November 2026

"And Pandora said, I wonder what's in this box?" p. 266 Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

"Bachelor's Button - Aids in finding things that eere previously hidde. A clarifying flower...

Chive Blossom - Ensures you will win an argument.  Conveniently, also an antidote for hurt feelings...

Dandelion - A stimulant encouraging faithfulness.  Frequent side effects are blindness to flaws and spontaneous apologies." p. 287 Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Epoch: an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period or development

"Freedom is exercised in the confrontation by each other, in the context of an infinitely extensible work of imaginative understanding, of two irreducibly dissimilar individuals. Love is the imaginative recognition of, that is respect for, this otherness." ~ source 

"Her entire body relaxed and she laughed.  She laughed like she hadn't laughed in a long time." p. 286 Garden Spells 

source

Jack-O-Lantern 2026 Edition 

Ken's yoga class was exactly what I needed 

Law Family Halloween celebration

 

My brother Bob, and his son Brendan's family 

One day...

Perhaps this Puzzle is done "enough" for my liking/enjoyment....

Quark cheese watching British bake off. It's been awhile.

Revive Your Roar 

Ravenous Butterflies' Facebook post Nov 1, 2026

 source 

"There's a Rhythm" by Bon Iver

"Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks

Virginia Woolf: "Words belong to each other."

"What It Takes to Be Free" by Maria Popova here

"The tree was shaking with eXcitement, like it was laughing along with them." p. 285 Garden Spells

"Yellow joy was radiating from her. When you're happy for yourself,  it fills you. When you're happy for someone else,  it pours over." p. 284-5 Garden Spells  by Sarah Addison Allen 

"Zingier than zingy"  ~ Nigella Lawson

October 2026 part 2

"As if filled with lightning bug, lit by his hope." p. 12 Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen 

"But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things." ~ Vincent van Gogh

"Circus life under the big top world / We all need the clowns to make us smile...." Jonathan Cain

Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos)

Full moon 🌝 beautiful on the rise and the set

"Galileo" by Indigo Girls

Happy Halloween 🎃 birthday 🎂 🥳 Hana

Josh Baldwin's "Evidence" while driving to the Boro for last swim/dives of 2026 bonus: got to see Joe first listen here 

Lovely  source

Natalie Merchant "Carnival" while backing out of our driveway "mesmerized by what my eyes have seen"

Oshibana is the traditional Japanese art of creating intricate compositions using pressed flowers, leaves, and other botanical elements

Psithurism: the sound of wind in the trees

Quiet way of life aligning in our favor... Quiet dignity  p. 164

Reading Garden Spells again now after Reading this one:

Throat calm

Unrepentant p. 154 Garden Spells 

"Vulnerability... by trying to make you happy... By trying to give you happiness,  I lost my own." p. 162 Garden Spells 

eXile's blast from the past "I Want to Kiss You All Over" July 1978

 

Zwain, Hana 🥰 birthday love ❤️ 

Theo of Golden

Arrived a little late to the party, but again, as with Ted Lasso, I'm so grateful 🙏 

"But the giving is part of the gift." p. 220

Cabal of generosity p. 218

Daily with an enormous amount of faith...

Enjoying reading again, finally!

"Fado a genre that dates back to the early nineteenth century in Lisbon... infused with a sentiment of resignation,  fatefulness, and melancholia ... " p. 330

Grateful to have arrived and to

Healthy exercise in attentiveness 

 "I have tasted heaven" p. 335

Joy blooms naturally when we get out of our own way.

"Keener sense of wonder p. 219 source

Late for the Sky by Jackson Browne  listen 🎶 here

Movement of sound and silence p. 321

Neil Young "Harvest Moon" listen 🎶 here

"Ocean in a thimble" p. 320 further thoughts 

Pastiche: literary, artistic, musical, or architectural work that imitates the style of previous work

Quixotic : exceedingly idealistic, unrealistic, and impractical, often characterized by a devotion to romantic, lofty, or chivalrous goals without regard to common sense or actual constraints.

