Butterfly weed, a wildflower here.
Joy lives in the simple things.
Homegrown tomatoes… tempting wildflowers left in place… the sound of moving water… the shade of a venerable tree.
A sister’s laugh… a mother’s hug… a song that uplifts… a meal made with love.
Catnaps in the middle of the day, with the blinds drawn against the heat.
Leo catnapping in the laundry pile.
An old china teacup with a chip in the rim… the scent of dried lavender… the mysterious green of a leaf.
Getting comfortable in a familiar chair… opening a new book… staring out the window.
Birdsong, and daydreams.
Sunshine, then rain, then sunshine again.
A bit of rain, a bit of sun...
A grateful heart… cicada music… the first taste of a ripe peach… juice dripping down your chin.
Putting your feet in the water… cloud-watching… folding laundry as a meditation.
Every moment as a meditation.
The train’s mournful whistle… an echo of time… ruins lost in kudzu vines… a lone brick chimney, rising.
Arriving home after dark, a light in the window… a welcoming embrace… bubble bath… clean white sheets.
Purple morning glories swirl open at dawn.
Bright, sun-drenched love.
Zinnia = bright, sun-drenched love.
Today’s Simple Things is a celebration for my friend Christina Martin over at Soul Aperture. You really owe yourself a visit, if you have not been to her blog world before — and if you have been, you surely want to go back. Christina’s words have the ability to slow my heart down, to help me remember to take a deep breath and enjoy this moment.
Her photos are a perfect illustration of how the heart of the photographer gets into the beauty the lens captures. I’m still not sure how that happens. I just know that it does.
Happy Birthday, Christina! May your heart be filled with joy today, and may you know just how precious you are.
I hope you enjoyed your surprise party. Isn’t it amazing so many bloggers were able to keep it quiet??
What are some of the simple things that give you joy?
I’d love to hear a few of your own “simple things” in the comments.
May your weekend be filled with simple things and joyful moments!
(Many, many thanks to Se’lah, who passed word of the surprise party along to me so kindly.)
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The orange!
I am sinking into the pleasure of your list. (I love how animals like to nap on laundry. Maybe there’s something we’re missing there.)
elizabeth´s last blog ..scenes from the market
I’m a fan of orange, Elizabeth. Isn’t it gorgeous?
Now I’m wanting to try building the world’s largest laundry pile…
All such beautiful simple things and beautiful photos, too, Meredith and so beautifully expressed.
I couldn’t begin to list all the simple things I enjoy. To me that’s what life enjoyment is – simple things that bring joy and delight in the moment and taking the time to fully savour each moment as it comes.
Talon´s last blog ..Vessels
Thank you, Talon. Your blog is a good start on getting to know your simple things, I think. Lovely.
“Homegrown tomatoes… tempting wildflowers left in place… the sound of moving water… the shade of a venerable tree.
A sister’s laugh… a mother’s hug… a song that uplifts… a meal made with love.”
These things are on my list, too. And I love to kiss my cat Sophie’s ears when I pick her up. I love her gentle purr when her ears are kissed. Simple food in the summer. A simmering stew on the stove when the air turns crisp. My mother’s sweet voice on the phone signing off with her usual “OK honey, I love you, too.”
I hope Christina enjoys her happy birthday surprise. Have a great weekend, Meredith!
Lynn´s last blog ..Dinner- tastespotting and taste of France
Sophie is so sweet. I love that you’ve developed the ear-kissing ritual, which she now anticipates with a purr. That is darling!
Your list is beautiful, Lynn.
Hoping your weekend is wonderful, too!
Meredith,
What a beautiful post. Your photos are awesome. I love Leo napping.
I love the mournful sound of a train whistle, cicada music, folding laundry as a meditation and birdsongs….
Wonderful.
Thank you!
Thank you, Angela, for those kind words. You’ve selected some of my favorites.
A beautiful post Meredith. I agree, the simple things matter the most. After yesterday, all those simple things sounded so peaceful and relaxing…I could really use a few simple, quiet, peaceful moments about now. Hope you have a simply great weekend!
Curbstone Valley Farm´s last blog ..Fractious Fowl Friday
Thanks, Clare. I was sorry to hear how fractious the fowl interactions have been lately. Crossing my fingers you get it worked out, especially for Frodo’s sake. I’m quite enamored of that rooster by now!
Enjoy your weekend.
oh my this is such a lovely post for christina… beautiful…
happy friday… so nice to find my way here.
Kim, thank you for your sweet comment. I’ve wandered over your way, too, and let me just say Wow! What gorgeous photos! I’m definitely going back.
honey, the photo of Leo, napping… omgoodness! so adorable and warm. what a beautiful and deep entailed list. deep sigh. xoxo
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Christina. Many happy returns of the day.
