I think a lot about enough + less, because I am continually reminded that that is what allows my mind to be most at peace. My mind now has practiced pathways that make an effort to prevent me from making impulse purchases. And yet, when I'm thinking through making a few little improvements around the house, I often find myself looking outward...to add something. A few weeks ago, a hanging plant that we've had for over a decade started to bloom again. It's blooms are tiny, but hundreds of them come all at once + they have a scent that my allergies don't like. Since we made some changes in our kitchen, the place we most like to sit is right under that plant. I finally decided that I do not need to endure the itchy eyes + stuffy nose that plant brings. Jo brought it to her place, and I was left with an empty plant hook that I was in no real hurry to fill. A couple weeks later, I was at the plant store for a different reason + decided to take a look at the hanging plants. One of the hanging plants they had was a rhipsalis. I have a scraggly rhipsalis, but had never thought of hanging it. I had a lighter pot for hanging + some soil too. A few days later, I repotted the plant + realized that I didn't have a hanger. My other hangers were made out of rope that I bought from the hardware store. I didn't want to leave the house, so I thought about what else I could possibly use...twine? A few minutes later, I hung the pot + I love it so much! It's been a year since we changed things in our kitchen. The contractor + electrician agreed to put our overhead lighting on a dimmer...and yet, they did not. I decided that was one battle too many in the midst of all the others. None of us likes the garish light when it's dark outside, so I've been looking for a lamp...for a year. As darkness comes earlier + stays later (again), I'm feeling very motivated to find a solution. Today, I was watching this Noguchi video + thinking of my (not Noguchi) paper lamps.
We have two paper hanging lamps downstairs that don't get used often. I've thought of them before, but I don't want to hang a light from the ceiling in the kitchen. Then it occurred to me that maybe I could use one like a lamp on the top of the fridge! Ten minutes, a piece of tape + a clothespin later...and we have the most lovely, warm, glow in our kitchen! It's not taking up space on the shelf. The cord is hidden by the fridge. It didn't cost anything. And...it ties in with the paper lampshade across the room too. Adding more to our space always makes me nervous. I don't want more. I want less...less to clean...less to take care of...less to purchase...less visual clutter. When I can use what I already have in new ways, it makes me so, so happy! Love, Jane The couch we bought a year ago was available in dark charcoal...a color that isn't usually my first choice. I was ok with it, because I thought I'd probably make a slipcover for it anyway. Since we've had it in our north facing living room, however, the color has grown on me. Now I'm contemplating embracing its moody hue + doubling down on it.
We've long been on the lookout for a big ottoman that can service more than two pairs of legs at once. The only one that has struck a chord with me is one in the same dark color as the couch. We're also considering growing our couch into a sectional, and I'm in search of confirmation that my eye can take so much darkness in my space. These photos have me thinking that white walls, jute rugs + minimal decorations (all of which we already have) might provide enough light(ness) + warmth to please my senses. The dark pieces feel cozy + enveloping...just the draw I want for this space. I think I like it, and no one is more surprised than me! :) (ope, hints!) All lovely photos via links. Love, Jane It's entirely possible I've written a post just like this before, because I've long been thinking about having a spot dedicated to cultivating peace within. I imagine having a spot to go...a spot that visually confronts me...a spot for my innermost being to surface.
We've tried the spot I have in mind as a place for yoga (we seem to prefer rolling back the rug in a more open space under the ceiling fan) + as a spot to sew (I seem to lug my machine out into the kitchen anyway). Maybe now is the time to claim this spot as a spot for quiet realignment. For now, I've stacked two dismantled kitchen cupboard shelves on the floor. I'd like to make a low table to hold things that turn our minds toward divine mystery. There is a bowl to collect quotes + notes that can spark thought when a little inspiration is helpful. A candle offers a physical sign of sacred turning. A cushion invites presence. A leaning shelf could keep some of our favorite reads within reach, and a few plants are thriving here already. All that's needed now is my own presence + intention. Click each lovely photo for links. Unlinked photos, mine. Love, Jane Noticing the shifting light in this space this morning...and feeling grateful. The upper cabinets are gone. The new window is letting in more light. It feels open + spacious + unencumbered. The project is unfinished, but it is good. My autumn left little time, mental space or energy for much other than pouring myself into work, so I tackled the organization + function of this space little by little. One weekend, I'd maximize the function of the space under the sink. Another weekend, I'd figure out where the dry food items could live. Each improvement, whether big or small, was felt with great appreciation. My thoughts about the organization + function of our kitchen began with the decision that this space would only house items that we use...and that we use to make food. This has been the most important piece of this puzzle. A few of the projects tackled that are now functioning well:
I actually have a few empty drawers + baskets at the moment which feels really good! Love, Jane My spaces feel best when they are simple + functional. I like the idea of a studio with nothing but a big table + chair in it...a big empty space for my creativity to soar...for big ideas + imaginings to take shape. I like the idea of a bedroom with nothing but a big bed + a minimal light fixture in it...a quiet place for rest + restoration.
