Stories that Blend Past and Present

With the continuing hot weather I have found myself doing a lot of reading.  I want to share an author I found who weaves stories joining the past and present, usually involving a certain item that provides the common thread.  Her name is Susan Meissner.  

I especially want to share her work because so many of you love vintage items like I do and I think her writings may appeal to you.    

I love to think about the history and the story behind treasures I find at estate sales and antique stores.  I am fascinated that someone else in some other time and place possessed the item and wonder what stories it could tell -- what has it "seen"?   What events has it witnessed?   Whose hands have held my "new to me" piece of history?

Susan Meissner's writings bring this thought to life.  Her books tend to blend present day situations with the past in a beautiful way. 

The one I started last night is "Lady In Waiting".  The item that "travels" through time periods is a small ring engraved on the inside with a mysterious inscription and the name - Jane... Below is the description from Amazon.



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003E8AIZ2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1


Description:
Content in her comfortable marriage of twenty-two years, Jane Lindsay had never expected to watch her husband,  Brad, pack his belongings and walk out the door of their Manhattan home. But when it happens, she feels powerless to stop him and the course of events that follow Brad’s departure.

Jane finds an old ring in a box of relics from a British jumble sale and discovers a Latin inscription in the band along with just one recognizable word: Jane. Feeling an instant connection to the mysterious ring bearing her namesake, Jane begins a journey to learn more about the ring—and perhaps about herself.

In the sixteenth-century, Lucy Day becomes the dressmaker to Lady Jane Grey, an innocent young woman whose fate seems to be controlled by a dangerous political and religious climate, one threatening to deny her true love and pursuit of her own interests.

As the stories of both Janes dovetail through the journey of one ring, it becomes clear that each woman has far more infl uence over her life than she once imagined. It all comes down to the choices each makes despite the realities they face.

Review:

Praise for Lady in Waiting“Lady in Waiting is sheer beauty set in two time periods, both equally captivating stories. Meissner writes characters I care for, root for, and pine alongside—and she does so while weaving enticing, heart-wrenching plots. This book proves why I’m an ardent Susan Meissner fan.”—Mary DeMuth, author of Life in Defiance

“Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner: The pacing, perfection. Transitions between centuries, seamless. Capturing the nuances of relationship, flawless. Put anything written by Susan Meissner on your “must read now!” list, right beside Barbara Kingsolver and Elizabeth Berg. I couldn’t put this elegant novel of love and choice down. A completely satisfying read.” -Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of A Flickering Light and An Absence So Great

The first book I read by Meissner was through my bookclub and is entitled "A Fall of Marigolds" and my club considers it one of the best books we have ever read.  This time, the treasured item is a beautiful scarf.  This is the book that turned me on to this author.  Here is the description from Amazon:




A beautiful scarf, passed down through the generations, connects two women who learn that the weight of the world is made bearable by the love we give away....

September 1911. On Ellis Island in New York Harbor, nurse Clara Wood cannot face returning to Manhattan, where the man she loved fell to his death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Then, while caring for a fevered immigrant whose own loss mirrors hers, she becomes intrigued by a name embroidered onto the scarf he carries…and finds herself caught in a dilemma that compels her to confront the truth about the assumptions she’s made. Will what she learns devastate her or free her? 

September 2011. On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, widow Taryn Michaels has convinced herself that she is living fully, working in a charming specialty fabric store and raising her daughter alone. Then a long-lost photograph appears in a national magazine, and she is forced to relive the terrible day her husband died in the collapse of the World Trade Towers…the same day a stranger reached out and saved her. Will a chance reconnection and a century-old scarf open Taryn’s eyes to the larger forces at work in her life?

Review:
“Like the golden threads of a scarf sprinkled with marigolds, Susan Meissner weaves two unspeakable New York tragedies—the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and 9/11—into a shimmering novel of love and acceptance. Meissner’s heroines, Clara and Taryn, live a century apart, but their stories are connected not just by a bright scrap of fabric but by love lost.  A compelling novel, A Fall of Marigolds turns fate into a triumph of spirit.”—Sandra Dallas, New York Times bestselling author of True Sisters 

Because she is a prolific writer - she has her own page on Amazon - AND her books are available through the public library - I will be reading as many as I can get my hands on.  

Her storytelling has captivated me and satisfies my passion for the common threads that run through all of our lives and the generations.  It appeals to the sentimental side of me that prefers vintage treasures with a history to new things that have not developed the patina of life, love and experience.

