Water kefir. I wasn't really sure what I was doing with this at first. The culture didn't seem to grow, and the finished product was okay… but it wasn't very carbonated and smelled a bit like feet. Lately? Oh my. It's soooo good. It still has an interesting smell, but I'm used to it and now the culture is kicking. It multiplies quickly now and the resulting kefir is delicious and mildly sweet with some serious carbonation. Like, you have to be careful opening the bottle. I love it! And I'm now able to share the culture since it's multiplying. 
This is the way things are around here lately. Lots of plants and trays and soil everywhere.
With lots getting done outside, there is less getting done inside. Thank goodness for laundry baskets- without them I fear we'd be living in a sea of mess. It's improving day by day, and as my life becomes more and more enmeshed with the work I want, I am finding some balance. I'm getting rid of more things- finding a bit more simplicity when it comes to "stuff". Amazing how much time is spent on managing all of the things. It's a process, but I'm seeing improvement and more simplicity where it's needed. 
The land. It's this place of enchantment. We walk into the woods and there's just a wave of freshness that hits us. The other day Jeff and I had a little date out there and we found ourselves in the middle of a whole bunch of butterflies. They fluttered all around and landed on us… magical!
I spend time at my house and think of how I'll be sorry to leave, but then I go to the land and all of that melts away. I am so excited to be in this space. The trees, the air, the way it smells. It's so amazing, and something I think we all should be living in. We are supposed to part of a vibrant living ecosystem. It feels right and healing, even just to be there for an hour. And yet, we spend our days in largely toxic environments that are scarcely reminiscent of what we once knew. This needs to change.
Vera wanted me to take a picture of this arch. There's lots of black raspberries everywhere.
It's so peaceful there, with the exception of these dirt bikers that cut through the property to get to a track. They almost ran over the kids on this day. I screamed my head off to stop them and managed to get the kids out of the way. They proceeded to ignore me and whiz around a block that we put up. We think it might take a bit of work to get them to stop doing it. I want to just go approach them and explain that this is going to be our home and we don't want to have to worry about our animals or kids. I hope appealing to their good nature will do the trick. Blocks and signs have done no good- they just tear them down.
This is a block we put up that they go around. So for now I just have to stick close to the kids and keep my ears open for the sound of their bikes. Otherwise, everything is going really well out there. Driveways and trails are being cut. We're all having a really good time. 🙂
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Oh man, I can totally relate to the more outside=less inside thing. I’ve been enjoying spending so much time outside. It really gives me energy, and makes me feel good, and I’m so much more engaged with Delilah when we’re outside. But my house? Disaster area!
The other night with our neighbors, we were chatting about what would happen in this country if there were any sort of large-scale disaster, because there are so few people who are self-sufficient. I totally thought about you and smiled, thinking “I know of one family who would do just fine.” 🙂
That is really upsetting about the bikers on your property. 🙁
Seriously! I am finally understanding the idea behind a “spring clean”. It’s like a preparation for the need to completely ignore everything. I always thought it would be better to have a “fall clean” for when you are about to be cooped up inside all winter, but I think I got it wrong…
Oh my goddess I love that you thought of my little clan. We’ve got a ways to go but I like to think we’d make it okay. Know that if you ever find yourself in SE Michigan post-apocalypse, you and yours have got a warm meal and a bed with me. 😉
Lovely, lovely post. Just what I needed to help cheer me up after an especially rough day. My garden is not really in existence yet, all I have are a few buckets and pots with snapdragons that over-wintered(there was actually flowers on them for all but a few weeks of winter this year)and one sunflower sprout. I plan on getting some scarlet runners in in the next day or so, just in buckets for now. I’m really hoping to get an actual garden bed built soon, but we’ll see…
Really looking forward to more of your beautiful garden pics, and hearing how it’s all going!
wild nature is SO good for people! places like that tend to have a profound impact on kids especially, helping to rearrange and form who they will become as adults. i grew up in the woods (wild, swampy, northern forest) with wild plants and animals everywhere (along with a garden and some goats) and to this day i think that growing up in that place (even though we moved away when i was a kid) is the most major factor in making me who i am today.
we still own that land that i grew up on, and we too have difficulties with people riding their 4-wheelers through our “property”. i think its made worse by the fact that we aren’t there all the time and i hope that if/when we move back, they realize that it isn’t appropriate anymore.
i’m excited for you and your family!
I think it’s great, and definitely sounds like you’ve found some real kindred spirits that mesh well with your family.
I think this is absolutely great! This is honestly the kind of household I dreamed about when I was a kid, like me and my partner sharing a house with my best guy friend and his partner… Shared everything! I thought it would be great for the kids, especially! Once I grew up and learned how abnormal that dream was (not to mention the whole “finding a partner” thing is proving way harder than I’d dreamed), I let go of it… But I think it’s great that you’re choosing to live it! I feel like the benefits would greatly outweigh any downside! …good for you, for living my dream!! 🙂
Thanks! I think that everyone needs community, the introverted folks (like me in a lot of ways, actually) need to feel like they really trust the people they are close to, and that they have enough space for quiet when they need it. That’s just my theory, anyway.
So much food! Such beautiful colors!
I am so excited to be back in Michigan and next summer we’ll have about an acre of land. Maybe we can start finally having a real garden and start out with a nice little patch. 😛 The last few years mine have pretty much been failed attempts. 😛 Haha
I know I’ve said it before, but I just love your posts. 🙂
We were introduced to sorrel through our farm share this year (and subsequently inducted all our family into loving it)! I didn’t know it was a perennial (thought it was more like a lettuce where you’d have to sow a couple crops… Might have to tell my mom and father-in-law, both of whom loved it and have large gardens!
Seeing the silver lining in any rough situation comes so naturally to you, it is truly a gift that is so consistently inspiring. It is that light and love that has you so surrounded by support–you definitely get what you give, yes? <3 you, Gracie.
My dear friend! I hope things become much better shortly, and I am so so so glad that you are surrounded by people who are looking out for you. I love you. I’m praying for you. Hugs.