Today is a little catch-up with my nephew, James, and his wife, Heather. Both are teachers up in Michigan. If you’ve visited before, you might have seen posts from their various vacation trips. First, I’d like to introduce a new addition to their family, shy rescue, Celia the cat. She spends a fair amount of time watching Benny get into mischief.
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How Light Transforms a Home Through the Seasons
Pay attention to your home and you’ll see it looks different through the seasons due to natural lighting. Lighting can transform a home because of the sun’s movement. Adapting both natural and artificial light sources can enhance your comfort and well-being year-round.
Spring Light Brings Everything Back To Life
There’s something kind about spring light; it’s soft, bright, and fresher after months of gray. Suddenly, with spring sunshine coming in, the house feels fresher, the colors look better and brighter. You start noticing things you didn’t see in winter (good and bad). There will be dust, that’s true, but there’s also a lot of potential, and spring light is the kind that makes you happy to move furniture, wash curtains, open windows, and start thinking about all those projects you put to one side.
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Roasted Beets & Pumpkin with Brie
It’s almost winter; it’s time to roast all the great fall and winter vegetables. Today’s dish is the fabulous mix of beets, and pumpkin with brie and a balsamic glaze. This dish is not only delicious but also healthy for you. Pumpkin is rich in antioxidants like carotene which are credited with supporting our immune system. Another superb vegetable for our health is beets. Beets are high in immune-boosting vitamin C, fiber, and essential minerals like potassium.
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How Sick Building Syndrome Can Affect Your Health
Our health is affected by a lot of things, and our home and work environments can have a direct impact on our general health. Your home should be a sanctuary from the world. It’s where you rest, eat, and enjoy some peace and quiet. Your work environment is where you spend most of your time. If your home or work site are damaging your health, you need to recognize it and fix it.
My family moved from Mobile, Alabama, on the Gulf of Mexico to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, when I was 5 years old. My father had been hired by the Federal Government to work in one of the 3 plants there. I saw mountains for the first time and had lots of new experiences. Unfortunately, most of us in the family also developed hay fever from all the new pollens and other particulates in the air.
We first rented from the government a duplex half. Oak Ridge had been built as a secret city during WWII. The employees during the war lived in barracks. Later other housing was added with tri-plexes and duplexes. By the 1950’s, small singe family homes were added. All of the housing was built by the Army as “temporary housing” using concrete blocks (CBS housing). It’s used a lot in Florida for hurricane resistance. In Tennessee, which is a colder climate, you have cold damp concrete inside walls. In the winter the walls perspire and are damp. Mold or mildew can grow. I believe this contributed to my development of a compromised immune system which I now have.
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Evening Sky, Relax & Be Kind
I wanted to share a few peaceful photos before the craziness descends on many as the mad rush toward Christmas begins. From the archives, today I’m resharing an evening sky with vivid colors. You have to be quick to try and caputre the changing sky. I hope you remember to slow down in this coming month. Make your lists and check them twice. More importantly be kind to yourself and others.
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Autumn Vignettes with Flowers
We’re getting close to the end of November. In the last two months, we’ve decorated for fall with pumpkins, leaves, pine cones, chrysanthemums, and other natural elements. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite views from the season. I am so thankful for all of nature’s gifts and my friends I’ve made here on line. I hope you enjoy the beauty of the arrangements.
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Sunrise, A Great Way To Greet The Day
Sunrise was 6:52 AM yesterday here in Tampa Bay. Sunrise is a great way to greet the day.
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Advent Acts of Kindness
Originally Published November 13, 2018. Updated November 18, 2025
Sunday, November 30th, 2025 is the first Sunday of Advent this year. Many people around the world celebrate this time in preparation for Christmas. Celebrations can use an Advent calendar, an Advent wreath, and family prayers. There are 4 Sundays preceding Christmas. Activities often include lighting candles and saying a prayer.
I have printable free Advent calendars for download celebrating the 24 days prior to Christmas. If you want to simply celebrate Advent, make a wreath or calendar and add activities that enhance the season. Print and celebrate the days with family activities like gathering donations to charity, buying gifts for a Giving Tree, baking gifts for others, or reading about the story of Jesus in scripture. For more information on celebrating a simple Advent see my post, Simple Ways to Celebrate Advent: Wreaths, Calendars, & Activities . This simple Advent calendar is available for download there as well as possible scripture readings.
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