Life, Photography, What I Kept

what i kept – may 2025

Kari

i began writing this monthly post unintentionally in may 2022, motivated by an unexpected and deeply personal loss. your engagement with these posts means so much to me. i wasn’t sure i would continue after that summer, but now, it has become a cherished part of my monthly routine.

thank you for reading along each month.

my dear friend rebecca drew this for me. what’s cool is that just a few months earlier, my dear friend melanie had told me about this exact concept.
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the lilacs in my mom’s yard 💜
that painting was a birthday gift from mike—a beautiful piece titled cosmic rebirth.
1995
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if i could give all of us homework, it would be the above. 💜

beautiful artwork my dear friend michelle sent me via postcard — proof that magic still travels by mail. 💜

i took this photo from the backseat on an outing in wisconsin last week.
i didn’t think much about where we were at the time. it wasn’t until later that I realized: we were on the same road we used to take back and forth to my dad’s chemotherapy appointments and hospital stays.
when i looked back at the photo, it reminded me of that old windows xp wallpaper—those rolling green hills, the one called bliss.

we officially hit 19 years yesterday, but with mike off all week, we’ve been celebrating in little ways every day.

we made a trip to the chicago botanic garden and had fun checking out the model trains and butterflies.

in the butterfly exhibit, butterflies are everywhere and often land on you. this little guy landed on me as soon as we walked in.

as we were leaving, the employees checked us to make sure we didn’t have any butterflies on us—“hitchhikers,” they call them. this little guy stayed on me the entire time.

when she gently took him off, he came right back to me. she said that’s not something they usually do. maybe I’m a butterfly whisperer like suz. 💜🦋

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49 thoughts on “what i kept – may 2025”

  3. I was hoping you’d post this week! Happy Anniversary! What a great month to get married . . . I love botanical gardens. So relaxing to just stroll and enjoy the beauty. And the butterfly bonus! LOVE!

    Yes, that totally looks like Windows Bliss. And you look blissful in 1995. Those lilacs are amazing. We have one bush and got 4 blooms this year. And that’s the best it’s ever done :(

    The painting that Mike got you is really cool as is the title. Growing around grief is a new concept to me, but it makes so much sense.

    I’m here for purple Hot Wheels. I loved playing with my brother’s when we were kids. My grandson was obsessed with them, but sadly at age 7, he’s moved on it seems.

    Please explain the Circle K? picture!

    Hoping for some sunshine in the days ahead . . . XOXO

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    1. Aww, yay! Thank you for the anniversary wishes! It’s been a great anniversary month. We got married on Memorial Day weekend, and it was a really fun weekend the year we got married. It felt like the party went on all weekend. 💜

      I love botanical gardens too. Mike had never been, but he really enjoyed it. We said we’ll go back again when we can take our time.

      Those are probably the best my mom’s lilacs have ever looked. We have three lilac bushes, and they did pretty well this year. I wish lilacs bloomed all year long.

      “Growing around grief” — I love that.

      I loved Hot Wheels. I had my own case when I was little. I almost bought that purple car! I actually saw that same car in real life a week before, in a parking lot. I might share that here because it felt really cool.

      I loved that tree, and it was just beginning to get leaves, so I took the picture. It just looked cool. That’s all! 🤣

      It’s been three days of rain here. I want some sun too! Here’s hoping for both of us! 😘💜

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  4. Love the grief drawing from Rebecca and the flower post card from Michelle. Both beautiful, handmade gifts with much love.

    Recognized the front of the Nice Lena store right away! ;-)

    Nefelibata…my new favorite word. It’s me. And Tim. I wish my grade school teachers knew about this word when I was in school. There was a lot of “daydreams too much” written on my report cards.

    Those lilac bushes in your mother’s yard are stunning! I can only imagine the scent wafting off from them.

    The photo of Buddy’s head wrapped up in the blanket with just his snout peeking out is too precious.

    I am in love with your new Cosmic Rebirth print! Gorgeous. In fact, I’m in love with that whole space and how you have it designed. Where did you find the light up orbs?

    Happy anniversary to you and Mike! I wish you two many more.

    We haven’t been to the Botanic Garden in a few years. We need to go again. I remember the model train exhibit – so cool! I don’t remember a butterfly exhibit though. Either we missed it or it wasn’t there at the time. I love that the one butterfly didn’t want to leave you.

    Interesting prompt from The Alchemy. I might challenge myself! I have the book sitting here from the library, but haven’t cracked it open yet. I’m in the middle of reading The Emperor of Gladness and I wanted to finish it before starting a new book.

    The music of Cloud Watching….wow. So beautiful and peaceful. Definitely saving that one.

    Lastly…adding the Junot Diaz quote to my quote notebook. <3

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    1. Those are the best kind of gifts, aren’t they?

      I love that little store so much. Thank you for turning me onto it. 💜

      OMG — you (and Tim) are kindred spirits. I was the same way, and honestly, I still am. It’s a good place here in the clouds.

      They were so beautiful, but alas, all gone now. I wish lilacs lasted longer.

      Buddy is so funny and photogenic. He loves to be under blankets when he snuggles, and on this day, Mike and I were talking about something when he happened to perk up. I had to take the picture.

