Throwback Thursday - Fourteen Years Ago

I’m spending less time on Facebook these days, but I do like to pop in and check out my memories now and then. February 4, 2012 in Washington State felt like spring! Here’s what I posted to go with these photos.

What a wonderful day! Sunshine, time weeding the flowerbeds. Yes, weeding. It's been such a mild winter (well except for that crazy ice storm) that weeds have been growing. Bulbs are up, bees are buzzing, life is good.

We were both still working and life was busy. February 4 must have fallen on a weekend for us to be out puttering in the yard, because there was no time during the week. Thinking back on this day makes me remember the simple joy of caring for our yard and home, and serves as a reminder to be grateful for the slower-paced life we have now in retirement. It also makes me long for spring, but that will come in good time. In fact, when I got up this morning it was 5C outside! 

I’m rebooting this blog that I left for parts known and unknown in 2010, and look forward to reconnecting with bloggers I lost track of and making new connections. These days, you can also find me on my website and Substack.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Fun to be back and participating in linkups again. Thanks to Joyce at From This Side Of the Pond for hosting the Wednesday Hodgepodge questions. 

1. The Winter Olympics kick off on Friday, February 6th...on a scale of 1-10 how excited are you? (1= eh and 10=watching every event all day every day). What's your favorite Winter Olympic sporting event? 

It's a 1 for me. Hubby might tune in for some events and I might catch a tiny bit of the bug from him, but sports in general really aren’t my thing. Except the World Series when the Jays are in it or some Canadian hockey. 

2. In other sporting news, the Superbowl (American football's championship game) will be played on Sunday, February 8th. So tell us...what's your superpower?

I’m a die-hard introvert and unapologetic homebody. My superpower is the ability to remain content and creative at home for days upon days. I never get bored—there's always something to write or read or paint or create or, in a different season, to putter with in the garden. 

3. Are you a romantic? 

I wouldn't say so. As a rule, I’m far more practical. That said, when it comes to the glasses through which I view the world, I tend to don a rose-coloured most often. It’s still a beautiful world. 

4. Blue cheese-yay or nay? How about feta? If you said yes to one or both, what's a dish you like that calls for one of these? 

Yes and yes! I haven't had blue cheese for ages, but I'd enjoy it on a charcuterie board. We like feta on our salads and, I know it sounds strange, but a bit crumbled on top of a plate of spaghetti is delicious too.

5. What's more important-doing what you love or loving what you do? 

Hmmm....good question. Loving what you do can be largely a choice, don't you think? We choose our mindset and all that, right? So, I think my answer is that it's more important to do what you love when you have the opportunity. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'll just say that I've enjoyed hopping around blog land and visiting some nice folks lately, so thank you to all who write and share snippets of your day in these spaces.

Sunday Stealing - Old School

Stealing? On Sunday, of all days? Well, I never! 

It’s a great name for a link up and the questions are fun, so I’ll play. 😊 Linking up with Sunday Stealing on Tuesday, because why not?

I am passionate about:

1. Being a grandma. My granddaughter is the light of my life.

2. Coffee.

3. Words. Writing them. Reading them. Wrangling them into something creative.

4. Getting enough "alone time."

5. Minimizing clutter.

I’d like to learn:

1. To let things go.

2. To draw.

3. To paint what’s in my imagination.

4. To arrange art on my walls in a pleasing manner.

5. To be more comfortable in social situations. (Hmmm....maybe not really. There's something to be said for being content with you you are.)

Things I say a lot:

1. “It is what it is.”

2. “Lunch and a game?” Hubby and I play chess most days at lunchtime.

3. "What time is it?" Translation: is it too early to go to bed?

4. "I'll order it on Amazon."

5.  "I love you."

Places I’d like to travel to: (There’s a definite theme. We visited Great Britain many years ago, but I’d like to return for an extended time and immerse myself in the day-to-day.)

1. Scotland.

2. England.

3. Wales.

4. Ireland.

5. I traveled during my work years. These days, I'm mostly content to stay at home.

This was fun! I'm off to pop around the blog-o-sphere for a bit now.

I’m rebooting this blog that I left for parts known and unknown in 2010. (These days, you can also find me on my website and Substack.) Many of the bloggers I followed back then have left the blogosphere (waving at the ones who are still here). I look forward to reconnecting and making new connections.

Catching Up. Or An Introduction.

So, it's been a while. 

I've been tweaking the appearance of this space over the past few days. Here's what my bio in the sidebar looked like when I left in 2010.

A few things have changed. 

I retired from my corporate career in 2014 and my husband and I returned to the city we left in B.C., Canada when we moved to Washington state. At the end of 2022, we moved to the small city in Saskatchewan where I spent my childhood. 

I finally finished writing that adoptee memoir and since it came out have written and published two additional books. I'll put links to them somewhere here.

So, why here and why now? 

It's all become a bit much. Everything, really. The noise is deafening at times and I'm weary. Maybe you too? Enough about that.

I love the blog-o-sphere and have remained active in different spaces since I vacated My Own Velvet Room in 2010 for Wordpress, my own website and, recently, Substack. All good in their time and still serve a purpose but I'm returning here for something different. 

A space for informal no-pressure posts, connection, and a sanctuary from all that is "out there". This style of blogging has been that for me in the past and I trust it can be again. I'm looking forward to reconnecting and connecting and feasting on online spaces where life happens and sometimes it's hard, but we look past headlines to hearts, appreciate poets more than politicians, and still believe it's a beautiful world. 

Oh, and the name? Here's a link to the very first post I shared here in 2008 that explains it. I've since reread The Velvet Room before giving it to my granddaughter and loved it just as much as I did when I was a kid. 

Thank you for stopping by and joining me in this reboot.

With gratitude,

Linda

Moving Day

Over two years ago I moved into this cozy Velvet Room. Over the years I tweaked things here and there and made it my own. Along the way I have been blessed to have come into contact with a fantastic group of fellow bloggers and writers and friends. Thank you all for stopping by the Velvet Room whether you were a regular or occasional visitor, I have appreciated you greatly.

Sometimes, when one looks ahead to future plans and goals, they come to the realization that their abode is not quite going to do what they need it to for them. And today, dear friends, that is the case with me.

Over the past while I have been packing and moving to a new home. Well, it's not technically new because what I am doing is combining My Own Velvet Room, Arms of Adoption and my writer website into one brand new home.

I hope you stop by my new home at A Slice of Lifewriting. C'mon over and leave a comment to let me know you've arrived! And don't forget to become a follower; I don't want to lose anyone in the move!

With warm hugs and thanks,