Lazy W Marie

Carpeing all the diems in semi-rural Oklahoma...xoxo

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a solid week of giving thanks

Hello, friends, happy last week of November to you. We are here at the farm taking deep breaths and settling into our coziest, happiest early winter vibes, having properly celebrated a full week of Thanksgiving. We feel deeply grateful. And full. Our hearts and our bellies are so very full. It hurts a little, but it’s ok.

Last week our gatherings were a delicious mix of romance and solitude, friends and family, and a dash of community outreach. We spent our days and evenings mostly together, and I loved it. Klaus’ brother Lincoln was also with us until Saturday, which greatly added to the holiday cheer.

We exercised gently when it felt good and we had the time. We ate endless feasts of our favorite traditional foods. We watched movies at home and napped shamelessly. We completed fun projects around the farm, had a couple of prayer meetings with precious friends, and started making big, happy plans for Christmas. 

Flower bed clean up!

My parents hosted the local family on Friday evening. This year, none of our coastal siblings came to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving, and neither of my girls were with us (Jess was with her Dad’s family on Thursday, excited that her brother is in town from college, wahoo! Then she came down with strep throat, poor girl). We also are missing Grandpa Rex an awful lot. We could have focused on the people not with us, and in fact missing Jocelyn so acutely right now, I cried a lot on our drive to the City.

But somehow, the collective joy and laughter were powerful enough to drive out any sadness. I so appreciate this about my family. Everyone is so fun loving and light hearted, no matter what difficulty we are facing. Sometimes, I think, we are silly to spite what we are facing. And we have faced plenty over the years.

There’s a whole funny story about this moment that will probably lose all its humor in translation so just trust me here.

Mom, Angela, and I divided the menu, and I dare say conquered it. Three generations ate like kings and queens. Afterwards, everyone was able to fill their refrigerators with excellent leftovers. 

We played board games after dinner, and thanks to some magical November weather, the kids played outside.

My nephew Dante and baby brother Phil. Love them so much!!
Our Dad built this swing set for us when I was still in middle school. Now the little kids love it, and I bet they don’t even know that once I fell from it and busted my head open and got stitches and still have the scar.

On Sunday, Handsome and I welcomed several close friends at the farm for a low-key Friends-giving. Two fine humans named Kellie and Mickey arrived early, rolled up their sleeves, and helped finish all the food prep while we all chatted about deep and joyful new things. I have to say, the four of us make an outstanding team, especially in the kitchen. It was lots of fun.

Kale salad with roasted butternut squash and pom seeds, and smoked deviled eggs form Dennis. Amazing flavor!!

About nine adults total gathered and ate buffet style, snuggled up in our living room, where Handsome had built us a gorgeous, crackling fire. Everyone who joined us is in a very different life chapter, a mix of hard and beautiful, but we all have been friends for several years and care so much about each other. It was good to catch up in a quiet atmosphere and count our many blessings. Lots of laughter, again. Laughter prevails. Our faces hurt.

Along the way, truly every day this past week, we have felt that glowy warmth of genuine thankfulness. Gratitude for so many huge and tiny blessings. We feel God up close to us and surrounding us, too. He is pressing in, and we press back. Or maybe it’s the other way around?

Guess who can flat foot jump onto a round bale of hay now?

What I know is that it is working, this ongoing effort to improve our perspective a little more each day. Widen our view. Count the blessings that are coming at us like a tidal wave. Love immeasurable and full of hope. 

Thousands of prayers for these kids who are growing so fast…xoxo

Plus, it’s finally Christmas lights season!!

Thanks for reading, friends. I hope your Thanksgiving Week was also filled with love and pleasures. I hope you feel miracles brewing again. I would love to hear all about it.

Check back in soon for slightly more analytical thoughts on gratitude, whether it actually has power to change things.

Over and out!

