June may be one of our shorter months but it hasn't felt like it. It's been a glorious month weather-wise here and it has actually felt like summer. I've written less blog posts this month than ever but I feel I've lived the life I write about more than ever, too. Having a smart phone and instagramming (is that a verb) has certainly helped me capture these happy moments without it being time consuming. And not having a permanent job right now has made my summer a lot less stressy too.
Whilst I haven't updated my simple pleasures list on my sidebar recently it's something I like to reflect on from time to time. Taking photos on my phone and using Instagram is a great way to create a visual gratitude diary.
All of these photos are from my phone and hold sweet memories.
♥ Opening windows first thing. I enjoy snatching a little bit of extra time on bright mornings and find it hard to stay in bed.
♥ Lunar festival. We had a fun, chilled time.
♥ Shakespeare in the Park (the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet). We were lucky to get free tickets through our local arts organisation. A perfect way to spend a summer afternoon.
♥ British strawberries. The smell... the taste... the colour...
♥ Decluttering at a car boot sale and bagging these bargain chairs from Ikea at the same time (£5 for three).
♥ Augergine dhal, a new recipe. I've made it twice this month.
♥ Having our student son home and his rather cool vinyl collection.
♥ Nurturing white lupins in my new garden.
♥ National Trust visits. We returned to Packwood House in Warwickshire. I loved the sorbet colour of these roses.
What are your current daily pleasures? I'd love to hear.
July beckons and we've got a busy month with a 70th birthday party, our local festival (with hubs and band performing after a long break), an anniversary date night, a garden to finish for my dad's birthday celebration and tomorrow I'm off for a day adventuring in London. Excited, happy and busy.
Thanks for reading, following and commenting here xo
30.6.14
28.6.14
On Writing
I
was delighted to be asked by Lucent to join in with this blog hop about
writing. As I respect, admire and like Lucent enormously, I was keen
to join in. Writing about writing; what could be more fun? Here are
my answers to the 4 questions we were set.
What
am I working on?
Not
much if I am honest! My blog writing has been a little sporadic of
late but that is a positive thing because I've been practising what I
preach: spending less time online, reading, exercising, gardening
and, of course, decluttering. But I am writing a whole lot more than
I was two years ago and this is a great achievement and a continual
source of joy for me. Writing is my perfect waste of time. Writing is
my indulgence and an accessible outlet for my creative urges. Writing
enables me to escape and connect at the same time. Writing is a room
of my own.
This
blog was born through a new found passion in simplifying my life but
as a result my love of writing was reborn. Writing was something that
I enjoyed as a child and young adult. I wrote stories, poetry,
entered essay competitions and I chose English as my degree. Somehow
I dropped writing in my twenties and thirties – those busy years of
creating a family and career. The last time I wrote for pleasure was
during my first pregnancy when I was very disciplined and kept a
detailed diary that is hilarious yet beautiful in its naivety.
These
days spending hours on text for a blog post is pure indulgence. I
constantly strive to be a better writer, to be both spontaneous
and polished (well, with as few mistakes as possible). I am beginning
to seek new avenues for my writing. Blogging has given me the
confidence to tackle new writing projects like producing text for a
website and copy for programmes for our local arts organisation. I
enjoy writing reviews of festivals. Poetry is another favourite
outlet for the words that roam my mind and the emotions that I hold
close to my heart. Sometimes I post my poems and they help me to
deal with difficult times.
For
now the writing opportunities that blogging brings is more than
enough for me. I don't schedule my posts much in advance but I do try
to keep my writing varied. I was very driven when I first started
blogging and posted daily for 6 months but although I post less often
now I still have lots of enthusiasm and ideas for moving Just a
little less forward.
How does my writing differ from others in my genre?
Just
a little less is both a minimalist blog and a lifestyle blog. I know
I have a blogging voice (just like I have many other voices) but I
hope my writing sounds natural and reflects my values and
personality. I think when I write about minimalism I adopt a more
ardent style and my writing carries more gravitas. There are many
minimalist blogs, especially in the USA, but few are written by
married women in their late forties - so I guess that makes me a
little different. When I write online I always try to be honest and
upbeat and I like to invite readers to comment on their experiences.
I often describe Just a little less as a beautiful look at
minimalism; my version of minimalism is not too bare and likewise my
writing is quite elaborate at times.
