Like many folks I am slooooooowly coming up for air after what felt (feels?) like an enormous Holiday Season. To be honest, it feels like the Universe is working against a Brand New Start In January, too.

I got a new kitchen toy over the holidays (more about that later) and as much as I would love to start exploring and playing with it, the things I want/need from the grocery store simply are not there. Like, restock has not quite happened on top of Wintery Weather where everyone seems to be stocking their pantries for potential storms.

Now, it isn’t as if I don’t have a reasonably well stocked pantry myself, but (you know there is always a ‘but’) I have new recipes to try… <sigh>

The house need a good post holiday clean, too. And it isn’t as if the job(s) are overwhelming, either.

Trying to catch up with or find new shows to watch have been iffy, too. Is it burn out on my end or just boredom?

You know it is an odd time when the highlight of the <ahem> season is that my copy of Mr. Carrington’s upcoming book should be in hand soon…

So, my goal for the next few weeks is to rest, recuperate, catch up as I feel like it and contemplate plans for the rest of the year. Maybe.

Maybe the reset I need is for me. Food for thought…

There is something to be said for implementing them into your daily life.

Much to my amusement, over the years I have been the proud (?) owner of not one, not two but three planners. All at the same time, too. There was also the calendar on the wall but I think that was more for the artwork than the tracking of days, weeks and months…

The funny thing is, those planners, calendars and such provide a sense of the rhythms of time. They offer a way of tracking the rituals, too.

• Doctor’s appointments
• Trips to the library
• Lunch with friends
• Vacation
• Due dates for all sorts of things
• Reminders
• Birthdays and anniversaries

When you think about what you jot down on (or type into) your calendar or notes or reminders, it is not only apparent that you have things to do and places to be but life has a flow.

Sometimes you just have to stand back far enough to see it.

Weekly notations include watering the plants. Sometimes they just need a bit of attention to make sure they are doing okay but other times they need a good watering.

Let’s not ignore (much) that vacuuming needs to be done and the bathroom needs cleaning. I know that sounds like a no brainer but sometimes the brain needs a reminder to not put it off until later… again.

Then there is the gentle reminder that the lawn needs attention. In my case, it is a reminder that my lawn crew should be appearing soon.

There is also the reminder that certain things will be updating. Subscriptions are on that particular list.

The change of seasons bring with it an entirely different set of “don’t forget”. These are usually the things we tell ourselves that we won’t forget but…

As for rituals… Home decor often gets updated, if not renewed, at certain times of the year. The Winter Holidays usually start around Halloween and head through New Year’s Eve with stops each month for updates, replacements, shifts or just removal. It depends upon what you feel like.

There is also the preparation for the holidays. Menu plans, shopping plans, preparing for visitors, you get the drift.

I know of at least one crafter who creates a rather detailed holiday planner for the Winter Holidays. Frankly, I applaud the effort and am excruciatingly grateful I don’t need it. 😀

While many folks subscribe to some version of Spring Cleaning, where the house is cleaned to within an inch of its life, there are folks who also do a Winter Cleaning, similar to Spring Cleaning but with winter preparation in mind.

While most of us subscribe to the belief that life is way too busy and there is too much to do and not enough time to do it in, there are also those who recognize that, yes, life can be too busy but often the things we really want/need to get done does and the rest … doesn’t.

From my experience, the rituals and rhythms of life change and evolve as we do. Personally, mine have gotten less complicated as I’ve gotten older. I no longer ‘need’ to be, do, go just because of the season. And you know what? I don’t mind it a bit.

I have also discovered that a touch of ritual can make everyday life more organized, simpler, comfortable, predictable. Rituals can take the chaos out of the every day.

• Menu planning
• Grocery shopping
• Food prep
• Laundry
• Housework
• Bill paying / budget update

Yes, turning the day to day (or week to week) grind into a ritual and adding it to your reminders gives you the opportunity to check things off your list while you get ready for the next days and weeks. It takes the ‘I have no idea what is for dinner so I’ll hit the drive thru’ into ‘all I have to do is take my meal prep out of the fridge/freezer and dinner is almost done’ which has impact (good impact) on the budget, not to mention your stress level.

Taking care of the bills, which could be stressful, provides a sense of accomplishment and, believe it or not, control.

There is power in that To Do List! Or, rather that Done List.

Don’t forget that rituals and rhythms can also apply to quieter, more restful, things, too. Setting aside time to read, listen to a good book or music, watch a film or favorite TV show. Settle in for a bubble bath. Cuddle time with the fur baby or babies. Granted that last one is not always necessary to put on a To Do List but… LOL!

Rituals and rhythms are the ebb and flow of everyday life. They provide structure and guidance. They can alleviate stress by reducing chaos. In unexpected ways they can even ‘give’ you extra time you didn’t know you had. This happens when you know what you have done, what you need to do, and what can wait a bit.

Sometimes I look up and find myself feeling a bit frazzled and frustrated. There is so much ‘stuff’ from what seems like every corner or direction that it can be overwhelming to deal with.

Now, I do try to remind myself that I can do only what I can do, but sometimes even that doesn’t seem to be enough. Turning off the phone, the TV, the Internet, just doesn’t seem to solve everything…

Recently Sara over at Frozen Pennies posted a great vlog on her YouTube channel that reminded me that sometimes, okay most times, it is important to start taking care of me first so I can then go on to take care of other folks or things. Check it out:

I love that these are little things that, in many cases, do more than one thing – all at the same time!

Who knew that clarity of thought, a little exercise, some time to focus, getting good rest could all work together to help us deal with the stresses of daily life?

Well, okay, we’ve been told that message in multiple forms over the years but I think Sara just brings that information home in ways that we can utilize it without spending a penny. 😀

Shelby’s Cottage just posted her latest homage to the change of season and it is luscious.

After more heat than most of us have any desire for not to mention odd weather this is a wonderful lead into a cozier, quieter season.

Enjoy!

Pondering the upcoming school year (!), thinking about the weather, waiting for my groceries…

I have my coffee within easy reach, the door is open to the screen (can you believe we have yet to reach the mid 70s) and I am thinking about how fast ‘summer’ has sped by.

End of the last school term seemed like yesterday until I realized that next term is set to start before the end of August in many places. I’m still getting used to the Back To School Sale ads, not to mention the Halloween items that are currently available. And, yes, I did splurge on some Pumpkin Cookie Dough. A limited edition I couldn’t really find an excuse not to get some. UPDATE: Turns out that the store was out of that particular item… Good for me! LOL!

Grocery shopping has become even more … interesting as prices rise. It takes a firm hand on the meal plans, the pantry, and the budget to find our way through that potential landmine.

You know things are bad when you can buy groceries on credit, right? And I don’t mean credit cards, either.

On a cheerier note, the grass is still green, despite the high temps and the odd rain we have had lately. My lawn care guys showed up the other day ecstatic that it was ‘only’ 80 outside.

I still have my <cough> summer binge watching to do. I have at least one series to get under my belt before the new season arrives. Everything else is going to be filler throughout the week.

FWIW I am still having a blast watching The Great British Sewing Bee. So many creative people and such amazing clothes! And I don’t sew clothes. LOL!

What are you up to? Are you looking forward to the end of Summer and return to school or are you just getting into enjoying summer?

Whatever you do, take time to rest and regroup.

Because…Why not?

Click the link to read a post I wrote about coffee.

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