Requiebros: a Catalan word meaning "flirtatious remark; amorous compliment p. 327

"Slow movement of color... Shifted kaleidoscopically across the room." p. 355

 "The project seemed worthy of a movie." p. 218

"Unwittingly,  Mr. James Ponder and Mrs. Anita Gidley had become apprentices in the world according to Theo." p. 219

Verbivore poem: Herbivores eat Brussels sprouts, carnivores eat birds, cashivores eat dollar bills, and verbivores eat words.”

"Walked into the familiar nocturnal quiet of Broadway. " p. 335

eXtemporaneous : composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment

"Zany guitar surf rock" ~ Rich Garmon 10/13/26

Early October 2026 gratitude list

Ancestry Adventuring with my cousins

Braid of truth. Being. Breathing

Cozy Comforter

Diving into the ocean is Divine

Especially when Mom is near...

Fall Foliage Wednesday and Saturday Sea

Grace

Hana : "Heaven can draw a straight line with a crooked stick." worth pondering 🤔

"In fact, I wonder if, on this side of heaven, either one can be complete without the other:

Joy can coexist with sadness... p.214 Theo of Golden by Allen Levi 💛 

Kingfishr's "Oh Love" with lyrics here

"Like A Prayer" (Madonna cover Katie Gavin) listen here

Mom

Notice

Prioritizing Peace for the Pit crew!

Quintessential Autumn in New England 

"Riparian instinct" p. 1 Theo of Golden means relating to or living on the bank of a natural body of water, such as a river, stream, or lake. Resplendence : state or quality of dazzling, brilliant, and majestic beauty or shining splendor.

"Sit still long enough to see what is already there." p. 127 Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

source

"Unfettered flexibility and complete anonymity" p. 5 Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

 "Fair to You" listen with lyrics here. Beautiful 

"We are here to learn to endure the beams of love, to put down the swords, you know, and to take off the armor, because that’s when we’re at our most powerful." ~ Anne Lamott qtd.

eXquisite 

"You do the sacrament of ploppage. You plop, and you breathe, and then you look around." ~ Anne Lamott 

 source 

Zorba's reckless love of life." p. 2 Somehow by Anne Lamott 

September 2026, part 2

"Attention is the beginning of devotion" ~ Mary Oliver and this link to an essay with this title By Kathleen Fisher

Braid of Truth meditation Ana Forrest 

Commit to embodying gratitude and invite a spirit of Curiosity and whimsy into every day p. 282 Dear Friend

Don't forget to imagine the best scenario too.

"Embrace the World: All will be well, and all shall be well,  and all manner of things shall be well... 

For there is a Force of Love / moving through the universe/ that holds us fast and will never let us go." ~ Julian of Norwich 

God blessed my three wonderful, amazing brothers 

"He Ain't Heavy,  He's My Brother" by The Hollies

"If You're Exhausted by the World, You Need to Hear This" Interview with Anne Lamott

"Joy in the Trenches" Trevor Noah* on Netflix

Kate Bowler "Everything Happens"

 Sarabande Dr 2008

Madeline Kate Lessig's 18th Birthday 🎂 🥳 

"Necklace of beads of love." ~ Anne Lamott 

"Our God is wizening us at this moment."

"Passivity and quietism" p. 193 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue 

Quietism : I saw this word in something I read this weekend,  and it frustrates me that I don't remember where, but I really hope I see it there again. This is what it means to me:  contemplative spiritual pause in prayer in an effort to release all thought to God in prayer.

"Sometimes she skipped school to wander with Whitman: “Down by the creek, or in the wide pastures I could still find on the other side of the deep woods, I spent my time with my friend: my brother, my uncle, my best teacher.”

 ~ Mary Oliver Documentary

"Tell the Truth (Live on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon)" listen 🎶  to The Avett Brothers  here

"Umbrella by Rihanna lyrics "When the sun shines, we'll shine together."

Vines intertwined : moonflower and passion flower vines 🤍💜

*"Who will you be when history calls?" ~ Trevor Noah

"eXquisite, unforgettable kindness." about Mary Oliver in blog post by Kathleen Fisher (see link in "A" above.

