Zinnias, Tomatoes and Monday Musings: The Good Life

Happy Monday! It’s time for my weekly edition of Zinnias, Tomatoes and Monday Musings. Today’s topic: The Good Life.

Thanks for being here!

Zinnias, Tomatoes and Monday Musings 2.26.24

Zinnias, Tomatoes and Monday Musings is a peek at retired life in our country home and garden. Each Monday I share a favorite story (this week’s topic is The Good Life) and a few highlights from the previous week. Plus, what Bill and I have been doing at home, in the garden and out & about. I also share some of what’s on my weekly to do list and calendar as I look forward to the upcoming week.

The Good Life

I read a book last year titled The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study in Happiness. The book is based on a research study about happiness. I hadn’t read a research study since retiring, so I thought I’d give it a go. You can find the book here.

This is what I learned…the real secret to lifelong health and happiness. And it’s not what you may think.

Do you know what it is?

It’s not wealth or fame or even spending time in the garden…don’t hate me!

According to Harvard’s study of adult development, the secret to lifelong health and happiness is close relationships.

We need our friends and our loved ones! We need deep connections with each other. And if you’re anything like me (someone that spends a lot of time at home), then spending time with friends doesn’t just happen.

Instead, it requires intentional planning.

So, my question for you…when is the last time you had lunch (or tea or coffee) with a friend or someone else that doesn’t live in your home? Has it been too long? Then, don’t put it off. Send a text or make a call today to one of your besties and plan something fun.

Well, maybe after you finish reading today’s post.

Before I share a bit more about the good life in this week’s Monday Musings, let’s chat Zinnias and Tomatoes (aka my flower garden and Bill’s veggie garden).

Zinnias and Tomatoes

The weather last week was wonderful. One of those weeks when you begin to think it’s ok to start gardening.

The Problem: You know that the cold will return soon enough so you don’t want to get ahead of yourself. It’s most definitely NOT time to begin planting zinnias or tomatoes.

The Solution: Focus on garden clean-up, garden projects and planting cool season vegetables and flowers.

Our Country Garden

Garden clean-up is in full swing. Cleaning up beds, power washing the white fence, repairing raised beds, etc.

And this year we don’t have any major garden projects planned. However, if you’re looking for a garden project, I shared one of my favorite DIY projects yesterday on the blog, building garden trellises. If you missed it, read it here.

We’re also focusing on getting our cool season garden underway, we’re in gardening zone 7a. (Find your zone here.)

Bill started cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower from seed inside under grow lights earlier this year and now that March 1 is quickly approaching, he has headed outside to do a bit of cool season gardening.

His cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower seedlings are now planted in his raised beds. The 2024 gardening season has officially commenced.

And although Bill made some progress outside in the vegetable garden, I didn’t make any progress in my cut flower garden. But I did finally get my seeds organized and now have a list of what needs to be started sooner than later (bachelors buttons and sweet peas for starters).

And the tulip bulbs that I planted inside earlier this year are blooming. They have created the most beautiful inside tulip garden.

Monday Musings

Now that we’ve chatted about the garden, let’s get back to The Good Life.

Based on the research shared in the book, The Good Life and my desire to live a long, healthy and happy life, I am trying to be more intentional about spending time with my friends and my loved ones.

So last Wednesday when I had an entirely free day, I decided to call a friend at the last minute for a play day.

The Good Life and a Play Day

She said yes! After hanging up the phone, I jumped in the car and was at her doorstep in about 30 minutes. We headed to Oklahoma City for our play day.

Our first stop was the Paseo Arts District. It’s filled with shops, galleries and restaurants. It was a gorgeous day to walk around and stop in each shop. Such a fun area and we each came home with a pile of colorful Kantha quilts.

Next, we had lunch on the patio at Picasso Cafe and shared a plate of Suited and Booted Vegan nachos followed by two desserts. The Vegan Chocolate Avocado Mousse was so decadent!

After lunch we did a bit of antiquing and found the most wonderful vintage rug at a consignment store. I’m still dreaming about it! I also found a McCoy planter to add to my collection and a few vintage floral frogs.

It was like we were kids again…but we didn’t have to ask permission to go, what time we had to be back or how much money we could spend.

It was such an amazing day! Good for the soul!

The Tulsa Flea Market with Bill

In addition to my play day with a girlfriend, swimming, walks with Midge, a bit of gardening, etc., last week also included a second outing. This time with Bill, my favorite person for play days.

Bill and I scheduled our outing on Saturday so that we could wander around the Tulsa Flea Market. If you love to junk and are in the Tulsa area, I highly recommend the Tulsa Flea Market. Lots of vintage finds for great prices.

I came home with several blue and white pieces for the library bookshelves and a vintage piece of ironstone for summer bouquets.

We also stopped at a few estate sales, ate brunch at The Vault and did a bit of shopping at Costco. I could spend a day in Tulsa every week. There is always something new to try and lots of favorites stops.

Time together with friends and loved ones really is the good life!

The Week Ahead

My goal for this week is to continue to focus on quality time with friends and loved ones. The longer that I’m retired, the more I realize the importance of creating routines (like swimming, walking Midge, cooking at home, and gardening) that contribute to my personal health and happiness.

And that sometimes, breaking routines to spend time with family and friends is even more important. I’ve also learned that time with friends and loved ones doesn’t happen without intentional planning.

So, this week, my plan is to intentionally focus on time with family and friends.

Cheers to the good life!

Thanks so much for sharing in the third edition of Zinnias, Tomatoes and Monday Musings: The Good Life.

Cheers to retired life, and as always, happy gardening!

x Penny Pennington Weeks

Previous Editions

Zinnias, Tomatoes, and Monday Musings: The Start of Something New, 2.12.24

Zinnias, Tomatoes, and Monday Musings: Vintage Love times Two, 2.19.24