inspiration Archives - Keeping With The Times

Field Guide to Everyday Magic Blog Hop

August 24, 2017 by Barb

Hello, and welcome to the Field Guide to Everyday Magic Blog Hop hosted by Bella Grace Magazine!

The hop consists of a group of about 15 writers who are willing to share their ideas, stories, and photography to help launch the new field guide (and I’m beyond thrilled and truly gob-smacked to be included!)

Inspired by its sister publication, Field Guide to Everyday Magic is filled entirely with the worksheet-style prompts, captivating photographs, and inspirational quotes that Bella Grace Magazine has come to be known for
~Bella Grace Magazine~

I hope my contribution today inspires you in some small way, and if my words resonate with you, please make sure to leave a comment to become eligible to win a copy* of this beautiful guide. PLEASE NOTE: CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

I Will Not be Afraid and What to Do in Case of Fear (My Story)

It was autumn, about two years ago, when I first started thinking about how easy it is to become afraid of anything and everything.

I remember the morning so clearly; I’d headed out on my usual walk along the secluded country road I call home, the unconfirmed report that a cougar had been spotted in the area running through my head.

It was clear, peaceful, and beautiful as ever.I stood quietly, listening to the rustle of leaves and peering into the shadows of our beautiful boreal forest. I scanned the tops of the trees (cougars are a cat, after all) but only saw a friendly raven. It croaked a quick “hello” and flew off.

I pushed the thought of the cougar to the back of my mind until I rounded the bend where I could no longer see our house.

I stopped. A flicker of unease ran through me.

The road ahead was deserted but that cougar was definitely prowling around (if only in my head) and I couldn’t control my fearful thoughts: cougars stalk their prey … you never see them coming … they can run at speeds of 60-80 km/hr …

I suddenly wanted to turn around and go back, so I knew I had a decision to make. Was I going to turn back to the safety of my home and become a prisoner of my fears? or was I going to continue on my walk and remain free? After a few minutes of inner struggle, a small voice whispered “I will not be afraid.”

Was it possible there could be a cougar lurking in the area? Yes of course. Was it likely? Not really. I’d heard of cougar attacks on humans and the thought is horrific. (Note: after a bit of research I found there has been only one fatal attack in Alberta since 2000 and it was in the mountains.) I do not want to trivialize that terrible statistic, but how likely was it that it would happen to me, on this day, in this place? Not likely.

I went ahead and finished my walk that day, even taking a shortcut through the trees where a beautiful path winds its way to the lake. It wasn’t that I didn’t feel a tiny bit apprehensive (I did), but my bigger fear became how my world would shrink if I gave in!

Don’t let your fears distort your thoughts to the point they paralyze you …As I stood taking in the gorgeousness, I thought about other things that have scared me throughout life: plane crashes, illness, bear attacks, people attacks …

Our biggest fears are related to things that are difficult to predict (and I might add, control)
~Philosopher and Psychiatrist Damiaan Denys~

Later I decided to purchase bear spray and bear bells and I now carry them in a small backpack whenever I walk. It’s a small bit of reassurance and gives me a sense of having control … especially over my fears.

Does this mean I am never afraid? Of course not. Not ever being afraid is not possible. Our brains are hardwired to see threats everywhere, but I take steps to minimize wild imaginings, and move ahead despite the fear.

What to do in case of fear:

sit down with a cup of tea and write down your fears
analyze (what are the chances?)
prepare (carry bear spray)
trust (all will be well)
have faith (faith makes you feel strong)
stay quietly strong and repeat “I will not be afraid”
move forward

What are some of your fears, and how do you deal with them? I’d love to hear!

Simply leave a comment on this blog post by Thursday, August 31/2017 to become eligible to win one free copy of Field Guide to Everyday Magic.

*Please note: contest is open to U.S. residents. International participants are eligible to receive a free digital edition of Bella Grace. But wait! I also have a secret surprise of my own to send to a runner-up no matter where you live, and I know you’ll love it ;)

I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened
~Mark Twain~

Many thanks to Bella Grace Magazine for including me in this blog hop and for generously providing me with a copy of the guide for the contest.

Good luck everyone!

*DISCLAIMER:

This is simply a personal account. Do not attempt an activity of any kind based on this blog post. Exercise caution in all activities and do so at your own risk. Keeping With the Times does not accept responsibility for anything related to this story.

COMMENTS CLOSED! WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED MONDAY SEPTEMBER 4th!

15 Ideas to Help Make Your August Amazing

August 1, 2017 by Barb 34 Comments

Hello and good morning! As promised in my post of July 31st, I’ve compiled a list of 15 ideas to help make your August amazing . And because I’m going easy on myself this month, I decided to only come up with 15—as opposed to 31 (which would be my usual.)

