Simply. Lovely.

Even though it is still cold, I can see Spring coming in the way the sun's rays are casting different shadows than they did even a few weeks ago. Even a 10 degree day doesn't feel as cold at the end of January as it does in November, because the promise of Spring is so much closer now.

The simplicity of a winter shadow started me thinking about the voluntary simplicity I chose for my life when my daughter was born. I am really a very shy and private person, so sharing deeply meaningful parts of myself on this blog is not easy. But it has helped me focus again, to see why I made the decisions I did, and it continues to help me see where I should go from here.

This last year hasn't been easy, with me going through a difficult recovery after my hysterectomy, menopause, and having two teenagers to slowly prod out of the nest or pull back in, depending on the day. But having chosen motherhood over a career was never difficult, even when it was an unpopular one in this community where we live. It was right for our family, to live simply and frugally - we always had plenty of what we needed. As if the Universe was saying, "Yes, you are doing the right thing. Keep going!" we always had exactly what we needed when we needed it.

This last weekend was simply lovely, although not what I had planned. It was better. I had hoped to be creative in an artistic sense, but instead I had the opportunity to connect with my son, who has been distant and difficult to reach for the last 3 years. It was lovely! We, the four of us, had a weekend together like we hadn't had in years, just being together and talking around the kitchen table over homemade meals. It was cold outside, but inside it was homey and cosy and simply lovely.

I didn't get my turn at the old, slow 1998 computer we all share, but I had the chance to look through old pre-digital photos instead and found a few I'd like to show here. Several years ago, when gas prices were still significantly lower, we took an old-fashioned family road-trip to Colorado and New Mexico. I had never been to New Mexico and fell instantly in love with the simplicity of the architecture and absolutely everything else about the place.

Taos was small and full of art and history, and the slower pace of everything there really appealed to me.

Everywhere we went in New Mexico there were simple, lovely little corners to discover and explore.

The shrines and churches were functional pieces of art.

The lovely doorways of Santa Fe

and the many shops and galleries were a feast for the eyes. The colors and textures of everything were made more vibrant in the fabled New Mexico sunshine. I can see why artists since the time of Georgia O'Keefe's youth have flocked here to paint and live.

As I was rediscovering these photos, I came across this one. . .

My daughter's beloved Teddy. She took him with her everywhere for years when she was a little girl. Those two had some fine adventures together. Here Teddy is, tucked into a niche in our hotel in Santa Fe.

In the last few years there have been a few occasions when my children have told me how their old-fashioned, more simple upbringing helped them to use their imaginations in ways few children do anymore these days.

Whenever possible, they were outside, exploring the little wooded area behind our house, digging in the dirt, discovering bugs and worms and mud. Listening to the wind in the trees. Seeing pictures in the clouds. Daydreaming.

When they were inside, they had so many books to look through and read. They had simple building toys. They had educational TV.

When they hug me and tell me that this was, after all, a fine way to grow up, it's simply lovely.

And it's more than enough for me. :)