A Wildwood Story

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

spring

Letter 39 {Farm Life & Casseroles}

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Friday, May 11th

Dear Candace,

Another weekend at the farm! Only this time, instead of passing through, we’re here to help host the biggest event of the year: the Boys’ Jamboree.

An adventure-packed campout for young boys ages 9-13. The boys will be divided into teams with godly young men as leaders, and go through a series of activities designed to challenge them physically and spiritually. It is our desire that this would be a time of fun, excitement, and bonding, that will push the boys to Christ. Activities include:

Giant Rope Swing
Shooting Guns
Hiking
Airsoft
Caving
Throwing Ninja Stars
Field Games
Obstacle Course
Campout

Tom is helping with the rope swing, Caleb is an assistant team leader, Drew is a camper, Hosanna is an assistant to the directors, and I am an assistant to Hosanna. Which makes me an assistant to the assistant.

Image result for assistant to the assistant manager memes

Here are a couple things I’ve done:

Ferried people up and down the driveway before the event started. Fetched a watch. Fetched a bunch of Kleenex because pollen season, and everyone suddenly has allergies. Brought Hosanna a La Croix. Brought Hosanna sunscreen. Sat and held my 3 month old nephew for two hours. I don’t take my responsibilities lightly, you know.

This past week has been a whirlwind! Every night we’ve had a commitment-mainly having to do with Caleb’s volleyball league. The season is almost over, and while its been fun to watch him play with a great group of guys, I’m ready to have my evenings back. We’ve also not properly celebrated Hosanna’s 17th birthday as a family, so it will be nice to have a relaxing evening to do that.

I just finished: I’ll Be Gone In the Dark, by Michelle McNamara. I waited weeks and weeks for this to become available at the library-there were so many holds-and after the news of the Golden State Killer’s arrest I finally got the notice it was on my holdshelf. Somehow, I managed to read it this past week while waiting at the doctor’s office, for the kids to be done with lessons, during waits in the van or before games…always having a book with me helps to get bits of reading time in. Anyway, reading it knowing the elusive criminal has now been captured made it a) less scary and b) satisfying to know that after 40 years of investigations and research, criminal justice has now been set in motion. I kept googling information as I read the book!

Sunday, May 12

Happy Mother’s Day! Life at the farm is often a revolving door of activity; adding to that is my parents’ move from our farmhouse and helping them unload a U-Haul and begin making the transition to their new home. Everyone is sore and tired from all the jamboree activities plus loading and unloading boxes and furniture. To make breakfast easy on this hallowed occasion, I made two overnight dishes and they turned out delicious:

Blueberry Lemon Overnight French Toast Bake (gluten & dairy free)

Fully-Loaded Cheesy Breakfast Casserole

How have I forgotten how wonderful overnight breakfasts casseroles are? They are life!! The family can make me breakfast in bed another day this week. 😀

purple irises next to trees and a pond

My mother-in-law’s beautiful flowers at the farm spring-fed pond!

Love and sunshine,

Rachel

Letter 38 {Short(s) Thoughts}

Letter 40 {6 Quick Things On Turning 36}

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Letter 37 {Baby Walks}

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Dear Candace,

I have just said goodbye to one of the most adorable babies I have ever met. Six month old Bennett, who I’ve not seen since he was a few weeks old, visited us from Denver like traveling royalty. Ever affable, generously indulging us fawning peasants with smiles and charm, he pretty much had our obeisance from the moment he arrived. There’s just something about having a baby in a house of big kids that changes the tone of everything, coloring our days with sweetness and a lot more drool and laughing.

Here is what I know about babies:

-nothing, because it’s been over a decade since I’ve had one and I either question all my methods of raising them or don’t remember how I did it because, #sleepdeprived…

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Letter 35 {Netflix & Patio Tacos}

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Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them. -Lemony Snicket

Dear Candace,

We are slowly making our way through Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, season two, and by “we” I do mean our entire family, together, of an evening. As you know, Tom is not a T.V. person* and it’s rare that he’ll watch a movie (however, this past Christmas he was stuck with the rest of us in a Star Wars marathon, haha!) but this show has reeled him in. {Or maybe he’s just humoring the rest of us.} In our 18 years of marriage, I can’t think of any other T.V. series we’ve watched together as a couple or with the family (and I don’t count Andy Griffith played on repeat when the kids were small).

…

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Letter 34 {The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow}

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Dear Candace,

This letter could also be titled, “when you are waiting for spring and feeling very Eeyorish.”

Rain, sleet, spring snow, thunderstorms…this is the Midwest! {tagline: variety is the spice of life}

I try not to whine about rain-it’s a blessing, I know. Rain is fine. I’ll adjust. Especially if I’m in London-my plan is always go to the nearest Tesco for an umbrella and then walk arm in arm with my sister to a cozy tea room. Rain in London is delightful.

I didn’t promise to never complain about cloudy grey days, though. One needs to complain about something.

What I’m telling myself is this: buck up, buttercup- when it does stop raining and greying for a moment, it’s going to be so green and bright my eyes will hurt from all the color and it will all be worth it.

…

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Easter Dinner Menu {Version 03/18}

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Every year Easter weekend looks different for us. In recent years we’ve had some variety-traveled to visit family, shared a meal with church friends who graciously invited us into their home, hosted our own extended family gathering, or kept it simple with just our group of five.

I rarely dye eggs. My interest level in that is a 0.5 at best. I may plan our spring outfits in advance, or, more likely, survey closets the day before and wonder if I can pull off a new, fresh spring look with whatever we have and minimal effort. I love Resurrection Sunday and all it represents; I’m ambivalent about everything else. {Or lazy. You could also say that.}

I do care about FELLOWSHIP and FOOD, and this year I get to host a smallish family dinner, which is perfect.

…

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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 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