Have you heard of this author?  When you find an author that you love, do you read as many of their books as you can?  Do you wonder about the stories the treasures you find could tell?  


-Lyn


Once again - I get that weird white background when I cut and paste.  One of these days I will figure that out.  :)

Takin' It Easy

So many days in a row of unbearable heat and humidity.  A few times I thought I could go outside and work in my yard but within 15 minutes of being out there, I was soaked and miserable and had to come back inside.  The yard, weeds and overgrown shrubs will have to wait to be pulled and trimmed.  In this weather, the only thing to do is take it easy.  I have been reading lots of books and blogs, rearranging my house, spending time with my family and watching movies.  The humidity zaps my energy and I feel wiped out if I try and push myself to get out and work in it for very long.

Some of my perennials; however, are loving it and they are putting on a show.  My Coneflowers and Daisies are blooming like crazy.

A Gerber Daisy that I planted 2 years ago came back again this year - prettier than ever.  This was such a surprise!  I have always used them in containers and thought of them as annuals,  but my neighbor has one she planted in her beds that has come back 4 years in a row so I decided to try it.  I think they are one of the most beautiful flowers -- the detail in the petals is amazing.  

A friend of mine I and will be going hiking at a nearby waterfall in the next couple of weeks.  That is the only hike I will do in this weather - one that rewards me at the end  with the mist of a cool waterfall!  

Paddling on one of our beautiful Tennessee Rivers is another favorite hot weather activity -- it is so refreshing and rejuvenating to float and play in the cool water.

   

And, of course, finding a swimming pool is a great way to beat the heat.

Grandgirl enjoying a pool day

How do you stay cool in this "heat dome" most of us are experiencing?  

Sending cool thoughts your way....

Finding Peace

FIRST OF ALL - I have to apologize for the weird formatting of the text of this post.  I have spent the past hour trying to make it look better with no luck.  I don't know what in the world I did to make it have this shadow - so I am sorry it is difficult to read.  Please bear with me...

We are in troubled times – the earth has always had troubled times, of course, some worse than others, for different people.  In my lifetime, I have always felt safe where I live and work but lately there seems to be so much anger and division – the media is blaring it and sensationalizing it to the point that it seems everyone hates everyone else and it creates fear. 

When all I hear is how terrible everything is - and I am certainly not minimizing the awful events that have been going on around the world, I have to step back and reconnect with my spiritual side.  I immediately say prayers for those who have been affected. The victims and their families could be me or my family and I never want to take life for granted.  I do my best to send love out into the world and the people I come in contact with.   I still believe there are more good than bad people – most of us just want to live our lives, love our families and friends and live in peace.  

Have you ever seen the photograph named The Pale Blue Dot?   Here is one I found - Google it -- you will find even better quality images than I could upload here.

This narrow-angle color image of the Earth, dubbed 'Pale Blue Dot', is a part of the first ever 'portrait' of the solar system taken by Voyager 1 several decades ago.  The spacecraft acquired a total of 60 frames for a mosaic of the solar system from a distance of more than 4 billion miles from Earth.  

This picture stunned me the first time I saw it.  We truly are a tiny speck in a vast universe.   Sometimes I wonder if the people who are fighting and hating and terrorizing could simply be taken up into space to view our precious planet from afar would it make a difference?  It seems so preposterous to fight each other when we occupy such a speck of dust. 

When I feel overwhelmed and burdened by the sadness of the world as I do right now I have to turn away and connect with God through the natural world.  This is something I have done all my life, even as a little girl. I have always loved camping, hiking, backpacking – anything to get out in the woods to refresh my spirit.  I get the same affect at the ocean shore. 

Nature heals.  I think one of the problems with the world today is there isn’t enough communing with nature and experiencing the healing power of being outside in the natural world.  Not just walking on the asphalt of the city, but being enveloped in the wilderness, contemplating the rhythms and heartbeat of our planet.

I love to read books by nature writers.  Terry Tempest Williams, Henry David Thoreau and Anne LaBastille are all wonderful authors who capture the essence of nature, but my favorite and the one I relate to the most is John Muir. 

Muir, was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His environmental activism helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas. He also founded the Sierra Club, 

He was a prolific writer and his stories and quotes speak to me like no other.   He lived much of his life in the Yosemite Valley.  He was entranced with the beauty of that land and his writing brings that area to life.  My 60^th birthday is next year and I plan to visit Yosemite – the #1 place on my bucket list.  I can’t think of a better place to celebrate my 6^th decade than hiking in the same areas that influenced such soul stirring quotes as these:

“When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty.” 
― John Muir 

 “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity...” 
― John Muir 

“In God's wildness lies the hope of the world.” 
― John Muir spiritual quote

I believe part of the problem in our society is that we need to connect to our planet – this pale blue dot that is floating in a universe so vast it is impossible to comprehend.  Healing for body and soul can be found in the woods, at the seashore, in an alpine meadow or anywhere that we can actually tune out man made noise and really hear and see the rhythms of creation. 

