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#simple-living — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #simple-living, aggregated by home.social.

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  1. Just brought in the very first plum harvest of the month, and there is truly nothing quite like the satisfaction of eating something you grew with your own hands. All the patience and tending through the season pay off the moment you taste fruit fresh off the branch. I hope everyone gets to experience this kind of simple joy, and hopefully, you all enjoy plums just as much as I do 🍑🌱🌱

    #Gardening #HomeGrown #FruitGrowing #SimpleLiving #Nature #Outdoors

  2. Just brought in the very first plum harvest of the month, and there is truly nothing quite like the satisfaction of eating something you grew with your own hands. All the patience and tending through the season pay off the moment you taste fruit fresh off the branch. I hope everyone gets to experience this kind of simple joy, and hopefully, you all enjoy plums just as much as I do 🍑🌱🌱

    #Gardening #HomeGrown #FruitGrowing #SimpleLiving #Nature #Outdoors

  3. Mixed feelings with this one. Why did she shop so much before? Why does their new life still seem high-consumption to me? Why is the old hermit so teleological about everything, WHY does his son think bringing him a tractor is going to help? I do love that the old man brings in assorted foliage when he wants to make tea. It's something I do every day myself ... >>

    Re: Das einfache Leben als wahrer Luxus - Die ganze Doku | ARTE

    arte.tv/de/videos/115490-012-A #minimalism #simpleliving

  4. Mixed feelings with this one. Why did she shop so much before? Why does their new life still seem high-consumption to me? Why is the old hermit so teleological about everything, WHY does his son think bringing him a tractor is going to help? I do love that the old man brings in assorted foliage when he wants to make tea. It's something I do every day myself ... >>

    Re: Das einfache Leben als wahrer Luxus - Die ganze Doku | ARTE

    arte.tv/de/videos/115490-012-A #minimalism #simpleliving

  5. Broken sunflowers still bloom 🌻

    In the springtime, Travis and I discovered volunteer sunflower sprouts growing in between the sidewalk.

    I’m pretty sure the sunflower seeds were left behind in the wintertime by the birds and squirrels when I put up bird feeders.

    So, we gently moved the sunflower sprouts to our garden bed.

    Photo of one of the sunflower sprouts growing in between the sidewalk. 🌱

    We managed to “rescue” six of the eight sunflower sprouts we found in the sidewalk. All six of the sprouts recovered from transplant shock and grew strong and tall.

    But as many gardeners know, sunflower stems can still be fragile, especially during storms or when pesky squirrels are rummaging through your garden. 😏🐿

    A squirrel broke the stem of one of our sunflowers. 😭🌻Another broken sunflower stem. 😫 This time the squirrel was stealing some of my cherry tomatoes, which is planted next to a sunflower.

    The beautiful thing about sunflowers, though, is that they are resilient plants.

    Despite nature’s challenges, sunflowers will try very hard to keep growing, even when broken. Sometimes they just need a little help.

    This is something I have learned this gardening season.

    She’s a fighter!

    I was able to save one broken sunflower plant by trimming down the stem and placing it in a vase of water.

    The sunflower still bloomed, and the bees loved it!

    Another sunflower plant with a broken stem (thanks squirrel! 🐿😏) Travis was able to make a stick-based cast for it.

    And the other day, that sunflower bud still bloomed!

    Little Zaya (5) admiring our new sunflower bloom. 🥰🌻

    It makes me happy that even though a couple of our sunflowers experienced hardships, we were still able to give the flowers a chance to complete their life cycle. 🌻😍

    Despite being broken, the sunflowers served a great purpose by attracting the bees to our garden to pollinate our food plants (like our peppers 🫑 and tomatoes 🍅).

    And perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned from broken sunflowers that keep blooming anyway. 😉🌻🙏🏽

    💜 XO

    #DailyBlog #DailyLife #encouragement #garden #Inspiration #lifeAdvice #LifeReflections #plants #SimpleLiving #SlowLiving #Sunflower
  6. Broken sunflowers still bloom 🌻

    In the springtime, Travis and I discovered volunteer sunflower sprouts growing in between the sidewalk.

    I’m pretty sure the sunflower seeds were left behind in the wintertime by the birds and squirrels when I put up bird feeders.

    So, we gently moved the sunflower sprouts to our garden bed.

