Little Steps Toward a Lighter Life

I woke just as Franklin was heading out for the day and got dressed, still wrapped in the fog of sleep. I managed to sneak in a 45-minute nap before the morning truly began. When I finally stirred, I reached for my Momento deck and pulled The Teapot—a card that left me a little puzzled. I figured its meaning would steep and reveal itself by afternoon.

The hot gossip. sensitive information. telling a secret. a healing rememdy. herbal medicine. the afternoon.

Next on the list was editing and publishing yesterday’s blog post. I checked the weather, and to my delight, we were expecting a cool and pleasant day with a light shower or two after 9 p.m.—perfect weather for the goats to graze in the yard and for the stand to stay open.

After Dameion took Dad to the doctor, he’d be able to return and continue work on the chicken coop so we could finally move the flock over today. Dinner was already decided—Doritos taco salad—something we agreed on last night, which meant one less thing to think about. The girls' schoolwork was quick and simple today; I only needed to add their calendar assignment since they weren’t home yesterday to do any of their usual work.

Soon, Charlie and Dameion were both awake. Dameion took over the morning dog walks to gift me one more day of rest, while Charlie and I worked together to tuck the bed away. Before long, it was breakfast time. I had sprinkled a few of the donuts when glazing them yesterday, and those sweet little treats would be the girls’ breakfast this morning.

Today carried a semi-lazy rhythm. The sourdough starter had been tended, and the turtle had been fed, but I was still moving slowly—everything a bit heavier, softer. After breakfast, the girls wandered off to clean their room, leaving the house quiet in a comforting way.

baby cathulu

Once their room was tidy, we settled in to begin our plantain worksheet. I took a moment to explain the history behind the plant—how it's been used through time and the many names it's known by. The girls listened closely, curiosity dancing in their eyes.

Afterward, we shifted into a few picnic-themed worksheets, keeping the mood light and playful. From there, we moved on to a memory game and then wrapped things up with a cheerful round of picnic tic-tac-toe. Before we knew it, the morning had melted into early afternoon, and it was time for lunch and a much-needed nap.

plantago major

Today, Dameion got the solar panel fully installed for the stand camera—a small but meaningful victory. With any luck, that will help bring down the nearly $200 a week we’ve been spending on batteries. We've already seen our electric bill drop by $200 a month since upgrading to a larger HVAC system, and we're continuing to chase every little improvement that might ease the weight of our monthly bills. Next month, we’ll get to see the impact of the new toilet install as well.

While the girls rested peacefully during nap time, I rolled up my sleeves and got started on my chores.

memory snap

Once nap time came to a close, Charlie whipped up a batch of brownies, filling the house with the rich, sweet scent of chocolate. Meanwhile, the girls powered through the rest of their picnic packet and excitedly began their India unit, diving into new pages with curiosity and focus.

As evening settled in, they had a simple dinner of Doritos with melted cheese—a comfort meal for a cozy night—and then it was time to wind down for quiet time.

tik-tac-toe

With the girls tucked into bed and all the animal chores finished for the night, it was finally time for me to lay down and let the day fall away. Tomorrow promised to be busy—Lily would need to be picked up from the bus stop at 11, and Jess would be coming by for a visit. But for now, the house was quiet, the animals were settled, and it was time for me to rest.