Tag Archives: Life

Up in Flames

Things to ponder...., , , , , ,

Ahh,
can you hear it?

2024 is groaning
under the weight
of all the happenings
of the year.

Too many happenings to list here.

Are you groaning as well?

Here’s the cure…

Slip into your snuggly warm jammies,
or comfortable sweats,
grab a warm cup of your favorite steamy brew,
take your preferred throw or blanket
and settle in-front of the fire.

A big roaring fire.

Listen to the crackles
as little sparks pop from the blaze.
Watch the flames of the fire rise,
rise to the sky
or up the firebox.

Give your thoughts
of the year
to those flames.

Let the flames
take the weight of 2024
with them.

Rising into the heights of the heavens,
then dissipating in the air.

Allow the smoke to fill your nostrils
like incense, purifying your soul.

Watch the flames
licking the logs
slowly turning the surfaces into glowing,
red searing heat sources.
Soak in this heat.
Sit quietly
and let the weight of 2024
escape from your body.

Soak in
enough of the heat
that you need
to toss the blanket aside.

Quiet your mind.
Think about the flames
making the logs smaller.
Let your stressful thoughts
shrink as well.
Breathe deeply.
A new morning is coming.
2025 will arrive like a new babe.
Welcome it into your life–
Uncorrupted,
Renewed,
Original.

From the ashes of 2024,
let something new
be created in you
this coming year.

Embrace the possibility
of new beginnings.
Wrap them around yourself
like the blanket you 
previously tossed.

Hold your head high 
and enter the new year.

The Reason

Light Hearted Living..., , , ,
The Reason for the Project

This tile was the reason for the slow project we undertook…

We’ve been in our house for four years. Love living here and love how much time we can spend outdoors. Like any house you move into, there are projects needing attention. Initially, we focused much of our attention on outside areas. In the house, there were a few things we couldn’t wait to change; and a few other things we didn’t like, but didn’t know what we wanted to do. The guest bathroom fell into that category. 

What we had before any changes

Today, I can say that I’m glad we took our time with this project. Our house is older, so some features are older. Hahaha. The guest bathroom had not been updated in years. You can see from the before photo what I mean. 

Yet, I loved the tile in the bathroom and did not want to sacrifice it for a remodel project. My preference for the tile made the process slow. It also meant we would have to live with the existing cabinetry. Now that we are on the backside of the redo, I’m glad we went slowly. 

Hubby hated the old shower doors. Removing them allowed us to feel like the existing tub was workable. We each hated how the drop ceiling light box made us feel like the ceiling was right on top of our head. Removing the box and exposing the lights created the need to find something suitable. We are both suckers for lighting. So, the quest for lights was a fun part of hunting down materials for the bathroom. Tom cut out the existing sinks and found drop-in sinks to fill the holes and which allowed us to keep the tile counter tops. 

We both found the wall of mirror to be too much. Finding a pair of mirrors to replace the wall took longer than we expected. 

Paint colors were picked out, and the room was transformed. With all the major replacements done, the bathroom was shaping up. Yet the cabinets looked so old. I painted and antiqued them. Though it is said, this decorating trend is outdated, we have laughed. It may be outdated, but it is much more current than what we had. 

Completed transformation

By taking our time, we ended up with a unique bathroom to enjoy for years.  

Slow Restart…

Things to ponder...., Travel, , , , ,

After three glorious weeks on the road and over 5,000 miles on the car, we returned home tired, yet oh, so refreshed. We connected with so many friends and family, saw beautiful sights, and enjoyed one of the best Midwestern autumns! We’re home and have caught up on laundry, mail, appointments, household tasks and jumped into necessary holiday preparations. Now, we’re savoring the memories and reflect on them often.

I’m including a few snapshots from this epic trip. 

I, however, seemed to have kept the vacation mentality, dragging my feet about stepping back into routine activities. All forms of writing have slipped through most of the cracks. My writing grounds me. It is how I sort my thoughts and feelings, and where I let my imagination run wild. So today, I’m tip-toeing back into my playground. 

Thanks for joining me here.

I hope you are expectant about the upcoming holiday season and traditions important to you and those you care about. 

Thoughts

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I recently started a new project, as I felt my mindset had slipped out of some traditional thought patterns. I pulled a gratitude journal from the bookshelf as I decided I needed to get back into the habit of practicing gratitude. 

Each writing offers a two-page spread, with the first page having some thoughts to ponder, some scripture reminders, and the subsequent page is for writing and a brief prayer for ending the session. 

My writing will remain private, but I wanted to share the thoughts to ponder from one day. Day five, to be more precise. 

Some of the truths I’ve known for years, yet somehow, allowed these truths to escape from personal practices. Sometimes we all need reminders.

Yet I was fascinated by the idea that one’s mind actually expands based upon our focus. I liked the examples they used and could see experiences from my past to support the statement. 