"You Could Make This Place Beautiful" by Maggie Smith

"Zen-like stillness...immune to all desire. Nature is always wrapped in seamless prayer." p. 201 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue

September part 1

Autumn Clematis along the path to East Beach

 11 Sept 26

Beach visits need to be a more

Consistently 

Divine part of my life 

 source

"Focus" was the Word of the day. 

Glad I got that message!

Human : this word keeps popping up: "She was looking at a thought, a feeling... she said, "You're making me feel human." 🥲short reel.

Insidious : sneaking up on you when you aren't paying attention and wreaking havoc on your emotions and levels." p. 268 Dear Friend by Michelle Maros 

Jackie, you are a spiritual being having a human experience 🙏 

"Keep an eye out for the imbalances in your life" p. 268 Dear Friend 

Let it Be. I felt compelled to scroll back and find my favorite of Brian Thornburg's Vennsanity posts. Turns out he shared it on August 16th, of all days! That was the day my car was backed into and Mom's legs gave out at Wayland's so, what else can we do but Let it Be

source

"May there be kindness in your gaze when you look within." p. 143 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue

"Maitri: loving-kindness toward oneself" p. xi When Things Fall Apart : Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön

"Nothing is what we thought. I can say that with great confidence.  Emptiness is not what we thought. Neither is mindfulness or fear. Compassion-not what we thought. Love. Buddha nature. Courage.  These are code words for things we don't know in our minds, but any of us could experience them. These are words that point to what life really is when we let things fall apart and let ourselves be nailed to the present moment." p. 5 When Things Fall Apart : Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön

"Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is Indestructible be found in us." p.8

"Purposeful stillness" Sept 15 Dear Friend 

"Quasi love affair" ~ Phil Dunster about this adorable bicycle scene in "Sunflowers" S3E6

watch here

"Remember,  pivots can lead to hidden blessings.  Be open and curious about new opportunities." p. 267 Dear Friend by Michelle Maros 

 source

"There is definitely something tender and throbbing about groundlessness." p. 9

"Uncharted territory... relax with the groundlessness of our situation" [wow!] p. xi When Things Fall Apart : Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön

Vulnerability... Vital opening to change and truth." p. 154 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue 

eXquisitely beautiful spot for a September afternoon swim

"Yawning abyss of spiritual hunger" p. 139 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue 

we catch ourselves a Zillion times as nce again,  whether we like it or not, we harden into resentment,  bitterness,  righteousness indignation- harden in any way, even into a sense of relief, a sense of inspiration." p. 11 When Things Fall Apart : Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön

August > September 7, 2026

"Absolutely adorable Austin!!!" ~ Allison Dwyer

thank you for sharing, Brian

Continuity is one of the greatest mysteries of life... Waves on the shore... unfold in perfect pleated sequence... From break of dawn, the day arises... the gradually falls to gather in the colored shadow-basket of twilight... the melody of forward unfolding." p. 121 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue 

Doing things Differently

Everything thing, it seems, has changed. 

"Forward unfolding" ... necessary for coping with human Feelings and Foibles

God, Guide me with Grace. Amen 🙏 

How?

Is the unnoticed miracle of memory...the Intimate mirror of the continuity of ... experience and presence [?] p. 122 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue

Jo Dee Messina's "That's God" listen here 

"Know that the time you spend in stillness has purpose. Being unproductive has value too. Being present is a virtue...

"Lean into the notion that your time is never wasted,and you are always doing enough." p. 257 Dear Friend by Michelle Maros 

Mystery Mosiac

Noah Gundersen's "Heaven" listen here

"Once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters." ~ M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled

"Paid Time Off" by Noah Kahan listen here [9/7/2026]

"Quality over Quantity"

Retirement Rocks? I'm reading this book a little at a time,  but pp. 88-89 Rough!

Secret Struggles p. 89 Retirement Rocks

"Those unsettled feelings? They're just feelings.  They are fleeting.  Temporary.  Chase after the things that are eternal,  snd those worries will dissipate. " p. 89 Retirement Rocks

"Unsettled feelings?" p. 89 Retirement Rocks

"Voices within us ... are always urging us to change and become free." p.123 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue

 thank you for sharing Lynne 🙏 ❤️ 

"World is open and free; it offers itself so graciously to our hearts 💕  to create something new and wholesome from it each day." p.123 Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue

RelaX?

