May Musings

FEELING BLESSED...

Because... I got into nursing!!! I had actually been waitlisted for this upcoming fall, but just found out that a spot opened up for me. I've been walking (dancing?) on air the past few days. Nursing has been my dream for years, and it is finally becoming reality. God is so good. SO wonderfully good.

ENJOYING...

This beautiful spring weather.  I am done with winter. I've been going on many walks with my dog lately - the sunshine and abundance of flowers are glorious.

READING...

Finally! It's been so long since I've had the time to read like I do at the moment. I've just begun Edmund Campion by Evelyn Waugh. I'm also re-reading Anne of Green Gables. I find that every so often I get this desire to read L.M. Montgomery. Her books are just so... comforting.

DISCOVERING...

So many new things. I've met such interesting people the past few months and they've all made a profound impact on me, all in different ways. I seem to go through this dramatic change every so often, where my view of the world just changes... for the better, usually. And I just begin to see things in a new, different light. It's quite amazing actually. (I'll say it again - God is good.)

THANKFUL FOR...

My family. I'm realizing I only have so many more months left at home before I move into dorms, and I want to cherish this time we're having together. It's also the last summer my sister will be living at home (...see below!)
Also, I'm feeling truly thankful for this gap year I've been taking. I was quite hesitant to do it at first, but it really has been a wonderful year of growth.

EXCITED FOR...

My sister's wedding! Yes, my older sister, my only sibling, is engaged!!! I am so incredibly excited for her and her fiance. They will be married this December.

November Musings // and a new name

After months of trying to come up with an original new title for my blog, I've given up and have decided to revert back to the title of my first debut into the blogging world, from quite a few years ago: Knots of Thoughts. More and more lately I've been using this space to write on just that - my knots of thoughts. Writing has always been a form of therapy for me. It's a way of sorting out my jumbled mind into something more clear and coherent, and also a way of releasing those emotions that can sometimes get too intense for me to handle. This is why I have a personal diary. Sometimes, though, I feel the need to share these thoughts and emotions, which is why I also have this blog. And I don't only like to share my thoughts - I also love sharing little snippets of this beautiful life and world we live in, whether it's through photography or other little mementos of existence. I do not have many readers, but I do appreciate the few ones I have. Many thanks to you, dear readers, for your comments, your own wonderful blogs, and your friendship.

Now that I've announced this change, here is some of what I've been up to...

ENJOYING

This wonderful time of year. That glorious feeling when you step outside on a sunny day, being able to soak up that vitamin d, and yet still having to bundle up with boots and a scarf because of the oncoming winter chill.

READING

Ice Road by Gillian Slovo

An interesting novel, and full of Russian history that I admit I'm finding difficult to distinguish and keep track of. It is a good read however.

PLAYING

A bit of Grieg. I'm working on memorizing Notturno, op. 54, no.4. "Notturno" means "nightpiece," and my favourite thing about this work is that it brings you right into its setting. When I play it, I can actually hear the stillness of nighttime, the sounds of nature, and nocturnal animals at work.

LISTENING

To more podcasts. I'm finding it a great use of my time while driving or doing chores like raking leaves (the entirety of one side of our property is lined with maple trees, so you can imagine the amount of leaves there are to rake up...)

PONDERING

Something that was brought up in a Catholic Answers podcast I listened to recently. Which is greater: to love, or to be loved? Not disregarding the importance of the other, but the answer is that it is greater to be loved, for God loves us insurmountably. What a comfort that is. To know that you are always loved. Always cared for. No matter what you do.

August Musings

Busy, busy, busy. I always think my summer is going to be slow and relaxing, and that I'll be hanging out with friends and spending time at the little things I love, but that just never seems to be the case. Especially this summer. This has been the first where I've been working full time. Most of the time I'm helping at a small private ESL school, and once a week I'm a page at my local library. I enjoy working at both, but it is really hard to get up at 6:30 every morning. Almost painfully hard. But I really shouldn't be complaining, I'm so blessed to have these two wonderful jobs. As to the time that I am not working, here is some of what I've been up to...

HARVESTING

Dozens of buckets and bags full of our yard's apples and blackberries. We have so many this year that we can't even pick them all! Friends, family, come on over and help yourselves!

CREATING

Or rather, thinking of creating... I just bought a new mixed-media sketchbook, and I hope to spend more time on my weekends sketching and painting in it.

RELYING

So much on coffee. I have one cup every morning, maybe a bit more if I'm feeling particularly tired. It's my fuel for the day, and I have this terrible feeling that I'm becoming addicted...

DISCOVERING

That even though it's difficult for me to be working 9 hours a day, I like the steady schedule. I feel productive and motivated when I work this hard, and it is a good feeling.

READING

ABC Murders by Agatha Christie. I'm not entirely sure whether I like to read mystery stories or not - Agatha Christie's books are so good and so agonizingly suspenseful that I can't decide if the torture they put me through is truly worth it!

BEING
So beautifully content. Despite my complaints of being busy, I am actually having a truly wonderful summer, and am finding myself more and more content in life and in Him.

June Musings

OUTSIDE

Lilacs and roses are blooming everywhere, and their sweet scent blows in the wind. Our own garden looks like a picture at the moment, and bouquets of the flowers picked from it fill every room of the house. 

READING
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. I am thoroughly enjoying the book – it is quite entertaining and full of wisdom.

