Things of Beauty #24

Baby hawks, summer salads, yarn-bombing and being just a little more present

This week is all about those little things that remind us to pause and savor. Whether it’s watching baby animals, tasting the sharp tang of lemon, or being surprised by pop-up art installations. There’s also a great article unpacking the oft-quoted Annie Dillard passage about how we spend our days and lives.

Here’s to presence over productivity—even if just for a few moments.

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Just a few little things to pause and savor:

🐣 Baby red-tailed hawks on the Cornell Lab bird cam! Fluffy, hungry, and sleepy—a little spot of adorableness right on your computer or phone. I’m guessing they will probably be out of the nest sooner than later, so definitely click that link right now for maximum baby bird joy!

🍋 This Lemony White Bean Quinoa Salad is definitely going to be a summer staple in my house. We doubled the recipe, and it made four good servings as a main dish instead of a side.

📙 How We Spend Our Days is How We Spend Our Lives: Annie Dillard on Choosing Presence Over Productivity from The Marginalian. We’ve probably all heard this quote plenty of times, but I really appreciated this deeper dive into Dillard’s take on schedules and routines and how they impact our sense of presence in the world. I also appreciate this thought from the author of the article, Maria Popova:

. . . there is an unshakable and discomfiting sense that, in our obsession with optimizing our creative routines and maximizing our productivity, we have forgotten how to be truly present in the gladdening mystery of life.

🧶This was a huge bright spot for me at the end of the semester—a time that is full of excitement and celebration and a pretty packed schedule during which it can be hard to tap into being present. This VCUArts yarn-bombing project right in the center of campus was a huge reminder to slow down (more info on the project here and more pictures here).

🎶 Good Day for a Good Day by Michael Franti & Spearhead. This one made an appearance on my Music for Mornings playlist, but it deserves its own shoutout. It’s summery, beachy, and a gentle reminder for me about the power of a little mindset shift.

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What awesome things have you read, cooked, or listened to lately? Any art installations or baby animals nudging you back into the present moment? Please do share!

Be well, find tiny joy,

Mary Chris