XOXOXOXO

 

friday 5 at the farm: yoga mantras by adriene

Hey friends, happy Friday AGAIN. And happy first Friday of a brand new month. And Happy Groundhog Day! According to tradition, we are supposed to expect six more weeks of cold weather. However. If you’re curious about what the Almanac has to say, read this. Our long-range forecast sounds ok.

Either way, it doesn’t matter. Time flies so quickly that all we really have to focus on is making the most of Every. Single. Day. If we fill them with enough Love and good things, six weeks can pass as beautifully as two.

Carpe the Diems, warm or cold, rain or shine! Gratitude in every circumstance, right? Count it All Joy as my husband says. 

Okay. Speaking of gratitude, I just wrapped up that luscious month of daily yoga practice with Adriene, having completed her new series called TRUE, and I adored it. She teaches, inspires, and just invites you to promote your own well being in deeper ways.  

For a Friday 5 this week I want to share some of my favorite mantras she offers on repeat.

  1. “Tap into that inner smile.” This is better than faking happiness. It’s a private affirmation, and it can be a wellspring of energy, especially on days when it seems easier to be down. There is always joy available.
  2. “Breathe in sync with your movement.” For me, this has everything to do with mindfulness as I work around the farm. It helps me continue praying while staying connected to the animals or the task at hand. It also helps a lot with running.
  3. “Set your hands with a particular kind of love.” This calms me down when I try to do too many things at once. It reminds me to focus and be deliberate. 
  4. “Find freedom in the form, escape the pose.” Such a friendly, healthy nod toward individualizing any plan, any structure in adult life. This also serves as a reminder to pursue the marrow of any project, the deep meaning and essential benefits, not just the outward appearance of completion.
  5. “Find what feels good.” Probably the line for which she is best known, and with good reason. I dare you to find an aspect of daily life where this doesn’t help.  

Don’t you love these?

Something funny thing this past month was that so often what she offered as a meditation on any given day happened to really line up with that day’s Bible devotional (I’ve been reading Jesus Calling by Sarah Young). The echoes have been soothing. Fortifying.

Sad to think that so many years ago the internet was filled with warnings about how yoga contradicts Christianity.

How unfortunate to miss out on the harmony between body and spirit.

Morning glory vines doing some refreshing twists… xoxo I am excited to see this green again!

Ok!

If you have ever done yoga with Adriene, you probably have your own favorite mantras, so please share them! Did you follow a month of TRUE? Which days resonated with you, or did you discover a new pose or meditation that was magical for your body or spirit?

Have you decided to stick with a daily yoga practice in February and beyond? I have for sure. Everything about it feels sublime. 

Don’t fret over the groundhog. Just get stuff done and be happy.

And do more yoga.

“Let us be full in whatever posture it is we are doing,
Just as we should be full in whatever we do in our lives.”
~B.K.S. Iyengar
XOXOXOXO

 

thriving (not just surviving) all winter

Oklahoma is deep in the throes of another cold, dry winter. Lots of places have it much worse, and ours might not last much longer, but for now? For now we are freezing our southern-midwestern toes off, okay?

Most of us stumble around, bundled up in layers, sipping hot drinks, muttering to each other in low, vibrating voices the details of our coldness. Checking for weather updates is already a secondary hobby for most Okies; in wintertime, it’s all about wind chill and how close we are to freezing.

We become obsessed with our suffering.

And some of us are coping better than others. 

Klaus going for a stick fetch on our frozen pond. He seeks fun no matter the weather!

I found this article on Bon Appetit’s new “Healthyish” website and loved all of their suggestions. They list nine strategies used by people in the coldest parts of the world, where the arctic air lingers much longer than a couple of months. The list includes tips for diet and exercise, skin care, and more. Lots of applicable wisdom. But in Oklahoma, outdoor recreation is a bit limited because we lack the mountain hikes and the snow silliness. And smoked fish is not a diet staple here, though I suppose it could be.

Anyway. What I’m saying is that winter here is unique. Here are some of the healthy rituals we have been cultivating at the W. Enjoy!

