senses inventory: july pause

Handsome is gone all week for business, so the farm has been unusually solitary.
Add to that our deep, hypnotic rainstorms and cool temperatures,
plus my penchant to meditate on things,
and we have a perfect opportunity for a Senses Inventory.
This is from Wednesday night, very late.

See: Sheer curtains swelling into this spacious bedroom, one wide pool of lamplight, cold black television screen in the corner. On my favorite chair, today’s work jeans and tshirt stripped off and ready to wear again tomorrow.  Cell phone charging, mug of steaming chamomile tea, empty chocolate bar wrapper, bottle of orange nail polish. His feather pillows stacked on his side of the bed. Blankets rumpled everywhere and covered with books, a spiral notebook, and one Southern Living magazine.

Hear: Tree frogs and crickets so loud and enthusiastic you wonder if the Amazon would be impressed. Pool pump running outside the south windows, each of these noises stronger than normal because the air conditioner is off and the windows are open. Ceiling fan humming gently. Scratch of my pen on paper.

Taste: Hershey’s chocolate miniature with almonds. And chamomile tea.

Touch: My hair let down after being washed and pinned up tight all day, so loose and comfortable now, soft on my shoulders. Ticklish breeze from the ceiling fan. Cotton pajamas with swiss dot texure. Slightly humid air, but not uncomfortable. A little beeswax wedged under my fingernails.

Smell: Minty-sweet steam from the chamomile tea, like childhood and parenthood all at once. Sawdust still in my nose from some carpentry I did with my Dad tonight. Laundry soap and perfume on the sheets and pillows around me.

Think: What are my bees doing tonight, after so much rain? Do they like heir new boxes? Do they recognize my face yet? What flavor will this first honey have? How many kittens were born today in the Pine Forest? I am not ready for summer to wind down yet. But I am ready to start marathon training again.

Feel: Happy to have spent an evening with my sweet Dad, doing something he grew up doing and can teach me (building boxes for honeybees). Satisfied by our unusual work week both here at the farm and away, where Handsome is conferencing. So proud of him, too. Profoundly sad to be away from my children, confused and worried from time to time, but deep down still strongly hopeful. Assured that their most urgent prayers are being answered. Thrilled and amazed by some happy surprises in our extended family. Thankful for these blessings. Humbled by brand new challenges at our feet.

Your turn. Listen to your senses and share something detailed in the comments. Or write our own full inventory! It’s a great way to start journaling.

And have yourself a truly wonder-filled, strong, productive, happy, intuitive, Loving Thursday!

There are so many sorts of hunger.
Memory is hunger.
~Ernest Hemingway
XOXOXOXO