if you’re new to my blog, welcome! here is an explanation of the tater tot post.
nature nature-ing
i’ve been trying to recreate the sunflower glory of 2022, when all i did was toss some seed packets in the ground and—boom—sunflowers everywhere. i even had the nerve to tell people here and on instagram how easy it was.
it wasn’t easy. it was luck. apparently.
for the last three summers, i’ve been trying to grow sunflowers in our backyard again, with zero success. i couldn’t figure out what went wrong. i was doing exactly what i did in 2022.
i started wondering—were the seeds duds? is that even a thing? or maybe i planted them too late?
still, i kept buying sunflower seeds every spring. i wasn’t going to give up. they’re just too beautiful not to try.
then one day after school in early june, ella pointed to the little garden bed where we’d planted our sunflower seeds year after year. and what did we see? a squirrel. happily digging up our seeds and eating them like snacks.
i’ll never get mad at a squirrel (or any other critter) for doing what he needs to do to get a meal—it’s just nature.
but then something kind of magical happened this summer—we had sunflowers growing in places we didn’t plant them. like in the flower pots where we planted the zinnias.
i’m guessing the birds had a hand in it. or maybe the chipmunks. maybe even the squirrels. dropping seeds as they scurried around the yard, unknowingly planting joy.
i put my olive tree outside for the summer—it had been struggling indoors the last two years. since may, it’s been doing much better. and magically, it too started growing a bunch of sunflowers!
our zinnias are thriving in the front yard—not so much in the back.
i splurged on california zinnia seeds during birthday week, and they’ve been worth every penny. i’ve officially retired from zinnia wildflower mixes after they overtook and destroyed orpha’s lilies in the backyard.
but those front yard zinnias?
the most spectacular we’ve ever had.
one thing i read
alive until you’re dead by susan moon
every now and then, i come across an author whose words feel like sitting with an old friend. it’s not even about what they’re writing—it’s how they write it. susan moon is one of those writers. i don’t remember how this book found its way to me, but i’m grateful that it did.
one thing i watched
perfect days (thank you so very much for the suggestion, chris; my new comfort movie)
one thing i listened to
shot in the dark by ozzy osbourne
my junior year of high school, i became obsessed with ozzy osbourne. it was a transitional year for me—a nice way of saying i was going through it. his song shot in the dark was popular then, and i played the cassingle on repeat. i scrawled ozzy’s name across every surface—my notebooks, my locker, even my jeans.
my friend group at the time—national honor society, student council types (i was neither)—didn’t quite know what to make of me. i lost a few of those friends that year. the ones who stayed just teased me about my little stint on the edge.
still, i loved ozzy. and they knew it. anytime anything ozzy-related came up, they’d make sure to tell me. it became a thing—an inside joke, a thread that never quite got snipped. they’d even sign my yearbook with ozzy rulz!
funny how a single song, or a name scrawled on a notebook, can mark a moment in time so clearly. ozzy was part of mine.
rest in peace, ozzy. 💜
links i clicked on
What the Living Do by Marie Howe
Beauty Lesson | A Hundred Falling Veils
(48) Are you homesick too? – by Sas Petherick – Courage & Spice
5 unpopular opinions that will simplify your life
quotes that had me thinking
when your fear touches someone’s pain it becomes pity; when your love touches someone’s pain it becomes compassion. – stephen levine
your purpose is not the thing you do. it’s the thing that happens in others when you do what you do. – caroline leaf
love is never wasted, for its value does not rest upon reciprocity. – c.s. lewis
i recently came across a deeply emotional tiktok about a woman whose dad was dying of cancer. she lived on a lake, and on the night he was dying in her family room, her local boating community gathered outside—offering their support and saying goodbye from their boats.
it made me think of my own version of a boating community, even though i don’t have a boat. my boating community is all of you. you were the boats in my harbor as my dad lay dying. i love you all, truly. 💜
here’s to august…
Discover more from A Grace Full Life
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
A Grace Full Life 
So glad you enjoyed Perfect Days. Semi-related to that movie from the 5 unpopular opinions that will change your life list… I need to design a poster or something with “Variety is not the spice of life” to hang on a wall.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was so lovely. Thank you for recommending it to me!
