The Sunday Wildflower Bouquet #2
A weekly recap: life, writing, reading, new finds, weekly quote, musings
There is an affinity between the natural world and Silence. Silence envelops nature and gathers nature to her as a blessed place of intensity. Nonetheless, what is available in nature is available everywhere, if we but learn how to attract it properly.
~Robert Sardello, Silence: The Mystery of Wholeness
From a Note written by
Life Happenings
Iāve changed the name of this weekly summary to The Sunday Bouquet of Wildflowers. Much better. A bouquet of wildflowers is a collection of flowers gathered from a wild, untamed placeāmuch like the environment here at Substack.
Iām grateful to all my subscribers, followers, and readers. Thank you for the ā¤ļøās, comments, and restacks.
A little shout-out to
and for taking the time to answer a question I posed on Notes about writing essaysāthank you! The essay style I tried to describe is called ābraidedā. I found a good tutorial on the technique and will start reading essays and taking notes.šæAnd a special thank you to
of My Photo Journal for recommending Sacred Environment! š Beautiful photography with wonderful essays.8 random facts about me
I debated sharing all this but as I mentioned in last Sundayās post, āI am here to create connection, and what better way than to get to know each other?ā Maybe share a little fact about you in the comments?
I live in a coastal tourist town called Mystic. Same house for 43 years.
My background is in computer programming/consulting. I left corporate life 27 years ago and started a natural products business. Herbal soaps were my specialty. I became a Reiki Master Teacher in 2004 and closed the business in 2020. In 2012 I started Mystic Zen Healing Jewelry which I retired from after 11 years on November 1, 2023, at 62. Iāve also worked in sail lofts, landscaping, and marine insurance.
One consulting job was technical documentation layout and graphic design.
I used to sailboat race on a Sunfish and up to a 42' racing boat. Local regattas, as well as Key West and Martha's Vineyard. Fun, crazy times.
I collect classical music albums. Favorites are Vivaldi and Baroque era; preferably violin.
I enjoy watercolor painting, pen & ink, and graphite drawing.
Sober for 7+ years. Mystic has LOTS of bars.
My Enneagram is split between 5 & 9 and I'm a Virgo with Scorpio Moon and Scorpio Ascendant. That explains everything.š
My Recent Writings
Weekly Microfiction
Miguel S. (The Fiction Dealer) sends daily prompts with a word count for writing a piece of microfiction. Itās a fun and beneficial daily writing practice. I strive to focus on Nature. Here is a couple from this week.
70 words ~ Prompt: Mountain
The mountain went through so much to become as majestic as it was. So much pressure. Heat. Pushing. A long birthing process. But that was long ago. People cameālots of them. As time went on, trash was dropped trailside. They didnāt care, he was just something else for them to conquer; to take for granted. Entitled. Anger and resentment built until he couldnāt hold it. Burning lava flowed.
100 words ~ prompt: Scarecrow
Fred was determined it wasnāt going to happen again. A scarecrow to protect his crops. The garden sentinel relentlessly watched. Seeds started breaking through the ground and berries were starting to develop. And the scarecrow guarded. Just when they were ready, Fred was surprised to see bugs had chewed all his beans. Later tomatoes. āNext year Iāll use insecticides too, but the scarecrow is working.ā And then the corn, ears filled with worms. Fred was left with no harvest. He heard a murder of crows cawing. Laughing. āGreedy Fred, we kept the bugs away in exchange for a little food.ā
Interesting Newsletters Iāve Read This Week
There is never a shortage of interesting newsletters to read on Substack. I surely canāt mention all but I do restack and comment on them. Here are a few I enjoyed and I hope you will as well. I thought about writing short descriptions for each but decided to leave it up to your explorationāto discover something you might not ordinarily read.
You and I are as expansive as the universe by
(I wrote about my experience of expansiveness in The Vermont Notebook - Part 2)Is Silicon Valley Building Universe 25? by
10-Step Writing Warm-up Exercise by
My Current Book Reading Stack
I tend to read a little from more than one book each evening; unless I fall asleep first.
The Enchanted Life: Unlocking the Magic of the Everyday by
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinoka Estes, Ph.D.
Weekly Musings
Hereās a link to my Notes and restacks: https://substack.com/@taniatyler/notes
šæ What do you think? Do you like the idea of the weekly Sunday Wildflower Bouquet? Is there anything youād like to share from your week? Letās connect in the comments.
Peace & Blessings,
If something I wrote inspired or brightened your day a little, or anything else youād like to shareā¦ Iād be very grateful to hear about it in the comments. A restack or clicking the little heart š for a ālikeā would always be appreciated.
Thanks for the mention!
Love the new name, Tania. Thank you for the mention. Your companion canine has a kind face. It is good that you remain sober. You are better for it. Beautiful.
I honestly find alcohol and drugs takes away from observing life. And living it. I stay away from both, having had my share when young. I drink water.
My week was an Avian week and a Squirrel one, too. Love all feathered and furry sentient beings. Have a beautiful week in Nature.