    Photo of one of the sunflower sprouts growing in between the sidewalk. 🌱

    We managed to “rescue” six of the eight sunflower sprouts we found in the sidewalk. All six of the sprouts recovered from transplant shock and grew strong and tall.

    But as many gardeners know, sunflower stems can still be fragile, especially during storms or when pesky squirrels are rummaging through your garden. 😏🐿

    A squirrel broke the stem of one of our sunflowers. 😭🌻Another broken sunflower stem. 😫 This time the squirrel was stealing some of my cherry tomatoes, which is planted next to a sunflower.

    The beautiful thing about sunflowers, though, is that they are resilient plants.

    Despite nature’s challenges, sunflowers will try very hard to keep growing, even when broken. Sometimes they just need a little help.

    This is something I have learned this gardening season.

    She’s a fighter!

    I was able to save one broken sunflower plant by trimming down the stem and placing it in a vase of water.

    The sunflower still bloomed, and the bees loved it!

    Another sunflower plant with a broken stem (thanks squirrel! 🐿😏) Travis was able to make a stick-based cast for it.

    And the other day, that sunflower bud still bloomed!

    Little Zaya (5) admiring our new sunflower bloom. 🥰🌻

    It makes me happy that even though a couple of our sunflowers experienced hardships, we were still able to give the flowers a chance to complete their life cycle. 🌻😍

    Despite being broken, the sunflowers served a great purpose by attracting the bees to our garden to pollinate our food plants (like our peppers 🫑 and tomatoes 🍅).

    And perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned from broken sunflowers that keep blooming anyway. 😉🌻🙏🏽

    💜 XO

    #DailyBlog #DailyLife #encouragement #garden #Inspiration #lifeAdvice #LifeReflections #plants #SimpleLiving #SlowLiving #Sunflower
  7. August library book picks 📚

    My August library book picks are Texas Rain by Jodi Thomas and Virgin River by Robyn Carr. The reviews for both books seem to be good, so I thought I’d give them a try.

    Both novels are set in a small town. I love small-town romance novels, especially those set in the South, since I’m originally from Tennessee.

    Texas Rain is a historical romance novel, which is another fiction genre that I enjoy reading.

    Virgin River is actually a TV series on Netflix, but the previews of the show don’t look interesting to me.

    I’ve heard that the books are quite different from the show, though, so that’s why I checked out the book.

    I’m currently watching Ransom Canyon on Netflix. The romance drama is inspired by Jodi Thomas’ novel series.

    However, when I discovered the show last summer, I didn’t know it was based on a book until halfway into watching the show.

    I almost checked out the Ransom Canyon, but it’s really hard for me to get into a book after watching the show/movie it was based on. (That’s why it’s been taking me what seems like forever to finish reading Outlander. 😫)

    So, I decided to give Texas Rain a try instead. It’s the first book in her Whispering Mountain series.

    What are you reading this month?

    💜 XO

    #AugustReads #Books #BooksToRead #DailyBlog #DailyLife #historicalRomance #Library #LibraryBooks #netflix #romanceNovels #SimpleLiving
  8. August library book picks 📚

    My August library book picks are Texas Rain by Jodi Thomas and Virgin River by Robyn Carr. The reviews for both books seem to be good, so I thought I’d give them a try.

    Both novels are set in a small town. I love small-town romance novels, especially those set in the South, since I’m originally from Tennessee.

    Texas Rain is a historical romance novel, which is another fiction genre that I enjoy reading.

    Virgin River is actually a TV series on Netflix, but the previews of the show don’t look interesting to me.

    I’ve heard that the books are quite different from the show, though, so that’s why I checked out the book.

    I’m currently watching Ransom Canyon on Netflix. The romance drama is inspired by Jodi Thomas’ novel series.

    However, when I discovered the show last summer, I didn’t know it was based on a book until halfway into watching the show.

    I almost checked out the Ransom Canyon, but it’s really hard for me to get into a book after watching the show/movie it was based on. (That’s why it’s been taking me what seems like forever to finish reading Outlander. 😫)

    So, I decided to give Texas Rain a try instead. It’s the first book in her Whispering Mountain series.

    What are you reading this month?

    💜 XO

    #AugustReads #Books #BooksToRead #DailyBlog #DailyLife #historicalRomance #Library #LibraryBooks #netflix #romanceNovels #SimpleLiving
  9. Enjoying the view

    We had appointments and errands to run in the city, so we stopped by Michigan Central Station to take a break at Roosevelt Park in Detroit.

