We were promised a dark and stormy start to the weekend, moody perhaps and perfect for cocooning a little longer than usual. While we did wake up a little late and to a grey sky and well soaked farm, the rain seems to be past us already. Handsome and I enjoyed Hot Tub Summit with roosters and baby peeps providing the soundtrack. Klaus romped with his llama friend. We resisted most reflexes to plan work and projects and more work. (Sometimes it’s really hard to resist.) And now we are inside, continuing the slow easy Saturday pace. How luxurious after a concrete-heavy week. My guy is dealing with a sub-par drone purchase while watching reruns of Rifleman. I am draining another mug of perfect coffee while reading and writing to you.
It’s Saturday, so how about a list of articles worth exploring?
Bon Appetit magazine always offers great, worthwhile stuff, and this post about fragrance is no exception. In this house we are careful about candles and have recently outlawed melty wax gadgets, so employing natural scents is often the name of the game. Love it. How to Make Your Kitchen Smell Amazing Before Dinner Guests Arrive. Side note? I recently tried simmering warm season herbs and citrus, and it was lovely. Try filling your stock pot with mint, lemon wedges, and basil. Really nice. Clean and cool.
I love just about everything Ashley Hackshaw does. Her interests are a lot like mine, sure, but it’s more than that. She is indomitable and magnetic. She lives the “Choose Joy” mantra her dad left her, and it’s contagious. She sucks all the marrow out of everything she attempts, big and small, and I think it’s really beautiful. Here is a simple craft that I will be doing here at the farm pronto. Hugs to this big-hearted woman. DIY Embroidery Hoop Loom.
My good friend Rose shared an article that feels like the author is in my head. 10 Things I Want My Daughter to Know When Things Get Real is so much of what I am always thinking about for Jocelyn. Joc will be 21 in a few weeks, a strong and tender age. Terrifying and exciting. She is off on her own in another state, far removed yet so close. She is experiencing life in ways I doubt she expected to when she first left Oklahoma for that little temporary job adventure. I am so proud of her, and I pray for her heart and soul as hard as I do for her physical safety and financial security. Read this, folks. In a culture where we worry so much about structure and convention and what kids should be doing when, this is a balm that lets us pay attention to their deep emotional well-being. Thank you for posting this Rose!
My friend Marci has just sent her oldest to a wonderful residential high school, and she is fairly heartbroken. This is a difficult enough transition for any parent, but she is experiencing it a few years early. That makes it harder, I think. This post about why moms cry when they drop their kids off at college is so perfect. Marci read it and affirmed every word. Grown and Flown.
Okay, switching gears!
Maybe it’s all the mileage I’m racking up, but my body is craving dense, chewy carbs like it hasn’t craved in months. I am okay with that. So what perfect timing for another round of the King Arthur Flour bake-along. First up in this series is a gorgeous braided yeast bread called pane bianco. It has basil, okay, and cheese and roasted tomatoes. Watch my Instagram soon for some carb-heavy loveliness. I will aim for a day preceding another long run, ha. Bake it with me! Then run with me? We will be so happy.
Gardening is so good for us; this should be zero surprise. I loved this article a lot. It’s not even a new article, but I ran across it recently and it’s definitely worth reading. Friends, as summer slows down, get your hands in the dirt. Breath in the fresh air. Let nature heal and inspire you in all kinds of ways. Nature loves you. The Curious Case of the Antidepressant, Anti-Anxiety Backyard Garden.
Constant learners live better lives, and some form of meditation and routine is really smart. Also no surprise, but the breakdown to a five-hour rule is pretty cool. Additionally a string of Ted talks I listened to this week supported the idea that adding an hour of daily study of a particular topic can grow you into an expert in that field within a year. Or something like that, ha. Anyway I am a devoted morning person, and my days always go best when I spend some time getting mentally geared up, ruminating on creative projects and organizing my goals. Coffee and sweat help, too. Fun read by Inc.com.
Okay sweet smart friends, what have you read lately?
Oh- Just for the sake of record keeping, I will share that the photo above is of our swarm hive. It appears to be thriving, the bee population truly exploded and the uppermost frames dripping with honey. But a couple of days ago I discovered a few Small Hive Beetles scurrying around the grass at the base of the hive. This could be nothing if the bees are strong and plentiful enough to ward them off, but a thorough inspection is probably in order. Please wish me luck. Send all of your healthy bee thoughts this way, okay, because I really want this colony to thrive. Thank you!
Happiest of lazy, fun, restorative Saturdays to you!
XOXOXOXO
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