The picture drew me in...beautiful, calm enoughness. My eyes lift to my own simple abundance: a cup of warm coffee + a stack of good words + blank pages beside my bed. Shelves in my closet stacked (not crammed) with clothing that feels good + keeps me warm. 

Winter solstice is in sight + we've lived through autumn. This bundle of days past now feels like a capsule in time that I can interrogate. I've dressed for all-day roadtrips, lamplit gatherings, brisk dog walks, leisurely coffee dates, leaf-crunching bike rides, festive workdays + cozy evenings. My wardrobe has served me well.

Current favorites:

• ivory, carpenter cords
• faded jeans
• natural sweatshirt + sweats
• navy bandana
• navy sweatshirt

Additions (July-now):

• brown sweatshirt
• cashmere neckerchief
• red long-sleeved tee
• quilted vest
• quilted jacket

​
Let go of:

• two holey cashmere sweaters 
• thrifted sweater that I found out I'm allergic to 
• black jeans
• navy button up

Noting:

• the cashmere I can afford gets holes within a year + holes continue to proliferate :: I think the fibers are too short + the yarn is too thin
• I am allergic to alpaca...and mohair :(
• at the moment, I'm not reaching for black
• recognizing that a purchase is not for me quickly allows me to get it into the hands of someone who will use it quickly
• the goal isn't to always be purging things - that would signal that the buying is still too high - but also, letting go + adding will always be part of the equation, because things wear out + "new" (borrowed, thrifted, made, traded, fair) things will probably be necessary eventually

Still thinking about: 

• the color + texture combinations of the sweater outfit on a friend the other day: rust sweater sweats with a drawstring + chocolate brown cardigan + long, cobalt blue scarf + silver loafers. SO GOOD!
• a color combination that popped out at me from my Noihsaf likes: a chocolate brown Shaina Mote sweater + hot pink Jenny Pennywood Everywhere Square. Yum.

As always, I put things here, not necessarily as specific inspiration, but more as general inspiration for thinking through the same sort of categories. A photo of a bedroom corner sparked an autumn closet evaluation. I love giving my mind space to roam + seeing where it leads. Wishing you some spacious mind wanders this weekend too! :)

Love,
Jane

Doing something for just five minutes a day
​compounds to 30 hours by the end of the year!

I've only just begun Worry Medicine by Nina Montenegro, but I'm already glad I have. 

It kinda feels nice to know I'm not alone. Honoring our own needs this holiday season.

Words are powerful. This one is such food for thought.

Outsourced supply chains. 

Collaborative, 400-miles-radius supply chain.

Build a bridge. That's where the courage is.

Not wanting something is as good as having it.
~Naval Ravikant

When we started strapping our bikes onto the back of our car, we started exploring all the trails + paths in + around our city. We have a map with all of the bike paths on it, and we highlighted each one after we rode it. We wanted to see them all.

At some point we started to say that we'd really just like to return to one trail. We felt like we should be more adventurous, but neither of us were ever disappointed when the other said they'd like to go there. We ride that trail under leafless trees as soon as it is warm enough not to freeze our faces. We ride it after flood waters recede + marvel at how far the river debris has been carried. We ride it laughing through the rain, because we can't be deterred. We ride it as the tall grass soars toward the sky + the milkweed swells to bursting. We stop to listen to the deafening applause of dried corn husks + to spot that bird that isn't usually there.

I love riding my bike. I love feeling the power of my legs, feeling the wind scream through my helmet, seeing the snakes sunning themselves on the warm pavement, hearing the birds + squirrels chatter, dodging walnuts + osage oranges, and crunching through dried leaves. We talk to the dragonflies that accompany us + thank the tiny white flowers that cheer us on as we climb that one big hill.

When we returned from visiting my dad in the hospital, I saw the 23rd Psalm that comforted him in this place. I saw the green pastures + still waters. The snake was the shadow of death we knew loomed close. And...there was a promise of rest.

This place, like many in this country, bears a name that recalls some sort of massacre or conquest. At some point, we decided to rename it what it is for us: the Way of Life or the Mode de Vie. It's alive with life + death + rebirth + healing + love + interconnectedness. We love this place. It restores my soul.