Another favorite of mine is a book co-written by Christian Pastor, Louie Giglio entitled Indescribable.  It is full of pictures taken by the Hubble Telescope from some of the darkest reaches of our universe and he blends these wonderful discoveries with scripture about the power of God.  It is an inspiring read.  

I hope I don't offend anyone about finding peace and hope through God and Christian Faith -- this is MY path -- it may not be everyone's and I understand that.  We all find our own way.  Each morning I start my day with a bible reading and meditation.  I have lots of flowers and wildlife in my yard to enjoy and I get outside in the wild places as often as possible.

An annual trip to the beach is healing for my spirit as well and my granddaughter makes me even more aware of the importance of spreading love and healing to everyone I come in contact with for her sake and for the sake of the whole world.   

How do you bring yourself back to center and find refreshment when you feel sad, burdened and anxious? 

P.S.  I will work to get my formatting back to normal for future posts but wanted to get this one out..... :) 

Are Seasonal Vignettes just a Southern Thang?

I LOVE "smalls" - those fabulous treasures that are displayed so temptingly on tables and shelves at antique stores and estate sales.  I am a sucker for vintage vases, picture frames, bowls, pitchers, statuary, etc., etc.  I have so many, in fact, that I can't display them all at one time and because I love so many different types and colors of things, I have always created seasonal vignettes, especially in my sitting room and dining area.  I usually get the craving to do this at the beginning of each new season - July for Summer, September for Fall, December for Winter and March for Spring. 

Recently I was telling the girls at work that I had put out my summer decor and one of them said "that must be a southern thing".  She is from up north and she said she has only seen and heard of changing out decor with the seasons since she has been in the South.  She only does special decorating around the holidays -- specifically Christmas and Halloween - but even then she is just adding things to her current space - i.e., Christmas tree, wreath on door, maybe a centerpiece on table or mantel decor.  Another woman, who grew up out west, said the same thing. The other women, who were from the south, said they change their decor seasonally and their mothers did as well. 

I was raised in Tennessee, grew up in Memphis and have lived in Nashville since 1979 so I am definitely a southern girl.  I don't move my furniture around much, but I do love to switch out my "smalls" to reflect the seasons.  Below are a few pics of some of my vignettes.  NOTE - I am not patient enough to "stage" so what you see is how it is.  I only have my iPhone camera so the pics aren't great so I apologize for that. 

I feel most comfortable and at home with vintage, repurposed, junk chic decor.  I adore found objects and I will generally leave them in their original condition except to maybe add a coat of paint.  My sofa has a slipcover and I am a lover of white wicker. 

How about you?  Do you change your decor/vignettes to reflect the seasons?  Do you think this is a "southern thang"? 

My sitting room  This is my favorite spot in the house and where I sit and relax when it is not nice enough to sit outside. Summer = light green throw, green and white bird pillow.  The white wicker table holding plants was $5 at an estate sale.  Hey - one man's trash is another man's treasure!

Also in sitting room - for summer I use my white bird bowl, a  floral pillow on chair and light colored items.  The mirror is an old window frame made into a mirror that I found at an antique store.  I found the old sewing machine table discarded by a neighbor and painted it white  

This favorite of mine is in my breakfast room - $10 at an estate sale!! For summer it is outfitted with pastels, I love bunnies so my bunny items are always part of my spring and summer vignettes.  Also the white frames, teapot, pink and white vintage glassware and botanicals reflect summertime.

This is my breakfast table centerpiece for summer.  The dried roses are from my daughter's bridal bouquet.  The white iron basket was an antique store find and the pink/white bowl in it is from TJMaxx!  Table runners switch out seasonally. Oh - and, or course a bunny and a bird. lol

My front porch - and MORE white wicker!  Hey - I know it isn't "on trend" but I have always loved it and am happy when someone else has it for sale for cheap!  The pillow on the chair changes with the seasons.  My dogs, Nicki and Harley are looking out the front door . :)

Also front porch.  The galvanized watering can was sitting at the curb when I took a walk a couple of weeks ago.  Sooooo - I picked it up and continued my walk carrying it.  I'm sure I looked kind of funny - but - hey -- what a treasure!!!!  

