First, a quick note to say thank you for all the support and encouragement about moving the newsletter to Substack last week. I can’t wait to create and share so much more in this exciting space. Lots of good things coming soon!
Now on with it the Friday Digest!
Here’s a question. When was the last time you did nothing? And I mean nothing.
No music
No TV
No scrolling
No meditation
No walking
No napping
No folding laundry
No sipping tea
No tidying up
No reading
No consuming
No “thing” at all.
Before Wednesday night I couldn’t tell you when the last time I did nothing was. Despite having had plenty of quiet time this summer, I always seem to be doing something.
Then, thanks to a massive thunderstorm and subsequent power outage on Wednesday evening, I was forced to just stop doing anything and be still.
Steep Hill Cottage doesn’t currently have an automatic power backup system (ie: generator) so when the power goes out it really goes out. Not knowing when power will return (& knowing when it goes out at night it usually stays out all night) means that conserving power on devices like phones and laptops is critical.
So you’re left with no screens, no lights, no fans, no gentle appliance hum, just darkness and quiet.
This level of nothing can be jarring at first but after a few candles are lit and a comfy spot is carved out on the couch, a calm takes over the nervous system. There is nothing you can do but just be. Once you get past the squirminess of being alone with your own thoughts, it’s actually kind of wonderful.
As I settled myself into stillness, our tabby cat Evie climbed up and nestled onto my chest. Evie is an expert at doing nothing. She thrives in the deep dark quiet of the night and in this rare moment I got to share it with her. While she purred away I let the whirring rhythm lull my busy brain. I could almost feel all the thoughts, tasks, ideas, and worries filing away into what I imagine are little metal cabinets within my subconscious.
This I realize, is a form of mediation but I suppose the point is that I wasn’t actively trying to meditate or focus on anything. I just let my thoughts go where they wanted.
A little while later, it was time to head to bed and unsurprisingly I had the best sleep I’ve had in a long time. Maybe in years. Maybe ever? I woke up full of energy and clarity for the day ahead, which got me thinking about the potential effects of doing nothing more often.
If I hadn’t been forced to just stop and be quiet, I would never have made time for such a thing. Now though, I’m going to carve out a little space for stillness in the schedule because, as it turns out, doing nothing is actually quite something.
A Sentiment That Spoke To Me:
What have you been paying attention to lately that has brought you delight? Come on over and join the thread if this sentiment speaks to you.
5 Freshly Picked Internet Wildflowers
1 / A Meditation For Concentration
Great for days when your list is long and your attention span is short.
(I LOVE that now I can simply embed my podcast recommendations in the newsletter and you can just press play right here.)
2 / A Comforting Coconut and Cauliflower Curry
I made this last week and it was incredible. The perfect fall dish if I dare suggest.
3 / A Show I’ve Recently Enjoyed (on CRAVE)
I don’t know how I missed this one when it started years ago but How To With John Wilson has swiftly become a personal favourite. Great for a laugh and a realistic look at the often romanticized city of New York.
4 / How to Harvest and Store Seeds (YouTube video)
One of my fall gardening goals is to harvest and store seeds for next year to both reseed annuals and add more wild perennials to new areas. Fingers crossed I can make it happen. For those who may prefer a read, this is also a good post.
5 / A Single Girl Summer in Paris
I love Jessica’s writing and was thrilled to see that she had some similar takeaways to my own from her summer off Instagram.
Updates from Elsewhere
From the Style Bee Blog archives:
HOW TO BUILD A FOUNDATION CAPSULE CLOSET
This is an all-time reader favourite from the blog archives and it’s the perfect time to try it out if you’ve been considering a capsule for the season ahead.
Here’s what this post covers:
What is a Foundation Capsule Closet?
Where to begin & why?
The 12 item/category approach.
My Fall Foundation Capsule Closet (from 2021 but 90% is the same).
+ A simple worksheet to help you plan your own Foundation Capsule.
*REMINDER*
Closet sale is happening next Sunday, September 17th!
Mark your calendars for some serious second-hand gems. Sale will be held on my Depop storefront starting at 9 am ET.
The latest from Steep Hill Cottage
When we first left our home in the city (back in 2021), I knew I’d miss walking around the neighbourhood and seeing so many lovely gardens.
I remember saying to myself, “I’ll just have to grow a garden of my own to admire.”, and once I set my sights on something I really want, there is little that will stop me.
It wasn’t until earlier this week, as I was snooping around old photos of where our garden is now, that I realized this idea is actually coming to fruition. In fact, the transformation is pretty wild.
It started as a pile of old asphalt and gravel this spring.
And now the trees have filled in and the garden beds are bursting.
Even my distant dream of cultivating a cut flower garden is finding its way into reality. The goal is to have enough blooming all season to bring a fresh bunch to every neighbour and host I visit. Here is the overstuffed dahlia bed I’ve been obsessed with all season.
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Until next time!
Cheers,
Lee the Bee
Love the flowers! I live in the city and enjoy buying cut flowers from the markets to have at home.
Thanks for the insight on doing nothing, I don’t know when I last did nothing either. I should give it a shot too!
I like how you link to posts on your blog, I might of read them before but the advice is still useful.
Also - it’s so easy to comment on substack 🙂
Wow, the garden looks SO lovely!