I've been focusing on removing the excess + organizing the necessary in my spaces during these first few weeks of the year. In our bedroom, my partner + I have gone through our clothing considering what is + isn't getting worn, letting some things go, packing some things away + reorganizing what remains. Everything that doesn't belong in the bedroom has been removed, and I'm trying to keep it that way. :) I'm also focusing on optimizing function, so we've finally chosen two minimal lamps to make relaxing + reading in bed a bit more enjoyable. I want our spaces to give us a sense of calm + rest, to remind us of who we are and who we have the intention of becoming. A little spot inside of our closet is just such a reminder that is making me quietly happy these days. I'm currently loving our bedroom as a reflection of what I can truly love about myself: the simple quiet on the surface makes space for the riot of creativity + imagination vibrating inside. Love, Jane It's been six weeks since we cleared everything out of our main living spaces. We are (finally) reaching a time when we can consider bringing things back into our "new" space. I feel the inner dialogue between wanting a cozy place to envelope me + those I love...and preserving the room to move + feeling the vastness of unencumbered spaciousness.
I wonder whether to conceal the scars of the this stage of the work done...or let the patchwork be unapologetically as it is. I am hesitant to fill the space with personality by way of stuff + things...feeling the beauty of the personality of s p a c e . It's a quiet dance in my mind...feels like sun sparkling on + then off waves...a question that resists the question mark. I look forward to playing with the possibility. Love, Jane Today is the day we've been waiting for. The window has arrived, so the work can begin on our kitchen. In preparation, I've removed everything from our kitchen, dining space + living room...and moved it elsewhere in the house. A makeshift kitchen has been set up in a corner of a bedroom. I have been eagerly anticipating getting to see all of our kitchen items in one place. It is not often that we get to see everything housed in the cabinets + drawers out in the open. I've moved enough times to have seen the spectacle of boxes piled high + marked "kitchen" waiting to find new places to belong in a new space. I've also seen tiny kitchens with (apparently) adequate space to house a family's kitchen items. Less feels like freedom to me, so I love to experience + know that not much is needed to eat beautiful, nourishing meals. We experience this on some level when we camp, but living out of the trunk of our car offers less than ideal circumstances. I would love for the kitchen we end up with to prove a bit more ideal. :) Now that all of our food-related items are out in the open, I can see everything that will need a place in our kitchen (not including the fridge, stove + seating)...and it's pretty reassuring.
Alright, commence new adventure! Love, Jane The opportunities to organize a couple of work spaces presented themselves over the past few months. The transformations have blown me away both times. It is quite simple to lay eyes on every single thing in a space one by one...to make quick decisions about usefulness + belonging...and to move things item by item into place or out of the space. It takes time, but it is not difficult. We come across empty boxes, broken pieces, and trash just taking up space. Things get moved to where they are used. Things get donated + discarded. Boxes get broken down + moved to the recycling. Dust + dirt get swept + wiped away. Boxes get labeled + moved to logical places.
When we step back + take it in, it can be shocking to see how little is left. I think the feeling some get from such a reveal is fear that everything they need...their security blanket of enveloping stuff...has been stripped away. I feel like the stifling brain drain has been cleared away...opening space for creativity, collaboration + possibility to flourish. I exclaim that it is liberating to see how little is needed to do what we do well! I am currently moving everything out of our kitchen so that some work can be done. We will be living + eating in a different space in our home as this work is done, so I'm thinking through how we can do those things as comfortably as possible. At the same time, I'm thinking through what we truly need in our kitchen when we put it back together + trying to get things moving in that direction now. Like those work spaces, our kitchen needs to function. It functions as a place to create simple, nourishing meals made from whole foods. It is a space where we can gather + laugh + love + grow. If there is space for these, then we have everything we need. Love, Jane Our washing machine is out of commission again. I'm washing things by hand + taking advantage of the dry heat to dry our dripping clothing outside. I'm only two days in, but I'm choosing to enjoy the laundry in its altered state for the time being. This task comes with a little space to think + here are a few of the thoughts that have surfaced:
We considered just purchasing a new washing machine (since we've already had to have this one fixed three times in ten years), but we're going to try to have it fixed again before giving up the ghost. Our space is not big enough for any conventional washer now available(!), so concessions will have to be made when we do purchase a new machine. We will have to go with one of three options:
We only use the dryer for towels + sheets, and we now have towels that might hang dry well enough. We only have one set of sheets for each bed, so they do need to dry in between sleeps. If it's only sheets that require a dryer, maybe going without a dryer is more of an option now than ever. The house I grew up in had clotheslines strung back and forth across an entire room in the basement...hmm... I appreciate having a mindset that allows me to feel that there are options, when confronted with decisions like these. I appreciate feeling that there is space to learn from not having things I have come to see as "necessary". It's nice to be reminded that I don't need to wait to experiment either. I can experiment without waiting until something breaks. I could experiment with not using the car for a weekend...not using instagram for a month...or not complaining for a day. These limitations can actually expand possibility... weird isn't it? :) Love, Jane |
on a journey toward zero-waste, simplicity, + compassion :: daring to choose fair one choice at a time
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