It's a Classical Life

  I know that many of you may be experiencing hotter than usual temperatures, and I really feel for you. Extreme summer can be such a tough time to endure. I hope that wherever you are, you can find cool moments in your day to rest and relax. For those of you that are walking through winter with me, how is your winter garden going? Extreme weather can really impact our food supply, especially if we are dependant on our gardens for food security. Additionally, it can affect our farmers who provide produce for our local shops and markets. We haven't had much luck at all in the garden this year - even summer was a dud after a severe hail storm took out our flowering fruit trees and plants. But, on a more positive note, I thought I would take you all on a little walk-through my winter garden in which I have been working this past week. It doesn't look like much, I know, but every little bit helps! As Charles Kingsley tells us in his poem, My Winter Garden, is it not worth mor...

  George Eliot, born Mary Ann Evans, knows all about change and identity. If you look at her life , Mary Ann (or Marian, or George) went through many different identities during her lifetime. If anyone is equipped to give us this advice, I think she is. Sometimes, it is easy to forget that our favourite novels and poems were written by actual people, people just like us. Sometimes, we forget the creators in place of the creations. But when we look at the authors, the poets, the creators, we can see so much of ourselves in them, which is often what endears them to us in their books and creations! I saw recently on IG a meme that said, "go be your favourite self," not your "best" self, but your favourite  self. I like that and I think old George would have too.  It may never be too late to be what - or who you might have been - but that doesn't imply ease. Change can be hard. If you feel stuck, if you feel like you are not living an authentic life then i...

A couple of weeks ago, Annabel from The Blubirds are Nesting on the Farm shared a post about pure wool blankets and being prepared for winter . Winter is well and truly upon us here in Australia. For some, that has brought flash flooding and enormous amounts of rain, for others, it means snow, heavy frosts, colder than average temperatures, fog, damaging winds and more. It is easy to be overwhelmed by harsh weather patterns, especially as we hear talk of climate change exacerbating these already unpredictable patterns. Like Annabel, I think there is plenty we can do to be prepared and I chose to look at this topic from a warm and cosy perspective - hygge. Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few years, I'm sure you've all heard about the Danish concept of hygge  It is what is often attributed to the Danes being amongst the happiest people in the world. I think that the classic novels do wonderfully well to highlight the importance of  hygge in ...

  Welcome to another week here at It's a Classical Life! I am so glad that you could stop by. I have been reading the news and see that our northern hemisphere friends are suffering through heatwaves, and those of us here in Australia are also experiencing wetter than usual temperatures and also very cold weather. It's funny how much of an impact weather can have on our mindsets. I find it very easy to let my self-discipline slip when the weather is in an extreme state. Discipline in regards to writing, housework, getting ahead, exercise - all areas, really! I'm very good at making excuses not to get things done, and the weather is one I use a lot! If you have visited here before then you will know that I am a big Agatha Christie fan. As I read so many of her novels, it's easy to gain inspiration from her, her characters and her own beliefs. I chose this quote for this week's Bitesize Inspiration because I am ready to 'submit to the discipline of form.' We ...

Home. There truly is no place like it. A place where we can rest and rejuvenate at the end of a busy day. Where we can share laughter, tears, happiness, fear and togetherness - and feel validated and welcome. A place that allows us to be the best and most true version of ourselves. Do you ever wonder what home has looked like in the past? I do. It's one of my favourite parts of reading classic novels and studying history. The simple, everyday life of the people who came before us still has to much to teach and inspire us. Today, I'd like to take you on a little guided tour inside a Renaissance home. In case you are wondering, the Renaissance usually refers to a time of reawakening and enlightenment after the historical period known as the Dark Ages (or the Middle Ages). It began predominantly in Italy and then spread throughout Europe and focused on a renewed appreciation of Classical Greek and Roman thought, art, architecture, and values. Generally it is defined as beginning ...

  Happy Tuesday, friends! Sorry that this week's bitesize inspiration is a day late. We had a lovely visit from my sister and her children and I got a bit behind. I wondered about posting this quote from French mathematician, physicist and theologian, Blaise Pascal, because I really try and promote positive thoughts and inspiration, but I decided to do it anyway just in case this is something we need to think on right now. With social media so prevalent in so many of our lives I have to wonder if we do start to believe in imaginary lives - our own or others'. The fact that Pascal lived four hundred years ago and still made this observation blew my mind. But I suppose it shouldn't have; one of the truths of It's a Classical Life is that by reading the classics we can see quite clearly how what we experience in our life - both good and bad - isn't really new. We can gain comfort from reading the experiences of those who have come before us and often not feel so alone ...

  We recently passed the winter solstice and it has been quite wintery around here lately. Cold winds, foggy mornings and weak (but welcome) sun have characterised our days. Winter is the perfect time to read more, and I thought it would be fun to share some of my favourite Agatha Christie stories, set in a wintery setting, just to get us in the mood. For those of you in the northern hemisphere, you may want to bookmark this page to read in December! Otherwise, grab a hot drink (or a cold one!) and let's snuggle in for some wonderful winter mysteries from the great dame herself. The 4:50 to Paddington   " 'It's very simple, really," said Miss Marple. 'Unusual but simple. I want you to find a body.' " I love the cosy, Christmas setting of this book. It is one of my favourite Agatha Christie novels featuring Miss Marple. As the experienced and calm friend of Miss Gillicuddy, the woman who witnessed the murder, we get lots of little insights into Miss Ma...