oh hello






Just thought I'd pop in and say hello.  I've been taking the word relaxation to a whole new level. I've cut my computer time down to about 1/4 of what it used to be.  Forcing myself to not turn it on first thing in the morning is getting easier.  When I do come on-line, I try to quickly attend to emails and then go cruising through my reader list to see how everyone is doing. Glad to know you are all fine.:)






I've been having afternoon tea with my neighbor Mrs. Howell.  I've known her for many years as her daughter was our neighbor in our old home.  My sons and her grandsons all grew up together so we have lots to talk about and I love sitting and chatting with her.  We sit by her pool and gossip for about an hour before her/our afternoon nap.  Yes, I've been taking a nap.






This morning I was in the rose garden having a bit of a walkabout when I began to notice the interior structure of these roses.  Far away they look ordinary but up close it's like a symphony of petals, each one working with the next to create such beauty.







I've added 2 Yin yoga classes to my weekly schedule too.  If you've never taken a Yin class I highly recommend. The part that sold me was that the whole class is either sitting or lying down. For instance in a 1 hr class you will hold maybe 4 poses.  It sounds a heck of a lot easier than it is. It's about relaxing into the pose and letting go of expectations. The expectation of a typical yoga flow isn't there.  It's about being still and quieting the mind.  It's incredibly calming and somewhat emotional and I'm quite in love with it.

Ok, so what on earth have you guys been doing?  Fill me in.



44 comments

  1. I have never heard of Yin yoga, I will have to look into it. I did yoga many years ago and always loved it but now that I am older with back problems I have hesitated to start as I can no longer do many of the poses. I am hoping after I drop some weight to start again, I remember how wonderful it felt after a class. Sounds like you are truly relaxing and catching up with friends and neighbors. I must admit, I do miss your posts. But I totally understand. I too spend way too much time on the computer. As always, you set a good example for us all. Those roses are magnificent.

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  2. Hi Janet! Glad you're enjoying your bloggy break. I've been spending way too much online too, so I might have to take a break myself. Other than that, I've been drawing, painting, and working hard on my youngest son's potty training. I love the closeup pictures of the roses. So beautiful :)

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  3. Oh gosh Janet, I was just about to leave a comment on your previous post and thank you for that lovely stroll thru the rose garden when up pops this post. As I was strolling through the rose garden I was secretly hoping that you might share your secrets to staying away from the computer and bam... there you are. I'm now thinking you can add mind reader to your list of talents. :). Anyhow, I have been so inspired by your cooking and decluttering posts. At least half of my clothes, jewelry and cookbooks are now residing in various thrift shops in my area and I am loving the free space in my home. I feel so much lighter and it really does affect day to day living.
    I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying your break. How lovely to be having afternoon tea with your neighbor and even an occasional nap. Oh the possibilities if we could only lessen the time on the computer. I need to get to work on that one.
    Thanks for popping in today and sharing the close-ups of your beautiful roses. Wow... gorgeous!!

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  4. Oh gosh Janet, I was just about to leave a comment on your previous post and thank you for that lovely stroll thru the rose garden when up pops this post. As I was strolling through the rose garden I was secretly hoping that you might share your secrets to staying away from the computer and bam... there you are. I'm now thinking you can add mind reader to your list of talents. :). Anyhow, I have been so inspired by your cooking and decluttering posts. At least half of my clothes, jewelry and cookbooks are now residing in various thrift shops in my area and I am loving the free space in my home. I feel so much lighter and it really does affect day to day living.
    I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying your break. How lovely to be having afternoon tea with your neighbor and even an occasional nap. Oh the possibilities if we could only lessen the time on the computer. I need to get to work on that one.
    Thanks for popping in today and sharing the close-ups of your beautiful roses. Wow... gorgeous!!

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  5. Just popping in to say your roses look wonderful! I don't have any in my garden, but may have to change that after seeing how lovely yours are. Glad you are enjoying your yoga.

