The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

No.403: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Life // COVID-19 Lockdown Week 10

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE TENTH WEEK OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
Week ten: when I lost my way and fought to find it again.  
I just finished Know My Name by Chanel Miller and while I have thoughts on so many parts of that book, one section spoke to me in my own, completely different, time and space: 

In Fearrington, North Carolina, my grandparents had lived by a pond, where geese plodded around with those curved black necks, squeaky honking. My Grandpa Miller explained that during migration, birds flew in V formation. The bird at the front, the tip of the V, had the hardest job facing the greatest amount of wind resistance. The air coming off the leader’s flapping wings lifted the birds flying behind it. Being the leader was grueling, so the birds took turns. When a bird exhausted itself, it trailed to the back, where it wouldn’t have to flap as hard, riding waves of wind that have been broken down by others. It saved its energy so that it could lead again. This was the only way to make the journey, to escape winter and make it to warmer places. I had spent two weeks pumping my wings, keeping a calm face, to protect my flock from brutal conditions. But resilience required rest. (14%)

I’m your typical ISFJ: the caregiver, the eternal behind-the-scenes cheerleader and I’ve been on overdrive since the beginning of this lockdown.  I wanted to stay positive for my children, be a beacon of light among the fear and anxiety and chaos.  “But resilience required rest.”   I could tell something was wrong when I had not written a single letter all last week because I just didn’t have anything positive in me to say.  Some internal part of me was waving the white flag, needed someone else to do the caring and cheering for a little while.  So I rested.  Mark and I had long conversations where I unloaded each and every tab in my brain.  I prayed and cried and slept in late.  By Thursday, the fog lifted and I was ready to start again.          
I’m glad I took a picture of those California Poppies because Lucy later ran through the beds and completely ripped one of the plants out of the ground.  Deep breaths, deep breaths, deep breaths.

Sourdough experiment of the week: a spinach artichoke braid

Biggest highlight of the week: P finally decided to potty train!  He is so stubborn that all of our previous tries were met with a hard no.  But we were down to our last diaper on Monday and I declared, “Welp, we’re in this for better or worse!” and thankfully he cooperated.  After almost 14 years, we are a diaper-free house.  Wild.

No.402: 2020 Gratitude // 21

A new series for 2020: if I record 20 things every week, I’ll have over 1,000 items by December 31.  
That’s a lot to be grateful for.

pick up baseball games in the back yard
cool breezes in open windows
ham and tomato sandwiches on bread I made
that almost all of my beans have sprouted and are growing quickly
my bright green raincoat
when Lucy sits and watches the birds out the window
successful potty training (finally!)
working on crossword puzzles with M
bright orange California poppies
watching our neighbor horse in his warm coat
four great results on standardized testing
good books that keep me up late reading
flip flop tan lines
another week without having to turn on the air conditioning
when the kids clean the kitchen after dinner
a better organized emergency closet
honest conversations with my oldest boys
hard days and cleansing tears
chances to start again
“Oh Jesus, with all my heart I cling to Thee.”

No.401: A List of May’s Frugal Accomplishments

MAY’S FRUGAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
My Goal: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.  
And if you have to spend money, do it with intention.

+ We’re following the square foot “method” for our garden, but wanted to save a little money by skipping the cross-hatch pieces that make the squares.  Instead, I constructed a temporary version out of strips of cardboard.  I use it when I plant and then keep it in the garage until the next time.

+ My front door rug was moving everywhere and bunching up, which was driving me crazy.  I cut up an old unused rug pad to fit underneath and now it stays in place!  I can’t believe it took me this long to make a two-minute fix.

+ I planted wildflowers from seed kits that never sold from the old Big White Farmhouse shop.  I found them tucked away this winter and couldn’t wait to put them to good use in the front flower beds.  I didn’t know what to expect since they were over three years old, but the germination rate still seems to be good!  I have little sprouts everywhere.

