It's a Classical Life

  Happy Monday, friends! I hope that you've all had a wonderful, relaxing weekend where you able to rest, plan, get ahead, and all those other good things that we know are necessary for a life well-lived. If you follow Annabel from The Bluebirds are Nesting on the Farm then you will will no doubt be aware of the #everylittlebitcountschallenge, where we are encouraged to do one small thing every day to get ahead and to be prepared. There are many other Youtubers and influencers participating in this challenge too.  This quote by Vincent Van Gogh just sang to me when I saw it. It reminded me so much of that challenge that I wanted to share it with you all today. It doesn't matter if the things that we do seem small and insignificant. If we have a plan and know the ways in which we want the direction of our lives to go, then doing small things on a regular basis will, over time, lead to great things. Now, you may not want to be prepared in a practical sense (ie garden, pantry, fi

  Seasons of life and seasons of the year have a way of sneaking up on us, which is funny because we know that are always coming. Whichever way you look at it, seasons usually have something to do with change. Sometimes this change is expected, anticipated, even longed for. Sometimes change can be thrust upon us when we least expect it or want it. We all know that change is an inevitable part of life; simply watching the passing of the seasons each year reminds us of that, no matter how much we may wish to slow time. Spring has arrived where I am, and by following friends in the northern hemisphere, I can see that signs of autumn are reaching there also. Watching the seasons change is a wonderful, natural thing. It is a time to remind us that one season is ending and a new one is coming. We shan't see the likes of winter for a while now. Although we may get the occasional frosty morning or low lying fog, the depths of winter have passed. The days are longer. Buds and new leaves are

  William James, American psychologist and philosopher, teaches us a very valuable lesson this week. Alter your thoughts, alter your reality. It is easy these days with the high cost of living, unstable economies and precarious employment to feel that we are no longer in control of our lives. It is easy to focus on the negative and be overwhelmed by what is happening in and to our world. However, if these are the thoughts that we are choosing to dwell on, this will become our reality. The good news is that the reverse is also true. If we change the way that we think, our reality will also begin to change.  One of the truest ways to change the way we think is to educate ourselves. You all know that I am a real believer in being a lifelong learner , and this doesn't necessarily apply to the classics. If you are suffering financially, then educate yourself on how to be more financially savvy. Learn how to budget and how to cook and shop economically. If you are lonely, then find out w

With the passing of Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II last week I have been enjoying reading many bloggers reflections and thoughts on the lessons that we can learn from this stately and dignified woman. I wanted to share my thoughts too, but wondered if I could say it as eloquently as others already have. Instead, I thought I would reflect on some other classic stories and movies that bring a touch of royalty into our lives and how they can influence us to live our lives with class and elegance. Royals have always held a certain fascination for us, whether it be glimpses into their human, mortal side, or our ongoing attraction to  kalokagathia,  which Bryan Kozlowski describes in his 2020 book Long Live the Queen: 23 Rules for Living from Britain's Longest Reigning Monarch ,  as being "an ideal of personal grace and beauty, believed to be the birthright of the high born, which often inspired yearnings of excellences in lesser mortals." And it is this kalokagathia  that

  With spring and spring cleaning upon me, and many of us who are in the Southern Hemisphere (or autumn cleaning for those of you lovely northern neighbours), it's a good time to take some inspiration from the British artisan and designer, William Morris. Now, I know that this quote truly is a classic and that we've probably all heard it before, but that's what makes it so inspirational: it's still valid and pertinent today.  As I start to tackle the different areas of spring cleaning around my home, I keep this quote in mind. Do I find something still beautiful? Or useful? If not, why am I holding onto it and making it a part of my cleaning routine? With the change of season upon us, now is the time to re-assess the things that we have been holding onto and decide if it might be time to let some things go.  Have a wonderful week,

  I absolutely love this quote! I'm a big believer in being prepared , and making hay while the sun shines . Sometimes as homemakers we can get a bit down on ourselves for the things that haven't been achieved on a given day. Stevenson reminds us, though, that more important than the "harvest" are the seeds that we plant. Where do we find these seeds in our everyday lives? They're in the quality time that we spend with our family.  They're  in the good food and produce that we grow ourselves or put away in our pantries.  They're  in the books that we read and the things that we watch that support a healthy mindset of growth and contentment. They're  in the routines and schedules that we set in place for ourselves. They're  in the warm and welcoming home that we cultivate as a sanctuary for ourselves and our family.  All of these are the little ways that we plant seeds for the future. And as spring is just around the corner here, planting a few a

I thought long and hard about posting this article on classic style. As you may know, I used to shop a bit too often and have worked hard to re-direct my focus to other things in order to live a simple life of contentment. However, I do love talking about style and fashion and w ith the start of the new season upon us, I've been seeing many posts on new clothes and trends to try. I, however, thought I might advise that you try a piece of clothing that is timeless yet classic and wearable in many different ways. There is no need to stifle your personality or creativity - as you can see in the photos below, there are many styles and ways to wear a midi skirt. They are such a versatile and feminine staple to have in your wardrobe all year round. Of the four that I have shown here, two were second-hand and I still have and wear them both. They are a piece of clothing that you can often find second-hand, if you are willing to look.  Now, for this article I have used photos I've tak