A Wildwood Story

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” -Dumbledore

Letter 24 {Scotch Eggs & Life Contemplation}

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Dear Candace,

The weekend is lazy, breezy and bright. June’s last parting gift, a reprieve from summer heat. I’m loving this Missouri spring and summer! One never can tell with Missouri.

Last weekend’s camping adventure was a delight. Specifically, camping in CABINS and not in tents or hammocks IN THE RAIN. I could get used to that kind of camping! Your breakfast of Scotch eggs was so delicious. The perfect marriage of breakfast food staples: eggs and sausage. I want them in my life more. Crispy spheres of perfection.

As I reflect on the past week, two things stand out. The importance of relationships, and the brevity of life. We hosted a few visits from family and friends at our home here in STL, and mis-mashed between those was a car accident.

The boys were driving with one of the aunts to a nearby park when their car was rear-ended. Tom and I were able to quickly arrive at the scene, even before police did, and found everyone shaken but unhurt. Drew was in the backseat. I have to stop myself from letting my mind consider all the “what ifs”…our time isn’t in our hands, and I can’t live in fear. The “what ifs” are in God’s hands. We know this, but when something like a car accident happens or cancer is diagnosed our focus becomes more narrow, more exact. Suddenly we see everything which had formerly been overlooked or not given its proper attention… the feel of warm summer, freckles on a child’s nose, being present in a moment, the full gift of life being lived.

The boys have been checked out and both received chiropractic treatments which were helpful. Then I started developing neck pain and tension with a side of massive headaches, because clearly I wanted it to be all about me. I have some thick muscle-relief salve which I applied on Thursday and am still trying to wash out of my hair. It’s very hard for me to be glamorous these days.

I am currently reading: Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal. I’m a fairly new Twitter user, tweeting in stops and starts, but always mesmerized when I scroll through my feed. That 140 character limit is BRILLIANT! It’s all so very succinct and clever. Foodie bloggers, spiritual leaders, politicians, comedians, authors, that one guy with the big family I met once who likes to #humblebrag, it’s all remarkably out there in the world, in 140 characters. It feels less cluttered than Facebook to me, which is probably why I gravitate to it more. The book delves into the people and stories behind the startup of what is now a world-wide phenomenon.

Yes, I did once tweet a message I meant to text Tom. Since I discovered this months after the fact, I could only be grateful no one really reads my tweets plus it was mundane and appropriate for all audiences. One must be very careful which platform one’s 140 characters land on.

#love

Rachel

Letter 23

Letter 25

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Letter 23 {Flowers + Owlfred}

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Dear Candace,

It’s a beautiful morning and I am pleased to report all the new flowers we’ve planted have so far survived. I didn’t realize until everything was in the ground that the color palette I chose is predominately purple! Purples and blues.

The garden owl statue you gave me for protection has been named Owlfred. He sits on the back deck and regally overlooks the yard.

The house smells rich and wonderful since I just finished baking cinnamon rolls. For our camping adventure this weekend. With you! It’s going to be fun having our families together. Let’s not get sunburns m’kay?

I finished The Foundling. Wow. So interesting! It’s hard to believe the stories in that book are true…yet they are. The truth really can be stranger than fiction.* Its been fun to read more. I’ve missed devouring books! These days I try to keep one with me wherever I go…

See you and the ticks and chiggers soon.

Love,

Rachel

* on my list of fave movies

Letter 22

Letter 24

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Letter 22 {June Cheers}

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Dear Candace,

This will be a shorty because I forgot to start writing to you until now and now is late. Now is past my bedtime. Now I am yawning and my feet are sore from being on them all day and my body is achy in a plum-wore-out way. I’m happy with all this, though, because it was a good day! I was able to pull off a surprise birthday party for Tom at the farm with the help of family. Seven of his eight siblings were here! Plus spouses and childrens…it was a full house. I arranged furniture out on the deck and added lights, candles, tables, music…as close to Hobbiton one can get in the Ozark woods. It was a delight to watch the children play and enjoy visiting with everyone on a beautiful June evening.

Reminder to self: treasure these remaining June evening-they only come once a year!

Also I am now a year older. Wuut!