    The kids really loved sitting on the swings at Roosevelt Park.

    The kids were amazed by the view of the historic train station from the park, and it reminded me how much Roosevelt Park has changed over the years.

    I really like the new walking paths and seating throughout the park, especially the swings.

    I enjoyed seeing people walking, riding bikes, reading books, playing catch, and simply slowing down to enjoy the afternoon.

    Lovely flowers at the park 🌸Zaya enjoyed picking dandelions at the park. 🌼

    I wish I had taken more photos, but honestly, I was feeling a little anxious after my annual doctor’s appointment. Now I’m waiting for my lab results, along with the biopsy results from an unusual spot I found on my skin.

    I just needed a quiet moment in the park to slow down and let my mind rest. 😌

    💜 XO

    It’s all coming together 🌻

    I’m decorating my front porch with my new thrifted folding tables. ☺️

    by JennJuly 26, 2026

    Groceries and thrift store shopping day

    I found some great thrifty finds for under $24! ☺️

    by JennJuly 25, 2026July 26, 2026

    Sunflowers and tomatoes 🌻🍅

    A new sunflower bloom 🌻 and blushing tomatoes 🍅

    by JennJuly 24, 2026July 25, 2026 #CityPark #DailyBlog #DailyLife #Detroit #Family #HistoricLandmark #LifeReflections #Michigan #SimpleLiving #SlowLiving #TrainStation #travel
  10. Enjoying the view

    We had appointments and errands to run in the city, so we stopped by Michigan Central Station to take a break at Roosevelt Park in Detroit.

    The kids really loved sitting on the swings at Roosevelt Park.

    The kids were amazed by the view of the historic train station from the park, and it reminded me how much Roosevelt Park has changed over the years.

    I really like the new walking paths and seating throughout the park, especially the swings.

    I enjoyed seeing people walking, riding bikes, reading books, playing catch, and simply slowing down to enjoy the afternoon.

    Lovely flowers at the park 🌸Zaya enjoyed picking dandelions at the park. 🌼

    I wish I had taken more photos, but honestly, I was feeling a little anxious after my annual doctor’s appointment. Now I’m waiting for my lab results, along with the biopsy results from an unusual spot I found on my skin.

    I just needed a quiet moment in the park to slow down and let my mind rest. 😌

    💜 XO

    It’s all coming together 🌻

    I’m decorating my front porch with my new thrifted folding tables. ☺️

    by JennJuly 26, 2026

    Groceries and thrift store shopping day

    I found some great thrifty finds for under $24! ☺️

    by JennJuly 25, 2026July 26, 2026

    Sunflowers and tomatoes 🌻🍅

    A new sunflower bloom 🌻 and blushing tomatoes 🍅

    by JennJuly 24, 2026July 25, 2026 #CityPark #DailyBlog #DailyLife #Detroit #Family #HistoricLandmark #LifeReflections #Michigan #SimpleLiving #SlowLiving #TrainStation #travel
  11. You don’t have to “do” anything to *be* at peace.
    Peace *is* your default state.
    You can only choose poorly.
    rishidass.net/posts/your-defau
    #philosophy
    #mentalhealth
    #simpleliving

  12. You don’t have to “do” anything to *be* at peace.
    Peace *is* your default state.
    You can only choose poorly.
    rishidass.net/posts/your-defau
    #philosophy
    #mentalhealth
    #simpleliving

  13. The Patina of Wear

    1940s Bridge Table

    “Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.”

    —Francis Bacon

    The folding bridge table in the photo is over eighty years old, and I have owned it for more than twenty of those years. During that time, it has served as an extra table for entertaining, a game table and even a fire screen.

    But its usefulness is only part of the reason I keep it. The table came from the historic building where my husband and I were married. It dates from one of my favorite eras and is painted in the warm autumn colors I have always loved. It definitely shows signs of wear, some of which I’m sure I have contributed to. That has never bothered me.

    I have always valued things with a history. Nicks, scratches, and faded places don’t diminish an object in my eyes. They make it more interesting. They suggest that it has been used, appreciated, and woven into someone’s life.

    At one point in my career, I worked for a company that sold handbags and briefcases made from beautiful Italian leather. Customers sometimes questioned whether the leather would scratch. Yes, of course it would scratch. It was leather. We called the marks that appeared with use “the patina of wear.” Over time, the leather softened, deepened in color, and became more distinctive. Those signs of use were not flaws; they were what gave the piece its character.

