What We Need Is Here

Monday wondering

WONDER: A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

Mr. Money Moustache - not for everyone, but he's got a point: "The latte is just the foamy figurehead of an entire spectrum of sloppy “I deserve it” luxury spending that consumes most of our gross domestic product these days. Among my favorite targets: commuting to an office job in an F-150 pickup truck, anything involving a drive-through, paying $100 per month for the privilege of wasting four hours a night watching cable TV and the whole yoga industry. There are better, and free, ways to meet these needs, but everyone always chooses the expensive ones and then complains that life is hard these days."

Ten Best Marriage Vows You Never Hear - "it's a little tougher to promise "in fatness and in emaciation, even if my mother hates you" than it is to promise "in joy and in sorrow, forsaking all others." But which is really braver, and what promise more meaningful?"

Dads are the Original Hipsters - find your dad (or your husband)! 

7 Things You Can Make Instead of Buy - if you decide to take Mr. Money Moustache seriously. 

It's My Life What Ever I Wanna Do - The sincerity of this guy, the expression on the back-up singers' face, the enthusiasm of those recording it. 

{image: from Dads are the Original Hipsters Tumblr}

Monday wondering

 

WONDER: A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

The inspiration and cost of opting out vs. leaning in. I hope this is not going to be a new version of the "mommy wars" that were raging when I was a young mother. 

The life of Bill Clinton - a historical perspective on a contemporary president. So interesting to see his complicated self congealing as a historical figure. 

Snap judgment - a podcast I just discovered, "story-telling with a beat." I loved "The Other Side." 

Earth Teach Me - wonderful local blog with amazing photos and stories of wild things thriving in North Central Florida. It's great for identifying and naming some of the wildlife you share your space with. 

Forage - Local farm and center for educating and inspiring people to value healthy food, land, and community. 

{image: Melissa and Anna of Forage Farm}

Monday wondering

WONDER: A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

The next time you see someone in a Ferrari, think "this is someone who is incredibly vulnerable and in need of love"- Alain de Botton's "Kinder, gentler philosophy of success."

 Walking as a creative device. "If you are ever bored, or blue, stand on a street corner for half an hour"-

Here you go: Literary Jukebox - A daily quote from a favorite book, thematically matched with a song. Another thing to thank Maria Popova for. 

I dread the upcoming heat and humidity of North Central Florida, but the idea of reverse graffiti on mildewed walls and sidewalks is buoying me a little. 

Silver: A State of Mind. These lovely gray-haired women make the future look bright. 

{Image: Graffoto.co.uk}

Monday wondering

WONDER: A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

18 obsolete words which should never have gone out of style.

The School of Life. 

Before I die - a community art project.  

It's okay to want to go off on your own sometimes. 

Recovering my religion - change one little thing, and you've got a whole new song. Really, the strangest thing I encountered all week. 

Monday wondering

WONDER: A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

Smart girls! For all ages. 

Children and their "most prized possession" from around the world.

Multi-use furniture for tiny homes - Your grandma's "Castro Convertibles" for the 21st century. 

Downsizing is in. 

Empathy - in hospitals, on the street, everywhere. 

Monday wondering

WONDER: A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

Makers: Women Who Make America. This documetary is interesting, informative, shocking and hopeful. Celebrate Women's History Month and watch it!

I get Brain Pickings in my inbox every Sunday and I could spend all day working myself through it. 

A scientist friend of mine has always said that white sugar is so toxic, it would never have been able to pass the FDA. Apparently this is true. Now what? Mark Bittman has the scoop. 

Leo Baubata's advice to his kids is beautiful. 

A sweet friend who eats breakfast here gave us a cd to listen to on a recent trip up to Georgia. He thought I would like Diana Krall. I do. 

{Image: Billie Jean King, winner of the "Battle of the Sexes" and champion for social change and equality}

Monday wondering

WONDER: A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

Bill McKibben - Hypocricy redefined for the age of warming. 

This project seeks to reconnect disconnected people to nature and nutrition.  

I am so proud to know some of these people. They have been changing the lives of the hard-working men and women who literally put food on our tables. Publix, get on board! 

A lifetime of art.

My mom didn't dance like either of these two. 

{Image: A member of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers on the way to Publix headquarters}

Monday wondering

WONDER: A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

We alwas knew having children messed with our head. Here is the scientific proof. 

Laura Ingalls Wilder accompanied me through childhood all the way through my thirties when I read them to my kids. This all seemed so familiar to me - like a family album (and it explains why I believe men should have beards...). 

The latest from Google scares me a little, but it's kind of amazing. 

From "The Cloud Appreciation Society" - The Cloud Collector's Reference. 

Try not to laugh. 

{photo: from this piece on Little House in the Big Woods. Do read it if you loved that book. It's a lovely adult take on a story that touched so many of us.}

 

Monday wondering

WONDER: A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

Super-Hero window-washers! What a magical thing to do for hospitalized children. 

We could all take a page from Ben Franklin's notebook.

And here's another take on how to get a good start on your day. 

I hope these "sketch-notes" might inspire you to listen to this interview with an amazing Chicagoan-Palestinian-Muslim man. 

This song has been in my head since before Christmas. It's not a bad thing to have in there. 

Monday wondering

WONDER: A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.

Skating by Sound. Blind from cancer at the age of two, skating since he was ten. This will make your day.

50 Life Hacks.

get∙unstuck. Unplug for one day each week.

Good books for little girls (and their families). How many have you read?

First steps toward fixing our broken food system - by famous foodie Mark Bittman. 

{photo: Outside Ledigo - Camino de Santiago}