Love,
​Jane

I've always loved an advent calendar. It feels like a warm hug around the holiday season, when I fill it with intention. 

An advent calendar can also feel like just another thing to do + maintain. Instagram + Pinterest give us the impression that everyone is having so many magical experiences which easily translates into pressure to do more + more.

I'm advocating for something different. ​

​i made this little booklet for an advent calendar workshop i gave this week (+ for you)  :)

When it comes to putting an advent calendar (or a holiday gathering) together, the trick is to combine these two priorities. It's impossible for me to know how those questions have been answered, but my hope is that this one thought is a relevant offering in that direction: simple pleasures.

With finishing stitches put in as the maple tree in our yard turns blazing red + snowflakes dot the forecast, this (finished!) quilt feels right on time. This weekend, I'm:

• thinking about how I can truly, deeply feel the abundance of what's already present.
• turning my eye toward indoor spaces + creating places for creativity, calm + connection as the temperatures dip. 
• creating acceptance in myself for non-intimidating + nourishing gathering options. 
• embracing my desire to throw kindness around like confetti.

Sounds like an outline of posts I could write.  :)

A few more goodies:
Once in a lifetime moment.
​A tool for living.
Tradition toward sustainability.

Wishing you a weekend filled with what nourishes your soul.
Love,
​Jane

Gratitude encourages us to recognize the quiet richness of our lives.

This quilt has been a long time in the making. I found it as a quilt top, and I'm not sure why it was never completed by its original creator. It's possible that they weren't happy with the puckery edging, and finally gave up on fixing it.

I knew I'd like the look of the larger modern shapes alone, if I just removed the wonky edging. But as someone who has made a number of quilts + wants to be a good caretaker of this one, it was hard to decide to cut into this topper that clearly took a LOT of time to create.

Another issue was that I didn't know how I wanted to use it. As it was, it was too small to cover our bed + too big to be a couch quilt. I also considered gifting it. Today was the day to make a decision. I want this thing to get used. I want to use it. I could imagine sitting under it on the couch + having it lend some golden light to the room too.

So, I cut the edging + two rows off. Sitting in the sun under its weight hand stitching the binding this afternoon felt good. I listened to A Simpler Life from The School of Life while I stitched, and though I don't agree with everything in it, this quote seemed like an affirmation:​

It's only a sense of purpose that allows us to see how much of anything is enough.

I find this helpful in finding peace in so many situations:

• When I decide that, yes, I want my shoes to work with my outfits + my style...but also to be comfortable enough to be on my feet for 7-9 hours in a day...with my particular feet...then I can choose the right shoes rather than buying lots of shoes + still wondering why none of them work.
• When I decide that I want my home to provide a comfortable place to rest + nourish my closest ones, then I know how much space is useful + what is beyond my scope of actual desire.
• When I decide that I want to warm up under this quilt on the couch + have enough left over to share with my parter, I know that it's ok to customize it for that purpose.

Sometimes the more-than-enough is what's holding us back.

Love,
Jane

Decisions can be hard to make, especially when they feel like they move away from sustainability rather than toward it. But circumstances shift + different choices don't necessarily signal failure, they are just the choices that make sense now.

The choice to grow a pollinator garden rather than strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers + peppers was a tearful one. I love growing food, but knew I couldn't keep up with the harvesting while using every ounce of my energy at a physical job. Our delicious tomatoes were not helping with my inflammatory issues + our garden beds were in need of renewal after years in service. 

​We made the switch to native plants + flowers and just witnessed the most magical month of monarch migration! Our garden hosts loads of hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, goldfinches, chipmunks, woodpeckers, jays, juncos, bunnies, squirrels, hawks and so much more all year round. It's such a treat to watch this natural habitat day by day. 

We still grew potatoes + pumpkins around the side of the house this year. Their harvest took minutes rather than days, and we've had root vegetables enough to share. Transforming our garden wasn't a bad decision. It was just a different one...one that makes sense for now.

Love,
Jane