 Nothing fancy about my home -- it is modest, small and simple.  But it is my sanctuary!

The Fairy Garden – A Lesson for Nana

I am Nana to a precious 2 year old little girl named Ellie!  This weekend, my daughter and son in law are moving into a new house so Ellie is staying with me.  We have spent lots of time playing and pretending and just generally having a great time. 

I have recently been fascinated by fairy gardens so decided to make a small one for her for when she visits.  Being as young as she is I knew she wouldn’t really understand the concept but I figured it would be fun to start now so it could “grow” with her.  I started very simply with a little fairy house I bought at a craft fair and set it up with rocks and stones I have at my house.  I created a cute little pond with the blue stones and a walkway with the brown stones.  Then there is a cute little crystal yard.  Each night, the fairies leave some sort of treasure in the house such as a colorful bead, a small pine cone, etc.  Also – my idea is that when Ellie and I are on treasure hunts, she can find little items to bring back and put in it for the fairies.  Here is a picture:

I was so proud of this fairy garden – (wait – WHO is this fairy garden for...?)

So along comes Ellie and she sees it and, as expected thinks it is BOO-TEE-FOOL!  Then she promptly starts taking it apart and playing with all of the rocks. “Oooooh – this one is soooo pwetty!”  “Ooooh, this one is so smooove”! The little fairy house is moved into the sitting room and the rocks are put into the little bird bath and then taken back out and put into the back of her little toy car. 

At first, I wanted to show her the “proper” way to enjoy the fairy house = MY VISION – as stated above, but then, luckily, a more rational part of my brain (my inner child?) took over and said STOP – this precious, creative little being is enjoying the heck out of her fairy house in the magical way of a two year old – no SHOULDS!  Why “should” the blue rocks of the “pond” have to all be together?  Mix em up, let the pond flow inside the house.  And who cares if the perfect little walkway to the house is mixed up with the crystals of the yard.  C’mon Nana – lighten up! 

This really is a bigger life lesson, isn’t it?  When I let go of how I think things should be – life is usually more fun – more free and I feel lighter and enjoy the flow all the more.  

Of course, even two year olds need to learn some lessons about certain things that can and cannot be played with, etc. – such as my collection of glassware – but that is not the point of this post.  The fairy garden is hers to play with and there is nothing she can break so there is no reason she can’t enjoy it in her own creative way.  After we are done playing with it the way she wants, we do put it back together all ready for next time.

If you have children, grandchildren or other young ones in your life, what ways have they helped you reconnect with your inner child and mix up the fairy gardens of your life?

I hear her stirring in her bed –  time to get her up and see what adventures await!  

Following My Flow

A few years ago I stopped using an alarm clock to wake up.  Mind you, I am naturally an early riser - between 5:30 and 6:30 - so there was no danger of oversleeping if I had to go to work. 

I wake up gently and quietly this way.  Lay there til I feel fully awake, thinking about my day .  I get up, let the dogs out and make my coffee.  And then - my favorite time of day - sitting on the porch or in my sitting room drinking my coffee, reading my devotional and bible and writing in my journal.  No rush - no hurry.  I have noticed following this natural flow to my mornings has quieted me as I am prone to anxiety and worry.  It gets me centered and allows me to ease into whatever is ahead.  After about an hour I am ready to get dressed and move forward with my day - whether that is going to my part time, 3 day a week job, spending the day with my daughter and granddaughter, cleaning house, doing yardwork or running errands. 

I spent many years in the corporate world with my alarm going off (I have always used music as my alarm versus the alarm sound - that was just too irritating), jumping up, rushing to get ready and out the door to fight the traffic into work.  And, of course when my daughter was young - getting her up and going was also part of it.  Now, in semi-retirement - it is so nice to be able to go with my natural flow and enjoy this chapter of life at a slower pace. 

How do you wake up and start your day?  Do you set an alarm or do you wake up on your body's own time?  Do you have a morning ritual such as reading or exercise?

This picture is from my front flower bed - I found this little girl figure at a yard sale years ago and fell in love with her peaceful, sweet expression - a perfect addition to my garden. 

My flowers are loving all of the rain we have had in Nashville the past couple of days!  They are bursting with blooms!

Enjoy your day!

Lyn

Savor the Freedom!

Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans!  It is a day to celebrate our freedom and remember all of those who served to enable us to enjoy it. 

