The gift of rain came this week and last, and oh, how I just reveled in every moment. Even when I awoke in the middle of the night to take one of my pups outside, I did not mind as I lay in bed just listening to the rain steadily fall and gradually drifted back to sleep. Knowing the rainy season in Bend is quite short, I am
savoring it each time it happens understanding that the seasons will change and the warmth will come, but it is because of the rain that things will grow beautifully as we move into summer.
I was keeping this equation in mind as I attempted to put up sets of exterior porch lights yesterday afternoon. While I have been able to put up interior lights in my house and past houses as well without a problem, I did my best to install my new exterior lights that would, it is my hope, create a more cottage aesthetic rather than a
modern industrial look that is created with the canned, recessed lights at the moment.
Well, it was not to be. My contractor kindly came yesterday evening to see if he could easily make them installable, but it turns out they will require significant adjustment beyond what we could do without parts. Oh well. I tried. And my patience continues to be strengthened. However, what I am soaking up this spring with all of
my time at home is knowing how I want to live in my home, and over the past now-going-on three months I am very clear about the details of my living spaces.
I am confident about the type of lighting I want, for instance on my porch so I can sit outdoors in the morning and evening comfortable without having a spotlight above me. And even though I realize now I will have to wait for my contractor to install them, at least I know they can be installed, I have what I want to be
installed and they will be installed well.
Similarly to the short rainy season in Bend: It is what will enable the June blooms to be in abundance and the new plants to grow strong. While we do not know when the rain will end and when the full summer season will begin, we do know it will, just as I do know my contractor will eventually tend to all of my customization projects
that I cannot. The wait time is actually short in comparison to how short of a time I have lived in my home so far and how long I hope to live here. Keeping everything in perspective helps, and the time to come to clear decisions is helpful as well as it ensures I am confident with my decisions and investments of time and money.
So instead of feeling frustrated that I cannot install my lights on my home, I am savoring the opportunity to have the time to know what I want, so that when it all comes together I will be pleased with no
regrets.
What has not yet happened in your life yet that you are looking forward to materializing? What is it that you are able to do now that will help strengthen the outcome of that long-desired goal? Savor this time, make the most of it, and remind yourself that with determination, clear focus and patience, it will eventually be as you
hope, just maybe not on your exact time schedule. Have confidence, and hang in there.
And now to this week's newsletter - the week that is British Week on TSLL. For an entire year I have been picking up ideas of what I wanted to focus on for the second annual celebration of all things British, and before last year's celebration was even over, I knew I wanted to include Beatrix Potter. As you will see in one post this
week, Potter's biography is the focus and inspiration. Knowing Beatrix Potter was going to play a role, I knew gardening should as well, and as life goes serendipitously sometimes, I stumbled into more gardening than I could have imagined as well as wallpapering with the purchase of my new home. All of these subjects are part of post topics this week, and do remember that the week is not over yet. In fact, the biggest giveaway of the week will be announced in fewer than 12 hours on the blog
and only run for 12 hours, so you do not want to miss your chance to enter.
As a newsletter subscriber I will let you know what it will be. Yep, if you were hoping it would be the same as last year's Grand Giveaway, you are in luck. One lucky TSLL reader will win a Fortnum & Mason's hamper full of goodies. So DO NOT forget to stop by this Friday afternoon (later today!) through Saturday
morning to enter. There will also be two more posts on Saturday and the round-up post Sunday morning announcing all of the winners.
For everyone who has already stopped by the blog this week, shared their Favorite Cuppa moment on IG (there are so many and they each are unique, lovely and a joy to look at - check them all out in IG Stories - British Week '20 in Highlights), said hello, or simply just took time to peruse all of the posts and slip away to
Britain for a while, thank you. And if you just now are sitting down to enjoy TSLL's British Week, I do hope you enjoy. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, and until next week, I will see you on the blog. Cheers!
~Shannon
P.S. Look just below. The giveaway I promised would be available ONLY to you, weekly newsletter subscribers is shared. Be sure to read how to enter and good luck!
