Lazy W Marie

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

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friday 5 at the farm, tidbits this week

Hey friends and happy Friday!! Whew.

For us, this was the first week back in full swing following two weeks of travel and staycation, and we feel it. In good ways, mostly, because life is beautiful. It feels great to be back in healthy, deliberate routines. And we feel so blessed and buffered, you know? And tired, haha. My husband especially. He returned to the Commish early Monday morning and after several twelve hour days has crashed at the farm every evening, drained to the max. We are looking forward to a fun, restorative weekend filled with a nice mix of work and play.

Here’s a quick Friday 5 at the Farm post, just a handful of noteworthy details that set this past week apart.

#1. Weirdest Homemade Meal That was Very Amazing: Oats microwaved with zucchini noodles and milk plus two over-easy eggs. You guys. I am smitten. Delicious, filling, super good for my body at that exact moment. And now I’m hooked.

#2. Klaus Discovered his Reflection in a Mirror: He was super cute about it. He peered at his own image then caught sight of mine and followed me around the room, seeking eye contact but in the mirror. He even brought one of his favorite un-fluffed bears to share with his glassy twin, but when I crouched down and was affectionate to the other Klaus, the real Klaus was not happy and scooped up my hands in his paws and kissed my face. I took a dozen photos. I will only burden you with this one. 

#3. Fancy Chicken Food: Every night this week I have been freezing our kitchen scraps in a bundt pan filled in with water and offering it to the flock the next morning. They are appreciative enough but no less demanding about the exact contents of the ice sculptures. I hope they don’t start expecting turndown service, too. Or mints on their hay pillows. Although they do get springs of mint from the garden. 

#4. Another Fun Family Night: Wednesday evening our whole (local) family gathered at The Garage burger restaurant in Del City to celebrate our beautiful niece Kenzie’s 11th birthday!! This was after I got to spend most of the day with Jessica, my youngest, who also joined us! You could say my heart was full to bursting. We love you so much, Kenz!!

#5. Egg Apron for the Win: Twice this week I spent a few hours in the Apartment, not just ironing for the first time in two weeks but also sewing! So fun!! My aunt Kristi in Texas is keeping backyard hens and requested one of those cute egg-collecting aprons. Have you seen them on the internet? Friends have been tagging me in various examples for months, but I’ve been a little intimidated without a pattern. Happily, the little box-pleat pouches turned out to be pretty simple, and the whole apron is cute too. I hope she loves it!! 

What a full and beautiful week.

I could also have told you about checking on and feeding the honeybees, which was thrilling because we are now loaded with dripping rivers of golden honey. Or about how it took me the bulk of two days to get the house “clean” again after two weeks off or away. The floors alone. My gosh.

Or you might be interested in this new fitness routine I’ve been following all of July and how surprised I am to be loving it, despite the greatly reduced mileage. Certainly, a whole blog post could be about a stand up comic routine my sister Gen recommended, how it made me laugh and cry in the space of about 45 minutes. It left me reeling, truly. Please watch it.

And of course, always, the gardens here. How wild and full they are, and how the basil and tomatoes are taking over the world.

Later tonight, assuming we can stay awake past 8 pm, we might get dressed up and go to OKC to watch our friends perform at a Western saloon. I might wear my favorite embroidered boots and do some extremely terrible dancing. Good possibility of an outdoor movie night at the farm tomorrow, weather pending. And who knows what else might come up?

Trite as it may sound, I feel Love pressing in so closely that I feel safe walking around with my eyes wide open, breathing deeply. Like, not only is anything possible but truly everything is about to happen.

Thank you for stopping in. I wish you the very best weekend!! Carpe those diems, ok?

“You learn from the part of the story you focus on.
I need to tell my story properly. “
~Hannah Gadsby, Nanette
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

 

friday 5 at the farm: some great internet finds

Hello, happy Friday! TGIF!! What a week it’s been here. It’s been one of those solid, smooth running, list-conquering weeks, fairly unremarkable but very satisfying, you know? And all the spaces in between have been happily filled with Love and prayer and strong running and great food. Also, we finally found a few comedies to watch, so hallelujah for that!

