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Just Frances

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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 on18 December 20105 July 2021Crafting & Creating

Not finished!

by Just Frances4 Comments on Not finished!

Yesterday I shared the finished scarf for my foster daughter’s Christmas present. Today, I’m sharing the unfinished afghan! Thankfully, she is off mucking out stalls…

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Posted on17 December 20105 July 2021Crafting & Creating

Finished!

by Just Frances2 Comments on Finished!

Yay! It’s taken a while, but I’ve finally finished the purple scarf I was crocheting for my foster daughter’s Christmas present. The afghan may not…

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Posted on17 December 20105 July 2021Everyday Life, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Venice videos

by Just Frances2 Comments on Venice videos

I don’t know what made me start looking at all of these old videos, but I have been and it’s making me smile so I’m…

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Posted on16 December 20105 July 2021Everyday Life

How hokey!

by Just Frances2 Comments on How hokey!

I think it was Celeste’s wedding when we started the tradition of doing the Hokey Pokey at Cook Girl weddings. I remember all of us…

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Posted on15 December 20105 July 2021Everyday Life

2010 Christmas card and letter

by Just Frances1 Comment on 2010 Christmas card and letter

I sent out my Christmas cards on Monday and, as promised, am sharing the card and letter with all of you. After all, just because…

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Posted on14 December 20105 July 2021Everyday Life

A cartridge in a bare tree

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A cartridge in a bare tree

Growing up, one of my favourite Christmas decorations was a small twiggy, leafless branch, planted in a little pot and standing 6-8” tall. Hanging from…

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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 on9 December 20105 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness

Culinary apathy

by Just Frances1 Comment on Culinary apathy

As part of my marathon training, I need to get back into the habit of eating healthy foods. You know – whole foods, low sodium foods, unprocessed…

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Posted on8 December 20105 July 2021Everyday Life

Twee tweety tenement

by Just Frances1 Comment on Twee tweety tenement

I was given a little birdhouse the other day by my foster daughter. She came home and rather unceremoniously handed it to me on her…

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Posted on7 December 20105 July 2021Everyday Life

I can do it! [So says The Kid]

by Just Frances5 Comments on I can do it! [So says The Kid]

My foster daughter is pretty excited about my plans to run a marathon. She thinks I’m an amazing runner and that I’ll do really well.…

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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 on5 December 20105 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness

Time or distance?

by Just Frances6 Comments on Time or distance?

Today I had all intentions of doing 8 miles on the treadmill at the gym. I was free of the kid for a few hours…

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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 on2 December 20105 July 2021Everyday Life, Health & Wellness

Pizza, pizza!

by Just Frances3 Comments on Pizza, pizza!

My foster daughter had a visit with her mom tonight which meant I was on my own for dinner. So, I decided to stop into…

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Posted on30 November 20105 July 2021Fitness & Exercise

I’m goin’ for it!

by Just Frances3 Comments on I’m goin’ for it!

I’m a runner. I have been since school when I ran on the cross country team. I enjoy running. Really, I do. But I never…

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Posted on30 November 20105 July 2021Everyday Life

Finding joy: November

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Finding joy: November

My 2010 resolution was to find a bit of joy every day. Each day, I thought about the things that bring me joy and posted them…

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Posted on27 November 201012 March 2025Culinary Arts

No-bake cookies

by Just Frances3 Comments on No-bake cookies

I remember the first time I made no-bake cookies for Paul. He came home from work, looked at the plate of cookies on the kitchen…

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Posted on27 November 20105 July 2021Everyday Life

A birthday remembered

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A birthday remembered

Today isn’t what it’s meant to be. Instead of me baking a cake for Paul’s 49th birthday, I’m stuck remembering that he only made it…

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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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