Seven Easy Strategies for Thriving all Winter Long:

  • “Eat More Plants, Do More Yoga!” This mantra has guided me since the holidays ended, and already I feel much better. My internal belly feels softer (in a good way) yet toned, my joints feel spacious and comfortable, I think my posture is improving, and my legs and feet are staying happy for running. Yes to a diet based mostly on plants, both raw and lightly cooked! Lots of soups and crazy salads and roasted things happening here. And yes to yoga every single day! If you need some direction there, allow me to suggest the “True” series by Adriene. It is luscious. She is so fun and smart. We love her. 
Klaus is an excellent yoga partner.
Add olive oil and roasted veggies to literally everything.
Perfect sugar-free oats! One chopped apple, a few tablespoons of chopped nuts, & cinnamon. Microwave it all together with milk.
I spiralized one yellow squash & chopped some mushrooms, sauteed all of that, and added a couple of eggs as it cooked. Easy & delicious!
  • Be Flexible but Stubborn About Exercise. I’m in marathon training right now, so running keeps me moving almost every day. But my treadmill finally gave up the ghost, so on days when the temps or windchill are well below freezing, I am happy to do other things to stay active. And occasionally some intense layering means Klaus and I can go outside for some raking and compost work in the garden, which is a wonderful way to catch some sunshine. Also, every day no matter the weather, yoga. It makes such a difference!

 

  • General TLC. Thicker body lotions, face oil plus moisturizer containing collagen, and vitamins including iron, D, and magnesium (thanks, Kellie!) have all been helping a lot. Also drinking chamomile tea at bedtime usually guarantees a deep sleep. Otherwise winter is a dry and weary time, wow.

 

  • Cozy Atmosphere. The hygge trend is a good one. It kind of speaks to my natural leanings, anyway. Loading up the house with live plants, dozens of strands of white twinkle lights, throw pillows, and extra thick blankets… kind of a no-brainer. We aren’t really candle people anymore, but I have been using essential oils like cinnamon and orange plus one called “Ananda” for cozy, mildly sweet fragrance. And staying on top of dusting and mopping is a must since we are indoors so much more.

 

  • Read and Write. Actual books and actual pen and paper are slowing me down in wonderful ways. I’ve resurrected a journal and daily gratitude practice and am making my way through a Bible devotional, plus trying to stay focused on good novels even when the seed catalogs pull my attention, ha!
My paperwhites are all “Can’t stop, won’t stop!”
  • Games! We have been breaking out the Yahtzee, Uno, Phase 10, and regular playing cards in the evenings. Like old people, sure. But like happy old people who are glad to have a warm home with games to play and television to watch in the background. Gradually I’ve been setting aside my electronics, too, and it is really nice. Speaking of television, are we the only people craving more comedies this season? Maybe because life is pretty dramatic on its own, but we need things to make us LOL. 

 

  • Carpe Diem. We watch those weather details (things change hourly) and get outside in the sun every single chance we get. It’s good, even when it’s cold. And when it’s truly unsafe, then we take the opportunity to really hunker down indoors and fully enjoy the hibernation. Before long we’ll be outside all day and late into the evening. Enjoy whatever details make today special!
In Estes Park last November, before life changed in so many ways. We stayed in a cabin that opened to the river, rushing through snow and ice. Gorgeous!

Truly the underlying theme here is attitude, right? And focus? As always, just frame your circumstances in a way that aims you in the direction you want to go. Nourish each other. Stay cozy inside and out. And remember that winter is only a season. Before long we will be watching green sprout everywhere again, wondering how we could ever give up hope.

“If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”
~Percy Bysshe Shelley
XOXOXOXO

P.S. please continue praying for our Girl.
God is listening. Miracles are happening.
We remain grateful and hopeful,
but we all still need prayer.
Thank you, friends!
xoxoxoxo

marathon monday: coping with the cold

Hey friends, how goes your health and fitness goal seeking? I sure hope you are feeling strong and positive and loved. All of that is more important than whether you’ve lost any pounds or shaved off any minutes yet.

