New habits

It is not the beginning of the year but summer might also be a good time to establish a new habit. In fact, come to think of it ANY time is a good time. I have to admit that I tried to install a new habit several times a year (for instance: drink more water!) but I failed. The only habits I tend to keep are: declutter your surfaces and shine your sink (thank you a lot fly lady and Aby!!!)

So off to new habits: Last week I was reminded by an email from Jessica that reminded me of sending more letters. And with letters I mean rel ones. Remeber snail mail? So on Saturday I announced to my family that Sunday would be our new day for letter writing. We sat down after tea and everybody wrote at least one letter or postcard. They don't have to be long and elaborated (that would be too much for the children). Sometimes a nice card or a sweet ephemera and some nice words will do the same. It is just a way of giving something very valuable: time. 

We tend to write a lot of emails, we twitter, send SMS's, comment on blogs. But remember how it feels to have not only bills in the mailbox but colorful envelopes and picture postcards? I love it! And I remeber all the wonderful postcards my uncle sent to my grandma when I was a child. He travelled the world and sent a postcard from all the places he has been. Sometimes he just sent "Greetings" and his name but my grandma who never travelled could have a piece of the world flying into her kitchen via a picture postcard. And when I was a child I set down on the floor with the box full of cards and sorted them by continent and country and decided where to go as an adult. And when I travelled as a student to Brazil to learn the language and to finally see the Corcovado my grandmother told me that this was my favourite postcard: the one from Rio and as a child I kept asking me and her: "How does uncle Hans find his way from the airport to the Corcovado without knowing the way and without speaking the language?" And you see: I did not travel a lot as a child then... My uncle died some months ago and so did my aunt. And now my cousin is trying to find the boxes with all the old postcards because my grandma gave it to him before she died so he could see where he has been during his business life.  And now I would love to see the postcards again I played with as a child and which had such an enormous impact on my way of seing the world!

Because I remebered this so vividly I started buying postcard for the children whenever we went to another city or country. I just wrote the date and with whom we have been there and what we roughly did. So they can see where they have been later in their life.

But now back to the new habit: We managed to write 14 postcards and letters this Sunday (the five of us - jakob only "dictating" his, of course). Wow! That was an outcome. And seeing this pile on the window sill to be posted makes them want to write again this Sunday:

The other habit is this: Try a new recipe every week! And again I started Sunday. I have so many yummy treats pinned on my Pinterest that I had to try some. And me, being a breakfast person tried out this: Bacon, egg and toast cups (by Martha, of course).

(Image by Marths Stewart Living)

It was delicious  and I will have to prepare it for guests. So you can make large quantities of bacon and eggs without standing in front of the pan and get rooked. There is even time to have a morning shower in between frying the bacon and taking the cups out of the oven: perfect I'd say!

I don't know what I will try out this week but I will keep you informed about the outcome!

And you? Are you already thinking to whom you could write a few lines or how happy you were last time you got some nice snail mail?

Hugs to you!

Yvonne

 

Ps: Talking about postcards: I just found a lovely postcard download on Kellie's blog 74 Lime Lane:

Isn't it just lovely? You can find the download here.

Yvonne

 

Comments

[Nada B3]

Dear Yvonne,
great post, I have enjoued while reading.
Today people do not write postcards or letters like before. I keep postcards from my friend from South Germany, she travels a lot and I love when she think about us during travels. Also, my cousin collects old letters and postc. I admire the kind of style and culture of the people 100 years ago.
Here in our county is too hot, (Podgorica, ME).Usual activities, a little creativity except on the beach.
I follow Your posts and wish all the best to You and Your family.
Nada

[PT]

That is a beautiful new habit, Yvonne! :)

[jessica]

i need to make this my habit as well. where oh where did i pack all my stationery? still settling in, but soon, i will be writing like crazy! and i too want to cook new recipes...we just discovered that our oven? it does not work. sigh.

[Ilze]

Hi Yvonne - just read your post ! Inspired me to write to my aunt - that is the only way we can communicate and received a letter from her in the mail recently - is indeed a treat these days to get mail that way !
Definitely making the breakfast as well - soooo out of ideas !!
We have lots to talk about.... really looking forward to meeting you - I think we live in more or less the same street...isn't that insane?!
See you soon. I mailed you.

[Yvonne Stehle]

Hi Ilze! So how is the letter writing going? I am so happy we finally met and it wont be long and well do it again!
Yvonne

[Yvonne Stehle]

Jessica! I hope your oven will recover soon! And that this stationary collection will resurface as well. Please again mail me your snail mail address of the new house. There is this envie waiting in the hall here...
Yvonne

[bu&bau]

I love this post.
Having something in the mailbox (other than bills) makes my day!
I'd love to send you a beautiful postcard from Lisbon, if you give me your new address.
I've been watching your photos from your new home and city and they look so beautiful.
Big big hug!
Ana

[Yvonne Stehle]

Oh Ana- what a treat! You know I am having an old love affair with beautiful Lisbon! I will send you a mail with my details!
Yvonne

Von meinem iPhone gesendet

[postcard printing]

What a beautiful postcard photo..This is fantastic, Great shot and I like how you composed all the element here. Nice one