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The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

April 7, 2020

No.377: Intentions for the Beginning of April

A new month and and a fresh start.  I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed with all the tabs in my brain, so I made a “notepad” of sorts with these prompts:

  • “To Learn” is something that keeps my brain sharp: researching a DIY project, reading non-fiction, practicing a language on Duolingo
  • “To Do” is generally a homemaking task but could also be special one-on-one time with one of the kids
  • “To Move” is physical exercise, but it doesn’t have to fit the typical working out box.  Hauling huge bags of soil from the driveway to the garden is a huge work out! 
  • “To Bake/Make” is self-explanatory – I like to mix up old favorites with new recipes I find on Pinterest
  • “To Serve” is a way for me to help my neighbor: keeping in touch with relatives, donating to good causes, thanking the people who are keeping us safe
  • “To Pray” is for special prayers I would like to make into habits, like the Angelus or the Divine Mercy Chaplet

Right now, I just print two to a page and cut them out, but I’d love to make it a real notepad some day.  I give myself two days for each list and limit myself to only one task per prompt.  And it’s working!  Most days I complete all six tasks, sometimes only three or four, but the point is that it keeps me intentional.  Yes, we are living in scary times, but I can still choose to live in hope and not despair.

INTENTIONS FOR THE BEGINNING OF APRIL

  • blog more (I think I need it for self-care!) 
  • continue working on my new scrapbook project
  • add a fresh layer of soil to the front flower beds
  • plant wildflower seeds throughout the entire front beds
  • email the county to see if I still need to order standardized testing
  • figure out how to make Easter Sunday special, even under quarantine
  • start planting!
  • research rain barrels
  • choose a few books on my Goodreads “to read” list
  • decide on a baby shower gift for my cousin
  • finally work on the Finders Keepers box that I’ve had since December(!)
  • browse the recipes I’ve pinned on Pinterest and bake something new
  • try to propagate my Christmas cactus again
  • see if I can revive my dying fern
  • add a few things to sell on ebay
  • clean and vacuum out car interiors
  • browse around for a bigger rug for the living room

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS

If you’re reading on your phone or in a reader, be sure to click over to see what I checked off the list!
    • have the kids involved in making dinner each night
    • get back to my 20th Century in Literature Challenge and read two books that fit (half credit: I finished Strangers and Sojourners from 1997 & have started To Know Christ Jesus from 1962)
    • buy and lay down landscape fabric
    • purchase everything needed for “Mel’s Mix” and fill the raised beds (we’ve finished about half)
    • start buying things for Easter baskets 
    • mail back ThredUp bag
    • buy new sandals for Sophie (I ordered these)
    • gather supplies to make a framed chalkboard (100LT #17)
    • try a new bread recipe (I made garlic herb pepperoni bread…it was weird)
    • give the little boys haircuts
    • try to propagate my Christmas cactus again
    • continue a new routine of making bread daily
    • say the Stations of the Cross with the kids
    • attend a holy hour
    • start looking at compost options
    • get dead trees removed by the driveway
    • reorganize all of my Poshmark inventory
    • create a better hand-me-down clothing system (reuse old plastic totes if possible)
    • get photos printed for a special project
    • deal with Sophie’s duvet (washed and dried both parts and then retied everything back together – so happy to have this dealt with!)
    • get an estimate for Sophie’s bathroom
    • read at least 20 pages of The Art of Learning Nature’s Signs (I am learning SO much!)

    April 6, 2020

    No.376: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Life // COVID-19 Lockdown Week 3



    HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE THIRD WEEK OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

    Week three.

    I did the math and because we had the flu two weeks before this lockdown began, I have not left my property in 35 days.  That is a little crazy, even for a homebody introvert like me.  The Governor of Virginia also issued a “stay at home” order until June (!) and that feels like a loooong time away, doesn’t it?  I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all.

    This was the first week where our new normal started to feel really real.  I’ve been trying to be upbeat and enthusiastic and positive (mostly for the sake of the kids) but by Monday, I started to feel a little raw.  The emotional roller coaster has been rough: I feel such happiness for the slower living and the extra time my family gets to be altogether, but then I’m crushed with concern for our community, family and friends.  It’s a lot of feelings and obviously, I’m not dealing with it very well.  I spent a few days floundering and feeling restless.  I had a million things I wanted to accomplish, but was unmotivated to do much of anything.  Thankfully, by the end of the week, I came up with something to help me keep going (more on that tomorrow) because really, that’s all anyone can do right now – keep going.

