Clean.

Message for today.

Message for today:

Cut yourself some slack. You'll never get it all done.

So instead of racing about, find the courage to say: "I've done enough. I am enough."

Life - or your house or your holiday - doesn't need to be perfect, nor will it be. So enjoy today and find magic in the small, ordinary moments of your amazing life.

Love,
Rachel

 

Spring Cheer!

Wishing you a weekend of simple joys and celebrations.

May you feel the sunshine on your skin, the breeze in your hair, the earth beneath your feet, and the love that surrounds you.

May you unplug and be present in this magical moment, whatever your weekend brings.

Spring!

Love,
Rachel

In case you are in the hustle of last-minute Easter celebration prep, here is my tutorial for felt easter eggs pockets and here are paper mache treat eggs (both seen above). You can also find my tricks for natural egg dyes and thoughts on simplifying Easter or Spring celebrations both here and here.

Spring means...

The primitive call of the cranes, the cackle of the pheasant, the trill of the red-winged blackbirds. We stop in our tracks, hold our breath, and listen. Every time.

My morning tea made with maple sap instead of water. Heck, yeah.

Mud. Everywhere.

Enjoying meals outside because it's a balmy 44 F. Even if we have to sit on the ground because the picnic table isn't out yet.

And digging. Just because we can.

 

It's almost time.

When I was in my 20s anytime we would drive past a sheep farm I would squeal, "Sheeeeeeeepppp!" and press my face to the car window. Pete would just shake his head looking sensible and wearing a "tsk, tsk" expression. (Or alternately the "Come-on-baby-you-can't-be-serious" face.)

He knew.

It wasn't time.

But there was something I knew, too: that someday it would be time.

But oh, how I wanted them. Right then. Right away. How could I possibly wait?

That was almost 20 years ago.

A local friend heard I was getting sheep and asked me why. "Cattle are so much easier. If you need meat there are better ways to get it than by keeping sheep. I mean, I know they give wool and all but really. You don't want sheep."

Actually, I do. I really really do.

Cattle? No thanks. No cows for me. Not now anyway.

Looking back to this decades-long desire, I'm not sure what the appeal was originally. It wasn't practical, I'll tell you that. (Seeing that I was a non-knitting vegetarian at the time.)

It must have been their peaceful, gentle beauty. Because really, that's just about enough.

And now I'm almost 40. It's been almost half of my life since I fell in love with sheep.

And for my 40th birthday present next month I'm buying myself sheep. My first ever small flock of sheep.

And this time Pete is on board.

Oh my goodness. These sheep. They have run off with my heart, that much I know.

We're starting with just two ewes and their babies, plus two other ewes without young. Most are coming from our friend Kathryn who happens to own our fabulous local yarn shop.

The ewes and their lambs that will come home with us are pictured below. 

Oh, yes.

And now when I squeal "Sheeeeeep!" as we pass by a farm, Pete just smiles and shakes his head a little. Not because it isn't time, but more because I'm a dork. 

Because yes. Finally -  it is time.

Equality.

Because my love isn't better or more right than yours.

Because everyone deserves equality.

Because I believe in goodness.

Because the world needs all the love that it can get.

Because nothing else makes any sense to me.

 

And because love is love.

End of story.

 

Formula for a lovely weekend.

Formula for a Lovely Weekend

Begin at home, wearing pajamas almost until lunch time.

Explore science, nature, and art with wild abandon. Add copious amounts of imaginative play. Knit. Plan gardens. Prune orchard. Read about sheep. Visit with friends.

Add fresh air and sunshine in large quantities along with early bedtimes and lots of laughter.

Repeat process throughout Saturday and Sunday. Then pause to make popcorn for dinner. Continue to play during dinner. And laugh. A lot.

After dinner, notice the horrifying amount of mud on the kitchen floor and end the weekend with mopping.

(And more laughing.)

What was the sweet spot in your weekend?