The “big stuff” in life, the traumas and temporarily unanswered questions, are either staying the same or being worked on by God in the unseen background, however you choose to see things. I think you know where I stand with that. He is so generous and steadfast, so faithful with His promises. Trusting Him is the only way, really, that we get any sleep. And it’s only by His assurances and grace that we can move through our daily lives while waiting for answers about our Girl.

Thank you, by the way, for your continued prayers and love notes.

.

 

Anyway. It’s Friday!! We have almost made it through another incredible work week, and before the weekend kicks up I thought I’d share a handful of internet treasures with you guys, Friday 5 style. Please feel free to send me links to excellent articles or ideas you’ve found, too! I love good brain and body and soul stuff. 

Sandy the Reluctant Entertainer shares gorgeous, approachable recipes all the time, and they always accompany some much-needed life advice. So I hope you follow her somewhere for your own sake. But this recipe for stuffed poblano peppers jumped out at me thanks to my current craving for hot and spicy food, and her story about family bonds and seizing the moment is well received. Also! Poblano pepper seeds are on my garden ordering list. It’s going to be a fun food growing year at the farm!

I found this article on marriage over at Ann Voskamp’s blog. It’s a guest post by Barbara Rainey, and it is beautiful. I hope you give it a few minutes of your day. Handsome and I are big believers in the small stuff. 

When the small stuff of marriage isn’t diligently attended to, then big-stuff crises provide plenty of reasons to quit an already muddy marriage. ~Barbara Rainey

Some Very Necessary Writing Quotes by Marisa Mohi. I am pretty crazy about Marisa for lots of reasons, not the least of which is her prolificity. How she manages to write thorough and engaging blog posts on top of a full-time job and the needs of a well attached Rosie Puppins is kind of amazing to me. I love her posts. This one is like a delicious appetizer menu for people who need to prime the writing pump. (Raises hand in shame…)

What Journaling Actually Does to Your Brain, at mindbodygreen. Yes. How lovely that a scientific study is provided. I recently revamped my pen-and-paper gratitude and journal practice and am loving it. Whether it has made me more altruistic, I don’t know; but I do feel calmer and more peaceful toward people and situations that normally wind me up pretty hard. If mindfulness and open-heartedness are feelings you crave in the new year, then journaling could be an excellent start.

Are you following Adriene? Are you doing her TRUE yoga series? It is, no surprise at all, luscious!! Luscious in every way. My body feels incredibly loose and strong, spacious, which makes running even more fun. And every day she offers these beautiful little pep talks that are just soothing. Each session has a theme word, and often they line right up with my private journal focus and Bible devotion for that day. Isn’t that cool? This daily yoga practice has really helped slow down the January rush. I feel like I am squeezing more good stuff, more nutrients, out of each day, and I plan to keep at it after this series ends. If you’re looking for some regular doses of yoga, consider this one. Start it anytime.

We tried this homemade bread recipe to make little scooped-out bread bowls for serving homemade broccoli-cheese soup. Handsome and I both loved it! It had an almost old sourdough flavor, was easy to make with basic pantry ingredients, and baked up very fragrantly. I love any recipe that makes the house feel cozy like that. The bread finishes crusty and hollow-sounding with a soft, fluffy middle, perfect for scooping out. (I twice-baked the scooped bits with olive oil for really great croutons.) We’ll keep this on our regular menu rotation, at least during the cool months.

Pacino and Klaus enduring our weird Thursday afternoon sense of humor.

Okay, that was a list of six, ha! Bonus points, ok, because that bread bowl recipe is not to be skipped. Make it and be happy!

Happiest of Fridays to you, friends! Feed yourselves well, nourish each other, do everything you can do, and then trust God. It’s going to be okay.

“How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.”
~Henry David Thoreau
XOXOXOXO

friday 5 at the farm: early summer joys

Friday already? Yes, it’s Friday! Wow. We just accomplished another full-to-bursting work week and are sliding fast and furious toward the weekend. I couldn’t be happier. Actually, Handsome and I were just reflecting on how these past couple of weeks have been particularly satisfying. Filled with all sorts of boxes checked, obstacles demolished, attitudes refreshed. Prayers answered, too, let’s not forget that. We sure can’t take all the credit for being in a place of peace and contentment. Thankfully, the goodness around us far exceeds what we are capable of drumming up ourselves.