Many of these I can hardly wait to accomplish, and some will be a bit of a challenge … as in the tent one (I may sleep in our new trailer instead ;)

15 Ideas to Help Make Your August Amazing

Buy bottles of bubbles and spend a morning photographing them as you blow them into the light! If you have children or grandchildren to help you … all the better! If not, just place your camera on a tripod, set the timer, and bubble away!
Visit greenhouses and shop for mid-season clearance items, or for new arrivals such as late summer coneflowers, huge pots of mums, and dazzling dahlias. I used to restrict my flower purchases to spring, but now stores like Home Depot are bringing in fresh pots (and ideas) daily.
Cut back flower pots that have become leggy and fertilize with a 15-15-30. My daughter gave me this tip, which she learned from a horticulturist at Lowes. This will give your plants a huge boost and make for an amazing last hurrah!
Visit U-Picks for fresh veggies, berries, and fruits … these days a person doesn’t have to have a garden to enjoy the bounty that surrounds us!
Shop local craft stores and/or attend markets (post coming soon)
Shop the ditches!! I’m surrounded by wildflowers that make the most amazing bouquets! We have tansy, fireweed, cow parsley, clover, purple vetch, chamomile, oxeye daisies, and grasses growing with wild abandon. Just a word of caution though—you might want to check a wildflower guide or search online to make sure it’s OK to pick a certain species. On my foraging adventures I also see wild orchids and tiger lilies and I am well aware they are not to be picked. Not only is it illegal, but it’s also just not right. Everything I pick is a “noxious weed”.
Make bouquets using only 3 items and sprinkle them around your house.
Have a picnic in your own back yard, on a blanket, under the trees. Gather up a few lighthearted books, and magazines, and a pillow (just in case.)
Sleep in a tent in your own back yard. Make it as comfortable possible (even drag a mattress outside if necessary ;)
If you’re in North America, mark this date: August 21/2017 to watch the solar eclipse! You might not be able to see the total eclipse, but even a partial eclipse will be amazing (and magical.)
Take social media breaks … not just for hours, but for days … gasp!! yes you can!!!
Switch up your photography style: if you do mostly still life, try capturing macros or landscapes or simply dreamy light. It takes the pressure off (if you put pressure on yourself :)
Make homemade ice cream (again, post coming soon) … this is life changing people ;)
Read a classic, but keep it simple. I picked up Classic Tales of Horror by Edgar Allen Poe and after reading one story, I found myself so intrigued I was searching online for answers … very stimulating. I’m still thinking about it.
Connect with someone you’ve lost touch with … it may change your life in positive ways you never dreamed possible.

So there you have it! My first of 4 (promised) posts for August.

I’m limping along here, but not giving up.

Why Would I Start a Blog?

May 28, 2017 by Barb 3 Comments

Why would I start a blog? What could I possibly have to offer that would be any different from the thousands upon thousands of other blogs out there in the world?

That’s a question I’m very happy I didn’t ask myself (in 2010) when I started this journey!

Turns out, there are many reasons to blog, but Keeping With the Times was born because I literally wanted to “keep with the times”. I hadn’t worked outside the home for many years and felt out of the loop. I wanted to learn how to do this mysterious blogging “thing” I’d been hearing so much about.The technical aspects of blogging, and dealing with an on-line world which is ever-changing, challenges and inspires me. I’ve learned the ins and outs of social media. I’ve studied other blogs, asked questions, and then tried things for myself. I knew I wanted to have great photos to post, so I purchased a DSLR and went from not knowing how to turn the thing on, to shooting in Manual mode.

Keeping With the Times is where I practice my mantra “learn something new, try something different” (convince yourself that you have no limits) a quote by Brian Tracy.

While I may not be convinced “that I have no limits“ I do know that I can learn something new, and I can try something different, and this has not only changed the way I look at life, it has changed the way I live life. Incredibly, having a blog has given me permission to take on all sorts of exciting new ventures.

Should I buy that new camera? Yes.
Should I take that photography/editing class? Yes!
Should I attend that amazing retreat? Yes, yes, and yes!

Now when I talk about my experiences, I like to tell people “so far, nothing has blown up” in other words, don’t be afraid to try something.

I’m reclusive, and a bit of a homebody, but after seven years of blogging I’ve become much more flexible. When I have to leave the comfort of my home, and the familiarity of my surroundings, I pack my computer, a few treasured inspirational books, and hit the road with a sense of adventure rather than fear.

An airport terminal, hotel lobby, or hotel room becomes my office. I grab a hot coffee, find a comfortable place to sit, and connect to the Internet.

Instantly, there’s my blog. It greets me like an old friend, and as I look over a few posts (there’s my beautiful garden, my lovely barnwood side table, that pot of lavender I couldn’t resist, and the yummy Rhubarb Strawberry Coffee Cake I made last summer), I’m filled with a sense of accomplishment and pride

I may decide to share a moment with my readers and take a “from where I stand shot.” My feet are in an airport, friends, and I can’t wait to show you where they’re going! It may be Toronto to attend Blissdom, a conference with my daughter, or Arizona where I’ll be meeting several blogging friends for the first time.

