If we were having coffee…

If we were having coffee, I’d hug you extra tight and ask you’re doing?  We’d no doubt start off our time together talking about the tragedies in Paris and around the world in just the last couple of days and which might send us into talks about our evolution as people and a wondering about when we’ll learn that killing people isn’t the answer to anyone’s question (or at east it shouldn’t be).  Do you have any friends or family there?  Is everyone you know OK?

I might also mention that we don’t watch normal TV anymore since we have Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime (all combined, it’s still cheaper than cable), so we don’t watch the news anymore, which has been an incredible blessing because there is a fervor that is created by the news stations that is unbearable anymore.  Instead, I pick and choose my news outlets and read or watch clips on my phone.  The anxiety of it all is lessened for me in this way which I find amazingly helpful, especially when big, horrible things happen.

This might lead into me affirming our commute and how important it has become to us to have real respite when the work day is done.  The traffic, the sirens, the parade of endless people everywhere simply exhausts me,  Having a bit of space to wander, to breathe, to look out on, is essential to my sanity and does wonders for my ability to be a real, engaging person in work and in life when I am in town.  I really am an introvert, and I really do recharge on my own, in the quiet hours. Do tell, how do you recharge while the world is spinning outside your window?

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I did actually spend a tiny bit of time working on a Creative Space in a corner of my home office! There are still boxes to unpack and/or move, supplies to go through, and plans to make, but the energy is officially moving and I’m stoked about it! Kim has given me the task of painting four new paintings for the house and I am happy to oblige!  There will be two for our bedroom, then a triptych and a singleton for our Dining Room area.  I am super excited to begin and think I’ll at least get the base coat of a couple done today (I am reusing old canvases to save a bit of cash 🙂 ) Now, please tell me, did you get your creative space (mentally or physically) in order or make something new this past week?

With Ember napping and as many chores completed as I was willing to complete around the house, I made some strong, hot, black tea, cracked open a chocolate bar, and spent a little bit of time up in my office working on a creative space for myself. With inspiration up, a few supplies out, and a clean drafting table for the first time in well over a year, I’d say I’m *almost ready to begin being hands-on creative again! ✨🎉✨ WooHoo! #selfcare #smallsteps #whatwillidofirst

A photo posted by Melissa @ Ever Growing Farm (@evergrowingfarm) on Nov 13, 2015 at 3:06pm PST

    If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I did, in fact, get the garlic in the ground last weekend and threw down some echinacea seed along one portion of the garden fencing while I was at it.  I have been so sad since we walked away from our urban farm and had to leave our amazing stand of echinacea!  I’ve never tasted a better echinacea tincture before and look forward to being able to make it again from our own roots! Speaking of roots, I also have a bunch of sunchokes in the fridge that’ll have to wait until spring to go in the ground, but I’m very excited about growing this new-to-me root veggie! Do you garden?  If so, what is your favorite thing to grow?  If not, why not?!   If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I flew solo as a mom for the first time in 9+ years and for the first time in Ember’s life for a few days (and nights!) this week…and despite my fears, we both survived beautifully.  We did all of the chores together, ate lots of yummy food, drank copious amounts of tea (which for E means warm milk with the tiniest splash of black tea and a bit of honey), played house, danced in the Living Room, wandered around outside, and missed Mom like crazy. All in all (and despite some toddler tantrums), I couldn’t have asked for a better few days for us to have on our own, though I am so incredibly exhausted, would not want to do it again anytime soon, and am so very happy to have Kim home again!  Also, if we had more kids or more animals, I don’t think I would have survived.      

Night two without Mom and we’re both a little tender. E has gone back and forth between being happy & helpful and a full on hot mess this afternoon into evening. Shown here was a good moment while she helped me secure the freeze cloth over the bed of greens. She really is a spitfire, this one, running around with a stake saying “help!” (as in, “I will help you!”) 😆 I think tonight will call for movies, popcorn, and crochet. Calm self care to get through 💕 A photo posted by Melissa @ Ever Growing Farm (@evergrowingfarm) on Nov 12, 2015 at 4:07pm PST

If we were having coffee, I’d ask if you are all set to watch UFC 193 tonight and who you’re rooting for? And you might look at me in confusion if you’re not a MMA fan (or if you’re surprised that I am a MMA fan) but the turn in our conversation would really be determined by your own level of fandom 🙂  So, do tell tell, are you a fan?  (If you are, did you watch the epic Silva fight  Do you still cringe at the knowledge that his muscles were stronger than his ones?! Gross.)  The match tonight is bound to be full of it’s own brand  of Epic, however it shakes out, and I’m excited to head to a friend’s house this evening and make a night of it!

Alright, time to go! I have beans to soak and paintings to begin and time to spend with my wife! I hope that whatever your weekend and the week ahead brings you, it is as fabulous as you are! See you next week!

xoxo,
M

Linking up to Part Time Monster’s Weekend Coffee Share.  Pop on over to catch up with everyone!