Anchored in the Work of Love

Yesterday began quietly at 4 a.m., when I decided it was time to shift my routine again. The last change just wasn’t working, so I wanted to experiment and see what felt better. After getting dressed, I dove into my morning cleaning rhythm, sneaking in little tasks between rooms. My daily card draw was The Pillar—a reminder that I am my family’s backbone. I couldn’t help but wonder what lessons and challenges the day had in store for me.

solid. sturdy. dependable. the backbone or foundation. support system.

I got a batch of pancake batter fermenting and posted the previous day’s blog before turning my attention to the dehydrator. Clearing it out was slow work, but necessary if I’m going to stay on top of this year’s fall herb harvest. Outside, the forecast called for yet another rainy day. That meant no goats in the fields and a dwindling hay supply, so I made a note to order another load as soon as possible. To end the morning prep, I slipped pizza ingredients into the cart for dinner.

homemade pizza, missing a bite

By then, the girls were up. Aria requested Pokémon on the TV while I set out their breakfast of sausage sticks—pancakes would have to wait until tomorrow, once the batter was ready. I reorganized their new shark-themed school packets (our stubborn printer still insists on printing everything backwards). Charlie woke soon after and placed our Walmart order, while the girls headed off to tidy their room.

When Dameion came in, he took over animal chores and introduced the chickens to their brand-new run for the first time. Meanwhile, the girls and I settled into schoolwork. We listened to a story together, then moved on to a worksheet about catching a cricket in a jar. After that, we studied the peach tree we’ve been caring for so long, and I tucked their first Mabon activities neatly into their folders. Before lunch, Aria practiced math with the manipulative blocks, playing a hippo-themed number game—she did so well!

soooo much bigger

Nap time brought a little calm to the house. Charlie cooked up the pancakes so they could be frozen for tomorrow’s breakfast, while Dameion worked on the coop, adding nesting boxes for the hens. I harvested every last sprig from my lemon balm plant and prepped it for the dehydrator. Pizza doughs were set out to rise, another mixed up in the stand mixer, and my sourdough starter fed for the day. Charlie kindly peeled peaches while I turned the ones I had set aside earlier into bubbling jam on the stove. Just before nap ended, Dameion and I went to pick up Lily for the weekend.

lemonbalm bucket

Evening came quickly. The girls enjoyed their pepperoni pizza, followed by a multiplication matching game, a “count by 4” puzzle, and word problems with the number 4. A snack of mixed fruit rounded things off before bed. Lily helped Dameion herd the chickens back into their coop before curling up with the girls for the night.

moth brew logs

After tucking everyone in, I finished loading the lemon balm into the dehydrator and had Dameion haul Jezebelle’s old kennel into storage so I could free up space for a new shelving unit for school supplies. The girls, still in pajamas, joined me outside an hour before sunset to paint the trees with our moth brew—an enchanting little ritual. After dark, we checked back for moths, though none visited us this time.

no moths :(

By the end of the day, I thought back to my morning draw of The Pillar. It felt fitting—so much of my time was spent holding up the pieces of our little homestead, from tending herbs and animals to keeping schoolwork and routines steady for the girls. It was exhausting, but also grounding. As Charlie finished his evening routine, I finally pulled out the bed and stretched out, grateful for the reminder that even in the rain and the rush, I am the steady center my family leans on.