The simple things
For me who knows
A cup of coffee
A friends smiles
Unbroken sleep
Making someone laugh
Crisp morning sunrise
Tears at a movie
(Okay don’t tell anyone about the last one)
Not a man and woman love but
Just a simple earthly love
Oh, yes, Ellis, a wonderful list! “Unbroken sleep/Making someone laugh/Crisp morning sunrise/Tears at a movie….”
Ah, I love it!
every moment as a meditation…
ah yes. exhale.
one love, new friend.
The wonder of that “new friend”… Namaste, Se’lah.
It was great fun to celebrate Christina and Simple Things. Love your list. Love seeing Leo napping.
Marilyn, it was lovely. I haven’t circulated among even half the folks who made it to the party yet! I’ll get there…
I thank you on Leo’s behalf. He’s just staring at me regally as I type this, as if of course adoration is his catly due.
I love this list, Meredith. Wonderful! Light and airy! Refreshing!
I get simple joy in birdsong, especially the melodious warbling of the Australian Magpie. If you are at all unfamiliar with that bird, there’s info on it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Magpie and some audio files of what it sounds like at http://www.freesound.org/tagsViewSingle.php?id=11828 . Beautiful! Just beautiful!
Also, I love the fresh print smell of a brand new book. Ain’t nothing quite like it!
I’m glad you liked it, Tony.
That recording blew my mind! It just goes to show that while we may connect on the internet, the soundtracks of our daily lives behind the screen may be vastly different. Somehow the Australian magpie’s “carol” made me realize all over again that birds are related to the great reptiles. Eerily beautiful, but something powerful and ancient there that also gave me chills. Thanks so much for sharing.
What a wonderful post. I completely agree that it’s the simple things that make us REALLY happy in life.
A few things I like, in no particular order:
Taking a drive to nowhere for no reason with my husband…watching a toddler trying to run…suddenly smelling that gorgeous clover-lavender smell when I’m out walking (I still can’t figure out what that is)…seeing old couples hold hands…watching birds bathing like little propellors in the birdbath…making my mum laugh…lying under a pile of warm, freshly laundered towels when it’s cold out…sitting on the back porch after work with Chuck chatting about the day we’ve had…hearing my stepdaughter happily tell her friends, “That’s my stepmom! She’s Canadian!”…hearing my husband proudly tell HIS friends, “This is my wife! She’s Canadian!”….LOL
There are too many little things that are awesome
Kyna´s last blog ..Which Came First The Egg- or theEgg
Oh, Kyna, your own list is beautiful enough to make a post from — or a prose poem. Thank you for sharing.
You have tried the laundry thing that Elizabeth and I were talking about, then!
I don’t think “there are too many little things that are awesome,” but yes, more than enough. We live in an amazing, abundant world.
I love your opening line “Joy lives in the simple things”..perhaps that is the motto for my life:) since I am Joy and do prefer simple over anything else:
Yesterday I found joy in:
*opening my heart to the day rather than trying to manipulate the day
*juicy ripe peaches..delicious fresh bounty of Earth
*my children’s laughter..pure and contagious..
*smiles..smiles everywhere…
*a brilliant sunset splashed across my harbor
*peace..choosing peace and deflecting drama
*quiet..in the middle of a pool party I sat in a chair on the deck breathing in the fresh air, loving my harbor, sending love to my children and friends…I felt quiet in my chair even in the midst of “noise”
“Opening my heart to the day rather than trying to manipulate the day.” Oh, Joy, there’s a reason I love your perspective. Gorgeous list, and sounds like an amazing day. Thank you for sharing!
Lovely post–I echo all your simple pleasures… and add some myself:
the first sip of a good cup of coffee
the smell of a horse
listening to music by candlelight
arranging cut flowers
a nap in the afternoon
browsing through a used bookstore
a heartfelt talk with someone you care about
a walk in nature by yourself
sharing a good laugh
…and many more. I think I need a blog post of my own on this topic!
Kathy´s last blog ..Baby Pictures!
Thank you, Kathy. I would love to read your post on this topic. It’s a great one, and it makes you feel good inside just contemplating the simple things. I love all of yours (although I have rarely interacted with a horse, when I did, it was good times), and I really like how just reading the list immediately gives me a sense of … you.
I am enjoying Christina’s party so much – you have a beautiful blog here, when I’m done making the rounds, I’m coming back to sit a while …
xo
kath´s last blog ..Setting Goals
Kath, you are so sweet. I plan to go on rounds myself tonight and catch up with all the lovely posts. I guess Christina’s party doesn’t stop, for me at least, until Monday morning.
I’ll be happy to welcome you here anytime!
Beautiful blog and a beautiful list. God bless. Thanks for sharing
I am glad you enjoyed your visit, Uzma.