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  6. Hi Janet. I love your roses! I'm thinking about adding a shrub rose to my small garden if there's enough light. I haven't decided yet. As for what I'm doing while job-hunting, I was inspired by your beautiful kitchen and pantry and am cleaning out mine. I started with one cabinet which led to the pantry. When I cleaned out the cabinet, I filled two medium shopping bags with boxes of tea. Realistically, when I do drink hot tea, I usually drink only four kinds, so I set those aside to save. As for the rest, many were way (way!) past their due dates, but I didn't want to throw anything out unnecessarily, so I've had a tea drink-off. Every now and then, I fix two cups of tea, each with one Splenda (yes, yes) in it. So far, I've kept two types of tea and thrown many more out. Tea really does loose flavor over time.

    As for the pantry, I've thrown out a lot and then sorted the rest into categories. Surprisingly, the largest category by far is sugar. Yep, sugar. I've got white sugar, brown sugar, loose sugar, sugar in packets, powdered sugar, light brown sugar, dark brown sugar, raw sugar, fake sugar (all varieties)... Sugar. Most in bags with about 1/2 cup in each bag. Sigh. I did find some Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate, so I put it in a plastic bag and put it in the really cute Container Store basket with the rest of the baking supplies. Then I took it back out and ate it.

    One thing I've learned about reorganizing is that it's in two phases, the tear down phase and the build back phase. I'm great at the first and need help with the second. My elderly Himalayan is getting tired of stepping over boxes and bags from the pantry.

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  7. Janet, your roses are gorgeous. They look so very cheery! Good for you for reducing computer time and actually spending some time with another human being. There is so little contact with one another these days. My Rescue Me App tells me I was down 5 hours this week on computer time. I filled it with people instead. And I'm going to continue to do that as much as possible. Donna

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  8. Love your roses! Your yard looks so peaceful.

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  9. Your rose photos are so pretty. They would make wonderful paintings. Yin yoga sounds nice. I miss doing yoga. Had to stop a few years ago when I dislocated my shoulder (during yoga class, in fact). Then I had a fall that resulted in a bulging disc, and I just haven't gotten back into yoga since. I'll have to look up Yin yoga online and check it out.
    Claudia

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  10. I have taken a few Yin Yoga classes and using all the bolsters and props really makes for a relaxing session.
    Glad to hear that you are enjoying your yoga and tea time with Mrs Howell.
    Sounds to me like unplugging the laptop has given you a wonderful opportunity to listen to your heart and focus on balance.
    As always I enjoy seeing your beautiful rose garden.
    XO

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  11. your roses look divine! I am so excited about the easter break and having 2 daus off from work! Good for you re reducing your time online x

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  12. Beautiful rose photos, like art, like Sandra Salln's paintings.

    Yin yoga is on my mind too. And it's always lovely to hear from you.

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  13. I'm just sittiing here loving your roses! I love, love roses and I can't grown them like that! Your's are stunning, you must have part of my green thumb! Oh, I love yoga, just started a restorative class on Monday, it's the best thing I've done for myself! It's wonderful place to quiet the mind, body and spirit! Keep enjoying your good times!

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  14. I've done a few yin yoga classes and love them. Would love to incorporate yin in my practice if I could find another class. I just began cleaning up the landscaping around the house when...IT SNOWED. I don't even have my warm coats available since I took them to the cleaners. Anyway, congrats on the relaxation and on downshifting from the computer. Sometimes, we need to disconnect. For me, it's another way to simplify.

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  15. Janet, I am just starting yoga and I am so exciting! I have also been stepping away from the computer and I have mixed feelings about it. Being outdoors more is a plus and I have actually sat down and read an entire book in only 2 sittings! Love the rose garden! mine are not yet blooming as I am in the north, so excited to see more of your outdoor pictures! oh, you should take a picture of your yoga class!
    Brandi

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  16. Love your blog. I have been following for a few weeks, but go figure, just before you decide to scale back. I must also endorse Yin yoga. I have done various classes for more than a decade and Yin is one of my favourites. It is challenging in its own way, but restorative too.