    Perhaps the same can be said of many of the things we own—and even of ourselves. Wear is evidence of living. A dining table bears the faint marks of family meals. A favorite chair softens to the shape of the person who sits in it. A well-read book develops a cracked spine and turned-down pages. These objects become familiar companions, carrying memories that something new simply cannot possess.

    I have never felt that everything in my life needed to be new or perfect. In our current climate, I am even less inclined to discard something simply because it is worn, outdated, or no longer pristine. We are encouraged to replace rather than repair, to update rather than appreciate, and to see signs of age as reasons to move on. But every object we throw away must go somewhere.

    I grew up in a small town that had what was then simply called the town dump. Residents brought their trash and added it to a large, ever-growing pile. Occasionally, the pile was plowed over, as though covering it somehow made it disappear. I found myself thinking about that dump the other day. What eventually happened to it as the pile continued to grow? It had to go somewhere. Trash does not cease to exist simply because we can no longer see it.

    That memory has stayed with me. I feel a responsibility not to add unnecessarily to the mountains of things already discarded. But my attachment to older possessions is about more than environmental responsibility. I genuinely enjoy living with things that are familiar, useful, and connected to my past.

    My bridge table is not perfect. Its surface is worn, and its age is evident. But it has survived for over eighty years and continues to find a place in my home and in my life. Its wear tells a story—of the historic building where we were married, of the people who used it before me, and of the many ways I have used it since.

    I don’t see its imperfections as damage. I see them as its patina of wear: evidence of a long and useful life.

    Peace be with you.

    #AgingWithGrace #BeautyInEverydayLife #FrancesBaconQuote #history #imperfection #memories #Patina #simpleLiving #SustainableLiving #TreasuredPossessions #VintageFurniture
  14. The Patina of Wear

    1940s Bridge Table

    “Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.”

    —Francis Bacon

    The folding bridge table in the photo is over eighty years old, and I have owned it for more than twenty of those years. During that time, it has served as an extra table for entertaining, a game table and even a fire screen.

    But its usefulness is only part of the reason I keep it. The table came from the historic building where my husband and I were married. It dates from one of my favorite eras and is painted in the warm autumn colors I have always loved. It definitely shows signs of wear, some of which I’m sure I have contributed to. That has never bothered me.

    I have always valued things with a history. Nicks, scratches, and faded places don’t diminish an object in my eyes. They make it more interesting. They suggest that it has been used, appreciated, and woven into someone’s life.

    At one point in my career, I worked for a company that sold handbags and briefcases made from beautiful Italian leather. Customers sometimes questioned whether the leather would scratch. Yes, of course it would scratch. It was leather. We called the marks that appeared with use “the patina of wear.” Over time, the leather softened, deepened in color, and became more distinctive. Those signs of use were not flaws; they were what gave the piece its character.

    Perhaps the same can be said of many of the things we own—and even of ourselves. Wear is evidence of living. A dining table bears the faint marks of family meals. A favorite chair softens to the shape of the person who sits in it. A well-read book develops a cracked spine and turned-down pages. These objects become familiar companions, carrying memories that something new simply cannot possess.

    I have never felt that everything in my life needed to be new or perfect. In our current climate, I am even less inclined to discard something simply because it is worn, outdated, or no longer pristine. We are encouraged to replace rather than repair, to update rather than appreciate, and to see signs of age as reasons to move on. But every object we throw away must go somewhere.

    I grew up in a small town that had what was then simply called the town dump. Residents brought their trash and added it to a large, ever-growing pile. Occasionally, the pile was plowed over, as though covering it somehow made it disappear. I found myself thinking about that dump the other day. What eventually happened to it as the pile continued to grow? It had to go somewhere. Trash does not cease to exist simply because we can no longer see it.

    That memory has stayed with me. I feel a responsibility not to add unnecessarily to the mountains of things already discarded. But my attachment to older possessions is about more than environmental responsibility. I genuinely enjoy living with things that are familiar, useful, and connected to my past.

    My bridge table is not perfect. Its surface is worn, and its age is evident. But it has survived for over eighty years and continues to find a place in my home and in my life. Its wear tells a story—of the historic building where we were married, of the people who used it before me, and of the many ways I have used it since.

    I don’t see its imperfections as damage. I see them as its patina of wear: evidence of a long and useful life.

    Peace be with you.

