Hello Life Keeping friends!
I’ve spent the past week, holed up at home, escaping the south Texas heat and writing. We are at the point in summer the weathermen here like to call “Hell’s front porch,” and I’m doing everything I can to hide from it. I discovered every basket item this week while staying in.
The Discard: The Odyssey
One of my hiding places this week: the movie theatre. I’d been dying to go see The Odyssey for months, and my husband and I finally got to go see it … and I was underwhelmed. There are some badass women in the tale of The Odyssey, and we barely got to know them. I wanted more Athena, more Helen, more Circe and Calypso and Penelope! I guess I’ll be sticking to Madeline Miller’s Circe and Nikita Gill’s Hekate for my Greek mythology fix from now on.
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Inside The Basket
1) A gift and a note from a friend
I was surprised and taken aback when I opened my front door to find a package from a dear friend that lives in New Orleans. In it I found a beautiful bird plate (I like to call my style eclectic avian chic) and just as thoughtful, a sweet note congratulating me on following my dreams to be a writer. She even told me in a text later that I helped her have a Cherry Coke moment. Thank you, Lauren!
2) A plant that keeps working all summer long
In my (very early) morning watering sessions, I’ve come to truly love this little workhorse of a plant called Gregg’s blue mistflower. She looks soft, but she is a tough Texas native that keeps on trucking even when it’s over 100 degrees out and there’s no shade in sight. Plus, she is an absolute butterfly magnet. So glad I added her to my garden bed early this spring.
3) My new kid-made magnets
My boys are in the middle of a very intense Titanic phase. They are also exceptionally creative 8-year-olds. One of them even found a way to turn a couple of popsicle sticks into Titanic and her sister ship Britannic. I was charmed by these little creations, and I wanted a way to display them. I suddenly thought, “Magnets!” and for less than $3, I ordered the pack of adhesive magnets that turned these popsicle sticks into a prized decoration for my fridge. Planning to keep them there until I die.
4) Yang Yuanzheng’s Floral Arranging Instagram Account
I fell in love with watching this masterful creator, @yuanzhengflowerarrangement, make beautiful Chinese style floral arrangements earlier this year. I love the way he uses stems as floral frogs, fills vases with a pitcher of water (ASMR for the eyes), and then adds each new element to his arrangement in a truly elegant manner. Every new arrangement becomes my favorite.
He stopped posting in mid-April, and I was afraid he was gone for good. But he suddenly reappeared in my feed in early August, and I couldn’t be happier. I’m trying to fill my Instagram feed with things that make me happy, and this account does the trick.
5) Buying for Keeps
Claire Franklin from The Harmonious Home Approach is an interior designer who doesn’t like interior design. But she does love making homes. As a homebody to my core, I couldn’t agree with her philosophy more. I found this article particularly resonant. In it she encourages us to “break the cycle of buying frequent updates” and not to “let the fear of getting it wrong outweigh the joy and creative process of choosing something we’ve found ourselves and love.” Soon I will need to replace damaged flooring and a falling-apart-sofa. Thanks to Claire, I will be taking my time with these purchases and making sure that when I buy, I’m buying for keeps.
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Before you go…Have you found joy while staying in? Tell me about it in the comments.
🍒 In Case You Missed It… 🍒
The plate is gorgeous. You and your friend have excellent taste!
I’m going to add some Gregg’s blue mist flower to my garden for next year based on your recommendation, assuming it’s okay for my zone. Anything that can stand 100 degrees is a winner in my book. Bonus if it attracts butterflies!
I love that you have twins!! I have a twin brother, and my younger sisters are also twins. 😀
Aww, I always look forward to your posts, and I’m honored to have made it in the basket! 🧺 The boys’ magnets are adorable. I’d keep those forever too!