What I Need

We enjoyed a cozy, perfect autumn weekend on the farm... woodsy walks, 

pond swims,

 and time spent with our furry friend.

We did leave for a short time to watch Tyler play soccer on Saturday.  If you remember Tyler's birth, then you have visited with us for 13 years now.  Amazing!

This boy is growing up too quickly (recently passing me in height!)  In spite of that, he remains a joy to be around - a very kind and thoughtful teenager.

Rain kept us home on Sunday.  We were going to go watch Mackenzie’s soccer game on that day.  This is our social life at the present... soccer!  We've been taking Forrest to the games as well - it's a good way to socialize him to strangers, children, and other dogs.  He has gotten used to his halter, seatbelt, and place in the back seat.

 I have written in the past that I had a little bit of a gypsy's heart.  Although I loved my home and enjoyed being here, there was also a part of me that loved  exploring the world, especially day trips to wild, rural places and little, quaint towns.  Day trips are difficult with a farm full of animals who need regular feeding, etc.  And day trips are somewhat impossible while training a puppy.  These are the compromises we make when choosing a farm life.  The song goes: "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime... you get what you need."  Truth be told, this life is exactly what I need in this hurried, hustle-bustle world that surrounds us.

Here, at home, there is a quiet ebb and flow of each day.  Satisfaction is found in the care of those who depend upon us.  I feel a deep gratitude for the gifts of the land - the beauty found in each sunrise and sunset, the nourishment of the food we are able to grow for ourselves, the ever-changing seasons, and the frequent visits from the wildlife who share this land.

My longing to "go" has diminished over the years and more so, recently.  The wisdom gained by the passing of time has taught me that there is nothing "out there" that can bring me any more joy than that which I can find by merely hiking through our woods with the dogs or enjoying the relationships formed between our animals.

I feel perfect contentment in an early morning cup of tea by candlelight and sitting on the front porch watching the birds who visit our feeders as I busy my hands with a project. 

 My recent adventures involve forays into the woods with my canine companions in search of mushrooms.  As I hike our trails, I immerse myself in all that surrounds me - the gently swaying trees, the loamy smells of moist forest soil, the rat-a-tat of woodpeckers on hollow trunks, and catching sight of the white tail of a deer as it leaps through the undergrowth to escape our path.

This autumn I am going to be intentional about appreciating every moment and every subtle change as it happens.  My fall bucket list is simple.  It involves nothing more than enjoying what is already around me!  

If you are on FB or IG, you may have noticed that I finished the wrap that I had been knitting.

This weekend, I started my next project, a cardigan sweater.  It's a combination of two yarns, a blue and a light grey...the combination reminds me of a pair of worn, cozy jeans.