Yes, I’m currently working on her 33 project—trying to get my wardrobe down to 33 items per season, shoes included. I don’t need that much variety, but man, this isn’t easy.
LikeLike
Oh, I need that book in my life! It looks great.
Those squirrels are little bastards, I swear. Yes, they are just snacking but dammit, they can be such pests. One year I planted 150 fall bulbs and those little bastards dug up and ate every last one. Once a squirrel ate a light-up snowman we had, a Christmas lawn ornament. It ate the entire hat. IT WAS WIRE. They are less pesty here but Calgary was overrun by non-native squirrels and I had to get pretty creative so that they wouldn’t dig up my garden. That said, the quail ate all my sweet pea seeds this year! I kept wondering why there were little holes where I had planted them! Ah, nature. I gave up on sweet peas and planted nasturtium instead, they seem to not like to eat those.
Anyway! Your zinnias look great and so do your volunteer sunflowers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’ll really enjoy the book. She’s lovely.
Little bastards—🤣 OMG, they ate all 150 bulbs?? That’s brutal! My friend does companion gardening, where you plant things next to others that help them grow or keep pests away. It sounds like you know all about that. I might have to give it a try next year.
Thank you so much! I’m not much of a gardener, but this definitely makes me happy! 💜🌺
LikeLike
Kari, those sunflowers instantly made me smile :)! Sunflowers are such a happy-looking flower! I feel that way about Daisy’s too!
“i’ll never get mad at a squirrel (or any other critter) for doing what he needs to do to get a meal—it’s just nature.”
I feel that same way. Many people don’t care for squirrels because they can be very “direct” about asking for food. I hand-feed the squirrels in our parks and find them ADORABLE.
STUNNING color of those Zinnia’s. They’re gorgeous!
Thank you for sharing that book recommendation. It sounds like something I would REALLY enjoy. I’m also going to check out that movie!
“your purpose is not the thing you do. it’s the thing that happens in others when you do what you do. – caroline leaf”
LOVED that!
Thanks so much for sharing, my friend. I always learn something from you! Have a superb week! X
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re such happy-looking flowers! Daisies too—they just make you smile. I might try growing those next year. They’re my mom’s favorite.
I love the squirrels too! I wish I could feed ours by hand, but… dogs. 🤣 I love that you feed them in the parks—that’s so lovely.
The zinnias this year are so much better than any other year I’ve had them. The ones in the backyard, though, just aren’t popping up. Not sure what went wrong back there.
I think you’ll definitely like both the book and the movie.
I love that quote too. The idea that our purpose is always interlinked with others? Yes, always.
And thank you for saying you learn from me—I learn from you too, my friend. xoxo
LikeLike
Perfect Days… I’m intrigued. Is it sad?
The trailer reminded me of The Lunchbox (2013) (which was also a thoughtful kinda movie).
Somewhere there’s a squirrel smacking his forehead and saying, “So THAT’S where I put those extra sunflower seeds!” 😅
You have an OLIVE tree!?! Sooo cool! Details please?
Your blog is a special lil space on the internet. I feel like you’ve nurtured & tended it like a good gardener does their Garden World. I love that this virtual space was your “boating community”. That you felt supported & loved. There’s a beautiful reciprocity to that. Gardens take but they also give. You’ve grown a blog that does the same.
Also, we love you too Kari 💚
Also also, those Zinnias are *gorgeous*!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t think so—but it did make me cry. There were several parts of the movie that reminded me of my dad. If you watch it, come back to this comment section—I’ll tell you which parts. I don’t want to ruin it for you, but knowing what I know about you, I think you’ll really appreciate this one.
Adding The Lunchbox to my TBW list. My friend Rebecca suggested Little Forest after hearing how much I loved Perfect Days.
That squirrel probably gives those sunflowers serious side-eye. And the birds? Laughing hysterically. FOILED AGAIN!
