First Daybook in a Decade?
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Outside My Window
There is a Mary garden outside the window over my sink that is truly in its glory now. I love watching it change throughout the summer. Phlox is showing particularly strong this morning. Some bare spots remind me that I was going to add lavender this year. I wonder if it’s too late.
I am Listening to
The washing machine do its thing. I’ve gotten into a good habit of washing early and hanging as much as I can to dry outside. Our “laundry room” is not air conditioned and it’s also our hall bathroom upstairs. It gets outrageously hot in there when we run the dryer. Because our house is so old, none of the appliances that were here when we got here are energy efficient. I used to think “energy efficient” was a marketing ploy. Now I understand otherwise.
I am Wearing
A T-shirt from Revelation Wellness and denim shorts. My hair is in braids pulled back with a headband. These are hot days that call for much hair taming… Somehow, braids have become my default. when I catch my reflection, I either think to myself Laura Ingalls Wilder or Hippie Grandmother depending on how far I am from the mirror.
I am so Grateful for
all the care and effort and hard work my husband has put into our backyard this summer. Goodness! It’s a labor of love!
I'm Pondering
The second problem I see is overscheduling. Most mothers I see allow their kids' schedules to get completely out of control. Evenings and weekends are spent racing from one music or athletic event to another. I know because I made the same mistake when my kids were young. If this is a struggle for you, simplify life for everyone by adopting the "One Rule." Tell each child he may choose one after-school activity per grading period. This sounds outrageous to some parents who want their kids to excel in many different areas and who most certainly don't want to deprive opportunities. But remember one thing: Whenever your child is on the soccer field, he's deprived of time with you and the family. And which does he really need more time with in order to grow up emotionally and mentally sound?
Cutting activities from a child's schedule seems heretical for a modern-day parent. Let's face it, we are competitive with the parents in our child's class and it's hard to be home watching the other kids' parents pulling out of the driveway on their way to ski practice while you and your kids are sitting down at the kitchen table to tuna noodle casserole. But whenever you neighbor takes off with a car full of kids at dinnertime, remember that you and your kids are the real winners. You aren't doing nothing with them; you are building stronger relationships with them. And kids need better relationships more than they need more practice at any sport or extracurricular activity. They will never regret time at home
Really taking this to heart as I look at the season ahead. We generally adhere to the One Rule, but it's nice to see it in print. The first year we were here was The Year the World Shut Down. We were always home, and it was good in many ways as we adapted to the huge change in our lives. Then, we found people! And those people are good and life-giving. I’m beyond grateful for them.
But I’m cautious. I can see the tug back towards over-busyness. I can see how now that we don’t have a One Thing to which we are committed the way we were previously committed to soccer and dance (a Very Big Way), there is the real possibility of being sucked away by half a dozen little things of good intent. I’m guarding against that.
I am Reading
I just finished listening through the entire Mitford series over again on Audible. The link is to the first in the series. What wonderful characters and lovely stories! I miss those folks already. Mitford is comfort reading for me. It’s entertaining and it doesn’t stress me out with plots that cause anxiety. I am at ease when I read because there’s enough predictability that I’m allowed to relax. I love how faith is woven throughout every ordinary day. … Also, John McDonough, who narrates most of them, is absolutely magnificent!
I am Creating
a pillow for a ring bearer. I have my doubts about said ring bearer actually carrying it down the aisle when Paddy gets married at the end of August, but it will coordinate nicely with the flower girl dresses, and someone will no doubt get the rings where they need to go;-)
Coming through my AirPods:
After my Mitford blitz, I started bingeing on sourdough baking podcasts. It’s not as abrupt a shift as it might seem. Mitford is a small town and people there grow gardens and cook from scratch and share with their neighbors. I’m inspired by living, breathing, growing hospitality as a way of life. Given my choice, I’d live on a few acres and have chickens and a milk cow and share from a giant vegetable garden. In reality, I mostly just share flowers. But sourdough is a living breathing thing and it will produce food we can both eat and share. So I’m starting there.