Real quick, how about a Friday 5 at the Farm?

Here are some things bringing me total and utter joy this week.

#1: Baby chicks are growing! Mama Hen and her little flock of six are happy and energetic. We love them.

#2: Some foot TLC, including new stretches and a topical anti-inflammatory. After a break that felt much longer than 3 days, I finally logged 8.2 glorious, humid miles between Thursday evening and Friday morning and am super grateful to be back at it.

#3: Homegrown salads! Every big bowl is layered with a variety of lettuces and greens, raw veggies, and farm fresh eggs. I could live on this meal. Actually, I kind of do.

#4: This overflowing trough garden and our new flat deck make me happy every single day. In the early morning hours, the light is lavender and pink and the birdsong is orchestral. By midday the dragonflies are buzzing low and I crave my best lawn chair and a good book for soaking up the sun in privacy. Early evening brings cooler temperatures and lacy shadows from those oak trees. And if we are lucky enough to step outside at night, we are rewarded with velvet black, diamond-crusted skies and lots of frog song. At any hour, I love to brush my hand across the globe basil planted here and bring the fragrance with me. Even my husband notices.

#5: An evening at Vacation Bible School with our Jedi OKC friends! Man that was fun. So many happy kids and so many stellar people making good things happen for them.

 

And with that, we are off to the next chapter. What daily gifts have brought you loads of utter and complete joy this week?

Carpe those diems, friends, they are rare and beautiful.

“I promise if you keep searching for everything
rare and beautiful in this world,
eventually you will become it.”
~T.K. White
XOXOXOXO

 

 

friday 5 at the farm: rainy indoor day edition

Today Oklahoma is gladly receiving a heavy late season rainstorm. It woke us around 3 am, actually, with the luscious violence of thunder and window-shimmering lightning flashes. The deluge now is calm and warm, drenching all the prairie green to a deeper, more exotic shade, exactly what our eyes have been craving. Our own little jungle hemmed in with pine trees and buffalo grass. The pond is high far beyond its banks, and we are so grateful.

 

 

The saying goes that rainy days are when gardeners do their housework. With only two of us living here, our big house stays relatively tidy and dusted up, minus some evidence of a rambunctious two-year old German Shepherd living here too; but some projects do get neglected in favor of long mornings spent running both miles and errands, and maybe playing with the horses, and long afternoons spent working in the gardens. So today’s flood watch invites me indoors to play catch up.

Here’s my Friday 5 at the Farm this week, rainy indoor day edition:

Read & Write: I have two gorgeous fiction books I have been wanting to finish reading, a family cookbook project I would really like to nibble at before Mother’s Day is upon us, and several blog post ideas that only need some time applied. This little corner of the Apartment is calling my name.

 

Sewing: Once I finish repairing a fun tablecloth order for my friend Suzanne, I have a small pile of apron projects cut out and ready to assemble. I am loving the fresh summer fabrics and am kinda extra happy about getting back to basic shapes. Do you need an apron? Send me a note!

 

 

Laundry & Ironing: One big load of laundry to wash and fold, then this easy line of shirts to press for Handsome for next week. During ironing time lately I have been listening to podcasts. Stuff about either minimalism or running and nutrition. Good stuff, man. Great stuff. I am learning so much.

 

 

Deep Stretch & Strengthening Yoga: No running today, though I could easily use the garage treadmill. I am actually taking the day off on purpose to do some seriously indulgent, profitable yoga, core work, and foot exercises. I have more to share about this on Monday, these lessons learned recently about not being in balance and how it can lead to injury.

 

 

Poor Klaus: Clearly the most important thing on my rainy day agenda is keeping my big playful pup happy and occupied. He is currently pining hard for his llama buddy, his barnyard chores routine, a romp around the back field, and maybe another swim in the turtle habit, aka our overflowing pond. Poor buddy. We will be playing lots of indoor fetch today, I predict.

 

 

How do you spend offbeat days? Do you relish the chance to do something different, to indulge in a new routine and catch all of those elusive loose ends?

Seize the days, whatever they bring and however they look. Redeem the time. The common and the lovely moments, the surprising and the rare.

Happy Friday, friends. I hope you are getting all the rain and inspiration you need.

XOXOXOXO