The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

No.406: 2020 Gratitude // 22

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.

my grandfather, who died serving this beautiful country
Lego creations everywhere
when the sun peeks out from the clouds
getting a head start on school planning for next fall
all the new-to-us books that have been arriving in the mail all week
listening to little kids play pretend
the way P likes to line his board books on the windowsill, all in a row
Refrigerator Clean-Out Nights
the color green, which represents life and hope to me
a new chain for a broken necklace
feeling more like myself after a hard week
how much the kids love Mark’s homemade pizza
re-reading a favorite book and loving it just as much
my morning ritual of checking on the garden after breakfast 
how fast everything is growing!
the feeling of soil in my hands
piles and piles of folded laundry
chips and guacamole
a new plan for less screen time
belly laughs

No.405: My Latest Reads // May 2020

This post contains affiliate links.
P.S. I highly recommend Book Outlet!  Use my link to receive $10 off your first order of $25 or more.

I’m so excited to share with you a new way of buying books and one that aligns more closely with my passion for small business!  Have you heard of Bookshop?  Here’s what they’re about: “Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores… As more and more people buy their books online, we wanted to create an easy, convenient way for you to get your books and support bookstores at the same time.  If you want to find a specific local bookstore to support, find them on our map and they’ll receive the full profit off your order. Otherwise, your order will contribute to an earnings pool that will be evenly distributed among independent bookstores (even those that don’t use Bookshop).”  
You can check out all of my favorites on this page and I’ll be linking to Bookshop and Book Outlet as much as I can from here on out.  I hope you’ll support them too!  

#33. THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS BAD WEATHER by Linda Åkeson McGurk || ★★★★☆

Nature is no cure-all, but there’s something about sinking your hands deep into the dirt, watching a leaf slowly make its way down a stream, or breathing in the aroma of wet soil after a light spring rain that makes us relaxed, calm, and less prone to feel anxious, angry, or depressed.  Many scientists believe that these feelings are caused by what they call “soft fascination” with natural elements, which – unlike the directed attention needed to navigate through busy traffic or solve a complicated math problem – can help keep our minds at rest. (p.226-227)

I put this book on my 100 Little Things list (#93!) because I’ve heard such great things about it and everyone was right!  What an inspiring book!  I immediately inventoried our outerwear and invested in some new gear.  I also appreciated the book recommendations at the end of each chapter; I’ve got more reading to do!

#34. THE KALAHARI TYPING SCHOOL FOR MEN by Alexander McCall Smith || ★★★☆☆
The fourth book in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.  This series reads like one big chapter book.  I enjoy coming back to “visit” Botswana every few weeks and I just love that Mma Ramotswe!

 #35. THE WELL by Stephanie Landsem || ★★★★☆

I don’t read a lot of religious fiction, but Jen had such a glowing review of this book that I knew I had to give it a try.  And she was right!  Beautiful, beautiful story that made the Bible come alive and I got all choked up at the end too.  4.5 stars.

People read and watch and listen to true crime because it restores order from chaos. That’s the answer to give when someone asks you why you like hearing about real-life murders. It’s the comfort of watching everything be put in its place after an episode of outright, sickening bedlam. (27%)

My first true crime book for 2020.  I especially liked the tips at the end that described how to volunteer your time at your local police department or as a victim’s family advocate.  Definitely something I would be interested in later on in life.

#37. AS BRIGHT AS HEAVEN by Susan Meissner || ★★★☆☆

Death is not our foe.  There is no foe.  There is only the stunningly fragile human body, a holy creation capable of loving with such astonishing strength but which is weak to the curses of a fallen world.  It is a frailty of flesh and blood that causes us to succumb to forces greater than ourselves.  We are like butterflies, delicate and wonderful, here on earth for only a brilliant moment and then fly away.  Death is appointed merely to close the door to our suffering and open wide the gate to Paradise. (p.183)

Home isn’t a place where everything stays the same; it’s a place where you are safe and loved despite nothing staying the same. (p.225)

Back in February, my friend Shelly sent me this novel about a family during the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1918.  I know neither of us would have ever predicted that a similar pandemic would take over the world and we’d be in lockdown a month later!  It was eerie to read the descriptions of fear, death, face masks, and vaccines…words almost exactly the same as what we’re hearing today.  I really liked the first half of the book, but felt like the last third tidied things up a little too neatly to be believable.  
#38. KNOW MY NAME by Chanel Miller || ★★★★☆

What we needed to raise in others was this instinct. The ability to recognize, in an instant, right from wrong. The clarity of mind to face it rather than ignore it. (37%)

When I listened to her, I understood: You have to hold out to see how your life unfolds, because it is most likely beyond what you can imagine. It is not a question of if you will survive this, but what beautiful things await you when you do. (41%)

This memoir was hard to read, but I’m so glad I did.  Her grieving process was palpable and raw and I often had to put the book down for awhile and read something else.  Even so, it was excellent and important.

#39. PEACE LIKE A RIVER by Leif Enger || ★★★★★
This was a reread and I loved it just as much as the first time.

_________________________


MY READING IN NUMBERS FOR 2020
Books Read: 39
Pages Read: 11,575
Fiction: 24  //  Non-Fiction: 15
Kindle Books: 18  //  Paper Books: 21
20th Century in Books Challenge: 24/100
Original 2020 books “to-read” total on Goodreads: 414 // Current “to-read” total: 409
_________________________

No.404: 52 Weeks, 52 Letters Project // Weeks #18-21

This post contains affiliate links.


One of my big goals for 2020 is to send at least one piece of snail mail out every week.  Keeping track of my progress here on the blog will help keep me accountable and I’ll also get to share with you some small stationery businesses.  Maybe it will even encourage you to join in on the fun!

WEEK 18 (Apr 27-May 3)


I was finally able to use this old card from when A Beautiful Mess had a “Happy Mail” subscription program.  Sadly, it looks like they have discontinued it!

WEEK 19 (May 4-10)


This week, I went Mother’s Day card crazy!  I wish I could have done more.  The two “You Are an Amazing Mother” cards are from Sarah Hada Art, the two watercolor cards are from Pink Bathtub Designs and the Goldilocks and Mama Bear card is by FellowMade.  The purple floral watercolor one is from Michelle Mospens and the Mama Bird and the Nesting Dolls came from Love Light Paper.

My baby sister was supposed to be attending her college graduation this week and sadly, that’s all been cancelled due to the lockdown.  I mailed her a congratulations card from Champaign Paper to let her know that we’re still celebrating her achievement from afar.  We’re so proud of her!

WEEK 20 (May 11-17)

I did not send out a single thing!  It was a weirdly busy week and I was in a funk.   

WEEK 21 (May 18-24)


Sent a quick note to a friend who is struggling a bit right now.  I just bought a pack of these cards from Providential Co. and I want to send them as a reminder to everyone I know!

CURRENT SNAIL MAIL TOTAL: 56
P.S. Need a little sunshine in your mailbox?  Sign up here to get on the list!

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.

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.

Less Materialism, More Intentional Living

Archives

Copyright © 2025 The Big White Farmhouse · Theme by 17th Avenue