because

"I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say."

- Flannery O'Connor

(One of my sisters posted this quote here in January.)

carry a book

“Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn't carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.” 

― Stephen King

two motives

“There are two motives for reading a book; one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it.”

― Bertrand Russell

in the bookstore

“Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?” 

― Henry Ward Beecher

common, everyday blessings

via MamaDweeb

(Laura Ingalls Wilder)

dreams

via MamaDweeb

(Laura Ingalls Wilder)

found: inspiration

Sometimes, when I have a minute, I click around on the internet and search for inspiration.  Sometimes "inspiration" is a fun new recipe, sometimes it's someone's personal blog, and sometimes it's just pinterest.  Whatever the inspiration, it's nice to know there are others out there who want things similar to what I want, and who write about them. It's very encouraging.

I've been pondering life directions, recently.  I decided as my New Year's Resolution this year that 2014 was going to be the Year of Positive Life Changes.  The first Positive Life Change actually occurred in 2013: we moved from a studio apartment to a one bedroom in November.  In January, we bought a car and I started graduate school. In February, we got a puppy.

I've been dreaming.  I've been dreaming of a small-ish house with lots of outdoor space, chickens in the back yard and kids chasing them around.  I've been dreaming of flowers and tomato plants and laundry on the line and hand-ground coffee.

Some of those things won't happen right now.  At least, not that way.  We're in a one bedroom apartment just outside a major city.  I'm in grad school and working.  Husband works in the evenings. We have a puppy who is pretty high maintenance (and I'm pretty sure she knows it.)

In browsing through some blogs and other forms of "inspiration," I came across this post.  Jill writes about having some of the same longings and accomplishing some of the same things I want to do.  She has some land and some chickens and some kids and a beautiful blog.

via

Anyway, I just thought someone else out there might be looking for a small moment of inspiration.  This was mine this week. I'm happy where I'm at.  I love the people and animals around me. I love our little apartment that I took time to paint and decorate and make cozy.  I love being in school and I enjoy my job (most of the time.)  But, I also love working toward a dream.