June 10th, 2026
My Abundant Life 6-10-26
June 10th, 2026
A Nook of Your Own
“In solitude we give passionate attention to our lives, to our memories, to the details around us.”
Virginia Woolf (English Writer; January 25th, 1885 to March 28th, 1941)
“Many of us today experience creative silence. Not the hush of the heart necessary to bring forth the unexpressed from Spirit, but the creative silence brought about by circumstances we feel are beyond our control: lack of time, and/or lack of space or a place to create. Perhaps we also suffer from a lack of clarity, a failure to realize how necessary it is to nurture our sacred creativity daily.”
“Recently, I have been reclaiming my creativity with the creation of my ceremonial wedding regalia breastplate. I am so proud of the creation and expression of my authentic creativity.”
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 203 to 204 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
Daily Gratitude 6-9-26
June 9th, 2026
- “One can never pay in gratitude; one can only pay ‘in kind’ somewhere else in life.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh
- “Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. We like to be around those who are grateful.” – Joseph B. Wirthlin
- “Giving is an expression of gratitude for our blessings.” – Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen
- “It’s a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.” – Germany Kent
- “The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.” – Douglas Wood
My Musical Life 6-9-26
June 9th, 2026
#57 Runaway Child, Running Wild (The Temptations) 👍🏼
You played hookie from school and you can’t go out to play, yeah
Mama said, for the rest of the week, in your room you gotta stay, yeah
Oh ho, now you feel like the whole world’s pickin’ on you
But deep down inside, you know it ain’t true
You’re in punishment
‘Cause your mother wants to raise you in the right way, yeah
But you don’t care
‘Cause you already made up your mind you wanna run away yeah
You’re on your way, runaway child, running wild
Runaway child running wild
Better go back home where you belong
Roaming through the city going nowhere fast, you’re on your own at last
Hey, it’s gettin’ late, where will you sleep?
You’re gettin’ kinda hungry, you forgot to bring something to eat
Oh, lost with no money you start to cry
But remember, you left home wantin’ to be grown, so dry your weeping eyes
Sirens screamin’ down neon lighted streets
You want your mama
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
Are they looking for you?
You’re frightened and confused
I want my mama
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run
But she’s much too far away, she can’t hear a word you say
You’ve heard some frightening news on the radio
About little boys running away from home
And the parents don’t see them no more
You wanna stop to hitch a ride, I know
But your mama told you never trust a stranger
And you don’t know which way to go
Streets are dark and deserted, not a sound nor sign of life
Oh how you long to hear your mother’s voice, ’cause you’re lost and alone
But remember, you made the choice, runaway child, running wild
You better go back home where you belong
He he he, oh, runaway child, running wild
You better go back home where you belong
You’re lost in this great big city
Go back home where you belong
Not one familiar face, ain’t it a pity
Go back home where you belong
Oh, runaway child running wild
You better go back home where you belong
Oh yeah, my girl
Mama, mama, please, come and sit here by me
Oh but she’s much too far away, she can’t hear a word you say
Oh, you’re frightened and confused, which way will you choose
My Abundant Life 6-9-26
June 9th, 2026
Bringing a Sense of Order to the Kitchen
“A confused mind cannot direct deft hands and what is more confusing than a cluttered, disorderly place to work? What is more uninviting, too? The grateful appearance of order—this is the one important way women judge each other’s housekeeping. And every efficient housekeeper knows that in no room does it count for more than in the the kitchen.”
Woman’s Home Companion, August 1924
“I love tidying the kitchen as my husband’s self-expression is cooking and to have clean and orderly canvas for him to create within is my way of being his muse to his artistic expression.”
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 201 to 203 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
Daily Gratitude 6-8-26
June 8th, 2026
- “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – G.K. Chesterton
- “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault
- “‘Enough’ is a feast.” – Buddhist Proverb
- “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie
- “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” – Epictetus
My Musical Life 6-8-26
June 8th, 2026
#56 This Magic Moment (Jay and The Americans) 👍🏼
This magic moment
So different and so new
Was like any other
Until I kissed you
And then it happened
It took me by surprise
I knew that you felt it too
By the look in your eyes
Sweeter than wine (sweeter than wine)
Softer than a summer night (softer than a summer night)
Everything I want to have (everything, everything)
Whenever I hold you tight
This magic moment (this magic moment)
While your lips are close to mine
Will last forever
Forever, till the end of time (this magic moment)
Whoa, oh, (this magic moment) oh
Sweeter than wine (sweeter than wine)
Softer than a summer night (softer than a summer night)
Everything I want to have (everything, everything)
Whenever I hold you tight
This magic moment (this magic moment)
While your lips are close to mine
Will last forever (this magic moment)
Forever, till the end of time (magic)
Whoa, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh
Magic, magic, magic
My Abundant Life 6-8-26
June 8th, 2026
In Praise of Real-Life Dining Rooms
“When we are authentic, when we keep our spaces simple, simply beautiful living takes place.”
Alexandra Stoddard (Author & Interior Designer; November 8th, 1941)
“A dining room is a sharing of love and community and my husband and I are committed to make this a reality in a future home.”
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 200 to 201 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
Daily Gratitude 6-7-26
June 7th, 2026
- “No duty is more urgent than giving thanks.” – James Allen
- “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” – Willie Nelson
- “Fill the earth with your songs of gratitude.” – Charles Spurgeon
- “At the age of 18, I made up my mind to never have another bad day in my life. I dove into a endless sea of gratitude from which I’ve never emerged.” – Patch Adams
- “’Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” – Alice Walker
My Musical Life 6-7-26
June 7th, 2026
#55 It’s Getting Better (Cass Elliot) 👍🏼
Once I believed that when love came to me
It would come with rockets, bells and poetry
But with me and you it just started quietly and grew
And believe it or not
Now there’s something groovy and good
Bout whatever we got
And it’s getting better
Growing stronger warm and wilder
Getting better everyday, better everyday
I don’t feel all turned on and starry eyed
I just feel a sweet contentment deep inside
Holding you at night just seems kind of natural and right
And it’s not hard to see
That it isn’t half of what it’s going to turn out to be
Cause it’s getting better
Growing stronger, warm and wilder
Getting better everyday, better everyday
And just like a flower that takes time to bloom
This love of ours is taking time to grow
Ba da da da da da da da da da da da
And I don’t mind waitin’, don’t mind waitin’
Cause no matter how long it takes
The two of us know
That it’s getting better
Growing stronger, warm and wilder
Getting better everyday, better everyday.
My Distilled Life 