June Bugs,

Rachel

P.S. Oh-I started reading the book you gave me. “The Foundling” is unlike any story I’ve heard and it’s quite remarkable. It’s true and sad and hopeful and all the things one wishes for in a June read.

Letter 21

Letter 23

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Letter 21 {Firetrucks & Ancestors}

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Dear Candace,

I just love sitting outside and being warm. I’d rather be warm or even hot and sticky over freezing cold any old day. If I moved up north I bet my life expectancy would shorten. I don’t think my ancestors were Vikings. I imagine they were pasty European fellows living out their life inside as weavers and then writers or clerks while their hardy neighbors left to explore new continents. It was hard for them, my ancestors who lived in cold regions. As the cold seeped into their bones, the more melancholy became their poetry. By degrees they moved south to gentler climates, as they had the strength. The wives were happier, the babies less spindly. They survived.

I’m sitting out on the front porch now, and was enjoying a warm evening blessed with the usual night sounds, all quiet and still {thinking fondly of my ancestors}, when my reveries were interrupted by the sound of a monstrous fire truck coming down the road. The sirens weren’t on, but the rumble of the truck and flashing lights surely woke up the whole neighborhood (including my children) as it backed carefully down our dead-end street in order to make an easy exit later. I could see no fire nor smell smoke. The fireflies alone illuminated the dark. {see what I did there} Apparently a neighbor had a small backyard fire which was called in. Tom and I could barely talk above the noise of the truck. I looked at it with envy. It probably has more square space than my house. And so well-organized and shiny clean.

I’m jealous of a fire truck.

The truck is gone now, the street back to it’s peaceful repose. I am soon to bed and early to rise. The children and I are leaving at 3:30 am to head to Indy in time for my brother’s graduation party! My St. Louis sisters are coming with, so we can all be bleary eyed and sharing coffee together.

I was going to write you stuff but then I forgot everything when that blasted red truck came down the road.

Caleb is off to camp this weekend, after the graduation, and packing a child for 9 days away without the ability to do laundry is no small feat. Being the procrastinators we are (argh), I made a mad trip to Kohl’s with Caleb and Tom took him to Wal-Mart. He’ll just have to make do. I’m sure he can fashion shorts out of foliage if necessary. He has a bottle to filter water, and there will be plenty of protein bugs. I’m sure he’ll survive one way or the other.

I just hope he listens to me and remembers to put on sunscreen. {Wonders: did we pack sunscreen?}

And all the hipsters say-#weekendvibes

~Rachel

Letter 20 

Letter 22

Letter 20 {Turmeric Milk & Horse Sneezes}

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Dear Candace,

How is this Letter 20? Where have the last 20 weeks gone? June is almost here!*

Most evenings I make creamy, golden turmeric milk for the family about an hour before bedtime. It’s perfect on chilly evenings, but even with the increasing heat and humidity everyone still likes it served up hot! We sip our warm, comforting drink as a way of winding down before lights out. I’ve been trying to work on our evening and bedtime routines, and Pinterest promises me that not only will the health benefits of turmeric give us long life and super-powers, but it will also naturally encourage deep and restful sleep. Bottoms up!

The children and I visited a farm yesterday, where Hosanna had her first natural horsemanship lesson. The horses were beautiful and friendly, running up to us like eager dogs when we first arrived and stood at the gate, watching them. While Hosanna spent time with the horses, the boys roamed a nearby creek. It was so sunny and relaxing; we all enjoyed being outdoors. At one point I was sneezed on by a curious horse companion, who spray-painted my shirt with green splatters.

Afterwards I cleaned up and went out to dinner with my sisters, barely keeping my eyes open while slurping down a huge bowl of ramen. The ramen craze has hit St. Louis and it is a good one-perfectly delicious comfort food. The sisters pointed out that I did, indeed, get a wee bit sunburned. I don’t know how-I was covered in stuff. Meanwhile the teacher of the class looked fresh and brown when we left, even though she’d spent most of the day outdoors with the horses and I, barely two hours there, ended up burned, horse-sneezed and limp-haired. I guess somebody has to be the weak white one.

This weekend my plans are to rest, organize things, and make good food. And read-always read.

Have a good one!

Love,

Rachel

*In case you didn’t realize.

Letter 19

Letter 21

Letter 19 {Storms + Being Alone}

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Dear Candace,

If it’s not flood water, it’s high winds.