This morning as I sat on my front porch gazing out onto my freshly mown yard and the beautiful, bright sunshine through the trees, I am reminded how thankful I am.  Sitting quietly outdoors has always been how I connect with God and my center.  The outdoors refreshes my soul. 

When my daughter was little, we would take hikes in the woods, find a place to sit, close our eyes and simply listen for a minute and then say what we could hear.  It is amazing what you can hear when you close your eyes and get still for a moment.

When I close my eyes right now as I sit on my porch, I hear –

-the rustling of the breeze in the trees.  The dogwood tree has a lighter sound than the broad leaf maple, and the needles of the pine tree create a whirring that adds its own distinct sound to the symphony.

-I can hear the wind approaching – blowing in from the southwest – starting in the trees up the street and moving its way into the ones in my yard. 

-At least 5 different bird sounds – chickadees, wrens, cardinals, crows and finches.  The wrens, in particular seem to be having a lively conversation with each other.

-The crickets’ high pitched song from the grass.  Funny – I didn’t even notice them until I closed my eyes!

-The buzz of a bumblebee enjoying the daisies and coneflowers planted next to my porch

.

And some man made sounds that are also very calming and pleasant to my senses

-the soft tinkling of my little glass wind chimes.  I have always had wind chimes around my home to catch the soft breeze and lift up their music.

-The soft flapping of the American flag on a pole in my neighbor’s yard… representing the Land of the Free…….

Have a lovely holiday and remember to take a moment to savor life and freedom.

The view from my front porch.  Freshly mown lawn, my beautiful dogwood tree and flower beds.  Such a nice place to relax and enjoy my coffee in the mornings.  Most mornings - there is a rabbit family sitting under the tree dining on clover.

White wicker makes me happy!  This chair was bought at a yard sale for $5.00 and it is in perfect shape.  Sitting here in the mornings and enjoying my yard and flowers is a great way to start my day. 

It costs money to own a house! Duh!

I have owned several condominiums in my life.  I have also rented apartments and condos.  In 2007 I decided to buy a house – a wonderful, 60-year-old rambling ranch in a great little community near Nashville.  I love my house but owning a house is much different than owning a condo.  In a condo I paid a monthly fee to have the grounds and the exterior (roof, exterior paint, driveway) maintained.   I was responsible for anything inside that needed to be fixed as well as hvac, water heater and appliances.  If I had a plumbing issue in my unit – I was responsible.  I was also responsible for the upkeep of the deck and/or patio.   In a house, of course, I am responsible for EVERYTHING. 

I like home ownership because no one tells me what I have to do, how and when.  I have always been that way – I like my freedom.  Maybe that is why I didn’t like being married (?).  Ha!  BUT the flip side of that is that I have to know when it is time to put money into something in order to maintain my investment.  I don’t make enough money to improve my home but it is important that I maintain it to keep its value.   Finding the most cost-effective ways to do that is my goal.

My most recent expenditure is the deck.  It is warped and needs to have some joists and posts replaced in order to restore its integrity and keep it strong.  I had to decide whether or not to spend $1500 to do that OR whether to spend $4000 to totally rebuild it.  I am choosing to maintain for $1500 even though I will probably put money into it each year as older boards need to be replaced.  My logic is that there is still a lot about the existing structure that is strong and stable – it just needs to be reinforced due to settling over time.  Why tear down the entire thing and add perfectly good boards to a junk pile?  My philosophy of rework, reuse and repurpose comes into play here.  I feel like that is just wasteful.  I enjoy finding contractors who also have this philosophy – as long as something is still viable and working and just needs maintenance, then that is the best route.  

Of course, at some point, things get to the point of no longer being cost effective to maintain and it is time to start over.  An example of this is my asphalt driveway.  It is over 20 years old and has been patched, sealed and filled many times but is at the point where it can no longer be patched – it needs a 2” layer of asphalt over it – to the tune of $5500!  Yikes!  The contractor said I could completely tear it out and put in a concrete driveway that would last 60 years for about $10,000+.  Well – no thanks – I don’t plan to be around 60 years from now.  A nice layer of asphalt will last another 20 if I get it sealed every couple of years.  So I am saving up for that expense.  I also don’t like to finance anything and be in debt if I don’t have to.

And so it goes – the balance of spending money – when and how and how much.  On the one hand to totally rebuild my deck I would probably not have to do more than stain and seal every few years for the next 15 years.  But I don’t have $3700 laying around, so, for me, putting the $1500 in the existing deck and then spending a hundred or so every year to continue to maintain it is much more do-able.  Spreading out the money spent works best for me since I don’t make much money and I don’t want to go into debt to have something done. 

