Category: Simply Living
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Going Forward
I walked out of class and felt a little tug at my heart. As I followed the winding sidewalk from the School of Communication and Information past the library, I saw students through the windows tucked into comfy chairs or sitting at long tables, ear buds in, pencils to paper. It was nearing nine o’clock,…
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The Center of My Childhood
I grew up in a small town in rural New Jersey. For those not from the Garden State, the words “New Jersey” might conjure up images of shopping malls and freeways, concrete and traffic. There are parts of the state like that, for sure. But that’s not where I grew up. I grew up in a…
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From Scratch
It’s bushel after bushel of bright red plum tomatoes, varying in their hues and firmness: some squishy on one side, others dense at the core; deep scarlet like a seductive lipstick or orange-red like a dimming evening sky. It’s three baths placed side by side, each with the lukewarm water that will wash the fruit clean,…
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Patio Writing
On this rare occasion, I have a day clear of to-do lists and events, so I’m writing. It took a teensy bit of finagling, canceling one engagement for the day, but it’s worth it. Chad made me breakfast this morning, and then I promptly got to work writing. How special is this day? I gathered my materials…
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Do Nothing
I have always enjoyed camping. We did it a lot growing up, mainly with Girl Scouts, but also as a family. But we haven’t camped as much in the last several years, just an occasional trip here or there. It had been a couple years since our last one when we went with friends two…
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Always Out of Time
I have a goal this summer. Actually, I have several, but the one that I keep thinking about this week is: Slow down. I have a terrible habit of always checking the clock. I have a very rigid sense of time, and it’s started to feel more and more constricting. This is not the way…
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Just Keep Reading
Guess what? Grad school is a lot of work. Oh you knew? I guess I did too, but I didn’t prepare for the lack of writing time and writing motivation I would have for this blog during my first semester. So I’ve been away a while. But I promise to try and make a plan…
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Making Space
This past weekend, we put Christmas away: we took down the lights, packed away the ornaments, set the tree out by the road, and swept up hundreds of pine needles. We love Christmas, with the shiny glass balls and twinkling lights, the sounds of a crackling fire and carols filling the room. December is so…
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Parenting: Pets & People
Last week, we had to take Olive Oil to the vet to have her teeth cleaned. This was the second time in two weeks that we had to take her to the vet, and since she has anxiety, it’s a big deal. Taking her to the vet, or anywhere for that matter, is an ordeal,…
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The Slow Unfolding
Saturday mornings around here start slow. We sleep in as much as time allows, get up gradually and make something delicious for breakfast (or brunch, depending on what time we climb out of bed), like pancakes, omelettes, or biscuits. We’ll probably get out a crossword puzzle while we eat and take turns filling in the…
jamie y. watkins 