Friday’s Fave Five - February 6, 2026

It’s been a while since I participated in Friday’s Fave Five, and I appreciate the opportunity to pick up a habit that helps maintain a focus on gratitude and good things. 

Fresh flowers. I got out of the habit of keeping fresh flowers on the dining table, in part, because our chess board claimed the centre spot since we play most days. It’s not a big deal to put the board away and set it up at lunchtime when we usually play, so it’s been banished in favour of a vase of flowers. This week, it’s tulips. 

February 4, 2025

February 4, 2026

The weather. Things looked a little different around here last year at this time when we were in the middle of, what seemed like, a neverending winter. Today, there's barely any snow in our front yard and the temperatures are above freezing. Not sure what the lack of precipitation will mean for the farmers this year, but, at this point, I'm not complaining.

Family, and a trip away. I arrived in Kamloops late (so, so, very late) yesterday to visit our daughter and granddaughter for a few days. What a joy. I’m staying in a hotel, as they don’t have room for an overnight guest at this time, so it’s also a bit of a retreat time for me. Double the blessing. I’m sure the events of the next few days will make it onto next weeks fave five list. 😊 (The trip itself with a late first flight, resulting in a missed connection, and 10 1/2 hour layover in Calgary was something of a nightmare, but all’s well that ends well.)

A good night’s sleep. Call it seasonal depression, an overactive mind, or succumbing to the stresses of life, I’ve spent too many nights laying awake with my mind racing lately. I think I’ve turned the corner, at least I enjoyed sleeping through the night enough times this week that it’s no longer a surprise when I wake up in the morning.

DIY skincare. I’ve used a face moisturizing product I order from the U.S. for quite some time. It lasts a long time—I purchased the container of product that’s about to run out in April 2024. It’s 100% natural, but expensive and not available to purchase in Canada (and we’re all about spending our money at home these days). Shipping and the exchange rate would add to the cost, too. I did some investigating and found I can make something with most of the same ingredients (shea butter, beeswax, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil) for a fraction of what I would pay for this product. I made a batch, and think it’ll do the trick!

I’m rebooting this blog that I left for parts known and unknown in 2010 when I combined three blogs into one on my website. I look forward to reconnecting here and making new connections. You.can also find me on my website and Substack.

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