    I love your food posts. Have been vegetarian for over 30 years and while not quite vegan (my husband likes basic meat-and-potatoes fare and it is challenging) I do mainly lean that way.

    Also, we downsized into a very small space a couple of years ago, so appreciate your views on simplicity and no clutter. It was a move a long time in the making, so I was able to adjust mentally first. One has to be ready for it to be a successful lifestyle. It frees me to do the things I really want in my spare time. Besides, my daughter said: reduce the clutter, reduce the noise. (That mental chatter.) A-ah-h, peaceful mind.

    Cheers, Violet.

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  17. I've been over to project 333 :)
    I now have 33 summer/spring things and 35 fall/winter ( it's the damn scarves, lol). In one closet. It's grand.
    I wasn't too far off the mark but Goodwill did get two shopping bags of surplus from my little purge.
    LOVE LOVE LOVE your roses!
    Enjoy your yoga. It so good for body and soul.

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  18. Janet, it all sounds sublime. I really must get back to my yoga and naps. You always inspire.

    xox Terri

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  19. I have been making the carrot cappuccino soup you posted back in 2012 -- delicious! I use a roasted vegetable stock from Mark Bittman's encyclopedic "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian"; takes 4 hours to make (not counting the last minute trip to the farmer's market for the turnip I didn't seem to have on hand), but so worth it. And made a field trip to Georgia O'Keeffe's house in Abiquiu, New Mexico; she would have appreciated your roses. My roses are leafing out but not yet blooming; our weather is a tad behind yours.

    Thanks for posting! Like others, I just check in to revisit favorite older posts and look at the pretty pictures, so it's a treat to find a new entry. Good for you for taking a step back to make a step forward for yourself.

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  20. Those roses are stunning, and the closeups are amazing. We're getting ready to travel starting next week...fun to look forward to but so much to get done beforehand...I'm envious of your naptime!

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  21. Your photos are wonderful, Janet! I admire your new goals to relax more and sounds like you're a success! I love yoga!! I go 4x/week. The studio just started offering one of those Yin classes and so I will definitely try it. I've been very plugged in and writing tons for my site and other sites...so it's really rewarding but lots of time on the computer.

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  22. Looks like your rose garden exploded...and those up close shots are beautiful! Anonymous mentioned Georgia O'Keefe, your photos remind me of her artwork!

    My husband has been off from school and we have been working on little projects around the house including decluttering. Think we will run an ad in Craigslist this weekend...in a storage area off our garage we have 11 fish/reptile tanks (yes 11 :/) that belonged to my MIL along with my FIL's beach cruiser. I hope we can get rid of it all! I'm doing pretty good on Ebay too, have sold 8 things now, made a little over $100.00. Not bad for a start.

    Glad you are enjoying your time off Janet, I have never been able to take naps, unlike my dear husband. Maybe yoga is a good precursor for that!

    Linda
    xo







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  23. Well done Janet on easing off the technology. I've been in my garden too - working on removing the lawn. Hard work but worthwhile, hopefully and at least the weather is sunny right now in the UK. Keep up the Yin yoga!

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  24. Hello Janet,

    All is peace and tranquility in the Gardener's Cottage and how wonderful it all sounds to be. Your Roses look superb and what fun to peer right inside for a bee like look. The structure of the petals is, as you say, remarkable. A garden photographer friend of ours has spent years trying to capture the essence of these complex arrangements. How marvellous Nature is!

    As for us, we are reluctant to say but we are speeding up where you are slowing down. Yin and Yang perhaps?! A nap in the afternoon is good for us too.....we need it to party the night away.

    Take care!

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  25. Just reading this has made me feel so calm, I need to get away from the computer and blog comments and the iPad and work email and the iPhone - I check it all every 5 minutes and it makes me jangly, yet I am addicted now and feel a bit lost if I try to step away.