I feel pretty good. Running more than what I did over the holidays, eating better (with one decadent exception this weekend) and overall just treating my mind and body more lovingly. Less internal ridicule, more nourishment of every kind. You know, the good stuff! Still… This month has been so cold and wet in Oklahoma that from time to time all I want to do is cuddle up with snacks and books or movies and not move very much. Just… Hibernate. You too? Since hibernation will not help me reach any goals except temporary comfort, I have slowly adapted a few daily habits that are helping me so much. That’s what I’m sharing today.

coping with the cold sticker

  1. Hot, belly-filling meals like soup. Lots of homemade soup. Several pots each week filled with a variety of raw vegetables, beans, lentils, lean meat (cannot get enough chicken breast lately), leafy greens, you name it. Also as much garlic and cayenne pepper as I want. This is SOUP-er satisfying, haha. : ) Fortunately I have had really good luck making recipes that also please my non-rabbit husband.
  2. Hot Tea. The after-Christmas internet is still filled with eye candy like perfectly styled cocoa bars and creamy lattes, but those are not great habits. And diet soda makes me even colder. Instead, I have recently fallen for big mugs of piping hot plain black tea, sans milk and sugar. Friends, this is a small, cozy miracle. I still drink my sweet, creamy version of Perfect Coffee early in the early morning, but in the afternoon a heavy dose of strong hot tea provides not just warmth but also caffeine, and it helps.
  3. Schedule Earlier Workouts. This is so key for me. I have found that if I don’t get my miles, etc, in before lunchtime, then I am likely to miss the day’s workout entirely. It’s just how life goes around here. The afternoons get stacked up for a variety of reasons (often Handsome surprises me earlier than dinner time, or the animals need something or I have errands) and then BOOM! It’s sunset. No after dark trail running here. And this may be weird, but I am too self conscious to run on the treadmill upstairs unless I’m alone in the house. I know, lots of oddities in this post. Anyway, making a conscious effort to grab that workout early in the day is an effective strategy. And it keeps me warm and energetic for hours besides keeping me on track with the week’s plan.
  4. Move more throughout the day, way beyond prescribed workouts. It’s so tempting to finish a workout, shower, and bundle up in soft, comfy clothes and just be warm and sleepy all day (see hibernation notes above). But instead, if I get dressed to work outside more, despite the mud, or maybe just stay active inside the house for most of every single hour, then I always feel better at the end of the day. Do you agree? Yoga, extra strength moves, more energetic housework, whatever. My favorite lately is a burst of walking and running with Klaus. He loves to play in the snow, so we go clockwise around the pond and back field a few times (because I am weird and cannot walk the same direction I normally run). The fresh air feels amazing even if it’s cold and even if there’s not much sunshine. It’s all about building positive inertia in your body.

I’m happy to have been chipping away at my wellness goals since early December. Marathon training is kicked off and I feel happy. Even in the depth of winter.

What strategies have you developed to cope with the cold?

“The future lies before you,
a field of fallen snow.
Be careful how you tread it,
for very step will show.”
~Unknown
XOXOXO

 

mid-winter farm update

Well, friends, we are past the holiday season as well as the winter solstice, and there are only eleven cold, barren weeks standing between us and springtime. So I think it’s safe to say we are mid-winter. Not too shabby. Not too shabby at all. We can endure anything for just eleven more weeks, right? And there is so much to do before then, anyway. So much to enjoy. So many cozy pleasures. How about a little mid-winter farm update? We’ll take a Lazy W tour, starting at the front.

Front Field:

The bachelors (Chunk our buffalo and Chanta and Dusty, our two horses) are doing great. They are faring very well in this cold weather, having grown nice and fat as well as quite furry ever since, well, since around Labor Day weekend. We’ve been periodically buying extra bales of “free choice hay” to keep them constantly fed and warmed from the inside out, and since the truly frozen days have been few and far between, keeping their trough filled with clear water has been a totally manageable chore. We may have to swing a sledgehammer to break the ice once in a while, but it seems like every time the water level drops, the temperatures are just high enough to open the faucets. The Lazy W has seen far worse winters than this.

