Welcome…
As a retired educator, I am embracing this lovely gift of time to spend with family and friends. My wonderful husband is a true blessing in my life! After 35 happy years of teaching in the primary grades, I knew that I must continue to learn something new each day, be creative, and make a difference in our world.
Gardening with perennials and herbs, card making, scrap booking, watercolor painting, antiquing, bullet journaling, letter writing, reading, travel, and taking long walks are just some of my favorite ways to spend my days. I’m truly passionate about learning new things!
Each year of my ‘Renaissance’ (the ‘R’ word that I use for Retirement) has offered so many new opportunities to grow and blossom! It has been my honor to volunteer to help our military families stay connected with loved ones. I have enjoyed helping neighborhood children learn and grow. Now it is my honor to help my parents each day. It feels like a complete ‘circle of love’… and exactly what I am meant to be doing in this moment. This chapter in life offers so many new possibilities to be creative, learn new things, and make a difference! I love to look for small moments of joy tucked into the corners of each day, share a bit of handmade kindness, and count my blessings out loud.
I’ve always loved sharing stories with family and friends. Long letters and scrapbooks can preserve the most wonderful stories. Blogging has become one of the unexpected joys of my ‘Renaissance’ as I discovered a new way to share stories! It’s so important to document our lives, capturing the small moments and the big, exciting memories, too. Our stories truly do matter! It is my hope that you will find a few stories here that will touch your heart, brighten your day… and inspire you to tell your stories… in your own special ways! ♥
♡ Dawn
Midwest, United States
♡♡ At this time, I would like Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes to remain an ‘Award-Free’ blog. Many thanks to those who share blogging awards. Encouraging one another is such a wonderful way to share, connect, and grow as new members of the blogging community! Leaving a ‘Comment” on my posts is such a thoughtful, little gift. I truly appreciate each ‘Comment’ and really enjoy answering all of them!
Petals. Paper. Simple Thymes 
Hi Dawn, you have a gorgeous blog — it’s all so nicely done, I was surprised to see how new it is! Your photos are lovely, and your cheerful outlook is uplifting. This year I’ve resolved to improve my perspective on life by visiting and commenting on a positive blog every day, keeping a list on my own blog for reference. Yours is today’s entry; I’m glad I discovered it!
Hi Meg! Your sweet words have truly touched my heart. I’m very new to blogging and just love your focus on blogs that spread Random Kindness. I feel so honored to be included! I can’t wait to visit the blogs you have highlighted! I have always been one to share a smile and ‘Scatter joy.’ My blog allows me to spread a little sunshine far beyond my family, friends, students, neighbors, and the military families that I enjoy helping. There are so many little ways to spread happiness. Your wonderful blog is doing that every day by also focusing on the positive side of life! I’m not sure how you happened upon my blog ~ but I’m so happy that you stopped by! ♡
Dawn – I’m so happy you somehow found my little blog as I think you are so right that we are kindred spirits! I’ve been looking through your blog, and we have so much in common. It seems we even started our blog at the same time! Look forward to getting to know you better! 🙂
Hi Jodi! I’m so happy that you stopped to visit. It’s so wonderful to meet another kindred spirit! It will be such fun to learn and grow together as new bloggers. Wishing you happy Autumn days! ♡
Wonderful blog, Dawn. Enjoy the journey.
PS – We must live in the same vicinity (which I won’t mention here) for we have some similar “haunts”. How fun. Enjoy the rest of the Autumn splendor the midwest is experiencing. Penny
Thanks so much, Penny! I’m really enjoying meeting so many wonderful kindred spirits! I think we might cross paths one day since we visit so many of the same places! Thanks for following. Happy Autumn days! ♡
Looking forward to sharing some gardening secrets!
Welcome, Ilex! Thanks so much for stopping to visit today! It’s always such fun to share garden stories… and secrets! ♡
Hello Dawn. I grew up in the midwest and know of what you speak regarding long cold winters! 😮 I too share a love of gardening. Not only am I thrilled that you found and are following my blog (Thank you very much!), but I’m thrilled to discover your blog and I look forward to following it! 🙂
Herzlich Willkommen, Terri! It’s so wonderful that we found one another through our blogs! I think we might be kindred spirits! We both have Midwestern roots and you are now living in a place that is very close to my heart. I’m looking forward to reading all of your posts, to hear about your life in Germany and your travels to interesting places. Thanks for following, Terri! Keep in touch! ♡
Your blog is beautiful and warm! I love it! Please come visit me as well. I am a mom of 9 who lived in Saudi for 16 years! I will look around this lovely space!
Hi Lynn! Thank you for your sweet words! I enjoyed visiting your blog and will visit often. It is fascinating to read about your journey! I’m looking forward to reading your recipes, too. Wishing you a lovely holiday weekend! ♡
you too!
I just love your blog it is so pretty and unique!
Oh, thank you, Lynn! It is a lovely, little gathering place for ‘kindred spirits.’ Hope you will come here often for some nice, relaxing visits! Walk through my flower and herb gardens and enjoy tea on the front porch! ♡
It is dear! I would love to!