Last night I woke with a jolt at 3:00 a.m. “Oh no!” I thought. “Please not another 3 hours of insomnia.” 

My unwanted guest, insomnia, has been showing up on occasion, despite the UNwelcome mat. I wasn’t plagued with insomnia, though. I soon realized I was dealing with a headache from the changes in barometric pressure. Within the hour, the storm hit and and I could hear the incredible whooshing of the wind. I grabbed my phone to check the weather radar. A bad thunderstorm, but no tornado warnings I could see. I told myself that if I heard the sirens go off, I would move downstairs to the basement. Otherwise, there was no way I was leaving my squishy Purple mattress. Plus, being alone in the house, the basement seemed extra-scary and dark.

The idea was that while Tom and the kids were off adventuring at the family farm, I would get some needed rest in a quiet house. I ended up laying awake in the early morning hours listening to the rain hit the window like gravel two feet from my bed. Eventually I did go back to sleep, and woke to a white yard covered in my neighbor’s catalpa blossoms! The storm downed an electric wire (draped across the street in front of my house, of course), with trees and heavy branches littering yards and streets. I’m thankful I never lost power!

I just finished The ZooKeeper’s Wife, and now I’m reading All the Light We Cannot See. Both take place during WWII. The first is the true story of a Polish couple living in Warsaw and how the war affected them and the zoo they managed. The second is historical fiction and intertwines the lives of a Parisian girl and a young German soldier-highly recommended by all my friends who’ve read it! I have very well-read friends; they advise me on what to read next (and boy is my list long).

Today I finished nearly all the laundry and put four lemonade pies in the freezer, so I feel very pleased even though my to-do list is still quite long. Lemonade pies and fresh blueberries signal all things summer-can’t wait to share them with friends and family this weekend. Come have a slice!

I just noticed something. The house creaks an awful lot when you’re the only one in it.

Hoping I survive another night alone in Kansas,

Dorothy

Letter 18

Letter 20

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Letter 18 {Road-trips & Deodorant}

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Dear Candace,

Today the children and I drove the four and-then-some hours to my parent’s house. It went fine, except for all the usual roadwork (everywhere I go=roadwork) and that weird smell the van develops after housing boys for a couple hours. I’m always telling the kids, “Drink more water!” except for when we road-trip. Then I insist they dehydrate themselves so I don’t have to make numerous bathroom breaks. “Are you chugging that water bottle? Noooo!

I had to take a bathroom break for moi on this trip.

Also a stop at Starbucks. But I was fast. I used mobile order as soon as I arrived and by the time I walked in my order was ready and all the people standing in line glared.

This letter may not be very coherent, since my eyes and head are tired from being the only adult and having to concentrate so much today. My mom gifted me a massage from her friend, Ann, who is remarkably good at several different styles of massage therapy. This evening she gave me a therapeutic massage. It was relaxing and wonderful after a busy day on the road! I think I will sleep well tonight, even if I am sleeping in my little sister’s old twin bed.

As I relax here, writing to you and thinking about the day before I turn the lights out, I can hear my mom watching a nature documentary in the downstairs living room. I’m starting to recall all the things I forgot to pack, deodorant being the most notable item. I don’t have to wear it much in the winter, and with my brain being the sieve it is lately, I’m forgetting to incorporate it back into rotation. I always recall my neglect at the most awkward moments, such as when I’m getting a chiropractic adjustment, standing in line at the store, or being introduced to someone. All true scenarios which occurred this week.

I’m looking forward to a weekend with family (smelling good, of course, since mom already bought me new deodorant) and celebrating all the spring things: birthdays, Mother’s Day, time to be together outside, all the lovely things….mom’s documentary soundtrack is totally putting me to sleep now. The earth is so beautiful.

Much love,

Rachel

Letter 17

Letter 19

Letter 17 {Puddles & Plans}

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“The rain, rain, rain
Came down, down, down
In rushing, rising riv’lets…”

Dear Candace,

What a week. What a rainy, rainy week! Rivers, rising and falling. Highways and roads shut down, fields under water, businesses and homes helpless to withstand the deluge. I heard that in 9 days St. Louis received 2 months worth of rain. We are still drying off-quite literally! A little seepage and dampness occurred in our basement, but thankfully no standing water. I’ve got the fans running constantly. My heart goes out to those who lost homes and goods. Hosanna spent some time volunteering in Pacific, one area in which the flooding was especially bad, and it has been remarkable to see communities serve together during a difficult time.

