Sunday, March 29, 2020

How To Look For Joyful Things Each Day In Isolation

How To Find Joy In Isolation


Hello Everyone! Here's hoping that you are well and, like me, finding ways to have a little joy in the everyday. These are such trying times for all of us. I know for myself, I'm starting to go a little bit stir crazy with staying home and washing my hands and wondering about potential trips to the grocery store. What can I say? I'm trying to stay positive and thought I would share a few things that are joyful at my house right now. 


Like these pretty pansies blooming on the back porch. I love the purple color with a little yellow in the center. These lovelies are definitely cheering. We have finally gotten some sunshine and warmer temps and that has made our back porch more of an outdoor room to enjoy. Another joyful thing!


And, how joyful are clean windows? I decided to start some Spring cleaning of the windows and, so far, it has been a success. I used a solution of white vinegar and Dawn dish detergent and scrubbed the windows with a cloth and then wiped with a paper towel for drying. Sparkling clean!



The Japanese Maple tree and the Azalea plants are in bud and soon we will have beautiful blooms. That is definitely joyful and a sure sign of Springtime!


One of my sisters sent me packets of seeds and I'm experimenting with her advice to create indoor miniature greenhouses to start the seedlings. I do not have a green thumb at all with gardens but I'm giving it a try. If the seedlings come up I want to plant the tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and carrots in four outdoor containers on our back porch. Then, at that point, I will need to protect the plants from marauders such as squirrels, deer, bears, birds and raccoons. For now, though, it's a joyful thing to come into the dining room and look at my little greenhouses and dream of delicious veggies that I grow myself!


And, finally, what could be more joyful than these two furry love bugs?!  Here, you see them pursuing their favorite hobby together....squirrel and bird watching!  They mostly make me smile...when they aren't fighting or getting into something!

So, that's my dose of joyful things for today. I'll be honest that I had to really work at finding joy today.  Perhaps you are having moments of struggling, also. Here is a scripture that offers me, and I hope you, comfort and encouragement:

"When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul."  Psalm 94:19

I'll be back soon with another post. I plan to shop my closet for a fashion post and look forward to sharing that with you. Take good care!

Until Next Time,
Debbie


3 comments:

Sharon said...

Thank you for sharing things that bring you joy during this challenging time. Just the pictures of those things made a difference to me this morning.

Karen Anderson said...

Love the pictures of your flowers and you kitties! Your posts are uplifting and that is so good to see with all the gloom and doom we are exposed to daily. I went out with my sister after a doctor's appointment today, stopped for coffee at our favorite local place, and even though it was drive up, it was wonderful to be out and doing something fun! They still bake every day so we took advantage of that too!! Wonderful Italian pastries! I do go grocery shopping like I normally did, trying to keep up with as much as possible and definitely staying positive and trusting God, who is in control of everything, all the time. Now all we need is some nice weather, which as of yet has been elusive. We've got about another month of this dreary stuff, but at least the daffodils started blooming this weekend!

Fashion Schlub said...

I know I'm the outlier when I say I LOVE LIVING IN ISOLATION! WORK FROM HOME! NO SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS! I'm happy as a clam. Soon enough I will be forced back out into the world with the people and the anxiety and all the THINGS. But I'm enjoying right now while I can.

I'm also enjoying your happy little pansy faces! I keep meaning to drive by the garden center to see if they're open. I think they probably are, something about essential agriculture...

Hang in there, Debie, this will be over before you know it!

Bettye
https://fashionschlub.com