Skip to content
Just Frances

Just Frances

Made with 100% pure awesomeness

Menu
  • About
    • Meet Frances
    • Copyright
    • The Small Print
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • 2026 Goals
      • Rebel Badge Tracker
  • Browse by topic
    • Everyday Life
    • Academic Life
    • Widow Life
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crafting & Creating
    • Culinary Arts
    • Fitness & Exercise
    • Health & Wellness
    • Musings & Ramblings
    • Travels, Adventures & Explorations
  • Gallery
    • Main galleries
    • Random photo dumps
    • Race photos
    • Just swirls
    • We forgot the tripod
  • Contact Just Frances

Tag: hopeful

Posted on1 November 201322 July 2021Academic Life, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

A little closer

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A little closer

Today is 1 November, which is the amended date for the start of my PhD programme in Scotland. Yet I am still in America. But,…

Keep reading
Posted on23 October 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

Life’s travels: Left or right?

by Just Frances4 Comments on Life’s travels: Left or right?

I’ve come to a major fork in life’s journey and all of my maps are outdated and tattered. There are very few signs and a…

Keep reading
Posted on20 October 201321 July 2021Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Modern conversations

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Modern conversations

This evening, I had the awesome privilege of going to a high school play with my way-cool nephew. And because he thinks I’m way cool, he let…

Keep reading
Posted on18 October 201321 July 2021Crafting & Creating, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

Autumn falls

by Just Frances2 Comments on Autumn falls

Ta-da! This is my latest swirl, Autumn Falls. I swirled it whilst sitting in my parents’ living room over about a week – whilst sitting in a lovely, comfy…

Keep reading
Posted on17 October 20139 November 2021Everyday Life

Signed, sealed, delivered

by Just Frances4 Comments on Signed, sealed, delivered

Today I sent off my visa application papers. A couple of days later than I’d hoped, but the delay meant that I had everything I wanted to…

Keep reading
Posted on11 October 201320 August 2021Academic Life

Apply and wait

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Apply and wait

I have finally applied for my new Tier 4 student visa. Yes, finally. It’s something I had expected to do more than a month ago, but plans don’t always…

Keep reading
Posted on1 October 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Frustrations and silver linings

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Frustrations and silver linings

Today is 1 October, which was my target date for beginning my PhD studies. Only I’m not in Scotland at the moment because I’ve not sorted…

Keep reading
Posted on27 September 201321 July 2021Academic Life

ATAS girl

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on ATAS girl

Remember how I told you that I had to manoeuvre through an additional obstacle before I could apply for my new Tier 4 student visa? And remember how…

Keep reading
Posted on25 September 201321 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

On being happy

by Just Frances6 Comments on On being happy

In the past few weeks, I’ve noticed an increase in conversations around happiness and depression so I thought I’d throw some of my own words…

Keep reading
Posted on20 September 201319 November 2022Musings & Ramblings

Education is Central

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Education is Central

I spent a lovely day on the Central Washington University campus today with my lovely niece, Virginia. It was so wonderful seeing the campus all spruced up…

Keep reading
Posted on12 September 201321 July 2021Academic Life

The ATAS hoop

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The ATAS hoop

Today I learned that I have another obstacle to manoeuvre around before applying for my new student visa. Apparently, because I will be in a computer-based…

Keep reading
Posted on6 September 201321 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Hello, America

by Just Frances2 Comments on Hello, America

I am finally back in America after more than two years in Scotland – and after two emotionally draining days of international travel. I can’t really say that I’m…

Keep reading
Posted on4 September 201321 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Goodbye, Scotland

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Goodbye, Scotland

I’m on the train to England now and will be flying home to America tomorrow morning. It’s weird because part of me feels like I…

Keep reading
Posted on2 September 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Empty fears

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Empty fears

My flat is now nearly empty. The only things that remain (other than the furnishings belonging to the property) are my (nearly) packed suitcases that I’m…

Keep reading
Posted on1 September 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

The daydream

by Just Frances2 Comments on The daydream

I daydream. I always have and I always will. I suppose that it’s harmless, though it does sometimes mean that I pin a bit of…

Keep reading
Posted on1 September 20139 May 2022Chronic Illness, Health & Wellness

ITP Awareness Month: Living and coping

by Just Frances30 Comments on ITP Awareness Month: Living and coping

It’s September and that means that it’s ITP Awareness Month. So I thought I’d share a bit more about my ITP journey with you to give…

Keep reading
Posted on29 August 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

The guilt of schadenfreude

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The guilt of schadenfreude

Schadenfreude \ˈshä-dən-ˌfrȯi-də\ (noun, often capitalised) [German, from Schaden damage + Freude joy First Known Use: 1895]1: enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others1 I like to think that I am a…

Keep reading
Posted on26 August 201321 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Finding rainbows through the tears

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Finding rainbows through the tears

I’m not a big fan of the rain but when the skies open up I do find myself looking – and hoping – for a rainbow. Rainbows make me…

Keep reading
Posted on22 August 201321 July 2021Chronic Illness, Health & Wellness

Bob & Dave: Just normal

by Just Frances2 Comments on Bob & Dave: Just normal

Today was my annual check-up for my kidneys, Bob and Dave. I’ve been really nervous about it because I know that the last year hasn’t been…

Keep reading
Posted on21 August 201321 July 2021Musings & Ramblings

The complexity of simplicity

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The complexity of simplicity

Note: This is a piece I’ve been working on for a couple of years (I always have a few ideas/drafts in progress) and isn’t a…

Keep reading

Posts pagination

Previous Page Page 1 … Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 … Page 24 Next Page

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.

Search Just Frances

Subscribe to new posts

Enter your email address to subscribe to Just Frances and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives by month

america anxiety arts & crafts birthday blessings budget by the water candy celebrations cemeteries challenges childhood memories chores christmas cle elum confession confidence cooking COVID19 daddy dating drawings drink edinburgh ego england entertainment expat exploring faith family fashion fear food foster kid friends gadgets gallery geek geocaching goals grief happy memories health historic buildings holidays home and garden homeland hopeful immigration in-laws inspirations isolation itp lonely master's degree mental health moving mummy music nature new year nieces and nephews ocd old churches olden days parks and gardens paul phd photo dump poems pretty things prioritising me quirky quotes races random rant relaxing ruins running scotland self-improvement self-reflection shopping silly sisters spoiled statues, monuments, and memorials stubborn the parentals traditions travel videos walks and hikes whimsy widow blog (archives) widowhood work writing

Copyright © 2009-2025, Just Frances. All rights reserved.  |  Privacy, Terms, & Conditions.
Amphibious Theme by TemplatePocket ⋅ Powered by WordPress