Why
do I write what I do?
I
was inspired to start blogging after 18 months of devouring blogs on
minimalism and simple living. I felt it would be worthwhile to record
my ideas and progress and that it might give hope to others feeling
overwhelmed by cluttered homes, over scheduled lives and that trapped
feeling of being a wage slave. My writing has a purpose to inform and
inspire others but it also helps to keep me on the simplicity path.
Writing my blog is rewarding. I enjoy the creative process,
connecting with like minded people, receiving emails and comments
from readers and just having a record of this stage of my life.
How
does my writing process work?
I
usually write whilst sat on the sofa, tip-tapping away on my laptop.
I quite like background noise and people around me (except when they
peer over the screen). I mostly write in the evenings as I would lose
entire days to blogging otherwise. If I have an important or
difficult post to write I might start writing it on paper first.
Writing comes easily when I write about experiences and projects that
I'm working on. I quite like researching new things though, and I'm
an avid word collector, grammar nerd and thesaurus user. Often ideas
for writing come to me when I'm in flow and involved in a repetitive
task such as digging or ironing. Sometimes too many ideas come at
once and I have to write them down or I forget them. I edit my writing a
lot and try to keep my posts fairly short. I sometimes ask my husband
to read my draft copies before publishing. I re-read posts too much
before I publish and I always feel a little nervous after they've gone
live. Some posts are done in one sitting but I prefer to come back to
my writing several times with fresh eyes. I still find mistakes after
publishing which I have to correct. I'm writing this post as a Word
document first and it seems to be taking ages and it's too long, but
sometimes you just have to set limits on a piece of writing and let it be,
Thank
you to Lucent, my minimalist loving friend, for the invite. Here's a
little more about her.
Around
here she’s known as Lucent.. Lucent is a legally blind woman who
shares her photographs with a few words of gratitude or a long
rambling piece that is definitely not minimalist. She is always
honoured when people spend time in her online space and has made
special friends through it. She values genuine relationships, travel,
good food, photos and experiences the most. She’s completely and
utterly in love with her handsome husband, adorable dog and thinks
her mum is always the prettiest woman in the room. If you’re her
friend you’ll know without a doubt that she treasures you. Lucent
appreciates the simple joys and is a resilient optimist taking on
life’s challenges with a smile and the occasional tear. At 33 years
old she is finally totally smitten with her hair in its natural state
and colour – her mum can’t understand what took her so long!
Cloudy days make her bounce out of bed even more cheerful than usual,
as her eyes relish the gentle light. Autumn is her favourite season.
Finding greenery in urban environments makes her quietly congratulate
it for its optimism and beam of life through the concrete. She’s an
(attempting) sophisticated jeans-woollen jumper-and-loafers city
dweller crossed with outdoor boots-waterproof jacket-country woman.
Sometimes she struggles with her desire for privacy and the modern
expectation of oversharing. She feels she’s lived a couple of lives
in her pursuits, but now calls herself a housewife first. But labels
don’t define her anyway, pfffft. You will find her seeking out the
quiet corners of the café with comfortable chairs. Her
husband is the one who drinks coffee, she just photographs it. She
totally digs hugs, laughs and smiles, and would like to pat your dog
please.
I
hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed conducting
this little interview with myself. I have asked others to join in but
I am still awaiting replies. In the meantime if you would like to
join in with this please feel welcome. This blog hop has opened new
simplifying blog writers to me. If you read Lucent's post you will find links to other like minded people such as Rebecca and Kali.
Happy writing xo
20.6.14
Summer Evenings in the Garden
Young plants need a lot of nurturing yet it is so rewarding. For the last two months we've been watering, weeding, watching, waiting and wondering at how rapidly our new garden is taking shape. I love the stature of our tall grasses (Karl Foerster), the featheriness of the pony tail grasses and the bronze tufts on the setaria lowlander grass. White geraniums add light whilst the lavender adds depth and invites insect visitors. The verbena bonariensis that arrived from Far West Cornwall, after an unexpected long postal journey, have fully recovered and are determined to produce flowers this year. Thank you Elizabeth.