    #AgingWithGrace #BeautyInEverydayLife #FrancesBaconQuote #history #imperfection #memories #Patina #simpleLiving #SustainableLiving #TreasuredPossessions #VintageFurniture
  15. You’ll learn more from sitting in silence every day for a few minutes than you ever could from a book, podcast, or video.
    rishidass.net/posts/sit-in-sil
    #philosophy
    #mentalhealth
    #simpleliving

  16. You’ll learn more from sitting in silence every day for a few minutes than you ever could from a book, podcast, or video.
    rishidass.net/posts/sit-in-sil
    #philosophy
    #mentalhealth
    #simpleliving

  17. Maybe being rich has less to do with what you own... and more to do with needing nothing else.

    One of my favorite lines from Gone Tomorrow encapsulates that well check it out.

    #LeeChild #GoneTomorrow #JackReacher #BookQuotes #Bookstagram #SimpleLiving #QuoteOfTheDay

    wornoutspines.com/2026/07/21/t

  18. Somewhat clear skies

    We’re still under an air quality alert (because of the wildfire smoke), but today the atmosphere was much better than last Wednesday afternoon.

    And the temps were a little cooler with a nice breeze.

    We’ve been able to get out and enjoy the park again.

    I just love visiting parks tucked away in neighborhoods near our house. The neighborhood parks feature a playground with paved walking paths good for walking and riding bikes or even skating.

    One of my favorite features is how the walking paths go around the playground making it easier for us to keep an eye on the kids while we walk.

    It feels good to see people out jogging, walking, riding bikes, and playing at the playground again.

    Last week’s thick smoke made everything look like a ghost town because no one was out walking in the neighborhood or at the parks. Traffic was even lighter than usual.

    I know the kids are thrilled to be back at the playground.

    They’ve had the best time going to the park three days in a row. They asked me if we can go everyday. Lol 😅

    Travis and I enjoy walking together while the kids play at the playground, so I think we just might make evening walks part of our nightly routine! ☺️

    💜 XO

    An unexpected visitor 🐣

    A summer storm left our patio garden with one unexpected little visitor. 🐥

    by JennJuly 19, 2026

    A front porch garden harvest 🫑

    Enjoying a small garden harvest right from our front porch! 🫑🥬

    by JennJuly 18, 2026

    Attack of the ravenous cabbage caterpillars 🐛

    My broccoli never stood a chance. 😏🥦🐛

    by JennJuly 17, 2026 #AirQuality #DailyBlog #DailyLife #DailyWalking #exercise #Family #familyLife #FamilyTime #LifeReflections #nature #Parks #SimpleLiving #SlowLiving #Walking
  19. Somewhat clear skies

    We’re still under an air quality alert (because of the wildfire smoke), but today the atmosphere was much better than last Wednesday afternoon.

    And the temps were a little cooler with a nice breeze.

    We’ve been able to get out and enjoy the park again.

    I just love visiting parks tucked away in neighborhoods near our house. The neighborhood parks feature a playground with paved walking paths good for walking and riding bikes or even skating.

    One of my favorite features is how the walking paths go around the playground making it easier for us to keep an eye on the kids while we walk.

    It feels good to see people out jogging, walking, riding bikes, and playing at the playground again.

    Last week’s thick smoke made everything look like a ghost town because no one was out walking in the neighborhood or at the parks. Traffic was even lighter than usual.

    I know the kids are thrilled to be back at the playground.

    They’ve had the best time going to the park three days in a row. They asked me if we can go everyday. Lol 😅

    Travis and I enjoy walking together while the kids play at the playground, so I think we just might make evening walks part of our nightly routine! ☺️

    💜 XO

    An unexpected visitor 🐣

    A summer storm left our patio garden with one unexpected little visitor. 🐥

    by JennJuly 19, 2026

    A front porch garden harvest 🫑

    Enjoying a small garden harvest right from our front porch! 🫑🥬

    by JennJuly 18, 2026

    Attack of the ravenous cabbage caterpillars 🐛

    My broccoli never stood a chance. 😏🥦🐛

    by JennJuly 17, 2026 #AirQuality #DailyBlog #DailyLife #DailyWalking #exercise #Family #familyLife #FamilyTime #LifeReflections #nature #Parks #SimpleLiving #SlowLiving #Walking
  20. An unexpected visitor 🐣

    We have an unexpected visitor living in our patio garden—a Robin chick! 🐣

    Apparently, the baby Robin landed on our herb shelf after a storm knocked it’s nest out of the tree onto our patio. 🥺

    Every morning, I open the curtains to my patio door, and I scan the back garden to make sure all is well with the plants and no critters (i.e. pesky squirrels) got into the grow bags.