Zach Bryan "You Are My Sunshine"

Ted Lasso (mostly)

Amsterdam episode is one of my favs

"Be curious, not judgemental." ~ Walt Whitman

Cozy: "cozy like a warm fire but your can also keep your mind" Gezellig

"Don't worry about a thing 'cause every little thing gonna be alright."

"Doubt can only be removed by action"

 thank you, Brian

"Father and Son" by Yusuf / Cat Stevens during the final montage video here

Gezellig: "cozy like a warm fire but your can also keep your mind" gezellig.

"Hush your butt" ~ Ted Lasso Has Humble curiosity and is so....

Inspirational

"Just listen to your gut, okay? And on your way down to your gut, check in with your heart. Between those two things, they'll let you know what's what." ~ Ted Lasso 

Kenny Chesney recorded Tenille Towne's song "Goldfish" inspired by a break-up and... you guessed it, Ted Lasso listen and watch here

"Let's Get Lost" by Chet Baker S3E6 listen and watch here

Mumford & Sons "Forever"

 listen here 

"Now these few months might be tricky, but that’s just ‘cause we’re going through our dark forest. Fairy tales do not start, nor do they end in the dark forest. That son of a gun always shows up smack-dab in the middle of a story. But it will all work out. Now, it may not work out how you think it will or how you hope it does, but believe me, it will all work out...”

"Our job is to have zero expectations and just let go."

"Patience" listen here 

"Questions like "Have you played a lot of darts, Ted?"

Rupert 🙄

 August 30th

S3E6 "Sunflowers" 

"This Be The Verse" by Philip Larkin is the poem Mae recites in S3E11 "Mom City" click here to read

Understanding Underestimated ... darts with Rupert video here

Vincent van Gogh: Season 3, Episode 6 ("Sunflowers") of Ted Lasso, Ted visits the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and stares at van Gogh’s 1889 painting Sunflowers.

“WHISTLE!” ~ Roy Kent

"EXactly as it’s supposed to. Our job is to have zero eXpectations and just let go." ~ Ted Lasso, S2E5

"You know why the goldfish is the happiest animal on earth? Got a 10-second memory. Be a goldfish." ~ Ted Lasso 

Zoreaux > Van Damme > Zorro > Zoreaux

August 2026

"Be encouraging, compassionate, and kind. Kindness costs nothing, and to someone else, it can mean everything." Aug 6, Dear Friend by Michelle Maros

"Choose to love people from a space that is safe and healthy." Aug 5, Dear Friend by Michelle Maros

Doing my brain laundry...

"Energy is your most precious resource; be intentional to care for it..." p. 234 Dear Friend by Michelle Maros 

Faetz Family now includes Austin Reid

Giving Tree 🌳 ♥️ ... 

"Hanging By A Moment (Acoustic Version)" by Lifehouse 🎶 here 

 p. 46 Retirement Rocks: Devotions for All That Free Time

"I Don't want To- Talk About It- How You Broke My Heart..." my favorite rendition

John Byron Law, Jr entered into eternal life 10 years ago this week 🙏❤️

Ken swim 😀 5 August 26

Lunch with Lori! 7 Aug 26

Make plans for an adventure or two 

Noah Kahan's "Paid Time Off" listen here

Otis Library 

"Prayers are the branches of the tree, whose roots are called 'faith'. Faith can exist without prayer, but prayer cannot exist without faith." p. 203 Maktub by Paulo Coelho

Quietly contemplating the next chapter...

Reading Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue 

Soapmaking Saturday was really fun. Thank you, Logan 

"There is no tedium in the world, only in the way we look at the world." p. 205 Maktub by Paulo Coelho

"Unexpected kindness can give you the fuel to power through." Aug 6, Dear Friend by Michelle Maros

Video of Stonington Harbor Aug 5, 2026

"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." T. S. Eliot

Xfinity success with Mom's new phone Aug 5, 2026

"Your path is yours, and your timing is unique. You are not behind. You are right on time." p. 240 Dear Friend by Michelle Maros 

Zetz is a Yiddish word that means a heavy blow, smack, punch, or a hard unexpected setback.