home.social

#simpleliving — Public Fediverse posts

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

fetched live
  1. Epicurus: The Philosopher of Freedom and Friendship

    Epicurus (341–270 BCE) offered a radical cure for the anxiety of his time—and ours. In an era of political fragmentation and religious fear, he founded “The Garden,” a community where ordinary people achieved tranquility through reason, friendship, and simple living. Misunderstood for 2,300 years as a hedonist, Epicurus actually taught that the highest pleasure is the absence of pain and anxiety—a state reachable by anyone through wise desire-management and deep bonds with others.

    The Fourfold Cure (Tetrapharmakos)
    Epicurus prescribed four philosophical medicines to liberate us from suffering:

    Don’t fear the gods. The gods exist but are perfectly tranquil; they cannot be angered or disturbed by human affairs. Divine punishment is a myth.

    Don’t fear death. Death is nothing to us. When we exist, death is absent; when death arrives, we do not exist. There is no afterlife to fear.

    Goods are easy to obtain. Nature’s necessities—food, water, shelter, companionship—are simple and accessible. Luxuries are unnecessary for happiness.
    Evils are easy to endure. Intense pain is brief; chronic pain is moderate. Even in suffering, mental cultivation and friendship can sustain joy.
    Redefining Pleasure

    Contrary to the caricature of “Epicurean” as indulgence, Epicurus distinguished between:

    Kinetic pleasures: Fleeting sensory刺激 (wine, sex, entertainment).

    Katastematic pleasures: Stable states of aponia (no bodily pain) and ataraxia (no mental disturbance).
    True happiness comes not from accumulation but from eliminating desires for things beyond natural needs. He classified desires as:

    Natural & necessary (hunger, shelter) → Satisfy simply.
    Natural but unnecessary (gourmet food, sex) → Moderate.
    Vain & empty (fame, wealth, power) → Eliminate entirely.
    Friendship as the Supreme Good

    Epicurus declared friendship the most important ingredient for happiness. The Garden was a revolutionary community where social hierarchies dissolved: slaves debated with citizens, women with men. Deep, philosophical friendship provides security, shared wisdom, and emotional support—the antidote to loneliness and anxiety.

    A Life of Freedom

    Epicurus advised “living unknown” (lathe biosas): avoid politics, fame, and public ambition. These create dependencies on external forces and fuel vain desires. Instead, cultivate a private life of philosophy, simple pleasures, and trusted friendships. This withdrawal isn’t isolation—it’s liberation from the turbulence of public life.

    Legacy and Modern Relevance
    Persecuted by early Christians as an atheist hedonist, Epicurus was nearly erased. Yet his ideas resurfaced in the Renaissance (via Lucretius’ De Rerum Natura) and inspired Enlightenment thinkers like Jefferson, Marx, and Mill. Today, his insights resonate in:

    Psychology: Cognitive-behavioral therapy mirrors his “rehearsing arguments against fear.”
    Minimalism: Countering consumerism with “enough is abundant.”
    Friendship movements: Addressing the loneliness epidemic through intentional community.
    Environmental ethics: Simple living as ecological necessity.
    Practice Today
    Epicurus offers a daily discipline:

    Memorize core truths (e.g., “Death is nothing”) to counter anxiety.
    Examine desires: Is this natural/necessary? Vanity?
    Rehearse anti-fear arguments: Rationalize worries before they spiral.
    Practice negative visualization: Imagine loss to deepen gratitude.
    Invest in friends: Prioritize deep bonds over superficial networks.
    In an age of burnout, digital overload, and existential dread, Epicurus invites us to a quieter, freer path: Stop fearing the gods. Stop fearing death. Simplify your desires. Cultivate friendship. Seek tranquility, not excitement.

    Listen to the lecture here: https://tube.leshley.ca/w/qB4HrSdeEC3oMezVVRyQkx

    The Garden is still open. Will you enter?