 

f5f dusty shades

 

When Jocelyn has time to visit the farm she makes sure Dusty gets some exercise, which I love to watch. She is so confident, and he is so playful. You can tell just by watching them that they love each other dearly. If she parks her car in the gravel driveway between his field and the house, he whinnies and bellows until she relents and walks over to him. (Such a tough sell.) She is teaching him some basic footwork here and there, and he is teaching her that he prefers bareback rides, no saddles please and thank you very much. All of this, of course, always results in extra cookies from me, whether she approves of my methods or not. : )

Yard Birds:

The geese are still patrolling these nine acres noisily, with unfathomable angst, honking and strutting with their wings extended like sky gliders forever anchored to the earth. Duck Duck in particular has put on an obscene amount of winter weight. He is barely recognizable now, no longer the fuzzy yellow baby we rescued in summer! But to a goose, at least to a goose who’s never heard of Norwegian winter feasts, this new-found obesity is excellent news. Duck Duck struts around the farm waddling his fat belly and shimmying his thick, flightless wings. He and Momma Goose laugh haughtily when I go out back to run miles against whatever sugary indiscretion I have most recently committed.

By the way, Duck Duck the adopted Canadian Goose is the main character in our first children’s book effort! I am so excited about this. Really excited. But I think he knows how excited I am about his story and is using it against me, like, emotionally? Instead of showing any appreciation? Geese can be very manipulative. Most people don’t know that.

 

??????????

 

Despite the cold temperatures our Lazy W hens are laying consistently. I am so grateful for this, because their eggs are absolutely divine. Heavy, yolky, delicious. And such pretty brown shells! I collected seven eggs on Monday morning and found one of them to have hairline fractures. Really beautiful. Not crushed, but frozen apart like burst pipes. I know! Frozen eggs. Completely edible. I couldn’t resist pressing my thumb against the vulnerable spot.

 

egg cracked

 

The Middle Field

This is the only sad news I have to report this week.

I may or may not have written this for you here, though I’ve whispered it to visitors, but I have for a while believed our young female llama, Dulcinea, to be preggo. Just judging from her behavior with Romulus (or, more to the point, his behavior with her AHEM), her increasing appetite, growing midsection, and overall neediness with Handsome and me but aversion to Meh, I was placing little bets with myself that she would give birth before Easter 2015.

 

dulcie in snow

 

Well, unfortunately, she couldn’t keep her little baby that long. We walked out to the barn this past Saturday morning to discover that she had delivered her very first baby far too early, and he did not survive. I’m glad she took herself to the warm barn for delivery at least. The tiny, clearly premature cria had exactly the colors and markings of Seraphine, our recently deceased matriarch of this gorgeous llama clan. Seraphine would have been the new baby’s grandmother. The cria was absolutely precious and so fragile looking, so thin. Dulcinea had expelled the placenta in tact and was not too bloody herself, only swollen, but also sad and ravenous. Once Handsome had removed the little thing for burial, she looked and looked and sniffed for him, crying in a way I’d never heard from her. It was incredibly sad. So we feed her heartily and give her as much affection as she would accept. Though needy, Dulcie had grown skittish since her coming of age. Ever been through that, ladies?

Life goes on. Death is certainly a part of life, like it or not, and we may never get all the answers we want or understand exactly why we have to endure so much of it. What we can do is continue to earnestly love those who are still here, those who are in need of what we can offer.

So that’s my mid-winter farm update! Thanks so much for visiting. We certainly collect more joy here than sorrow. More beauty than work. And that is why we stay.

Now I am going outside dressed in three million layers of warmth to feed and talk to our menagerie! I hope your day is cozy and productive. I hope your animals, if you have them, lend you some of their magic today.

Hang in there.
Winter is halfway over.
XOXOXOXO