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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 on27 January 20115 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

Two-poem Thursday

by Just Frances2 Comments on Two-poem Thursday

When I’m feeling stressed I turn to my writing prompts. Today, that meant working on a new form poem, which led me to write a…

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Posted on25 January 20115 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Food woes

by Just Frances11 Comments on Food woes

I’ve been noticing in recent weeks that I’m not eating enough and I need to work on that. Before Paul died my diet and exercise…

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Posted on5 January 20115 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

30 things

by Just Frances3 Comments on 30 things

My friend posted a list of 30 things that make her smile and asked her readers what would be on their list. So, here’s my…

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Posted on4 January 20115 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

I’m [not] Scottish

by Just Frances6 Comments on I’m [not] Scottish

I am American, born and bred to American parents. My ancestors are Germans from Russia. This means that I am not, contrary to the insistence…

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Posted on1 January 20115 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

New year hopes

by Just Frances2 Comments on New year hopes

Yay! It’s 2011! Part of me dreads entering yet another new year because it reminds me of where I thought my life would be by…

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Posted on31 December 20105 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Reflections of 2010

by Just Frances1 Comment on Reflections of 2010

As 2010 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the past year. And if I’m honest, I have to admit that it was…

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Posted on21 December 20105 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Everybody hurts, sometimes

by Just Frances3 Comments on Everybody hurts, sometimes

I’ve really been struggling through this holiday season – much more than last year when I was still in a bit of shock and disbelief over the…

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Posted on19 December 201015 July 2021Culinary Arts, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

I miss dinner parties

by Just Frances4 Comments on I miss dinner parties

Shortly after we got married Paul and I started a new tradition of monthly dinner parties. Parties to which we were the only guests. It…

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Posted on13 December 20105 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Water, water, everywhere

by Just Frances4 Comments on Water, water, everywhere

I had a long, partly mostly tear-filled conversation with a friend today where I went on and on about many of the fears and uncertainties…

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Posted on12 December 20105 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Tree time

by Just Frances3 Comments on Tree time

With less than two weeks before Christmas, I am trying to get into the spirit. I’ll admit it’s difficult, but I am trying. I had…

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Posted on6 December 20105 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

It’s all about the unicorns

by Just Frances4 Comments on It’s all about the unicorns

My foster daughter has this habit of saying “Guess what?” without giving any further clues or context. In the beginning, I would ask for hints…

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Posted on4 December 20105 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

Dear Stress and Worry

by Just Frances1 Comment on Dear Stress and Worry

Dear Stress and Worry: I would like to tell you how very unhappy and miserable you make me. You tell me the world is full…

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Posted on25 November 20105 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Tearful but thankful

by Just Frances4 Comments on Tearful but thankful

Well, it would seem that I wasn’t meant to have a proper Thanksgiving this year. I wished for one and even invited family and friends…

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Posted on25 November 20105 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

I’m thankful for…

by Just Frances3 Comments on I’m thankful for…

This Thanksgiving I have much to be thankful for. I have amazing parents; five sisters who’ve supplied me with loads and loads of fantastic nieces…

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Posted on17 November 20105 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Scotland: A rocky start, but home for my heart

by Just Frances7 Comments on Scotland: A rocky start, but home for my heart

It was September 2001. I was 27 years old and travelling off of the North American continent for the first time in my life. No,…

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Posted on26 October 20105 July 2021Crafting & Creating, Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Copy bird

by Just Frances3 Comments on Copy bird

In the evenings, you will quite often find me and the kid in the living room not talking*: Her on the love seat reading or…

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Posted on25 October 20105 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Today I will…

by Just Frances5 Comments on Today I will…

Today’s writing prompt was to write for ten minutes starting with the words “Today I will…”. So when lunch came around I grabbed my laptop…

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Posted on22 October 20105 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

A-Z poetry (Hey! That rhymes!)

by Just Frances2 Comments on A-Z poetry (Hey! That rhymes!)

Today’s writing lesson was an A-Z poem where the first letter of each line forms the alphabet in alphabetical order. It was a bit challenging…

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Posted on5 October 20104 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

A shape haiku

by Just Frances1 Comment on A shape haiku

As I work toward my goal of publishing a book I’ve found myself spending a lot of time re-learning different forms of poetry. Added to…

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Posted on4 October 20104 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

Scarily unexcited

by Just Frances3 Comments on Scarily unexcited

Halloween is less than four weeks away and I am anything but excited about it. In fact, there is this niggling feeling of apprehension about…

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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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