It's been an intense 5 + months. Emotions and energy have been spread thin. I think about this space daily, but I have been unable to find the inspiration to write about the many small moments of love and light that carry us through our days.
I am hopeful. Summer is a coming. Life is settling back down. I'm drinking lots of water and trying to remember to breathe deeply. So, I have that going for me. And seriously. I (we) have a lot going for us. Everything is going to be okay.
We all go through prickly, rough patches. Thank goodness. It sure does make the wildflower meadows all the more full of an otherworldly beauty.
For the past few weeks, Bea and I have adored singing this celtic blessing:
May the longtime sun shine upon you.
All love surround you.
And the pure light within you guide your way on.
Guide your way on.
Morning time, a home full of the aroma of percolating coffee, the sunshine pouring down onto the kitchen table. I liken it to being under the perfect combination of a heavy quilt and wool blanket in January.
This was school picture day and she was my early morning location scout assistant. Hello morning sunshine, dewy grass, and sparkly five year old. I think I love you.
Last month, a dear friend gifted us a lovely set of pray flags. I love to watch them blow in the wind and I can imagine all the prayers, hopes, and good intentions flowing out into the world. They are a constant reminder for me to pause and breathe.
This week, we dyed play silks with Kool-Aid. Very fun and easy. The colors were stunning!
Remember the chicks we hatched in February? Here they are, all grown up. They should start laying in a month or so! I'm thrilled. Our four older girls are up on in age (4 years old) and have really slowed down in egg production. And yes, that's my beehive! I brough our nuc of bees home last Friday. I think everything is going okay in there. When I hived them, I was expecting the queen to be in the frames with the others, but she was in a cage. It took a couple of days and some research but I finally got her out of her cage last Monday. I checked on them yesterday and was happy to see some bee larva. We'll see.
On Fridays we drive into the big city. Lately we've been thoroughly enjoying the nature center there. Thankfully, the weather is still mostly quite pleasant. What a treat it is to spend hours outdoors, hopping from stone to stone or dangling toes and feet in flowing water. Actually, today we were chased out of the water by a six foot water snake!! Eek! Yikes! The snake's appearance did help to curate the easiest transition Bea has ever made! She made a beeline for her sandals and the exit.
On the way to and from Austin today, we listened to Sarah, Plain and Tall, Skylark, and some of Caleb's Story. We were both hooked and really enjoyed the books! Beautiful imagery and writing. I'd never read any of Patricia MacLachlan's work and was swept away into the lives of Anna and Caleb and their life on the prairie. When we got home, Bea finished listening to Caleb's Story while Byron and I spent some time catching up on the day's events.
It's dewberry season in our parts. These last 8 photos were taken at a preserve near our house. I love this place so much. It's part prairie, part orchard, part wilderness, part fresh flowing springs. And it's all parts quiet, peaceful, and enchanting!
And that, my friends, is some of what's been happening in our world.
xo,
Nichole
so glad you're back in this space a bit. I peek every other day, at least ;) so much inspiration here in this post.
hang in there, dear~ I hope things are settling down for you and yours and that otherworldly beauty is creeping in more and more!
that girl of yours is such a beauty!
Posted by: amanda | May 25, 2014 at 09:32 PM
goodness... those photos are just breathtaking. i love the way you have captured the happenings in your world. also, i really need to get on the audio book band wagon. listening to sarah plain and tall while driving sounds so wonderful. thanks for sharing.
Posted by: jenny newell | May 26, 2014 at 11:37 AM
Glad you are back in this space. Your photos are beautiful!! And I would love to start listening to audio books again. We borrowed Caps For sale from the library the other week and its such a favorite of Ellie's now, we've renewed it over and over. Can't wait till she's old enough for books like Sarah, Plain and Tall.
Posted by: summer | May 26, 2014 at 12:15 PM
oh yes, i'm getting over several mild/moderate stress inducers that came staggering one after the other this past winter/spring. it feels good to have some energy to be back here. xo, nichole
Posted by: Nichole | May 26, 2014 at 04:10 PM
yes, audiobooks. it all started for us last summer when i got a little house audiobook for Bea to listen to in the car on a road trip. now, we are devoted listeners. sarah, plain and tall was an absolute delight to listen to. glenn close is the narrator.
Posted by: Nichole | May 26, 2014 at 04:11 PM
books like sarah, plain and tall will be in your reading/listening rotation before you know it. it all happens so quickly. :)
Posted by: Nichole | May 26, 2014 at 04:12 PM
Your photography is truly a gift to see. Longtime Sun is my favorite to hear while in a difficult yoga pose (pigeon, ouch). So glad you blog/picture the small moments.
Posted by: Ruth | May 29, 2014 at 05:13 PM
I've known the verse for some time but have never heard it was celtic, do you by chance have a reference for that? I learned it from a kundalini yoga instructor who also happens to be a seik years ago...
Posted by: amber | June 27, 2014 at 10:41 PM
Thank you Ruth! I'm so very glad you enjoy visiting Live Free!
Posted by: Nichole | June 29, 2014 at 11:09 PM
Hi Amber,
I didn't realize it was celtic either, but after a little googling, it seems that it is so...
http://www.celticmeditationmusic.com/celtic-meditations/celtic-blessings.htm
Posted by: Nichole | June 29, 2014 at 11:10 PM