Weekly Update: 6.22.24
Summer magic
The soft summer magic
Drifts across the meadows
Summer magic
It weaves through the willow
Right into your heart
From Disney's 'Summer Magic'
There is something enchanting in summer air. The hot, lazy breeze sooths us even as it transports us back in time, nostalgia blooming among the fleabane and dandelions. A thousand memories live again -- the cool feel of water in a blow-up pool, the slow swing of a hammock strung between two trees, the sticky drips of a popsicle dripping down the chin. Age itself almost melts away as we feel again the ambient anticipation. Afterall, it is the season of vacations and sun tans, church camps and ice cream, yard sales and float trips.
We have been out of our routine, as Jeremiah worked off the homestead this week, and Levi's family will be at church camp all next week. We have embraced the crazy by giving ourselves permission to do a few personal projects as we "hold down the fort" while people are away.
We sisters spent several days clearing out our own campsite in the woods. As much as we all love to be together, there are definitely days when we could all use a little space. Especially for those of us with introverted tendencies, the desire to be alone can sometimes be almost overwhelming. After months of talking about it, we staked out a little space this week and got to work. Bonnie-Jean and Grace did most of the clearing, so they get most of the credit. They took the opportunity to use our new battery-powered Ryobi yard tools -- a weed trimmer and chainsaw. They loved both, and while there is still work to be done, it is hard to imagine they made so much progress in just three afternoons. We still plan to spend most of our time in our cozy little canvas tent. This space will give us the opportunity to spread out and have some kid-free girl time once in awhile -- which is very much needed.
I helped my sisters choose our campsite and drag brush for the first day. The next two days, I took the opportunity to help my mom with some computer projects we have been putting on hold. We also got to do some work on our family tree -- a much loved pastime we rarely make time for these days. My mom's family hails from the Ozarks -- her mother's family from Conway County Arkansas, and her father's family from just down the road.
We did make some progress on our homestead. We've stayed busy in the garden, with our sister-in-law Erin putting in lots of extra hours there this week. We now have okra as well as a few melons planted. We did some major cleaning and rearranging of our wall tent for the summer, moving our big dog crates to the front porch where it is cooler in the evenings. In the bunkhouse, our dad and brother Levi installed the front door. One afternoon, I helped the guys get most of our outlet boxes installed. We also put together a task board to keep all of the various jobs around here organized. With so many people helping with so many different things, we've had a few tasks get forgotten. We hope our new system will make us more efficient. Lastly, three of our five kittens went to new homes this week. Just two more to go!
Most days this week, we blocked out a little time to float in our blow-up pool. It's a small thing, but having a few minutes of relaxation has gone a long way to boost our moods. It's a moment to connect, chat, or just sit. While our bodies soak in the water, our eyes get to take in the brilliant green of June. One evening while floating, I caught a glimpse of a yellow-billed cuckoo bird -- which I had heard but not yet seen. It's the prize of slowing down -- something this hurry-addicted woman always struggles with. But the summer magic has a way of weaving itself into my heart, reminding me to stop and enjoy the adventure. It is today's gift from above, and I am thankful for it.
