....

Simply..Midsummer magic....

Simply..chill!

Simply..slowly does it....

Simply..the kiss of the sun....

Simply..optimistic....

Simply..the in-between....

Simply..savouring the silence....

Simply..do you ever....

Simply..self indulgent?

Simply..two more lessons....

Simply..life lessons from Phoebe....

Simply..be....

Simply..what is it with Christmas lights?

Simply..just looking....

Simply..a date....

Simply..take five....

Simply..stone....

Simply..enigmatic....

Simply..a change of scene....

Simply..an English idyll....

Simply..a short break....

Simply..calling to the wind....

Simply..searching for shade....

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