      I love that space too. The light-up orbs are from Walmart and Target. I got them years ago — the “Moon Lamp” from Walmart and the “Starry Globe Kids’ Nightlight” by Pillowfort from Target.

      Mike had never been! I hadn’t been since Anna was little. It was fun, but there were a lot of field trips going on, so it was very busy and noisy. We decided we’ll go back on a different day to see more of it.

      I’m taking my time with the Alchemy book. Some prompts are easier than others, but I hope you can find some that inspire you. 💜

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  5. Awww, Kari! I’m scrolling along, enjoying all the things you kept, and then there’s my postcard to you! My heart is full!

    I love everything you posted here. Your dogs are so sweet, the painting Mike gave you, the lovely quotes, the video of the model train, and everything else. Happy anniversary! ❤️ I’m not at all surprised that the butterfly liked you!

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    1. Aww, I love that! And I love your postcard to me—I have it on the wall right next to me where I write. Thank you for sending it. 😘💜

      May was a good month for us. Thank you for the anniversary wishes! 😘💜

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    1. I love this! And I love that photo too.

      We got them at the grocery store—almost too beautiful to eat, but they were delicious.

      YES! I love all of my creative friends!

      And I love that he/she chose me. It made my entire day.

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  7. Kari, starting off, I LOVE that first quote you shared about the wind – BRILLIANT! – and sooooooooooooo true!

    And the drawing by your friend Rebecca created about grief is also BRILLIANT – and soooooooooo true! I find that grief makes me more resilient and compassionate. It also teaches me “perspective”.

    I freaking LOVE that cupcake floral cake. It’s so creative! And I also love the colors in that painting from Mike. So cool!

    Beautiful cloud watching music! You introduced me to someone (Christopher Elliot) I never knew. Thank you! :)

    And Happy Anniversary to you and Mike!

    Thanks so much for sharing what you kept, my friend! Always a delight! Have a great rest of your week! X

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    1. Ron, I knew you’d appreciate that quote. I actually shared it because of you, my friend. It’s a deep one—something I had to sit with for a long time before I really understood it.

      Isn’t it great? She’s a brilliant artist, too. I want to share more of her artwork here. That concept about grief is so true, and you’re absolutely right about perspective. I feel so much better this year about my dad and the loss of him. The grief is still there, but I’m bigger now.

      I wanted to get my mom (and me) a cupcake bouquet from Walmart for Mother’s Day. I had my order in, but they canceled it because they were overwhelmed with orders. We ended up going to Meijer that same day and found this. Thank you, Universe. 💜

      I love that painting too—so beautiful.

      I just started listening to his music last year. He has such lovely piano pieces.

      Thank you, my friend. It’s been a really lovely week celebrating. I hope you have a lovely week too. 😘💜

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  10. I actually thought that was the Windows XP wallpaper. Pretty spot-on actually. That took me back a few years!

    My few scraggly lilacs pale in comparison to your mom’s. I think I need to plant some more.

    Hope you guys had fun celebrating your anniversary!

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  11. I’m back with my comments. It was fun to go back and see and reread everything.
    There’s something so soothing about seeing a puppy sleeping. And the other puppy one with the blanket around his (her?) head and eyes. Too cute!
    The mother’s day bouquet of cupcakes was beautiful! I’ve never seen anything like that before.
    NEFELIBATA – love it!
    I had to look at your “bliss” picture several times. I honestly didn’t think it was a photograph but a painting.
    I never saw so many Lilac trees/bushes in a row. I’d like to walk by there every day!
    Loved the quotes, “quiet the mind and the soul will speak ” and “… always listen to the art” and Pope Leo’s woke quote.
    Lastly, loved the prompt and look forward to taking some time to do the exercise.

    Nuggets and nuggets of wisdom and gold I say of your post! <3<3<3

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    1. Hey Kari, I was hoping to send you an email about this but didn’t see an email address on your sight so you can delete this if it’s too personal. I’ve been thinking about this for several days and just want to put it out there. Obviously, no pressure. It struck me what you said about your dad wanting to take your mom to Naples one day. The first of my two trips to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast this October which includes time in Naples has a friend of mine who will be 81 this summer going along. I don’t know how old your mom is – I’m assuming she’s at least close to that age and this other woman lost her partner almost two years ago. And there’s another woman in her 80’s who lost her husband 2 1/2 years ago who wants to go too although hasn’t committed yet. Anyway, just a thought … it might be a perfect fit for your mom. And if you could accompany her, bonus!!!! xo

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      1. This sounds so lovely. My mom is in her late 70s, but her knees give her a lot of trouble walking. She’ll likely be a candidate for knee surgery in the next year. As much as I love the idea, I don’t think she’d be up for traveling and walking right now.

        But thank you so much for thinking of her—and of me. I really do love all of this. Someday… 💜

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      3. I always love hearing stories of people doing amazing things after knee replacement surgery. I really hope she gets to go and has plenty of adventures ahead. We’d love to do a family trip to Italy someday. 💜

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    2. You are so sweet. All your comments mean so much to me—I hope you know that.