Towards a Real Education
We have begun to plan. News forthcoming.
To Live the Liturgy...
The simplest way I know to live the liturgy is to go to daily Mass. It’s that simple, but I know it’s not always easy. Sometimes simple things are actually quite difficult to pull off. These days I am grateful for the great gift of walking to daily Mass. It has transformed my life.
I’m praying
For Patrick and Lexi in this final month before their wedding. They get married on the Feast of St. Monica. Mike and I have been asking especially for her intercession. We’re joyfully looking forward to a happy celebration in Charlottesville.
Also: For a boy I’ve loved his whole life. Please pray for comfort and consolation and the compassion of those close to him.
In the Garden
We saw our first dahlia bloom two days ago. I’m a little reserved this year. Nothing seems to be blooming as prolifically as last year. Last year was super wet—too wet, I think. We had so many mosquitoes! This year is very dry and quite hot for New England. I don’t think the flowers are as happy as last year’s flowers were.
Around the House
Last winter and spring, we renovated our kitchen. Well, I had big ideas and made some substrate and paint choices. Other people actually renovated. It was a huge job. The walls and floors were peeled back to the studs. All the knob and tube wiring (original electricity from when electricity in homes first became available) was replaced. Floors were leveled. Ceilings were squared. The space was opened up. We added working outlets all around and a range that actually cooks! It’s amazing and I’m so incredibly happy with it.
It’s not air conditioned, however, so I am having to exercise some restraint when it comes to the oven. With 18th-century low ceilings and without any climate control in the room, that oven can make kitchen work pretty unbearable. So I’m adapting recipes and curtailing my enthusiasm for baking all the things!
From the Kitchen
Speaking of the kitchen, we’ve taken a deep dive into the world of sourdough. Katie has spearheaded our experience and our education. She’s had some moderate successes with bread. She knocked it out of the park with homemade sourdough pasta topped with a light crab sauce. It was outrageously good and has earned itself a place on the Christmas Eve menu already. Bonus: no oven needed.
I’ve also been really loving creating tiny skillet breakfasts. We have a small oven next to our large oven on the range. It only takes a few moments to bake a couple eggs on a skillet, and they’re so darn cute they make me happy. I got the skillets here.
One of My Favorite Things
First light. I love the very early morning in my backyard with my puppy. It’s just such a good way to begin the day. .
A Few Plans for the Week
We are looking forward to a neighborhood gathering that has been two years in the making. Mike and I absolutely love our next door neighbors. They’ve been hoping to host an informal gathering at their house for old neighbors to get to know new neighbors. Covid circumvented neighborliness for a long time. We got to those folks right next to us really well. This weekend, they are going to introduce us to the rest of the neighborhood.
Then, next week, I”m hoping for several days of getting back on track after a bumpy July that was disrupted by illnesses and anaphylaxis. At the end of the week, I think maybe the bride and groom will be here for a brief weekend. Everything has to fall in to place, though, so we shall see.
Beautycounter right now
As I revive my blog and make this newsletter a regular occurrence, I have had some decisions to make. Instagram keeps changing its algorithm. Every time it twists in the wind, I am reminded of how I don’t want to be held captive to its capriciousness. I also don’t want a blog that is full of pop-ups and blinking ads and recipes that require you to read my life story before you know how much meat to defrost.
So, the plan is for my Beautycounter business to be the sole sponsor here. I ask you to consider that writing is a livelihood and it’s a ministry. It takes some money to create content. I can do this here if you treat yourself to some pretty great lip balm and a new way to take care of your face. Please be patient with these thoughtful “ads” for a self-care line that truly brings beauty to life. If you’re new to Beautycounter, please use the code CLEANFORALL30 on your first order for 30% off. And check out these minis as a great way to try some good products without buying a full-size item. I’m so grateful for your support as I write and create and encourage.
