Hard Times

Dickens wrote, "The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again."  This is just one of the inspiring quotes found at this link of twenty beautiful quotes by Charles Dickens on kindness and gratitude at Goalcast.com. We are reminded of so much we are grateful for in these times and at this season. And it has been so wonderful to hear from old friends over the last few days of blogging. So many of us feeling and experiencing the same things. 

 It's been good therapy to put a little post together too. I was lucky enough to find these adorable little flower pot napkin rings at a thrift shop long ago. I only learned later that they were originally from Pottery Barn. They are my favorite for spring. I'm a big proponent of "use what you have." Probably more because I get attached to things than because of being frugal. But lets face it. If you are a collector like I am you already have plenty to choose from.

These sweet bunny plates get so much attention whenever I post them. They are from a long past season by Magenta and sometimes turn up on Etsy or Ebay. I really enjoy them at Easter or other special occasions. Who doesn't love a dressed up bunny? And the lettering takes them over the top.

I use my everyday things for every different holiday, only dressing things up with accessories like flowers, cards, and natural elements found right outside and which change with the seasons. I already take up so much storage with china and linens that not much room is left over for strictly seasonal decorations! I did a big purge of a lot of Christmas decor this year and I'm so glad.

For a while, at least for now, we can follow the old adage:

Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
or Do without.

 Calvin Coolidge was quoted as saying “Eat it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without” (Later, the phrase became more popular with, “Use it up.”)

Here's a great link from My Joy Filled Life of forty ways to do just that.

If you're looking for something of substance to read this week, try Hard Times by Dickens. It's free to read online in its entirety by the Project Gutenberg at this link. Maybe you want to just take a peek at it. It's the shortest Dickens novel which he wrote in his own hard times. Sales of his weekly periodical were low, and he hoped this novel, released in installments, would increase circulation. And it worked! A synopsis is found at goodreads here.

Ruskin said that "Hard Times should be studied with close and earnest care by persons interested in social questions."

  There are also interesting quotes from Hard Times on goodreads at this link like the following:

“Do the wise thing and the kind thing too, and make the best of us and not the worst.”

― Charles Dickens, Hard Times

So here we all are just trying to make the best of things. 

The best of us. By being home.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Jacqueline

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