PLAYING
Lots and lots of Bach. His pieces are so satisfying to play, and I'm discovering them to be a great alternative of warming up the fingers to the boring, repetitive scales I've been playing for years.

LISTENING
To what I'm sure will be my Summer-go-to playlist. I've been slowly adding my favourite tunes to it over the past month or two, and I rather like it. It contains a lot of music by The Lumineers, Vance Joy, Kodaline, Hozier, Birdy, etc...

DISCOVERING
That I'm happiest on a strict schedule. I've always known this, but it hasn't been until this past year that I've been very good at following one. With a schedule, I get my work done, I have more time to spend on hobbies and other things, and I'm just plain happier in general. It also applies to my sleeping habits – I always do best with going to bed at 10:30 and getting up at 7:30. It's so easy to stay up too late, and I don't like sleeping in, so my days end up being very slow because I'm feeling tired and sluggish. Lately I've been triumphing over this struggle, and I am so much happier and relaxed because of it.

TRAVELLING 
From Montreal! My parents had to go there for work-related reasons, so I got to come along just for the fun of it. It was a pretty amazing week, despite having to work on my studies at the same time. Some of my highlights were visiting the incredible cathedrals that looked like they belonged in Europe, walking down the romantic cobblestoned streets of Old Montreal, and visiting St. Joseph's Oratory, founded by St. Brother Andre (patron of Canada).

STUDYING
(and almost getting fed up with) my chemistry course. It gets a little exhausting after you've done a couple hundred multiple choice questions in preparation for the final exam. But I have to do well in it if I am to fulfill my aspirations of becoming a nurse one day!

EATING
Lots of chef salads, full of good things like colourful veggies, boiled eggs, ham, and cheese. I've also been blending lots of smoothies. It has been so hot outside lately, and these foods are perfect for this weather.

Saint Joseph's Oratory, Montreal

May Musings

Life has been plodding along in a rather satisfactory and steady manner lately. Thankfully April didn't decide to live up to its name as far as weather goes - it has been quite lovely outside this past month. A little while ago I cleared out my closet, pulled out my Summer clothes, and have been enjoying being able to go outside with just a light summery dress on. 

READING

Just Send Me Word by Orlando Figgs.

A fascinating novel and true story about love and survival in the Russian Gulag.

PLAYING

A far bit of Domenico Scarlatti.

I am not too familiar with his music, but lately I've quite enjoyed sight-reading his sonatas.

THINKING

About what my summer will be like ... it will be quite the contrast from last year's summer since I will be working full time. 

I do hope I will have time to spend on art, though, something of which I've been neglecting lately.

COOKING

The most delicious red wine and garlic mushrooms sautèed in a pan. Recipe here.

GARDENING

My annual potted herbs that I harvest for tea. I love my little garden - I have four varieties of mint, lemon verbena, lemon balm, lavender, and a few more. I find gardening to be such a soothing hobby and it is so nice to have something to take care of and check up on every day.

DREAMING

About writing a novel. Dozens of ideas for a plot and characters have been popping into my head lately.

I've wanted to write a novel since I was a little girl, but it's just a matter of enough time to do it...

WALKING

Down to the beach almost every day. I hope I will always be able to live next to the ocean - it's basically been my back yard for as long as I can remember, and I just can't imagine it not being so.

March Musings

OUTSIDE

you can tell that spring is peeking just around the corner –

to see if winter has announced he's ready to retire,

and to decide as to whether or not she should begin to show her face...

READING

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis.

a thought-provoking, shorter piece of fiction. the last few chapters made me tear up...

CREATING

a landscape watercolour painting.

my art hasn't been enough of a priority lately - I am trying to make it more so.

LEARNING

that maturity & growing up comes with a lot of random light bulbs ... and burnt bulbs

STUDYING

still with pre-cal, chem and english

COOKING

much more frequently, and enjoying it.

I've been experimenting with different delicious dinner dishes lately.

LISTENING

to the album "The Chopin Project" by Olafur Arnalds

PONDERING

C.S. Lewis: "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less."

At This Present Time // December Musings

OUTSIDE
the air has taken on the familiar pale hue of winter, where nature's brighter colours have dimmed,
and everything seems more alert - or more defined - by a particular crispness that only winter knows...

READING

Pride and Prejudice ... finally.
I always knew I was a Jane Austin fan; ironically, I haven't read any of her books until now.
I'm also reading The Lamb's Supper. I recommend every Catholic read this to gain a deeper understanding & appreciation for the Mass!

CREATING

a crocheted table runner for my mother, and a stack of Christmas art cards for family & friends

THINKING

a lot about humility vs. pride
hmm ... new post soon?

LEARNING

Beethoven's Sonata in G minor, op. 49, no. 1

STUDYING

intensely with pre-cal & chemistry & english 12

BAKING
a stove-top cheesecake for my birthday on the 5th.
yes, I made my own birthday cake.

WATCHING

Star Wars, in preparation for the release of The Force Awakens this month!

LISTENING

Sibelius: piano works ... as well as my "Fall Tunes" playlist

PONDERING

the little way of St. Therese ... how to live more simply & with more dedication to everyday tasks

The last of the Autumn leaves are falling from the trees...

p.s. The idea for this post came from Gabrielle's post at Quietly Pondering Truth