Billie's Folly

For those of you who see me on a regular basis, you know I've been dealing with my dad's estate since shortly after his death last July.  He very thoughtfully did not make me the executor--choosing Northern Trust, the bank our whole family uses.  This has saved me lots of headaches and piles of paperwork--legal and otherwise.   The view from my parents' home.  Lake Washington is barely visible in the distance.

I thought Autumn was my favorite season.  But having moved back to the Northwest, I think Spring is taking first place.  Maybe not as awe-inspiring as fall colors, but the contrast from winter to spring is so dramatic and uplifting and desperately needed!  It's been a dreary winter. Ranunculus bulb

C ulture usually refers to the customs, traditions, values, attitudes, behaviors, and practices that a particular group of people have in common.  Family culture  is the unique set of  customs, traditions, values, attitudes, behaviors, and practices  shared among family members.  Every family has a family culture, created purposefully or not.   It's the foundation upon which families build their relationships, assimilate their moral code,   share spaces , a nd interact with the world around them.  As  family members, the adults demonstrate and the children learn how to behave, how to express themselves and their emotions, how to make decisions and resolve conflicts, and how to establish relationships.  

Anyone who thinks gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with a dream. ~ Josephine Nuese 

From the Inside Out

I just love the seasonal changes in Oregon.  And all of them can happen in one day!  You can wake up to sunshine and have hail by mid-day.  You can have dreary rain all day and enjoy a gorgeous sunset.  And every year we get at least one decent snowfall.  It's lovely to look out on the blanket shrouding the world.  But the nice thing is, it usually doesn't last long or cause too much inconvenience — just one or two snow days for the kids.   Valentine's Day brought us a winter wonderland this year.

This is a trend on Instagram.  I saw one post, then read several more.  It intrigued me.  I'm not ready to post on IG to the entire world, but I know I have a small audience of friends here.

I just took a very short Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) questionnaire  online.  I was honest, and it determined that I’m on the border of ‘satisfied’ and ‘extremely satisfied’ with my life.  I rationalized that by deciding one shouldn’t be totally satisfied (i.e., complacent) with their life!  But, I’m definitely happy.  So, this made me contemplate (and look into) Happiness versus over-all Life Satisfaction.

During the 'holiday interim week' I try to do a little reflecting.  I have ongoing appreciation for my family and friends.  I don't take for granted my health or comfortable lifestyle.  But there's always room for improvement--right?  So I consider what I can do to better myself and make my life more fulfilling.  The answers are pretty universal:   Be present and authentic;  Strive for balance in my life; Show more kindness; Live responsibly;  Keep my mind and body active. Nothing like another  new year to inspire the same old  goals and resolutions!

The interval between Christmas and the New Year is always a welcome respite, an intermission between the tsunami of Christmas and the tide resuming to its normal lunar  pull.   I’m usually alone and the house is still.  Even Sadie seems to snuggle up in her blankets for longer stretches.  

 A long morning walk with the grand-dog...

I don't know what my thoughts will be next week, so I want to get down the feelings of content that the shift to autumn has brought me.  This is by far the most beautiful fall color display we've had since I moved to Oregon.  And that alone has had a profound affect on my mood.  Every time I leave the house, I have a renewed awe at the ever-changing fall colors--they just get better and better.  

I've taken the rolled eyes and not-so-subtle mocking of my 'gentlewoman farmer' beekeeping up until now.  But I think I've jumped the hurtle into legitimacy now that my first year's honey harvest is in!  I got two gallons of rich dark (blackberry influenced I'm told) sweet syrup from my little one-hive colony.  I will own-up to being a hobby beekeeper, but a beekeeper I am.   

After my previous two posts, I thought I might simplify the differences between Lagom and Hygge. While both are Scandinavian countries, Swedish and Danish cultures differ.   These elements of their cultures are similar in their end result, but the means to getting there is not the same.