      I could totally make a blog out of my dog’s photos! They’re just so much fun to capture.

      They have flower bouquet cakes made out of cupcakes! I’d never heard of that before and thought, how genius is that idea?

      When I took that picture of the countryside, I couldn’t believe how much it looked like that wallpaper—it was incredible.

      That lilac hedge was there before my parents moved in, but the previous owners had it trimmed and it wasn’t nearly as majestic as it is now. My mom and dad decided not to trim it years ago, and I’m so glad they didn’t.

      Nuggets of wisdom and gold. I LOVE THIS. 😘💜

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  12. Happy anniversary! I think you should consider having an anniversary month. There are so many things here worth saving, but I think what I love best of all are your pup photos–which includes the one of young pup Kari from 1995. I love the way your dad is peeking out from behind you. It’s easy for me to miss the 90’s (even though a lot of the decade was really not good for me); I think I’m missing all the things I took for granted then. Like, you know, people who are now gone. My body that is now gone! Wishing you a June with lots of other good things to keep. 💚

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    1. OOH, I love that idea.

      That young pup photo—I love it. And you know what I’ve been realizing? I didn’t think I was pretty when I was younger. Isn’t that something? I couldn’t see my own worth. But now, when I look back, I think, “Wow. Look at her.” There’s a lesson in that. Because I still have trouble seeing my beauty. I’m learning, though. I’m getting better.

      And my dad, peeking out from behind—that makes the photo even more special. It was taken at a surprise party for him. He’d just finished his master’s degree that summer, and we were celebrating at a friend’s house. It was a lovely afternoon.

      I miss the 90s too, Rita. I got married too early, wasn’t really tuned in to my life, and I was anxious all the time—though I didn’t know that’s what it was. I was just going along with what I thought I was supposed to do, instead of asking myself what I actually wanted.

      Here’s to a June full of clarity, peace, and little surprises—for both of us. 😘💜

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  13. So many good things in here. The colors in that photo on the way to WI – stunning. That quote from the 4 year old asking his mom to share his life? That reminds me of when Curly asked if everyone HAD TO go away to college, and once when she told me she was gonna live right next door to me when she grew up. (I thought: well, your husband might have something to say about that).

    Little bunny-bunny – RUN! THEY’RE WATCHING YOU! ;)

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  15. Oh, I love this post! My favorites are (1) Your Mom’s lilacs. They were my Mom’s fav too! (2) The quote from our new Pope. and (3) You new butterfly friend! The quotes you find and the words you write always make me feel so calm. Thanks for that! Happy Anniversary!

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  16. Write about yourself as if you were a stranger! Now that’s a prompt I’ve never seen before and I like it. Wonder where doing that will take me?

    Love the dog nose photo. Seems like a classic.

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  17. Good god the thought of Mary Oliver leaving Massachusetts and moving to Florida fills me with sadness! I love that poem about the mangroves but ow my heart at the thought of her there in the heat and the sun and the noise instead of in a quiet woodland…

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  18. And- look at this jerk over here for not including it in my first comment- happy anniversary! And I love you make such an event out of it… it’s as it should be

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  19. Clearly, that butterfly has a soul and wanted to come along for a longer ride on you. ❤️

    Happy anniversary to you both! Cheers to many more years of love and joy.

    I adore the art work that Mike got for you and the artworks(s) from your friends; they know you, they really know you!

    The pic from your car window: it’s so pretty, it’s hard to believe it’s real.

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    1. I love this way of thinking, Suz—LOVE it.
      Thank you, friend. I love that you, Engie, and I share an anniversary week. 💜
      That artwork is so beautiful—perfect for my soul homework space.
      I took it, and I still can’t believe I saw it! 🤣

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  20. Gorgeous and thought provoking shares as ever Kari, thank you. My standouts were:

    That backseat photo gave me huge WinXP vibes. I absolutely loved my old Dell minty green laptop which ran on XP. I’ve not been as happy on any other platform (either hardware or software) as I was back then.

    Writing about yourself as seen by a stranger is such an interesting journal prompt. Although I have terribly mixed feelings about it, I shall give it a try. Not sure I’d publish it though…

    Love that photo of the new pope and the Vatican guard – it makes me smile each time I see it.

    The grief image is beautiful, and so very hopeful. I guess I’ve a lot of growing to do at the moment, and I must admit that putting it that way feels hugely better than the thought I’m mired in grief.

    <3 <3 <3

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    1. I love that backseat picture! And we were traveling at a high rate of speed when I took it. Normally, photos like that don’t always turn out well!

      I have terrible mixed feelings too—definitely not publishing mine. 💜

      It makes me smile too.

      We all have a bit of growing to do. I believe it’s why we’re here. 😘

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  21. A lovely collections of things. I had a butterfly just land on my wedding bouquet during the ceremony (T and I wedding in June of 2012). His dad passed when T was 15 years old and that Monarch was definitely him, saying hello. So touching and special.

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  22. Pingback: What I Found – Second Peek – Going Down the Road Feeling Grand

    2. PS- I wasn’t able to comment, but I wanted you to know how much I appreciate you and your words. I love what you shared, and I hope you keep going.

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