Author: Admin01

Taylor even confessed that Clarke could be The One.

There are days when everything flows. You move from task to task with quiet precision. The kettle boils just as the toast pops up, your coat pockets contain exactly what you need, and your body cooperates. On such mornings, you think – though you try not to say it aloud – Perhaps I’ve finally figured life out. These are days governed by planning, preparation, and the reliable rhythms of a well-established routine. But as every seasoned woman knows, such days are rare guests, not permanent residents.

And Then Something Goes Sideways

For Maeve, retired teacher and part-time potter, it happened one bright Thursday morning. She had a modest plan: take the early ferry across the channel to visit her younger sister, Olivia, on Bainbridge. She’d wrapped a handmade bowl in linen, a pale green glaze set just right the evening before. She had slept well, woken early, and even managed a quick walk through the garden before loading the car.

But 20 minutes into the drive, winding through the hills of the Kitsap Peninsula, the car began to stutter. Not a sudden failure – no melodramatic smoke or flames – but a shuddering drop in momentum. She pulled over, hazard lights blinking against the morning mist, and sat still.

This is the moment – the point at which the day begins to unmake itself. Some women cry. Others curse. Maeve did neither. She sat in the driver’s seat with her hands in her lap and listened to the tick of the cooling engine. Her sister would be waiting.

Looking at the Choice

In that narrow wedge of time, a subtle choice presented itself – not about what to do next, but how to be. The past rose up around her like fog. She thought of her father, a steady man with a mechanic’s patience and a teacher’s precision. He had taught high school shop for 40 years, and on weekends let her pass him tools as he worked under their old Ford.

At 12, she’d helped him rebuild a carburetor, the two of them kneeling side by side on cardboard in the garage. Pop the hood, girl, he would have said now, not unkindly, but with that familiar expectation that she could figure it out herself. And she could. She had for decades.

But at 68, with the ferry pulling away without her and the world feeling suddenly overwhelming, she let the thought drift in: I wish someone else were here to handle this. Just this once. It wasn’t helplessness, exactly. Simply a flicker of longing – for ease, for company, for a pair of hands reaching the way her father’s once had, sure and capable.

But neither memories of the past nor hopes for the future were of any use right now. Only the present – the one good thing that still was – held power.

Not a Day Planned This Way

Maeve took out her phone, called a local mechanic she knew from town, and arranged for a tow. It would be at least an hour. She sighed, stepped out of the car, and stretched her legs. Across the road stood a trailhead she’d driven past dozens of times but never walked. The sign read: “Steep Ravine Loop – 2 miles.” She had on sturdy shoes. The air smelled of cedar.

It was not the day she had planned, but it became the day she needed. The path climbed gently through moss-covered firs, and by the time Maeve returned to the road, cheeks flushed, she had regained something that had slipped from her earlier.

Later, over comfortingly terrible coffee in the mechanic’s shop, she recalled a family saying – plainspoken wisdom with the ring of an Irish proverb:

Better one good thing that is,

rather than two good things that were, or

three good things that might never come to pass.

Gaining Peace

She smiled. The day, chaotic though it was, had yielded a single, quiet offering: not a perfect plan fulfilled, but an unexpected peace.

Too often, we mourn what was scheduled, lament what might have been. But sometimes, life’s disruptions coax us back to presence. The one good thing that is – a forest path, a capable hand, the soft weight of a pottery bowl swaddled in linen – is enough.

Recognizing it can be the difference between losing the day and redeeming it.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How do you handle a day that doesn’t turn out as planned? Do you cry, yell, curse – or do you redeem the day to the best of your abilities?

Photo + ID: @realniasanchez

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Originally posted at: Nia Sanchez’s Tropical Print Slit Dress

Summer is here, and it is the season most of us look forward to with sun-filled beach days, pool parties, and long outdoor adventures. Often, while we enjoy sunny warmth and bright days, our delicate skin can respond negatively to too much sun exposure. Summer conditions can be damaging, leading to dryness, irritation, and even premature aging if we don’t take extra care.

Why Does Skin Get Dry in Summer?

Though it might seem counterintuitive, summer can be just as drying as winter. Prolonged sun exposure damages the skin’s natural barrier, leading to increased moisture loss and leaving it feeling tight and rough.

Air conditioning, which offers a welcome escape from the heat, can strip humidity from the air, making our skin even more parched. Swimming in chlorinated pools or salty ocean water also removes natural oils which help keep your skin soft and hydrated.

How to Protect Your Skin This Summer

Moisturize

After cleaning and before applying sunscreen, protect your outer layer of skin with your favorite moisturizer or my favorite, GYG Organic Face Serum with all organic essential oils that brighten, tone, hydrate and protect. You don’t want sunscreen directly on your pores.

Sunscreen

Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day, and reapply every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating. Sunscreen is essential not only to prevent sunburn but also to protect against long-term damage and dehydration.

Hydrate

Hydration plays a vital role. Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated from within, and opt for a lightweight, hydrating moisturizer or face serum that can help lock in moisture without feeling greasy. After sun exposure or swimming, apply moisturizer or face serum immediately to help restore your skin’s barrier.

Exfoliate

Gentle exfoliation one or two times a week can also help remove dry, dead skin cells and improve absorption of hydrating products. Choose a mild exfoliant to avoid irritating already sensitive summer skin. I put a health pinch of baking soda mixed with a gentle cleanser to remove sunscreen and reveal glowing skin.