The world we currently live in bombards us with information designed to grab our minds and cause us to be fearful or distrusting of others. Allowing such thoughts to occupy my mind creates the possibility for a stream of emotions and actions which I don’t want to be used to describe me. I can accomplish an alternative outcome with how I choose to think. When I ponder all I have to be grateful for, or the beauty surrounding me, I will become more optimistic and content. The prospect of becoming more optimistic and content is exciting; which should cause increased happiness, increased health and more fun for those I interact with. 

So, I have started the “100 Days of Grace & Gratitude.”

What thoughts will you choose?

Spring Thoughts

Clouds, Dreams & Fantasy, Things to ponder...., , , , , ,
Cut before the snow

Daffodils make me smile and remind me another season is coming. This piece was first published in Clouds, Dreams and Fantasy Copyright © 2023. (available on Amazon).
I seldom date my pieces. However, the spring of 2020 was the beginning of the Covid Pandemic and all the changes it brought to the world.

Happy Spring! Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Between Life and Death

Spring 2020
by Linda L. Flynn

I cut my first 
bunch of daffodils 
before Easter. 

It snowed during the night. 
The blooms left for later 
bent under the weight.
Buds not yet open 
succumbed to the 
morning snow.

My bunch of daffodils 
in the living room 
brought sunshine and the promise 
of spring to come.
I’ve enjoyed this 
bundle of blooms. 
I’ve watched 
the petals on these beautiful blooms 
first become paper thin. 
Still beautiful, 
but the truth 
of their fragility 
is now evident.

A few more days 
and the edges of those paper blooms 
are dry and wrinkled, 
some have turned a darker color, 
others just became more fragile. 

How like us.
We bud and bloom, 
bringing sunshine and promise 
to those around us. 
Our lives bring beauty to some. 
Like these blossoms, 
we don’t even recognize 
the gradual process 
of becoming more fragile. 
Our bones are
more brittle, 
muscle strength 
steadily disappears, 
our skin becomes 
more translucent, 
and our hair thins. 

Like my daffodils, 
we often fail 
to recognize 
these changes until 
something happens. 

Last night brought one 
of those happenings. 
I feel like 
I should howl 
and be in dissent.
Today, I’m weary and wonder, 
what is this time all about?

Returning

Light Hearted Living..., , , , ,

March was a whirlwind.

Weather changes
Time adjustments
Traveling adventures
House projects
Some quiet downtime

Midwest adventures.
Just a few photos…

Orchids and fun

Celebrating 95 years around the sun. Still looking good!

Traveling is fun, but so is returning home.

Last night we went to the theatre to see Tartuffe. 

It has been years since I’ve seen a Moliere play.

What a treat!
I’d forgotten how timeless his work is.

Kudos to North Coast Repertory Theatre for doing such outstanding work with this masterpiece.

Christmas Traditions

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Traditions
Just the word evokes many thoughts
Different for each of us
Impact of these thoughts is equally dissimilar
Some individuals become melancholy
Others upbeat and joyful

The word suggests something one can count on
Yet in truth, traditions reflect change

My granny baked an abundant assortment of cookies
Enjoyed by all, with each of us having our favorites
I took my favorite and ensured it was made every year
Thus, my children were introduced to my favorite for the Christmas season
Then their children delighted in these same little delicate sweets

Each of these children have carried some traditions from my home to their own
Adding new twists and turns creating something unique for their families

No littles at my house for the holidays
Yet these little green trees still get pulled from the oven to be enjoyed by others
An adult grandchild, with children of her own
Requested her gift be a box of these cookies for her family

I smile
How my granny would be honored to know
These little gems she so readily baked 
Are still being enjoyed five generations later

A tradition continues.

In Between

Light Hearted Living..., , , , , ,

The Beginning

Dinner in Milwaukee

Stage set for five days of non-stop activity.

Trip was planned around a family wedding.

Sister provided our resting location.

Visited with as many family and friends as time allowed.

Good times and memories abounded.

Last sight in Milwaukee

The Ending

Truth…

Things to ponder...., , , ,

…about friends

I’ve found myself often thinking of friends and recognize how much I appreciate them.

Friends, you are a blessing to me.

I saw this posted on a board at an art gallery. There was no name associated with it. The words ring true in my life, and I hope they will in yours as well.

Coming Later This Year (2)…

Clouds, Dreams & Fantasy, , , ,

Rewrite… Due to an incorrect setting when publishing. My error.

Clouds, Dreams & Fantasy is my creative by-product developed during Covid-19. The Pandemic created a unique time in global history and affected each of us differently. No matter how our personal lives were affected, life continued. Babies were born, people were married, people got sick, people died, people continued to experience the full scope of life, but often without the support of others. Like you, my life was impacted.

Technology allowed many to connect in new ways. Creatives became my circle and my imagination ran wild. This collection of work includes short stories, short shorts and poetry—much teased out by other writer friends.

Look for this book as a tool to set your imagination free as you allow the tales contained within to affect you.

Creatives influence one another. Plan to let this book impact you.