    #Epicurus #Tetrapharmakos #Philosophy #Hedonism #Ataraxia #Friendship #SimpleLiving #AncientWisdom #MentalHealth #ModernRelevance #Liberation #Tranquility #Counterculture #FreedominThought #Pleroma #Fediverse #PhilosophyLecture #NoFear #DesireManagement #Community
  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. Farm store day 🚜

    It’s our favorite biweekly activity—visiting the local farm store!

    We always get a dozen cider donuts, deli meat, local bread, lollipops, and a plant or two for me 😄🪴.

    Today, we noticed the store is getting ready for the fall. There were a few new fall decorations out on display.

    Yes, I was tempted to buy some of the fall decor 😏, but I will remain patient and wait until mid-August. Lol 😊

    I love these cute fabric apples. 🍎🥰

    I bought two small houseplants marked down to $2.99. I couldn’t pass up that good deal! 😅🪴

    A couple of years ago, I tried to grow prayer plants in my house, but fungus gnats devoured my poor plants. 😭 I had the hardest time getting rid of the nuisance gnats.

    Since then, I have learned how to properly care for plants I buy from the farmers market or local stores.

    For instance, before, I didn’t know it’s important to give your store plants a proper potting mix separate from the soil they are placed in at the store.

    Caring for the eight houseplants I have now (5 pothos and 3 snake plants) and outdoor gardening has taught me more basic plantcare skills, so I am ready to add these two new plants to my indoor plant collection. 😊🪴

    The kids also helped scoop a pound of raw peanuts. We like to feed the squirrels at a nearby neighborhood park. 🐿Picking out their favorite lollipops. I need this vintage sign for my kitchen. 😂

    Great visit to the farm store today! I just might have to go back and get two more small houseplants. 😄🪴

    Do you have a favorite local shop you like to visit regularly?

    💜 XO

    Baby cucumbers 🥒

    I discovered about 10 cucumbers growing in our garden! 😁

    by JennJuly 22, 2026July 23, 2026

    Drawing with the kids 👩🏽‍🎨

    There’s something unexpectedly joyful drawing and coloring with your children. ☺️

    by JennJuly 21, 2026

    Somewhat clear skies

    It feels good to be back outside now that the air quality is improving.

    by JennJuly 20, 2026 #DailyBlog #DailyLife #Fall #FallDecor #Family #FarmStore #IndoorPlants #LocalBusiness #plants #SimpleLiving #SlowLiving #SmallBusiness
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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

  14. 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

  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. 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

  18. 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

  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. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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
  23. 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
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. 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
  29. Garden & Soul by Oli @gardenandsoulbyoli.wordpress.com@gardenandsoulbyoli.wordpress.com ·

    Old Aromatherapy: Memory Smells Like Plants

    People measure life in years. I believe I have lived mine mostly in fragrances. When I look back, I do not first remember the houses I lived in, the roads I traveled, or the objects I kept. I remember scents. The fragrance of poplar buds announcing spring. The smell of wet oak leaves telling me autumn was already near. The scent of wood smoke carried by a quiet morning breeze, a sign that the atmospheric pressure was changing and that rain would probably follow. Meteorologists have […]

    gardenandsoulbyoli.wordpress.c

  30. 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
  31. 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
  32. 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
  33. 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
  34. 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
  35. A Day in the Life at Duffney’s Bird Barn

    How I balance a remote career, homesteading, crochet, writing, and motherhood—one day at a time. People often ask me how I find time to do everything. Honestly... Some days I wonder the same thing. The weeds don't always get pulled. The laundry doesn't always get folded. The dishes aren't always done when I want them to be. Some crochet projects take longer than I planned, and there are days when my to-do list is still staring back at me when it's time for bed. I've learned that's […]

    duffneysbirdbarn.wordpress.com

  36. A Day in the Life at Duffney’s Bird Barn

    How I balance a remote career, homesteading, crochet, writing, and motherhood—one day at a time. People often ask me how I find time to do everything. Honestly... Some days I wonder the same thing. The weeds don't always get pulled. The laundry doesn't always get folded. The dishes aren't always done when I want them to be. Some crochet projects take longer than I planned, and there are days when my to-do list is still staring back at me when it's time for bed. I've learned that's […]

    duffneysbirdbarn.wordpress.com