+ We’re getting a 15% credit on our auto insurance policy due to being stuck at home during the outbreak.

+ As of this writing, we’re still going strong without having to turn on our A/C!  I’m grateful for this weirdly cool spring.

+ Our sourdough starter has saved us quite a bit of money since we can make our yeast stretch further.

+ We had a bit of an ant invasion near our side door.  I made a homemade ant killer, which was equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, and that helped kill the ones in the house.  For outside, I made a concoction of equal parts powdered sugar and baking soda in a small, shallow container and it worked within hours.

+ Mark has been chopping down dead/dying trees around our property and cutting them into firewood pieces.
+ We’ve become even more cognizant about our food consumption, especially as prices seem to be slowly rising.  Regular “Refrigerator Cleanout Nights” have helped us have very little waste. 

Your turn!  What did you do to save a little money this month?
P.S. I pin frugal ideas to this Pinterest board if you need some inspiration too!

_________________________________

Previous Frugal Accomplishments: 
2019: JULY  //  AUGUST  //  SEPTEMBER  //  OCTOBER  //  NOVEMBER  
2020: JANUARY  //  FEBRUARY // APRIL

No.400: Intentions for the End of May

Today, the Lord said to me, “My daughter, I am told there is much simplicity in you, so why do you not tell Me about everything that concerns you, even the smallest details?  Tell Me about everything, and know that this will give Me great joy.”  I answered, “But You know about everything, Lord.”  And Jesus replied to me, “Yes, I do know; but you should not excuse yourself with the fact that I know, but with childlike simplicity talk to Me about everything, for My ears and heart are inclined towards you, and your words are dear to Me.”
– Saint Faustina’s Diary, page 358

INTENTIONS FOR THE END OF MAY

  • order and hang a hammock (100LT #18)
  • plant lemongrass for the back porch (I’m still waiting for my order)
  • plant tomatoes and peppers (praying they also arrive!)
  • finish clearing away the fallen trees and branches in the yard (this is the task that never ends!  we just keep adding more work for ourselves)
  • finish painting the fence
  • powerwash the siding (100LT #6)
  • read another ARC due for Netgalley
  • read 25+ pages in The Last Art of Reading Nature’s Signs
  • read the library books I have and then take a break from borrowing new ones (and get back to the ones on the nightstand!)
  • have the big boys break ground around the garden perimeter for flower beds
  • collect eggshells for a natural fertilizer
  • work on revamping our emergency closet to fit a new space
  • finish up my DIY chalkboard and “season” the paint

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS

If you’re reading in a reader, be sure to click over to see what I checked off the list!
    • complete standardized testing and mail (we are all SO happy to be done!)
    • celebrate the beginning of summer with something special (we had ice cream sundaes)
    • clean up schoolroom for summer (almost done)
    • start making loose curriculum plans for the fall
    • spend 15+ hours outside (current total is 21.5 hours!  I’m tracking my own time, but the kids come out with me almost every time)
    • start brainstorming ideas for #write30days 2020 in June 
    • finish clearing away the fallen trees and branches in the yard
    • powerwash the siding (100LT #6)
    • finish garden fence construction and paint
    • keep planting! 
    • make two purchases from small businesses (I ordered rainboots for two of the kids from Lone Cone and a few scrapbook things during the Ali Edwards sale)
    • read another ARC due for Netgalley
    • read at least 50% of Saint Faustina’s Diary
    • order a filter replacement for the fridge
    • check out the current outdoor gear situation and purchase anything needed (I bought rainboots from the shop above and raincoats for Sophie and me on Poshmark)
    • plant ferns by the front door (100LT #32)
    • plant lemongrass for the back porch (100LT #33)
    • see if I can get a piece of wood cut for a DIY chalkboard
    • buy chalkboard paint

    Less Materialism, More Intentional Living

    Amazon Disclosure Policy

    The Big White Farmhouse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

    Archives

    Copyright © 2024 The Big White Farmhouse · Theme by 17th Avenue