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    1. I am the same Tabitha!! I need to find better balance.

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  26. I love Yin Yoga as well, and try to devote at least 1 out of 5 classes to it. It's good stuff!

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  27. Love yoga, though never heard of the yin kind; we're lucky to get any offered at all ;)
    Having had a new heating system that turned out not to really take up less space, spent yesterday rearranging and decluttering the boxes that live in the utility room, mostly sports/travel gear - now all fits in the reduced space neatly, yay!! Where we are, the paeonies are further on than the roses and will bloom gloriously soon, but I can see tiny buds forming on the rose bushes… and aphids, sigh.
    Now reducing my online time to go and start on War and Peace, the reread planned since January! And knit :)

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  28. So glad to find this blog! I went back and read it from the beginning and it is just wonderful! I look forward to reading the entries and thinking about all the beauty and delicious food and fun outfits you display. Thanks for taking the time to create such wonderful posts. You inspired me in many ways to cook healthier food, shop at thrift stores (wearing a thrifty skirt right now!) and take time to smell the roses. Thanks again and keep up the good work!

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  29. Your roses are stunning!! I've been spending way too much time on my computer lately. Time for an intervention...or a blog break. So happy to hear what's going on in your life. xoxoJennifer

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  30. And I am so glad that You have started to use capital letters !

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  31. Miss Janet, I do yin yoga too. That is actually where I started and it has been a great help to me with all my family caretaking (elderly and hospice). My yoga teacher calls it yoga on the shady side of the mountain! Great seeing your posts as well, but this internet thing-I'm hooked and loving it! ;) Have a great day!

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  32. Janet, I'm impressed by your photography skills. The shots you captured of the roses are beautiful! Congrats on your computer time reduction. I hope you're still on target with your financial goals. When I'm able to practice, I find yoga to be very beneficial to my over all well being. I applaud you for your self discipline. Keep up the good work!

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    1. An after thought...looking at the rose closes again, I could totally see these framed and on your walls for a pop of seasonal color!

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  33. Don't you just love how tightly folded the roses are and then they slowly open and show another side of their beauty? Enjoy where you are. It's snowing here in central Minnesota.

    Love,
    Mary

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  34. Wonderful photos -- and just the love the sound and feel of your description of your Yin Yoga classes .... Hereabouts -- I've been watering and tidying the garden. Checking on herbs and saving some cash to go for the new plants for the pots! Always love to see and read your postings! Thanks for all of your hard work!

    Cheers! Jan at Rosemary Cottage

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  35. Hi, Janet ! I like this idea of doing yoga sitting or lying down; because I've hurt my ankles a few times and I have put on weight, I can't hold standing positions for long. Actually, I've never had any sense of equilibrium ... Anyway, last time I went for a lesson, I really tried to hold a standing posture, started to lose my balance, tentatively took a few faltering steps to regain composure and ended up violently crashing into the wall in front of me. I don't what hurt more, the fall or the shame but I never went back ! xo

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    1. That last sentence should start with "I don't know" ...

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  36. Just a quick hello to say have a happy peaceful Passover/Easter season. Thank you for your lovely roses while I wait for things to blossom in the Northeast.

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  37. Janet,
    Your rose garden looks magnificent! And you know....they do like a symphony of petals all working together to create beauty! I've never tried a Yin class...I'm going to look into it. Have a lovely Easter dear friend.
    xo
    annie

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  38. Close up...at a distance...just don't stop.

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  39. Go checkout Imogene and willie blog's post from yesterday - it's about your fave Jack White and the live record he just preformed and pressed at nashvilles record day - kimberly

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  40. Hello Janet, I have just stumbled upon your blog - I live in the UK in a small market town in Suffolk so a very different context! Your postings on simple mindful living have really resonated with me - I am just coming out of some dark times in my life and your approach to living - being in the moment, being grateful, being more with less has been inspirational - thank you

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kindness is never out of style.

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