Mask

Mask once or twice a week. Facial masks help draw out impurities, dirt, and excess oils from deep within your pores, offering a deeper clean than everyday cleansers, can hydrate, improve texture, and soothes your skin.

• Honey Mask: A very simple mask: just apply honey to soften and moisturize your face.
• Whole Egg: Whip one egg and slather all over your face. Egg proteins significantly contribute to maintaining the elasticity of skin.
• Cucumber: Grate the skin of one cucumber and mix it with plain yogurt. Apply to your face for moisture.

Lips and Eyes

Protect your lips and the delicate skin around your eyes. Use an SPF lip balm, wear sunglasses to shield your eyes and cover your face with a wide-brimmed hat. Lightweight, long-sleeved clothing (some have SPF) can also offer additional protection against the sun’s harsh rays.

Foods

Nourish your skin by including water-rich foods like watermelon, cucumbers, and leafy greens into your diet to boost hydration and provide essential vitamins and antioxidants.

By prioritizing sun protection and hydration inside and out, you can enjoy the summer while keeping your skin healthy, supple, radiant, and glowing all summer long!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you have a skincare routine for the summer months? What does it look like? Do you use store-bought products or do you go natural/DIY?

Looking for a close-to-home adventure that feels a little naughty? Across America, enthusiastic home gardeners open their yards to the public during seasonal Open Days coordinated by The Garden Conservancy.

Stepping through a stranger’s garden gate feels a little like trespassing initially, but expect to be welcomed warmly by volunteer hosts and the proud homeowner, eager to show off lush perennial borders, heirloom rose beds and manicured hedges.

It’s a wonderful just-for-two outing or a fun way to spend a day outdoors with your FWDN – Friends with Dirty Nails.

The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program

The Garden Conservancy is a not-for-profit founded in 1989 by Frank Cabot, creator of two of North America’s most famous gardens (Stonecrop and Les Quatre Vents). Its mission is to “preserve, share, and celebrate America’s gardens and diverse gardening traditions for the education and inspiration of the public.”

In addition to providing grants to deserving public and not-for-profit gardens and sponsoring lectures, the Garden Conservancy coordinates seasonal Open Days. Passionate gardeners in 40 states open their private backyards to the public to inspire and engage.

Gardening is a popular leisure activity for seniors, combining physical activity with an appreciation for nature and beauty. Seasonal articles tout the health benefits of gardening, particularly for seniors.

Visiting one of the participating Open Days gardens is a wonderful way to kickstart your garden dreams and get you digging.

Also read, Want Garden Inspo? Stop Scrolling Instagram and Do This Instead.

Meet Plants and the People Who Love Them

The participating gardeners love their yards and are eager to share their passion with visitors. They’re normally onsite during their scheduled Open Day and are ready and willing to share their highlights and epic failures.

During my visits, I’ve learned the secret to early dahlia blooms (frequent applications of the popular fertilizer with the yellow and green label) and which of the stinky deer repellents works in my Hudson Valley neighborhood. Although I adore visits to places like the New York Botanical Garden, I’ve learned practical, achievable information by touring these private yards.

And I’ve fallen in love with dozens of plants and design schemes that I try to copy with varying degrees of success.

Take a Trip, Tour a Garden

In addition to everything I learn when touring an Open Days garden, I get the thrill of traveling to some place exotic, even if it’s a suburban backyard an hour from my house. Weeks in advance, I float the idea to my husband. He’s often a willing companion, but, if he’s not interested, I easily round up one of my green-thumbed friends.

After purchasing tickets, I’ll scout out other things to do near the garden and figure out a great lunch spot, so we can make a day of it. Many of the gardens near me are in northwestern Connecticut, a region that also has excellent antique stores and farm-to-table restaurants.

What You Need to Know

You’ll need to purchase tickets in advance to tour a garden. Tickets become available two months in advance of the scheduled Open Day. And popular gardens do sell out. I’ve been trying for three years to score a ticket to designer Bunny Williams’ Litchfield, CT, garden. Maybe I’ll get lucky someday.

You can search by day, location or keyword. On a given weekend, there are usually one or two gardens within easy driving distance of my Hudson Valley home, so I normally search by day. For each garden, there’s a detailed description, including size and a few photos.

Don’t judge a garden by the website photos. Having attended several Open Days, I don’t think the photos accurately represent what you’ll experience. Instead, read through the description. If you prefer a natural garden full of native plants, look for that information. I prefer to ogle clipped topiary and abundant cottage-style beds for inspiration, so I look for “English-style” gardens.

Also see, French Gardening: Your Topiary Masterpiece Awaits.

Additional Open Days Tips

• When you visit will also impact your experience. If you love tulips, look for gardens open in late spring. Prefer dahlias? Then you’ll want to tour in late summer.
• Open Days are rain or shine events. You can choose not to attend if the weather forecast is miserable, but you won’t receive a refund.
• Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes that can stand up to uneven terrain and possible mud. Sunscreen, a hat and water are musts.
• Do not expect refreshments or available bathroom facilities since these are private homes.
• A small car is easier to park. Many of the gardens attract crowds and you might need to wedge your vehicle into a small space on a narrow private road. We leave my hubby’s huge pickup truck at home on Open Days!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Are you a garden lover? Do you have your own garden? Have you visited private gardens in the past? What do you look for in such tours?