Or, perhaps it’s California to attend “Gather California” along with twelve beautiful souls from around the world!

Attending Gather California in November of 2014 changed my life in ways I never thought possible. In the company of like-minded people, I felt I was seen, heard, and validated, and let me tell you that is powerful. I made lifelong friends, forged strong connections, and broadened my horizons. To read more about my experience from Gather you might want to check out my post Why I Was Crying in the Shower

Starting and maintaining a blog is hard work … hard, but rewarding. I get up in the morning with new ideas spinning around in my head, eager to get out there and capture the perfect image to express my love of food, photography, blogging, and life. There isn’t enough time in my day to accomplish everything I’m dreaming about.

This is reason enough for me to blog. I do have something to offer the world. It may not be huge or earth shattering, but its mine, and I’m very passionate about it.

A big thank you and shout out to Emily and Stef at Makelight for encouraging us all to live our best lives and then to blog about it! I’ve enjoyed their blogging class more than I can say!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Be Fabulous, People!

May 5, 2017 by Barb 11 Comments

The other morning when I saw this quote, I felt it was really speaking to me:

Stay low, stay quiet, keep it simple, don’t expect too much, enjoy what you have
Dean Koontz

It was exactly how I was feeling as I set up my little tea-in-sunshine shoot …When we’re feeling hurt or vulnerable, staying low, quiet, and keeping it simple does have its merits. But … we mustn’t let it take hold. We mustn’t let it linger on too long.

Almost immediately my thoughts turned to Marianne Williamson and her “Course in Miracles” and I searched around for an anti-quote :)

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
Marianne Williamson

Today, my friends, go out and be fabulous!

If you liked this post, you might enjoy these inspirational posts:

♥

: Dealing With Distraction

: Plant Your Own Garden

: If I Waited

31 Creative Ideas to Inspire your Month of May

April 30, 2017 by Barb 7 Comments

Today I have a list of 31 creative ideas to inspire your month of May.

May is an exciting time for most of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Spring has arrived, the weather is warming up, and dreams of gardens and flowers are swirling around.

But … and it’s a big but … where I live, we can have frosts up until the end of May. If I dare put plants out before June, I can expect to be covering them or hauling them into the garage at least once and probably several times.

So what to do whilst waiting? Well, I came up with a list of things that could keep me busy and satisfied until the magic frost free-days arrive, and I thought I’d share it with you.

31 Creative Ideas to Inspire your Month of May

Visit greenhouses often and simply enjoy the ambiance. Don’t buy too much (or anything) before you can actually put plants outside safely. Exception: an herb pot…
… plant an herb pot ;) and keep it indoors until it can sit outside.
Clean debris from the garden, rototill, and make the edges as neat and straight as possible before the grass gets growing.
Plant spring bulbs (in the garden.)
Start spring bulbs indoors. This year I’ve started a few anemones, the really gorgeous colourful ones. They’re sitting on a sunny windowsill downstairs and I can’t wait to see what happens.
Wash and clean all garden pots so they’re ready when the weather is.
Set out garden ornaments.
Start a garden journal.
Attend gardening seminars or landscaping classes that may be offered in your area.
Purchase at least one great book on gardening. I have a series of gardening books that I refer to all the time by Lois Hole. They’re invaluable for my Zone 3a garden. I particularly love Perennial Favourites.
If you have rain barrels, clean and put them out. If you don’t have rain barrels, why don’t you?
Power wash your deck, veranda, garage pad.
Clean out closets and get rid of clothing you know you’re never going to wear!
Purchase a new outfit for spring/summer from a small store in your area (support local!)
Clean and put away all winter clothes, shoes, boots, mitts, scarves, hats. Like … see ya later eh!
Have a garage sale to clean out the clutter. At the end of the day have a give-a-way. Don’t take anything back into the house.
Make a flower press (before the garden gets growing.)
Sit in the sunshine. Just sit.
Unplug regularly. Perhaps even designate one social media-free day. Who knows what amazing things might happen …
Go on a road trip and make time to stop to take photos.
Take a friend or family member to lunch (preferably at a greenhouse :)
Walk, walk, walk. Just walk.
Wash windows. You just cannot beat that sparkly window feeling!
Buy a few new spring pillows and throws for your sofa.
Set up garden furniture and make repairs if necessary.
Make a wreath for your door. Gather twigs and add faux flowers. There are tons of ideas on Pinterest.
Fancy up some terra cotta pots using these ideas from Better Homes and Gardens.
If you have a mom, a grandma, or just know a mom … send them a Mother’s Day greeting.
Try a new salad recipe. Hopefully you’ll find a favourite combination of veggies and fruits you can use all summer (you might like to try my super simple Maple Walnut Salad Dressing.)
Clean your fridge, your stove, your barbeque … if you’d like some inspiring cleaning and organizing tips check my daughter’s blog here (it’s amazing!)
On rainy days or even snowy days, blog about what you’ve been up to.