Hello September!

New month, new theme, new newsletter format. Hope you like it.

Autumn is on the horizon, and honestly, that makes me happy - it’s my favorite season of the year.

With just a handful of weeks left until the end of summer, my feet are starting to smile. I’m embarrassed to admit the amount of money I’ve spent unsuccessfully trying to find cozy sandals. Friends and family have recommended what they love, yet my feet still aren’t happy - guess you might call them fussy feet.

Over the summer I finally made time to declutter my bedroom. I made sure the coziest socks were carefully placed, and they’re anxiously waiting for my return. I also dream of knitting a new pair of socks. It’s been years since I knitted. I’m hoping it’s just like riding a bike. You never really forget; you just need a little practice.

One of the ladies who pulls up a chair at The Kitchen Table gatherings shared that she’s making socks with hand-dyed self-striping yarn. What? No changing colors or weaving in ends. Yes please! Just what I need as I return to the creative practice of knitting. I’m planning a road trip to a neighbouring town very soon to visit Polka Dot Creek Yarn. It’s not only a cute shop name, but they also name their sock sets. I’m thinking my feet will be happy with the Thankful Fingering Self-Striping Sock Set.

Flip-flops get ready! Just a few more weeks and you’ll be kicked to the curb.

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ON THIS MONTH’S THEME:
EXPERIENCE YOUR INNER COZY

I’ve been pondering what inner cozy actually means - past the cozy socks and candles. Yesterday I shared this in Substack Notes.

To me, Inner Cozy is more than a blanket wrapped around my shoulders as I sit in front of a fireplace. It’s the smell of apple pandowdy drifting out the kitchen window when I arrived home from elementary school. Before I even got to the door, I already felt held.

To which one reader replied. “The first thing that popped in for me was walking through (kicking up) fallen dried autumn leaves and picking up brown shiny conkers before heading home for cups of tea and crumpets. Definitely a lovely childhood memory and something that still feels special.” She shared something even more tender, too, that the memory carried a quiet sense of her late mum's presence with it.

That is an experience of Inner Cozy.

We’ll be exploring more about what creates inner cozy as the month continues.

What’s your inner cozy? Not the aesthetic version. The real one. A smell, a sound, a room, a person. What comes to mind first? Please share in the comment section below. I’d love to hear what came up for you.

Welcome to those of you who’ve found your way here this past month. I’m so happy you’re here.

And to those who’ve been sitting at this table with me for a while, thank you for staying. You know how much this space has grown and changed, and I’m grateful you’ve come along for it.

The Hummingbird Nest is a gentle gathering place for women who are longing to slow down and reconnect with themselves. Here you’ll find stillness, creativity, and connection. I’d suggest beginning with just one thing.

The Garden…is here if you need to exhale.

If you’ve arrived feeling a little frayed, a little overfull, this is where to start. Step into the quiet. There’s nothing to do here except let yourself land. Here’s a meditation to walk you in.

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Connection at The Kitchen Table…is here if you’re craving connection.

Pull up a chair. This is where stories get told, and where you get to be fully seen and heard. There’s no performance here, no perfect thing to say. Just a table, open hearts, and the kind of company that lingers after you’ve gone.

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The Creativity Studio …is here if something in you wants to make.

There’s a creative self in you, tucked behind everything else, waiting patiently. The projects are simple. The supplies are minimal. You don’t need to be creative here, only curious.

This month you'll find one planned gathering and creative invitations scattered throughout, whenever I'm inspired to share by newsletter or Substack Live.

A Pop-Up Retreat by The Hummingbird Nest

​Just a reminder that my full archive (three years of content) is available to access for free until I officially swing the barn doors open at The Hummingbird Nest sometime in the next few months.

There, you’ll find:

🌸 personal stories of my own journey, shared in hopes they’ll inspire you on your own - fireside reading

🌻creative invitations - gather a group of friends for some creative fun, or find a simple project to do solo or with your kids

🌷stillness practices - meditations, journaling prompts, and rituals

💐and so much more

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Wherever you find your inner cozy this month, I hope you'll come sit with us awhile and tell us about it. The conversation is just getting started.

Warmly,
Kathy

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A little about me

Hi, I’m Kathy. A guide, a gatherer, a maker of sacred space, and a woman who found her way home to herself after years of putting everyone else first.

For years, I wore many hats at once. Single parent, community manager in a role I was promoted into before I believed I deserved it, event organizer. And later, a family caregiver. Learning all over again how to give without losing yourself in the giving. Caring for everyone, in every direction, all at the same time. What I had to learn, slowly and imperfectly, was that I mattered too. What I found on the other side of that, through stillness, creativity, and the women who gathered around my table, became everything I now offer.

There’s a place at the table with your name on it.

I’m excited to share a glimpse of The Hummingbird Nest. Here’s a snapshot of the home page. Come on in for a visit.