These delightful plants are just a small part of our small garden. I promise I will show you more of the makeover soon. Despite the good weather I still haven't finished painting the fence or shed. We have a table and chairs to collect from my parents as well. Sometimes you just have to down tools and and take it all in. Stop for a moment or more to stroke the plants, sit still and catch the movement of the leaves in the breeze or sop wine and snippets of the day with your loved one.
We have no regrets about removing the lawn and our simple makeover is reaping its rewards already. This is where you'll find me on evenings like tonight.
Have a wonderful weekend xo
14.6.14
Lunar Festival
Last Sunday we spent a wondrous day at Lunar Festival in Warwickshire. Lunar is a three day, family friendly festival which, although still in its infancy, is rapidly blossoming into a unique and well respected festival. A long tree-canopied drive leads to the beautiful grounds of the Umberslade estate in Tanworth in Arden and provides a perfect rural setting for happy festival goers of all ages. We were greeted by friendly volunteers and the site was very well run, clean and the mud (yes, no festival is complete without occasional heavy downpours) was kept under control with regular maintenance.
There was nothing corporate or commercial about this festival. Instead imagine a calm and creative vibe but mixed with a little craziness. At the centre of the site a welcoming bonfire was kept alight for all to share and mill around. Nearby in the camping area children were able to have fun and learn new skills with circus artists, sports coaches and a climbing wall. With an amazing array of workshops, talks, films and fitness activities on offer there was plenty to take in and try alongside the music. That's how I found myself joining in with ska-aerobics on a Sunday morning – any fears of being cool or fit disappeared as I got down to some fun in my wellies! This is what I loved about Lunar... how everyone felt part of the festival. It was small enough for performers to be wandering about and mingling in the bar.
Music wise the line up was impressive with acts such as British Sea Power, Donovan and The Polyphonic Spree representing a variety of tastes. On the Saturday evening there was an intimate opportunity for a select number of people, who had pre-booked tickets, to listen to Nick Drake's own copy of Pink Moon on the gramophone player used by his family (Lunar is described as Nick Drake's spiritual home as his family home was in Tanworth in Arden).
Oh, how I would have liked to be there. Still, not to worry, I got my folky fix on Sunday afternoon listening to Lanterns on the Lake and Scott Matthews. Scott's performance was as blissful as the afternoon blue sky and I really, really did not want it to end.
Our visit to Lunar Festival was short but very sweet. Sadly we missed The Polyphonic Spree due to home commitments but I've heard that their performance was pure joy. And that for me sums up Lunar festival. We'll be back.
9.6.14
Thoughts on Paring Down my Wardrobe
Item by item and hanger by hanger, I am gradually paring down my wardrobe. I am letting go of: sale items, duplicate items, charity shop items bought only because of the label, the idea of making do with something I no longer like and anything that makes me ask, Am I too old for.... or, Why does this feel tight around my.... My old clothes are being donated to charity shops to help good causes and sold at car boot sales to help build someone's wardrobe who has less than I. Garments residing in storage from Project 333 are leaving the house. Items thrown out by mistake are making me feel truly liberated. The check shirt that I sold for a song to a joyous teenage girl at a car boot sale is still making me smile. My 'best' clothes are being worn again and again. New basics are earning their keep and new listings on Ebay are being prepared. The fear of not having enough clothes is lessening its grip. I'm loving the way my new black and grey linen skirt coordinates with my black, grey and white tops. I'm beginning to count the hangers in my wardrobe... I think I can do this. I can have a minimalist wardrobe.
6.6.14
Weekend Wishes
It's official. Festival season is with us. On Sunday we're hopping over to Warwickshire for some festival fun at Lunar. It'll be just me and hubby so it's kind of... eek... a date too. I'm so looking forward to some time out and filling our souls with good music and creative vibes. I shall be reporting back here and on Instagram too.
Wishing you all a great weekend. Thanks for reading, following and commenting here at Just a little less xo
Wishing you all a great weekend. Thanks for reading, following and commenting here at Just a little less xo
2.6.14
Open Hearted
Last Friday these yellow balloons were released in front of crowds to mark the close of Stephen Sutton's vigil before his private family funeral took place. Such a poignant but uplifting image that I wanted to share with you. Our local area is adorned with yellow ribbons too.
Image source unknown (but if I find it I will add the reference).
Image source unknown (but if I find it I will add the reference).
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