Margaret Arnold • November 2, 2024
A Risk But Keeping it Light and Variable

Starting a blog feels like the opposite of simple. At any moment, I could talk myself out of it — it feels risky, so "not me." But each day, I find myself wanting to share thoughts, both old and new, about living a simple life. Rather than picking up the phone to share my ideas and new practices with friends and family who may have no interest in my thoughts and ideas, I’ve decided to take a risk and write them down in a new personal blog, The Silver Thread.


My inspiration comes, in part, from my mother and her daily practices I observed (and were no doubt passed down to her), my own learnings that have now become habits, and a deeper interest in simplicity by exploring literature and other content. One of those inspirations was the Ann Patchett's article and book and the charming book "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter" by Margareta Magnusson.


The weather that day
was described as light
and variable


In May 2020, a few months into the pandemic, I sent a note to colleagues letting them know I was stepping away from my consulting work (only to return twice more 😊) to help and be a caregiver for family, downsize our family home and move into a smaller home, and see a few volunteer projects through. The weather that day was described as "light and variable" which inspired the start of creating a light and variable lifestyle. Like the weather, I could imagine "it" immediately, but I just needed to start — like this blog.

What I didn’t know was that practicing a simpler life could truly be light and variable. Light, meaning you recognize it when you "feel" it and are attracted to return to it often — less belongings, less waste, less cost, and more time for meaningful connections. Variable, defined as lightening your load to allow for flexibility, change, and growth. Light and variable also describe the calm and unpredictably of working towards, achieving and returning to a simpler lifestyle.


Five top facts to know about my light and variable lifestyle that I’ll highlight and write about in future issues of The Silver Thread:


  • Space is at the center of the lifestyle.
  • Preparation and routine ensures success.
  • Cleaning and the right tools are part of the process.
  • Family legacy, health and moments are a priority.
  • Nature and cool things can inspire.


I’ve found that a life that is more light and variable has brought unexpected fun and challenge. It’s a practice I continue to refine, and one you may want to explore, too.


Silverish Simplicity Links

You can find any books I suggest at your local library





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Past Blogs

Laura Ingalls Wilder Book Collection

Stories in Small Moments: Essays and Simple Living

By Margaret Arnold • October 11, 2025
After nearly 30 blog posts about simple living, I continue to find enjoyment in downsizing and being intentional. This summer reinforced my commitment to simplicity in two ways: first, letting things move on—including my 55-year collection of Laura Ingalls Wilder books to my son's fiancée, a teacher, with whom I discovered a shared love of the series; and secondly, using groceries wisely, experimenting with what's on hand and increasing freezing techniques rather than waste (more on that later). This intentional approach extends to reading, one of life's simplest pleasures. Some of my best memories and connections to people are through reading. Laura Ingalls Wilder's books read in the early 1970s remind me of home upstairs in the girls’ “dormitory” bedroom. The Sound of Music on a family road trip in a GMC motorhome in 1976 gave me moments of escape alongside five siblings. Kate DiCamillo, Gary Paulsen and the Harry Potter series remind me of my children as emerging readers and their well-worn books. Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig and Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner connect me to an early book club of serious readers and friends I still cherish today. This intentional approach extends to reading ...

Downsizing Without Losing Memories

By Margaret Arnold • August 23, 2025
With the State Fair and the new school year here, memories flood back — once captured on a paper calendar pinned to the bulletin board, then in spiral-bound weekly calendar (still my favorite, pencil only!), and later on desktop electronic calendar. When we decided to downsize while preserving memories, I organized nearly 35 years of family dates into a single Google Sheet called "Family Important and Fun Dates from Margaret’s Calendars." This simple digital chronicle of our family’s journey, from our children's milestones to the activities and adventures my husband and I now enjoy as empty nesters. tODAY, THERE IS JUST ONE GOOGLE SHEET ...

Saying Goodbye to Boxes, Keeping the Memories

By Margaret Arnold • July 26, 2025
Thirteen years, seven rental properties, and countless storage boxes later, my oldest daughter finally has a home of her own. Through college, medical school, and residency, we continued to store belongings that didn't fit or belong in the cramped spaces of her temporary living situations. Passing along her belongings felt like closing one chapter and opening another—most of all, it represented the end of her grueling training years and the beginning of truly settling down in a lovely home and neighborhood. Her move got me reflecting on my own relationship with storage and my journey toward "Silverish Simplicity." In our former family home, we had one large storage area and two guest bedroom closets filled with plastic totes and banker boxes (see picture below). I even stored empty totes—a sure indication I was planning to accumulate more rather than less. With our move nearly four years ago and the natural process of downsizing while launching our children into their first homes, the number of boxes and totes has dramatically decreased. More importantly, I have no reason to purchase new totes, and I celebrate each time I empty a box or bin and it moves on to family members who need them. ... THE NUMBER OF BOXES AND TOTES HAS DRAMATICALLY DECREASED ...