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Just Frances

Just Frances

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Category: Musings & Ramblings

Posts under this category tend to be reflective and at times a form of my own “talk therapy” as the act of writing down my thoughts and feelings can sometimes help me to work through them. I try not to be political or controversial in what I write, so you won’t find many of my “world views” shared here. (But in this COVID-pandemic world, I urge my fellow humans to wear a mask, social distance, and get the blood vaccine when it’s offered to you!)

Posted on1 January 202318 January 2023Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

2023: Simply me

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on 2023: Simply me

Welcome to a new year and a new set of personal goals and objectives. My primary focus for 2023 is me. Of course, that is…

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Posted on31 December 202212 January 2023Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Reflections of 2022

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Reflections of 2022

It’s not fair to say that 2022 has been completely horrible. Don’t get me wrong, it was really horrible in a lot of ways. But…

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Posted on31 December 20227 January 2023Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Goals 2022: Wrapping up and moving on

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Goals 2022: Wrapping up and moving on

With 2022 quickly making an exit, it’s time for my annual goal wrap-up and review. And then, I am ready to move on! My overarching…

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Posted on12 December 202220 December 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Sunday Skype traditions

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Sunday Skype traditions

It’s been a year since my last Skype call with Mum. It was a “short” call lasting just 2 hours 33 minutes and 39 seconds.…

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Posted on10 December 202210 December 2022Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Travelling traditions

by Just Frances2 Comments on Travelling traditions

I am on my holidays… again! It’s a little odd making my third big trip back to the Homeland in less than 365 days, after…

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Posted on1 December 20224 December 2022Fitness & Exercise, Musings & Ramblings

Rebel runner: My lifetime of running for bling

by Just Frances2 Comments on Rebel runner: My lifetime of running for bling

I am a runner, as I’ve declared on countless occasions. Indeed, I am a varsity runner, as evidenced by my varsity letter from my high…

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Posted on16 November 202219 November 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Meet the 123s and ABCs: Ordinal-linguistic personification

by Just Frances6 Comments on Meet the 123s and ABCs: Ordinal-linguistic personification

In my world, letters and numbers are alive. OK, maybe not quite “alive” but they do have animate properties. Things like genders, personalities, and interpersonal…

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Posted on5 November 20226 November 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Rebel diarist: My journey from “Dear Diary” to a life record

by Just Frances4 Comments on Rebel diarist: My journey from “Dear Diary” to a life record

I have long kept a journal or diary of some fashion or another. Indeed, I began dabbling in the art of journalling as a young…

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Posted on2 October 20221 November 2022Musings & Ramblings

SuzieQ: Hearts and friendship

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on SuzieQ: Hearts and friendship

A month ago, I woke to the sad news that my dear friend didn’t wake up. The news came as a shock, and I wanted…

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Posted on1 August 20228 August 2022Crafting & Creating, Musings & Ramblings

A yarn about yarn

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A yarn about yarn

Definition: Yarn \ˈyärn\ (noun)1 (a): a continuous often plied strand composed of either natural or man-made fibres or filaments and used in weaving and knitting…

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Posted on22 July 202210 December 2022Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Home again, again, again: My 2022 Homeland Holiday recap

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Home again, again, again: My 2022 Homeland Holiday recap

Once again, my Homeland Holidays have come to an end, and I am slowly settling back into life in The Heartland. And, oh, how my…

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Posted on9 June 20224 August 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Rosaries and rifles

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Rosaries and rifles

My mother’s funeral was yesterday. It began with a Rosary and ended with rifle fire. Just the way she would have wanted it. It’s still…

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Posted on21 May 2022Chronic Illness, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Remembering red flags: Happy 17th anniversary, to me

by Just Frances2 Comments on Remembering red flags: Happy 17th anniversary, to me

Today marks 17 years since I became Mrs Ryan. And despite the absence of Mr Ryan, I like to mark this day as it was…

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Posted on8 May 202217 June 2022Musings & Ramblings

Everybody’s mother

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Everybody’s mother

A few days ago, I shared a post about my mother and what she meant (means) to me. But she wasn’t just my mother, she…

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Posted on26 April 202216 June 2022Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

13 years of missing Paul; of missing me

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on 13 years of missing Paul; of missing me

It’s now been 13 years since my beloved husband, Paul, died suddenly and unexpectedly. It’s a strange feeling, being this far from the immediate grief…

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Posted on24 March 202213 July 2022Musings & Ramblings

From moments on Earth to eternity in Heaven

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on From moments on Earth to eternity in Heaven

Trigger warning: This post recounts my time with my mother in the last hours and moments of her life. It might be an upsetting or…

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Posted on21 February 202228 February 2022Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Blessings at 48

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Blessings at 48

Today, I am 48 years old. And today hurts. Not because I’m 48, but rather because I am now officially older than my late husband.…

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Posted on7 February 202227 February 2022Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Home and heartbroken

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Home and heartbroken

I arrived home in Scotland yesterday, a month later than my initial plan. Home, and heartbroken… My holiday was meant to be a wonderfully happy…

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Posted on2 February 20223 February 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Barbara Ann (Eberle) Cook

by Just Frances4 Comments on Barbara Ann (Eberle) Cook

My mother died on Monday, 24 January 2022 and I have missed her since her last breath left her body. I will miss her forever,…

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Posted on11 January 202220 February 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

To move a mountain

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on To move a mountain

Winter in The Homeland means snow. Some years, it means more snow than others. And this year is one of the “more snow” years. Indeed,…

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About Just Frances

Just Frances is a personal website maintained by me, Frances Ryan. I am a quirky runner, writer, thinker, drinker, crafter, adventurer, and researcher. I am also a daughter, sister, aunty, friend, and widow. But mostly, I am just Frances. (She/Her)

I blog about my life, including my travels and adventures, my experiences with PKD and ITP, my life as a young(ish) widow, and my life in general, really. Learn more about the topics I write about here.

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