8.17

house in chaos?

what shall we do about dinner?

garden producing?

ahhh!

courtesy of our super spiffy grill.

thanks kiddos.

8.16

At times like this it's comforting to be in the hands of three wise men.

8.15

 Years ago I bought my first suction cup mini vase. Keeping one on my bathroom mirror, with a tiny bouquet of whatever I can find, brings a smile. Side benefit, I'm not as likely to gaze at my reflection every time I wash my hands.

Little things. They mean a lot.

8.14

Do you have a favorite time of day? Late day is mine.

The last of the day's sun.

Sunset.

Moon rise.

Dusk.

Twilight.

It's at this time of day I am able to find grace most readily. Can absorb it through my skin. Breathe it in with air that's suddenly gone still. Hear it settling down as I close the chicken house to sounds of roosted hens softly humming lullabies to one another.

"All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh."

8.13

I uncovered my computer desk this morning. It's been shrouded for a couple of days because of our renovation work. Being Saturday, today the house belongs to Jerome and the cats and me. Such a journey we're on. 

My garden has been providing escape and surprises. While pruning my currant bush I found this little fellow resting beneath the leaves. Texting Anne from the garden with a photo she advised caution. 

Despite its reputed danger, it provided an unanticipated lift to the spirit as the echoing of hammers and saws rang out across the ridgetop. 

8.12

Today is the 10th anniversary of our closing on our ridge meadow farm. It was Friday the 13th in 2010.

Today is day 4 of our long awaited renovation of this century old farmhouse. 

The team is the best. The weather sublime. Interesting and challenging surprises already. 

to be continued....

8.11

three graces

In no apparent order, this month of graces has flowed on its own.

until today

This morning I read Rachel Wolf's instagram post and knew today would be the day to introduce you to 3 young women of the driftless region I call home and whose lives fill mine with grace. For those who cannot see instagram, Rachel Wolf/Clean is her blog site. So much can be said about Rachel,  she says it all so clearly that you should go and meet her for yourself. Local business: LuSa Organics.

The second, Kathryn Ashley-Wright, owns our local wool shop, Ewetopia. She also owns and runs a wool mill in a nearby town, closer to her farm where she raises sheep and beautiful children. During one of our recent historic floods,  her entire mill was under water. Think machinery, think fiber, think heartbreak.Totally restored now, I visited it last year with my fiber arts buddies and was in awe of the "sheep to shelf" processes that go on there. 

The third, has to include a nod to my daughter, Anne. Mygiantstrawberry is the window to her world. I cannot say enough about the joy this beautiful woman brings to my life. But so much more amazing is the ever expanding joy she brings to the world.

There is much to grieve today. These women are reason to celebrate and believe in our future.