I realize that if I rented – I wouldn’t have to deal with any of this – but at this particular time of life, and with the rents in Nashville so incredibly high, owning works best for me.  A one bedroom apartment in the area that is convenient to my work and my family would cost me at least $1200 a month which isn't in my current budget..  I consider my house an investment that someday can be sold and the money used for rent if I am no longer able to care for it and need to move to an apartment or senior community. 

Housing is a huge expense no matter whether you own or rent and there is always something that is going to cost money!  I plan as best I can by saving into an emergency fund and maintaining what I have.  My house is 60 years old and doesn’t have the latest and the greatest like granite countertops, polished and gleaming hardwoods and the newest appliances, but it works for me and is my happy place!

How about you – do you rent or own and how do you handle repair and maintenance?  One of the “cons” of being a single woman who isn’t very strong or handy is repair.  I can do small things like fix a toilet, hammer a nail or two, etc. but not the big stuff.  It would definitely be nice to have a handy man around the house to fix things at no cost.  I do have a great handyman who handles small jobs for me and he is a lifesaver!  That is a resource we all need to have!

Lyn

A Frugal Lifestyle and Living on a Little

The main reason I want to write a blog is because I am always looking for women like me – women who are single at this stage in life, living on a low income – either by choice or circumstances, and making the most of it.  Perhaps I am looking for validation - and, just to know that not everyone who is an older adult has or should have a million dollars in the bank.  It is hard to find information about vibrant, independent women living the good life on less and loving it.  There are a few blogs that I follow regularly and they have been hugely inspirational to me.  

 

MY LIFE AT THE MOMENT

I work part time – 24 hours a week as an administrative assistant with a nonprofit.  I consider myself semi-retired as I spent over 30 years working full time in corporate America in Human Resources.  I planned for years to semi-retire in my 50s by making it a priority to own my home and be debt free.  I bought my first condo in 2000 and with the boom in our housing market, was able to sell it for a large profit and buy my current home outright with no mortgage.  It is an older home and is small.  Of course most everyone advised against paying cash for a house, but for me, there is no better security than knowing my home is my own and can’t be taken away from me. The stock market is unpredictable, at best.  I have my savings in mutual funds and bond funds invested very conservatively.  I also have no car payment because I have a small car that  I plan to drive til it falls apart.  Living frugally is a game to me and I actually enjoy it.  The biggest barrier to working part time under 65 years of age is health insurance.  I have a plan through the ACA that has an affordable premium but a $6000 deductible so is really just a catastrophic plan.  I pay out of pocket for acute care medical visits, dental, eye care and medications so this is a large part of my budget.  I am so very fortunate to be healthy and one of my fears is an “event” that would create large healthcare bills but I refuse to live in fear to a point where that fear actually compromises my health!  I am a regular walker/hiker, I mow my lawn and I eat healthy so I am doing what I can to live and stay healthy. 

I chose to take the leap and leave the corporate world when my granddaughter was born two years ago.  I live very simply and frugally and am choosing to have less in order to spend more time being Nana. 

I enjoy the simple things – working in my yard and flower beds, reading, spending time with my family and walking.  I live in the beautiful state of Tennessee so there are a lot of fantastic places near me to hike and enjoy the outdoors which is where I feel closest to God.  I love going to garage sales and finding “treasures” to repurpose and redo and I will be posting some pics of some of my finds.   I love fresh, simple dishes that are easy to prepare and low cost.  There is a farmer’s market in my neighborhood all summer for fresh veggies and fruits.  I buy on sale, from consignment and the occasional splurge at TJ Maxx. I find quality, high end clothing items at a wonderful consignment store near me that I will be showing as well.  Most of the furniture in my home is from estate and yard sales through the years.  I adore items that have a history and character.  Chippy, rusty – well loved. 

Below is a pic of one of my favorite finds EVER – this was in the attic at an estate sale I went to.  There wasn’t a price on it so I asked if they would take $10.00 and they said yes – as long as I could bring it out of the attic myself!  My friend and I carried it down and brought it home!  I haven’t changed a thing – I am in love with it’s chippy-ness and it makes me feel happy filling it with vintage items I have collected through the years. 

Are there others out there living the good and simple life on a small budget?  How do you do it?  What are some of your favorite tips and treasures? 

I look forward to connecting and sharing!!!

Lyn

$10.00!!!!  What a find!  Layers of paint showing through from previous lives make it even more special!