    The squirrels love to tear up my marigolds sometimes. 😏 Just the other day, a squirrel dug into one of my strawberry bags and pulled out the entire plant. 🍓😭

    As I was looking over the patio garden, I noticed on the herb shelf a little head peeking out of my petunia flower pot.

    “Well, you weren’t there last night!” I said aloud to the baby bird through the screen door. 🐣☺️

    That’s when I noticed the nest tipped over on its side on the shelf, and I immediately understood what had happened.

    What I didn’t know, though, was how the chick got into the flower pot. Did it by chance literally fall into the pot, or did the mama bird gently move it to the flower pot?

    My next question was, does the mama bird know the chick is here? Did she abandon it?

    So, I stood back from the patio door and waited patiently to see if a Robin would show up. Within about 20 minutes, the mama bird swooped into the garden and landed onto the petunia flower pot.

    Excitedly, the chick perked up and started chirping. It stretched it’s neck up and opened it’s beak wide.

    Mama bird plopped a wiggly worm into the chick’s beak, and then flew off.

    Whew! Well, that’s a relief, I thought to myself.

    I really didn’t want to become an adopted bird mom 😅🐣, but I would have definitely figured something out if the chick needed help.

    We did check the ground to see if there were any other chicks. Unfortunately, there was a second baby bird, and it didn’t survive the fall. 😥

    So, now we have a baby Robin living in my petunia flower pot on the herb shelf! Hopefully, the bird does okay in the pot. 🐣

    💜 XO

    A front porch garden harvest 🫑

    Enjoying a small garden harvest right from our front porch! 🫑🥬

    by JennJuly 18, 2026

    Attack of the ravenous cabbage caterpillars 🐛

    My broccoli never stood a chance. 😏🥦🐛

    by JennJuly 17, 2026

    Air quality

    Canada and Minnesota wildfires lead to an air quality alert for our state.

    by JennJuly 16, 2026July 17, 2026 #animals #BirdWatching #Birds #DailyBlog #DailyLife #garden #gardening #nature #Robin #SimpleLiving #SlowLiving #UrbanGarden #Wildlife
  21. An unexpected visitor 🐣

    We have an unexpected visitor living in our patio garden—a Robin chick! 🐣

    Apparently, the baby Robin landed on our herb shelf after a storm knocked it’s nest out of the tree onto our patio. 🥺

    Every morning, I open the curtains to my patio door, and I scan the back garden to make sure all is well with the plants and no critters (i.e. pesky squirrels) got into the grow bags.

    The squirrels love to tear up my marigolds sometimes. 😏 Just the other day, a squirrel dug into one of my strawberry bags and pulled out the entire plant. 🍓😭

    As I was looking over the patio garden, I noticed on the herb shelf a little head peeking out of my petunia flower pot.

    “Well, you weren’t there last night!” I said aloud to the baby bird through the screen door. 🐣☺️

    That’s when I noticed the nest tipped over on its side on the shelf, and I immediately understood what had happened.

    What I didn’t know, though, was how the chick got into the flower pot. Did it by chance literally fall into the pot, or did the mama bird gently move it to the flower pot?

    My next question was, does the mama bird know the chick is here? Did she abandon it?

    So, I stood back from the patio door and waited patiently to see if a Robin would show up. Within about 20 minutes, the mama bird swooped into the garden and landed onto the petunia flower pot.

    Excitedly, the chick perked up and started chirping. It stretched it’s neck up and opened it’s beak wide.

    Mama bird plopped a wiggly worm into the chick’s beak, and then flew off.

    Whew! Well, that’s a relief, I thought to myself.

    I really didn’t want to become an adopted bird mom 😅🐣, but I would have definitely figured something out if the chick needed help.

