Reflections on midlife living, a new book, and everyday inspiration in this week’s Monday Musings on Pinecones & Acorns.
Monday Musings
In today’s Monday Musings, I’m sharing a few reflections from the weekend—things I’ve been thinking about, reading, and noticing in this season of midlife.
This post is part of my ongoing series where I share reflections on midlife, books, and intentional living.
I’ve been thinking this week as I make some changes to the blog and lean in to midlife, about the old days of blogging. Do you remember them? Did you read blogs 10-15 years ago?
In the good old days every site had a side bar where you could discover the latest from new and old bloggers. It was a community and you supported, rooted, became friends if only from the page and followed the ups and downs of life. If you were lucky enough to meet at a retreat or a conference more often than not these writers became a part of your life, you may have traveled together, meet up for coffee, lunch and even became friends in real life.
Some of that is lost now because blogging is different, it’s a job, a business and it keeps the lights on as they say. But if you look the community is still here.
I was reminded of the friendship aspect this week, as I and many others sent messages and prayed for a longtime blog friend as her husband prepared to leave this world. I cried the day she let me know that her beloved husband of 62 years passed. It was as if I had lost a member of my own family even though I Â had never met her in real life or her husband. But over the years we have shared books, adventures and so much more through snail mail and of course online.
All of this is to say that behind these screens are real people, living life, having good days and bad so please be kind.
Olympic Closing Ceremony
Sunday was the end of the biggest Winter Olympics ever, 2880 athletes, from 92 countries. Twelve gold medals, the most ever for the USA at the Winter Olympics, including women and mens hockey! Were you up early to watch the game?
I think Italy hosted an amazing 14 days of events. Of course my favorite was the Opening and Closing ceremonies, especially the closing in Verona where I have walked the same steps of the athletes while visiting that very ampatheter. Which by the way is the setting for Romeo & Juliet, not the amphitheater but the town.
As an opera lover I loved Verdis’ La Traviata, and the ballet and modern dance was so beautiful. Did you know the costumes were made from recycled materials?It was a beautiful end to 2 weeks of excitement.
Now, on to 5 things.
Read~The Phoenix Crown by
San Francisco, 1906. In a city bustling with newly minted millionaires and scheming upstarts, two very different women hope to change their fortunes in this compelling historical fiction: Gemma, a golden-haired, silver-voiced soprano whose career desperately needs rekindling, and Suling, a petite and resolute Chinatown embroideress who is determined to escape an arranged marriage. Their paths cross when they are drawn into the orbit of Henry Thornton, a charming railroad magnate whose extraordinary collection of Chinese antiques includes the fabled Phoenix Crown, a legendary relic of Beijing’s fallen Summer Palace.
His patronage offers Gemma and Suling the chance of a lifetime, but their lives are thrown into turmoil when a devastating earthquake rips San Francisco apart and Thornton disappears, leaving behind a web of secrets and lies reaching further than anyone could have imagined . . . until the Phoenix Crown reappears five years later at a sumptuous Paris costume ball, drawing Gemma and Suling together as unlikely allies in one last desperate quest for justice.
Watched~Butter Tea
LINKS: READ+WATCH+LISTEN
Eric Dane’s 14 Best Scenes in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Show Why We’ll Always Miss Him
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Bessette Soundtrack
Why Writing by Hand is Better for Your Brain
Why You Don’t Need a Detox to Reset Your Body
Ford is fighting against physics to build affordable EVs
What will happen to Trump’s tariffs after supreme court verdict?
What’s behind your eye watering electric bill?
Why more and more single women are choosing to stay single
AI Slop Is Destroying the Internet. These Are the People Fighting to Save It
Have you been following Punch the monkey? The baby orangutang who was rejected by his mother and given an Ikea stuffed monkey for company? The monkey has sold out at Ikea and is being sold on eBay and other sites from extorciniate prices. As for the little monkey, as of yesterday an older monkey had befriended him! Hopefully this means he will now be part of the pack
SHOPPING BREAK~Outfit of the Week
Pull out your classics this Spring, and then add a little bling. This week I paired wide leg jeans with a cardigan sweater over a blue Oxford shirt with a jeweled color, then added loafers, but you could wear ballet flats too. A bag and a spritz of your favorite perfume and you are ready for the day.
The shirt is a fun addition to your spring wardrobe and adds just a little sparkle, you don’t even need jewelry. It’s casual but a little dressy, and its layers of classic pieces that you probably already have.
Shop the Post
You can see more outfit ideas at the bottom of the page or visit MyShop, be sure to sign up to see more clothing, books, style, decor and skincare.Â
In Case You Missed It~Weekend Meanderings
This weekend Juliet, Kim and I shared all of the things that piqued our interest and caught our eye, I shared Girl Scout Cookies, Casa Fornasetti, Vanessa Perdriau, and more on Weekend Meanderings.
That’s All for Now
I hope that you enjoyed my Monday Musings and that you have an amazing day. Take care of yourselves friends, it’s going to be a stormy day for many on the East Coast.
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Elizebeth! I loved the closing ceremony too. The backdrops for the entire games were magnificent. Delighted to hear adorable Punch has made a friend. xo
Hi Elizabeth,
I love your pic About Me, you are so pretty, I understand about feeling awkward maybe about having your picture taken.
I’m sorry to hear of your blog friend’s beloved husband’s passing. Sixty years of marriage is a long time. You get a good feel of what a person is like by visiting with them even on-line.
We watched the Olympics and LOVED everything we saw. With our time being committed during the Olympics it would had been nice to had seen more. Alysa Liu was incredible, personality plus. I liked that she was herself with her unique hair color and who she is as a person. Lots of self-confidence for a lady of her age. Kaori Sakamoto, and
Ami Nakai were outstanding as well too. All the Olympians that were at the Olympics deserved accomplishment just for being there. Elizaeth I wanted to let you know I’m having the same issue responding to your blog on my iPhone not just to you but other blog friends. My new iPhone just takes all my text away. It’s so frustrating. I do like responding to you but it looks like I have to do that now only on my desk top computer. I can respond to friends email and send text to their emails.
It’s so strange. I have a 16E, my husband insisted it was time to upgrade. He has had issues with his 16-it’s the upgraded one to my E.
Take care. Hope all is well in your family.
I missed the Opening, but loved the Closing Ceremony. It was so beautiful. The Milan Cathedral caught my eye every time it appeared on the screen. Magnificent!
Hello Elizabeth,
I’m looking forward to watching the opening and closing ceremonies. I kept saying I’m surprised Italy managed to pull it off (they are notorious when it comes to red tape) I have Italian heritage and well aware how hard it is when you need to get something official completed. Re blogs it is funny how you feel you know the people behind the blog. When there was the avalanche in Tahoe, I said to my daughter I hope Kim wasn’t there with her family.
Rita, that is exactly what I said to myself, I “hope Kim” is not up at her cabin. The situation is heartbreaking for the 8 families who lost their mothers, daughters, sisters, etc. The Olympics were amazing, as for the red tape I have heard terrible things about that!
I hope that you have an amazing day!