Tag: Coffee

Connectedness

It’s a word often used and I’ve been thinking about it all year. I’m practicing ways to be more intentional with connectedness. Case in point, my friend Dawn over at Aging with Grace.

Around a month ago, she published a post about a book she came across on her bookshelf and was going to read again. The name of the book is Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. While reading Dawn’s blogpost, I spotted that same book on my shelf collecting dust, so I wiped it off and vowed to begin reading it as well.

It’s a daily read, so I leave it laying out in plain sight. When my world gets still, I sit down and read it, knowing she’s read the same page. I’m sure the time of day we read varies as I picture Dawn reading it first thing in the morning with a cup of tea. That would be the proper way and I learn from Dawn the proper way to do things.

But that’s in my mind’s eye, maybe she’s more like me in having to make an appointment with myself to sit down and read it.

This morning as I strolled through the house, I realized it’s a workday and the schedule for today began rolling through my mind. I pressed the pause button on it and made a cup of coffee. Once the cup was complete, I went to my corner, sat in the chair, and picked up the book. Turning to today’s page and reading it over while sipping my magical brew gave me a full sense of connectedness.

What we have on our plate can wait while we share a moment of connectedness.

Click here to enjoy Dawn’s original post entitled, “Abundance Isn’t Always Simple.” She’s a soul filled Writer. đź’–

A Good Pour

Posting The Perfect Cup hit home to some of my friends how serious I am about coffee. It got me thinking how other things pour into my day, and how we have the power to control the flow.

I love the way God inserts himself into my day, or I believe He’s always here, but sometimes He has to do something spectacular to snag my attention. This morning I started a cup of coffee with the dripper, and after pouring all of the water through the filter, I sat down at my desk.

I’ve been telling myself to send this one email all week, but just realized we are halfway through the week. I typed up the email, clicked send, and looked at the empty coaster on my desk. The cup of coffee that normally sits there was sitting in the kitchen, so I walked back in.

I lifted the dripper and was surprised to see the cup was full all the way to the rim. It couldn’t have held one more drop of water or it would have spilled onto the counter. I had to pour some coffee out to make room for cream, and that hurt my feelings a little, but this made me pause and think.

We need to be mindful of how full we get our cup, and to leave room for the good. By the end of the day my darlings we need to feel that deep satisfaction and say, that was a good pour.

To Stay Planted

My friend who I meet for coffee once a month gave me a beautiful mug. It’s a travel mug, which I didn’t have. I usually drink my coffee before leaving the house, so it’s rather liberating knowing my coffee can now travel.

The box has been sitting on the coffee bar, and it’s just as pretty as the mug. Every time I pass by and read the words on the box, the phrase sticks with me for a minute while walking through the house. It’s one of my favorite sayings, “Bloom where you are planted.”

I’ve written about ‘bloom‘ because it fascinates me. What does it take for something to bloom, and waiting to see when it will bloom. Nothing blooms all the time, but just like an actual flower, we have days where blooming comes naturally. It’s no secret 2020 has been a year, and everyone is anxiously awaiting a new year, but we can decide to bloom where we’re planted. To find contentment where we are, and to shower kindness on ourselves and others.

Do what you can, where you are, and with what you have. To bloom where you’re planted works best when you’re willing to stay planted.

Worth the View

A Blogger friend commented on the photo in A New View.

When my daughter and I walked out of the newly built house mentioned in that post, she glanced my way, as if trying to read my thoughts. The house was nice enough, but the view was no better than where I am now. My next house is all about the view.

I don’t want more, but I do want better.

In response to my friend’s comment, I let her know these photos are a part of my vision board. My vision board began a year ago, and these photos are popping up in my FB memories. They are reminding me why I’m in a season of work.

view
Time Out Chair

Hold the vision. Trust the process.

I’ve been working from home for years, but last year was my season for learning to work with discipline and consistency. It’s paying off, but my work is seven days a week. It becomes difficult to discern a weekday from the weekend. Relatable?

Another Blogger friend had left a comment on the post, Enjoy the Good. He admires my coffee gadgets, and reminded me of one I haven’t used in a while. The French press. I took it down from the shelf, and rinsed it off. It has been so long since I used it, I pulled up the Blue Bottle Coffee site to refresh my memory.

frenchpress
Bodum Chambord 17oz French Press

While on the Blue Bottle site, I saw their debut coffee Spring Blend, and ordered a bag. You see, I had responded to my fellow Blogger with, “Why do you think I work so much? To be able to buy really good coffee.” That was the goal when I began this journey, and I’ve been buying really good coffee all year.

Don’t lose sight of why you work.

I’m grateful at this stage of life to have fulfilling work, and to be continually learning, but it’s not easy. My experience has been, no path worth taking is ever easy, so it’s vital to hold the vision.

Some paths are easier than others. Some journey’s take longer than others, but I’m convinced, it will be worth the view.

Coffee and Contemplation

I’ve been thinking about mornings and to retrain myself to get up early. I’m normally awake before dawn, but with the cooler weather, it’s dreadful leaving the warm bed.

There’s nothing wrong with that every now and then, but there’s things I want to accomplish. Pondering the New Year, it feels like God is giving me the head’s up on a marathon part of the journey.

mornings

While contemplating mornings, I read a post by a fellow Blogger entitled, “How to Wake Up Without Caffeine.” Don’t worry, I’m not giving up coffee. That magical brew is part of my day.

His post reminded of the sweetness before the dawn. Whether going for a walk, or just sitting outside on a yoga mat, wrapped in a blanket. It’s about watching the day begin. You can read his inspiring post here.

That’s what we do, inspire one another.

It starts with an idea and we build it to suit.

I believe we have to challenge ourselves for better. It’s not going to happen without us. In Less is More, I mentioned to focus on less, but give my best. Continuing a healthy body and clear mindset is a good place to start.

Greet the Day

Each day is unique and treated as such.

The first thing I do, after waking up, is walk through the house and open all the blinds on the windows to let the light in. My day varies from there. I have no set routine, but there are certain rituals that enhance my morning.

Yesterday, I made a cup of green tea, but today I went straight to coffee. Yesterday, I was greeted by the sun and today it’s cloudy. Yesterday, I turned on my little fireplace, but today the house is at a comfortable temperature. Yesterday morning, my phone didn’t ring, but this morning a delivery guy called at 8:00 am inquiring where to dump a truck full of sand. I called for help.

It’s the last month of the year and the change in who we are begins now for stepping into next year. This is not a Blog Challenge, it’s a personal challenge which I’m fairly practiced at. The biggest challenge so far is to find that sweet spot in my morning to write.

When everything falls still and the only sound I hear is the tapping of the keys. This is a new way to greet the day.

gray laptop computer on white surface
Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels.com

Where the Rubber Meets the Road — Co-Creating and Cowgirl Wisdom

To be a good neighbor has been on my heart this year. I’m friends with the neighbor beside and behind me, but want to befriend more.

To place more action into the ‘to be kind‘ thought. To really plug into community and show kindness and caring toward my neighbors. To be the house where people pop in for coffee and a listening ear, knowing there’s a table full of chocolate.

Patty is the kind of neighbor I’d love to have. She inspires me by showing we can send love where we’re planted. Thank you Patty for choosing not to get angry and just sending love. May it all come back to you in abundance.

I am the kind of person who loves every blade of grass. My home and yard are neat, not out of control, and the wildflowers in summer are riotous! Birds come from all over to eat at the buffet I offer them. I’m tickled they visit. Lizards, centipedes and even snakes are welcome (Snakes.usually pass […]

via Where the rubber meets the road — Co-Creating and Cowgirl Wisdom