    We did check the ground to see if there were any other chicks. Unfortunately, there was a second baby bird, and it didn’t survive the fall. 😥

    So, now we have a baby Robin living in my petunia flower pot on the herb shelf! Hopefully, the bird does okay in the pot. 🐣

    💜 XO

    A front porch garden harvest 🫑

    Enjoying a small garden harvest right from our front porch! 🫑🥬

    by JennJuly 18, 2026

    Attack of the ravenous cabbage caterpillars 🐛

    My broccoli never stood a chance. 😏🥦🐛

    by JennJuly 17, 2026

    Air quality

    Canada and Minnesota wildfires lead to an air quality alert for our state.

    by JennJuly 16, 2026July 17, 2026 #animals #BirdWatching #Birds #DailyBlog #DailyLife #garden #gardening #nature #Robin #SimpleLiving #SlowLiving #UrbanGarden #Wildlife
  22. Pool day ☀️

    It was another hot day, so the kids and I spent some time at the pool today. The temps reached 94°F, but i think the weather app said it felt like 102°F! 🥵

    I’ll be honest—for most of the summer, I kept putting off going to the pool because I don’t particularly like wearing a bathing suit. 🫤

    But once we got in the pool and started swimming around, I really started to enjoy myself! 😄🏊‍♀️

    It made me realize I need to just relax and take a break sometimes, stop being so hard on myself.

    I mean, it is summer after all. Lol ☀️😊

    Mj (24), my oldest daughter stopped by to hangout with us at the pool after she got off from work.

    She has her own apartment in our neighborhood—just three minutes walking distance from our house.

    It’s nice having my daughter live in the same neighborhood as me. I really enjoy having her live so close by to us.

    I’m so glad we went to the pool around 1 p.m. and hung out for a couple of hours because the weather unexpectedly got bad later in the day.

    All of a sudden, around 6 p.m. the air quality became hazy and unhealthy because of the wildfires in Canada. 😲 (We live about 40 minutes from the Canadian border.)

    The atmosphere became very smoky outside as if the entire neighborhood had finished shooting off fireworks. You could even smell the burning wood!

    I’m keeping Canada and all U.S. states affected by these wildfires in my prayers! 🙏🏽

    💜 XO

    Productive Monday 😎

    I got so much accomplished on this busy Monday! 🙌🏾

    by JennJuly 13, 2026

    One habit that has improved my life the most 🙏🏽

    This daily habit has had the biggest impact on my life…🙏🏽💜

    by JennJuly 11, 2026

    Flight of the bumblebee 🐝

    Finally! Our first bumblebee sighting of the season! 🐝🌻

    by JennJuly 8, 2026 #AirQuality #Canada #DailyBlog #DailyLife #Family #familyLife #FamilyTime #LifeReflections #Motherhood #PoolDay #SimpleLiving #SlowLiving #summer #SummerDays #SummerFun #travel #Wildfires
  23. Pool day ☀️

    It was another hot day, so the kids and I spent some time at the pool today. The temps reached 94°F, but i think the weather app said it felt like 102°F! 🥵

    I’ll be honest—for most of the summer, I kept putting off going to the pool because I don’t particularly like wearing a bathing suit. 🫤

    But once we got in the pool and started swimming around, I really started to enjoy myself! 😄🏊‍♀️

    It made me realize I need to just relax and take a break sometimes, stop being so hard on myself.

    I mean, it is summer after all. Lol ☀️😊

    Mj (24), my oldest daughter stopped by to hangout with us at the pool after she got off from work.

    She has her own apartment in our neighborhood—just three minutes walking distance from our house.

    It’s nice having my daughter live in the same neighborhood as me. I really enjoy having her live so close by to us.

    I’m so glad we went to the pool around 1 p.m. and hung out for a couple of hours because the weather unexpectedly got bad later in the day.

    All of a sudden, around 6 p.m. the air quality became hazy and unhealthy because of the wildfires in Canada. 😲 (We live about 40 minutes from the Canadian border.)

    The atmosphere became very smoky outside as if the entire neighborhood had finished shooting off fireworks. You could even smell the burning wood!

    I’m keeping Canada and all U.S. states affected by these wildfires in my prayers! 🙏🏽

    💜 XO

    Productive Monday 😎

    I got so much accomplished on this busy Monday! 🙌🏾

    by JennJuly 13, 2026

    One habit that has improved my life the most 🙏🏽

    This daily habit has had the biggest impact on my life…🙏🏽💜

    by JennJuly 11, 2026

    Flight of the bumblebee 🐝

    Finally! Our first bumblebee sighting of the season! 🐝🌻

    by JennJuly 8, 2026 #AirQuality #Canada #DailyBlog #DailyLife #Family #familyLife #FamilyTime #LifeReflections #Motherhood #PoolDay #SimpleLiving #SlowLiving #summer #SummerDays #SummerFun #travel #Wildfires