Newlings

I mentioned in my last post how I have added to my plant family. I absolutely love plants. 

Back in 2023 I had a few plants. A snake plant, 2 ivys and many pothos. I also was growing a lot of herbs and veggies to plant in the garden. There was a tragedy in the house and within the week most of my plants had died.  The only things to survive was my snake plant and the pothos growing out of my fish tank. I don't know why they died but they did. Since then I haven't even bothered looking in the direction of plants. 

My snake plants babies

So now a few years later I am stepping back into being a plant mom. Even going so far as to attempt rescues.

So below is my new collection of lovelies.

Marble Queen Pothos

Dumb Cane

Thai Constellation Monstera

Monstera deliciosa

Peacock Plant Calathea

Beauty Star Calathea

Medallion Calathea (I think)

Prayer plant

Pink Aglaonema

Fancy Philodendron (Silver Sword Possibly)

Monstera Adansonii

White Wizard Philodendron a.k.a. Gandalf

Krimson Queen Hoya

Pink Fittonia

Here are the rescues.

Mini monstera 

Medallion calathea #2 

Thai constellation monstera #2 

A "Fancy Philodendron" 

White Anthurium 

Purple orchid 

Chinese evergreen mislabeled as a Monstera 

Rattlesnake calathea 

Peace Lily 

Pink princess philodendron 

Rose painted calathea 

A zz plant 

White Knight Philodendron

White Wizard Philodendron #2

Monstera Deliciosa #2

Birken Philodendron

I will post their update next week with before and afters. I hope everyone can find something in their life that brings them as much peace and happiness as these little green babies bring me. 

https://more-than-words-3.creator-spring.com/listing/proud-plant-parent-2025

 Summer livin'

In my last post I talked about how freeing it was to step away from social media. So even though I'm back a little I am still spending most of my time off of it. There was so much of my time wasted on it. Since I have time, time do do things I want and need to do. I have cleaned more, read more. I even have worked a little on my novel. I added more plants to my plant family. That's for another post. Lately though, I have put alot of work into improving my home.

Here is some of the things I have done the last few months.

I hung a few wind chimes and a bird house.

Early May I built a retaining wall for a large patio and this smaller patio for our griddle.

Mother's day I built this gate by myself as a surprise for my husband. Our old one was falling apart. My kids helped me move and hang it and my husband got home just in time to help with the final details.

After mother's day I cleaned up my front garden and planted new flowers. (I need to clean it up again.)

May 18 I leveled and packed down the dirt and layed the weed barrier for the larger patio and started laying sand and brick.

May 21 I finished the large patio

May 22 built our patio set.

May 23 my 3rd child graduated from high school. 

This weekend of June 14 I had my very first garage sale. I also cleaned out my garage, and cleaned up my front patio.

June 15 I set up my husband's new smoker that we got him for father's day and smoked him some ribs and brisket.

There is still sooo much to do. I hear the sun calling my name as I sit here. You should get out in the sun and do things that make you happy. Enjoy some summer livin'

https://more-than-words-3.creator-spring.com/listing/summer-lovin-june-2025

Poppy picture credit to Umkreisel-App on Pixabay.com https://pixabay.com/photos/poppies-meadow-summer-nature-red-3422252/

The Break

The Break

Between January and April this year I took a break from social media. I deleted my Facebook, messenger and Instagram. I didn't open Tiktok. I only used Pinterest and Youtube for knowledge and inspiration. 

I initially left because of frustrations over the possible banning of Tiktok. I later came to realize I was being influenced to feel this way or that about so many things in my life. I took the step back not realizing the profound impact it would have in me and my mental health. It was hard at first as does breaking any habit. I like so many people look at the influencers on their screen as friends in life. Quitting social media felt like I had moved away from people I'd seen everyday and it felt like I wouldn't see them ever again. It was sad and heavy. I lost the biggest source contact and communication with my own family and friends. I felt so isolated and disconnected. 

Isolation and disconnection was exactly what I needed to find myself. Find who I am, figure out how I really feel about things in life, my own thoughts and opinions. The last few years I  have found myself analyzing, dissecting, and deconstructing the beliefs and ways I was brought up with, to now only realize I was accepting other peoples ideas and beliefs as my own again, but as an adult. I couldn't see it until I took a step back.

Stepping back from social media also opened up my day. No more doom scrolling or being attached to my phone 24/7. I was a slave to watching my favorite creators, responding to comments, making and posting videos, etc. Not anymore. My daily anxiety lessened so much. I have so much less daily guilt and self shaming. I found myself having time to do the things I always gave myself crap for not making time for, like writing my book or drawing and painting. I have been reading more. I do have a full and complex life but it feels easy and calmer.

I have managed to find myself again, and do things I'd want to do. I encourage anyone and everyone to do this for themselves. Disconnect from the narrative of other people, and their thought, their beliefs, and their drama. Life is meant to be lived. Not idly scrolled through. Disconnect.

Photo credit to JillWellington Pixabay.com 

https://pixabay.com/photos/new-year-background-woman-silhouette-570883/