This past weekend I fired up Black Pearl, my ol’ trusty truck who still revs and roars like a dream (unlike my karaoke voice), and headed into town for a night of belting 80s & 90s hits. Nothing bonds people faster than the mutual humiliation of butchering songs under bright stage lights. I’ve been holding myself to one night out a week, because otherwise I’ll happily hermit into oblivion out here on the farm. Really going out of my way to get in the swing of balance... One night of karaoke, dancing, or a show, followed by six nights of goats, dogs, horses, and quiet. Seems about right.
The weather has been oddly kind lately. August in Georgia usually feels like trying to breathe through hot soup, but somehow we’ve been blessed with mild, rainy days in the 70s. I don’t know who bribed the weather gods, but I’ll take it.
Meanwhile, I’m still quite anxious over the fact that the backside acreage of my property is so wild I haven’t stepped foot on it in months. Normally I’d be out there cutting, trimming, bossing every blade of grass into order. But between the Joro spider mafia and my own new commitment to “doing less,” I’ve let it all grow wild. I can’t even get to my trampoline at the moment. Having to really have some discipline here… Does it make me twitchy? Absolutely. But this is me practicing balance, too - choosing peace over perfection, surrender over struggle. Nothing ever worth having comes easy…
This week’s project is the loft. Slowly but surely, I’m planning on clearing it out and turning it into a cozy little guest nook… perfect for my sister, or whoever else braves the long drive out here.
And my plants? Still alive! I’ve had the windows open with all this cooler weather, and the natural light has turned every sill into a stage. I might even add three or four more. Which, if you know me, is shocking. I’ve always had black thumbs. Most of my “successes” in growing things outdoors came from sheer luck with the weather. But houseplants require something steadier… enough water, but not too much. Care, without smothering. It feels symbolic, honestly, nurturing something in measured balance, watching it thrive.
Ellen, my goat queen, is thriving too. Shiny coat, confident strut, ruler of the paddock with zero responsibilities. Watching her glow up in this solo chapter of her goat life is so inspiring. Continuing to watch Ellen stand tall and sparkle all on her own, means I can too!
I’ve also started thrifting again. Not just thrifting, but altering and perfecting my finds into outfits that feel like they were always meant for me. Which means yes, the “Worn” weekly segment is making a comeback very soon. The others - Sweet Stuff Sunday, Midweek Mixtapes - aren’t forgotten either. They’re still on the map, floating in the thought wheel, waiting for their turn.
So that’s where I’m at. Karaoke queen some nights, applause for my still-breathing plants, surrendering my acreage to the spider cartel, and practicing the art of doing less. “Less” doesn’t mean failure; it means peace. Balance. And I’m getting more and more comfortable with that every day.
Oh!! And my sister turned TWENTY SIX! I can’t even believe it. Our lives forever changed just over a decade ago, and if you know me, you know the story. She was forced to grow up fast when our dad died. We grew in ways that we couldn’t have anticipated, and it was so hard. But… I am so proud of the woman she has become. Resilient. Strong. Independent. Loving. Soft. Kind. I was just telling someone the other day that I think when really bad things happen to us, it opens the opportunity up for us to grow our empathy. It gives us the opportunity to have that experience of pain to relate to others. I’ve definitely recognized that happening with the whole experience of losing my dad and having to be there for my sister in ways I’d never imagined. Anyway, all that to say that it feels like just a few years ago she was 15. I can’t believe she’s 26!
Most mornings you’ll find me here, coffee in hand, a dog snoozing nearby, scribbling notes for the blog as the sun lifts over the farm….
Have a lovely week.
I’ll post lots of photos of the farm and in-town shenanigans soon!
xoxo
-s
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