As the rain came down, we settled into a routine of school here at home. Due to all the re-routed highway traffic near us, I stayed off the roads as much as possible. There were multiple cups off coffee and tea to be had, books to read, and office work to accomplish. With the near daily, constant rain and chill in the air, it felt like February! However, we’re getting back into the groove of spring again and I’ve been dreaming about pulling up our ancient, boring shrubbery and redoing the flower beds. I don’t love everything mid-century.

I am very illiterate when it comes to gardening. Once I cultivated a raised flower bed with all the solicitations of a nurse until I realized I was nurturing not hollyhocks, but cornstalks.

Tom’s vegetable garden is flourishing! We have a lovely mix of sweet salad greens picked fresh daily. Although, I hate washing lettuce. I know I shouldn’t say “hate” but I do feel strongly about cleaning greens. Perhaps because I’ve done so much of it in my life and am getting petulant? At this point I’m fine with a little dirt. Furthermore, I shall be rotating the children through the job of Washing of the Greens this spring.

Wash your clothes,

wash your greens,

and don’t forget to wash your face!

It’s my new song.

Happy May!

~Rachel

Letter 16 

Letter 18

 

Letter 16 {Spring Exclamations}

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Dear Candace,

Every spring when the Missouri hills dramatically debut with dressings of green, it feels like I’m seeing it again for the first time. The children are used to my exclamations of “Do you SEE this!? Do you SEE how much green there is now?!” when we are driving. It’s no exaggeration to say we live among the rocks and rills, hills and valleys that make this state beautiful. Two turns from my house and we’re among it all; a feast for the senses!

There is a church not far from us that I call “the church in the dell.” It is literally nestled in a valley with hills expanding upwards around it. It’s so green and picturesque right now that you have to wonder if it sprang from a fairy-tale.

I opened up the windows wider this week (for like 5 minutes when it wasn’t raining) to let in some of this gorgeously perfumed air, and very quickly everything was coated in a yellow pollen. Ah, yes. The other part of spring. So much dusting to do, so little time.

Today I worked with the boys cleaning and organizing in their bedroom. How to put this experience. Let’s just say I told them they would receive a daily parental inspection henceforth. I may have also thrown out phrases like “army beds” and “white glove dusting” and “do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” The boys swept, dusted, mopped, and thoroughly cleaned nearly everything. We still have some drawers to go through, but I already feel more emotionally stable. Three bags of trash are now gone, plus one box marked for Goodwill. Caleb’s snake, Mango, is doing quite well in his aquarium and Drew’s potted plants are thriving. There is hope in the world!

Let there be light in the darkness.

Love and green.

Rachel

Letter 15

Letter 17

Letter 15 {Things I’m Loving}

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My Dear Candace,

This letter is a day late because, while I knew today was Saturday, I thought it was Friday. It completely made sense in my mind world until I sat down to write to you and everything slowly jelled together…Friday is not actually part of Saturday and did in fact end at 11:59pm the night before. These are hard realities to grasp sometimes.

Drew is watching an episode of The Andy Griffith Show right now and for the last 15 minutes all I’ve heard from the living room is the sound of a baby crying and Aunt Bea’s worried voice. I don’t recall this episode or have any clue what the story-line is. Now Aunt Bea AND the baby are crying and I’m about to join them from the exhaustion of it all. This is not my idea of “let’s relax a little before bedtime.” Listen to pretend TV show babies cry on a not-Friday-night after a busy day? Check!

In addition to my fascination with my new BFF coffeemaker, here are some things I’m loving this week:

The word “Epistolary.”

Music: Alice, by Bianca Ryan

Reading: Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong: Why We Love France but Not the French

Food: The miracle of cooking brown rice in my instant pot! I’ve been using this recipe.

You should know about these things.

Happy Weekend!

Rachel

Letter 14

Letter 16

This letter contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking through one of my links, I will receive a {very small} commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this blog! It means the world and a pile of letters to me.