As for the olive tree—it sounds more exciting than it is. I got it at a local grocery store. It was just sitting outside and I thought, I’d love to have an olive tree! So I bought it. It’s been temperamental ever since. I put it outside in May, and it actually seems to be loving that. I need a solid move-in plan for September: fresh soil, a bigger pot… maybe even a name and a gender. Maybe that’ll help it along.
You just made me teary in the best way. I love that idea of reciprocity in a garden, and in a blog. You’re right—this space has given back to me in ways I never could have expected. I’m so grateful you’re part of it.
LikeLike
Your pictures of flowers are beautiful.🌻🌻💐 And I love that you have an olive tree!🫒🌳
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, friend!
I got my olive tree at a grocery store! It’s never really thrived, but I keep hoping. 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sunflowers are one flower I’ve never tried to grow! Nor has there ever been any volunteer ones here in the 35 years we’ve lived here. I love how they all of a sudden showed up in random places at your house. Your zinnias are gorgeous. Can you tell me where you got the seeds? I’d like to try them next year.
That book, Alive Until You’re Dead sounded fascinating to me, so I ordered it (used) on abebooks. My library didn’t have it.
We’ll have to watch that movie…looks lovely.
Ozzy…loved him! He was actually my first concert. How cool is that? I think it was around 1980 or ’81. Went with a friend and her brother, I think, and what a surprise – we got stoned there, lol.
I was never friends with people in the Nat’l Honor Society or on the Student Council either. Neither of those impressed me. I was a band nerd and most of my friends were also in band.
The picture of your backyard in the golden hour is so beautiful. <3
xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I got the seeds on Amazon, but I’m pretty sure you can find them other places online too.
Here’s the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075TDLGM1?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1
I’m surprised my library had it—they never seem to have anything I’m looking for. Not sure what that says about me. 🤣
It is such a lovely movie. I hope you enjoy it!
OMG—Melanie! I love that he was your first concert! This whole comment just made my entire day! 💜🤣
I was a band nerd too! I think we might be kindred spirits.
Isn’t it? I’m so glad I thought to take a picture before the leaves start to change.
xoxo
LikeLike
PS – I meant to ask about your olive tree. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. Where did you get one of those? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jewel, if you can believe it! It was sitting outside the doors one day while I ran in to grab a few groceries. I’ve had it for several years, and it’s never really done well. I even transplanted it into a better pot—still meh. I don’t have the heart to give up on it yet. Being outside seems to help, but I’ll probably need to refresh the soil before bringing it back in.
LikeLike
Ah, the squirrels. I heard one digging in my kitchen window flower box yesterday. They have killed at least 5 plants there this year, and while I, too, never fault an animal for doing what it is made to do…I wish they could bury their nuts elsewhere. I walked to the window, and watched. It watched me back, then came close to the window, pressing its nose up against it. I put my finger against the glass, a bit away from it. We watched each other, and I slowly moved my finger toward its nose. It let me get within inches. It felt like magic. Like your flowers.
Also, looking forward to your movie rec. I finally watched the Paul Reubens documentary (because of your recommendation), and it was so, so good. I wish I could give you one in return, but I’ve been having a hard time finding things I like. Did really enjoy the first part of the new Billy Joel doc, and I was never a big fan. Something about a deep dive into a creative person’s life is so interesting to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bury their nuts elsewhere—🤣 (SAME). I honestly think our squirrel is getting payback for all the times our dogs have chased him (her?) up the trees. I love that you had that squirrel encounter! Sadly, I can’t have one—our dogs are always nearby and they hate squirrels.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the Paul Reubens documentary! I watched the Billy Joel documentary too. I liked a lot of his music but wasn’t into it enough to go to a concert. Still, it was interesting to learn about his life. I love those deep dives into people’s lives too.
LikeLike
Ya ever hear the Ozzy dance track, that dude actually yearned to make more music like that. I love this song Shake your head 1992 Remix by Was not Was. Featuring Vocals by Ozzy & Kim Bassinger.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never heard this song—thank you for introducing me! Love it. 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect days looks perfectly wonderful.