    Bittersweet news: Tomie de Paola, one of our favorite children’s book authors, died on Monday at the age of 85.  Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

    Lots of work done on the garden!  The gravel pathway is laid and half of the beds are filled.  M cut a few branches from a tree we’ll be taking down and made them into a teepee for the garden.  Mark ordered lumber online from Home Depot and will start on the fence when it gets delivered.  Hopefully we’ll be ready to start planting in the next few weeks!

    Things keeping us busy this week: printable coloring pages, Querkles, and a new puzzle.

    I miss going to Mass.  I can only describe it as a deep soul-level ache.  I hope I never take the Eucharist for granted again.

    Questions Mark and I keep asking as we see so many people and small businesses in our community suffer during this time is, What can we do?  How can we help our neighbor when we’re not supposed to be anywhere near them?  We’re constantly brainstorming, but here’s what we did this week:

    • We ordered gravel for our garden path from a local nursery.  We paid over the phone and they delivered it to the house, so all social distancing rules were observed.  
    • We scheduled the removal of two dead trees with a local tree care service.  This has been on our to-do list anyway and since it’s outside work, we don’t have to worry about any unnecessary contact.
    • A mom and pop type restaurant in our town set up a way for residents to buy meals for first responders and hospital employees.  We donated (as part of our family’s 2020 Giving for April) to the cause.
    • We taped a thank you to the trash can for our garbage man.

    April 3, 2020

    No.375: 2020 Gratitude // 14

    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.

    daffodil flowers in full bloom!
    settling into our new routine
    piles and piles of books waiting to be read
    fresh haircuts (by me!) on two of the boys
    how hard the kids worked to lay the gravel path in the garden
    being caught up on all of the laundry
    chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting, just because
    watching the sunrise
    the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
    a walk around the loop of our property as a family
    watching everything turn green
    that my finger has healed without a big scar
    how positive the kids are being, despite missing family and friends and activities
    the arrival of a new puzzle in the mail
    an afternoon nap
    a new bar of soap that smells like wildflowers
    my husband
    having to be creative in the kitchen
    this verse that I read this week: “…Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you our potter: we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:7

    April 1, 2020

    No.374: 52 Weeks, 52 Letters Project // Weeks #9-13

    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 9 (Feb 24 – Mar 1)

    A week of thank you notes!  My dear friend surprised me with two new books to read, so I sent her a beautiful card from LoveLight Paper.  I really love their commitment to reducing childhood hunger – one card provides one meal for a child in need.  I also sent my mama a thank-you because she sent me a book to read too!  Her card is from Cafe Notes + Company. 

    WEEK 10 (Mar 2-8)

    Week 10 was a blur of sickness through our house, but I did manage to mail a birthday card to my cousin.  This card is from Glass Half Full Studio and I added a little party confetti from Knot&Bow too.

    WEEK 11 (Mar 9-15)

    I sent a sympathy card for a middle school friend who just lost her mother.  Her mom was always so kind to me and I know she will be missed by many.  I debated buying a specialized sympathy card, but ultimately went with another floral watercolor from Cafe Notes + Company (and blank on the inside) because I wanted to get it mailed out quickly.

    WEEK 12 (Mar 16-22)

    Starting this week, the pandemic had us stick close to home, but that didn’t stop me from sending some mail!  My dad and my brother were both sent cards from 1canoe2; they weren’t specifically birthday cards, but I love me a punny joke.  I also sent out a little package to a dear friend nearing the end of her fifth pregnancy!  The card is from Alexa Z Design.  With the kids home from school, I sent along a fun book that the boys no longer read.  I made the envelope from 12″x12″ scrapbook paper that I’ve had for years. (#frugalaccomplishment!)  I unearthed this envelope maker from my craft stash and now I’m hooked!  I want to make envelopes from everything.

    WEEK 13 (Mar 23-29)

    This was a tricky week in snail mail because I ran out of postage stamps!  I ordered more on the USPS website, but in the meantime decided to use up more of my Birds of Land, Sea, and Sky postcard stash (and thankfully had some postcard stamps leftover too).  Three postcards went out to grandparents and a sweet blog reader.

    CURRENT SNAIL MAIL TOTAL: 34


    P.S. Need a little sunshine in your mailbox?  Sign up here to get on the list!
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