The Ozzy connection is a cool reminder that we are always evolving.
Thanks for sharing the five unpopular opinions; this was a great read!
Your sunflowers found you. I mean, the critters probably hindered, then helped, so why be mad at them for being critters, right? I love that those zinnias too. So, you’re saying California Zinnias are better than others? Do you remember where you got the seeds?
The boats saying goodbye…this is very touching.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It IS perfectly wonderful.
Always evolving- yes. 💜
It was such a great read.
Yes to the sunflowers finding me! I love that. I actually think the California zinnias turned out better because there weren’t other seeds mixed in… unless — wait — maybe there were sunflower seeds in the California zinnia package! Oh my gosh, I never thought of that!
I will say, these zinnias are much more vibrant than the other ones I used to get. You can find them on Amazon — here’s the link:
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you—I’m gonna try some myself. :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
The link is wonky…I fixed it. Sorry!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was able to see it through my comment on email. Thanks!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay!
LikeLike
Let’s try this:
amazon.com/Bulk-Zinnia-Seeds-California-Giants/dp/B075TDLGM1/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the sprinkling of sunshine in sunflowers for you! I think I’ll try the read and the movie. (I bawled my eyes out two nights in a row finishing up Dying for Sex.) I was more of a Crazy Train girl (let’s act surprised) ;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’ll enjoy both the movie and the book. I’ve heard Dying for Sex is really sad- I’ve seen a few clips on TikTok.
LikeLike
I love the Caroline Leaf quote you shared. Thank you.
What a great Ozzy story. I came to Ozzy via PlayStation and Rockstar. I was very put off by his appearance in high school. I was still learning about looking beneath.
So funny about your sunflowers. I had a similar problem with a tulip garden I kept trying to plant. Moles liked the bulbs I was planting just fine. I plan to try some dwarf sunflowers next year.
I love me some zinnias.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it great?
I was put off when I learned he bit the head of a bat- he was a character in his early days.
Dwarf sunflowers! I’ve never heard of those- I’ll have to look them up.
I love zinnias too. xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whoa, Kari . . . . your links really hit today . . . What the living do . . . Messages from Home . . . Homesick. Wow, just wow.
Those unpopular opinions were quite unpopular with me. I’m happy to admit that!
The sunflower escapades is something I can relate to! We gave up trying, but we do get other flowers (and even a tomato plant once) pop up in unexpected places, thanks to our Good Fairy Critters. Isn’t it a joy to find?
I was never an Ozzy fan, as I couldn’t get over the bat incident. However, I TOTALLY get becoming obsessed with a band during your formative years. I had a weird thing with the Jim Morrison/ The Doors when I was 18 (and I about died when I recently learned our friend Nicole did, too!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know. I’m sending you so much love, my friend. 😘💜
LMAO — I love it!
Good Fairy Critters! I love that, too!
The bat thing creeped me out, too. I just learned he thought it was a plastic bat when he bit into it. But then I heard he bit off a dove’s head backstage, too — so who knows. He completely changed in his older years.
LikeLike
Ah yes, the squirrels. I’ve watched them pick the sunflower seeds out of bird seed mix and chuck the rest on the ground, so I’m not surprised to hear they’ve been torpedoing your planting plans! I can’t get mad at them either, but it is funny where you’ve now got them growing. I’m glad you have them as they always make me smile. I also have an olive tree – a house warming present – so I am working hard to keep it alive which is a real struggle for me (Himself calls me the only person he knows who kills mint!)
The story of the woman who lived on the lake is so beautiful (and you know it brought a tear to my eye). What a lovely way to show support <3 <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
I need you to come to America—please, come and kill my mint. I’ll pay your airfare, and you can stay with me.
I love that you got an olive tree for a housewarming gift. I’m glad I’m not the only one struggling to keep one alive. I truly think it’s because they’re fighting for their own lives—they probably belong in the ground in Greece or Italy.
Isn’t that lovely? I’ve watched that TikTok a few times, and it always makes me cry a little. The power of human connection. 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person