If we were having coffee, I’d be welcoming you into my home with a big hug and such gratitude that you made the drive to see me on this crisp, blue skied, Saturday morning!
I’d ask how you are doing, what you’d like to drink (we have herbal teas, black tea, coffee, and chai to choose from), and how your week went? Then, we’d curl up on the couch with our hot beverages of choice (I’d be having tea today, as I do every morning at home).
If we were sharing a hot beverage, I’d apologize for being a bit foggy today. I’m simply exhausted from a very busy week and I’m still recovering from a nasty cold that hit me around mid-week. It was ridiculous timing actually, being sick and needing to be present for work, for two big events at Kim’s organization, and for my family. It’s all left me exhausted, though not contagious anymore (no more fever), which is why I’m so grateful you’ve come out to see me today. I simply cannot imagine going out into the world this weekend after the chaotic week I’ve just stumbled my way through.
Then, I might admit defeat, as I have failed my NaBloPoMo Challenge and am so very sad about it. I was doing so well and feeling so proud of my daily postings (no scheduling!), but I just didn’t have it in me last night after my crazy week, busy day, and super late arrival home. I was exhausted, my throat hurt, and I couldn’t fathom doing anything beyond crawling in bed and passing out. And so, knowing I would lose this challenge, I chose my bed over the computer.
Such is life, right? It’s what happens when we’re busy making plans.
So, I will continue trying my best to post daily for the rest of the month because I’ve enjoyed it, but I won’t be able to say at the end that I posted for 30 straight days.
Bummer.
Such a bummer.
But it’s not the end of the world.
If we were sharing a hot beverage, I’d ask if you are ready for Thanksgiving and the holiday season that races in with it? Do you try to source some of your ingredients locally? I try my best but am still not as good about it as I would like.
Thanksgiving truly is my favorite holiday with it’s delicious foods, warm atmosphere, energy of gratitude, and no ulterior motive. It also falls right in between my dad’s Birthday and my own, so there’s always an acknowledgement of our births, almost exactly 20 years apart. Of course, this Thanksgiving will be different for us, as we’ll have one of our very own turkeys on the table. Did you read my post about all.of.the.feelings? Yeah…still processing it all. Today is their last day and I intend to get outside with them for as long as possible, let them free range, feel the sun on their back and the cool air of fall in their lungs…and take as many pictures as possible. The light is lovely today, so that should be the easy part. There will be prayers tomorrow and so much gratitude for their lives, for this experience, and for the sustenance they will provide.
On Tuesday, while in town for E’s Stone Soup Thanksgiving Celebration at school and some work appointments, I plan to run by the Farmers Market to grab the last few items for our Thanksgiving Table, though, I may have to hit an actual grocery store for a few items, too.
If we were sharing a hot beverage, I’d ask if you’d like to come outside with me to let the animals out and get the day started? We’d start with the chickens, then the turkeys, letting them into their runs and checking their food and water. Then we’d make our way past the sleeping garden to the goats, letting them out of their pen and giving them a flake of alfalfa and some fresh water, too. They’ll all ask to be let onto the property, but we’ll have to give the dogs some more time to free range themselves before locking them up so the livestock can roam.
We’d then come back inside and you’d chat me up about all the things happening in your life while I clean some beans and put them to soak for canning tomorrow. We’d chat and laugh a bit, and I might apologize for not being more talkative today…the week was simply a hard one for the introvert in me with all of it’s meetings and events and not feeling well, to boot.
But you would understand because you are here with me and you know such things.
And so, with both of our To Do lists a mile long, we’d make plans to see each other again soon before you make your way back into town to do all of the things you want and need to do this weekend.
Then, I’d give you another big hug and tell you to take good care of yourself.
And I’d be so grateful you stopped by.
xoxo,
M
Linking up to Part Time Monster‘s Weekend Coffee Share. Click here to read what others are sharing, too.
14 Comments
Bill
I’d have coffee (thanks very much) and I’d agree with you–Thanksgiving is the holiday I like best too. I’d enjoy coming along as you let the animals out (after pausing to reflect–did I remember to do that before coming over?). When the coffee was gone I’d thank you for it and take my leave. The to-do list is mighty long and the sun sets earlier these days. 🙂
Melissa @ Ever Growing Farm
Thank you for joining my, Bill! Glad to hear we’re coming up in your favorite holiday, too. I hope you have a very lovely Thanksgiving!
Brianna
Hope you feel better soon. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
Brianna recently posted…Why we can’t take refugees right now, honey.
Melissa @ Ever Growing Farm
Thank you so much, Brianna! Happy Thanksgiving!
Rowena
Thanks for the coffee, Melissa. Sorry the challenge didn’t pan out but it’s also important to be flexible and adaptable to what’s going on within and around you instead of being a slave to the rules. I actually thought it would have been better to have a reading challenge than a daily writing challenge anyway because we need to listen too and give that some importance. Nano does seem like a lot of talking and too much for the reader to keep up with.
Sorry, you weren’t well though.
I’ll be interested to hear how the turkey experience goes. My dad raised turkeys in suburban Sydney in the 1950s. My husband grew up on the farm where they had a strict distinction between stock and pets. How is that going for you?
I can relate to your frustrations on the daily writing routine front and not getting the words done. I was making great progress on the book front until the hail storm hit Friday 13th Sydney time and we heard about Paris on Saturday our time. My husband has almost finished replacing the roof panels but during the repairs, heaps of leaves fell into the office. I am feeling a bit sabotaged but made progress on the house today, even if the writing suffered. Hope for good things this week and Happy Thanksgiving xx Rowena
Rowena recently posted…In which I tell you how your religion works
Melissa @ Ever Growing Farm
Thank you for your kind words, Rowena. It’s hard to lose a challenge, even if it is *just about writing. I feel better about it now…it’s amazing what a week of sickness and a little perspective can do 🙂
I hope the repairs on your home are coming along! That all sounds scary and super frustrating!
Hope you’re enjoying a lovely week 🙂
Nooce Miller
I’m so sorry to hear you were under the weather. I didn’t have a chance to comment last week, but I am so interested in your creative projects! And my husband and I have been talking about moving somewhere farther out from the city where we can have a little bit of land, so I’m very interested in your gardening and poultry! I hope you are on the mend, and that you enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. Let us know how that roasted turkey is– I’m sure it will be delicious!
Nooce Miller recently posted…Strange Fruit & More: Weekend Coffee Share
Melissa @ Ever Growing Farm
Hi Nooce! Thank you for your kind words! I’m excited to start getting creative again, too! Just as soon as I’m over this sickness I’m going to get busy! Now, I cannot recommend moving out a bit and keeping a garden and poultry! It’s worth every minute of hard work! Please do stay in touch about your journey! We’re really still at the beginnings of ours 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful weekend and week ahead!
Lizl Bennefeld
If we were getting together this weekend for hot drinks, I would be volunteering to take care of the chicken and turkey chores. It has been so very many decades since I last gathered and candled chicken eggs or fed the poultry. I don’t know commercial turkeys, really, but I grew up near several pastures and windbreaks where there were wild turkeys. They used to sleep in the tree branches. I covet your livestock. 🙂
Sympathies to you on your not feeling well. It is not easy to march on instead of rolling over and going back to sleep. Thank you for the visit and the coffee.
Melissa @ Ever Growing Farm
Lizl, thank you for stopping by and for your well wishes! I would happily share my chores with you and let you get your hands dirty again! I will miss our nine turkeys, but, as I said, I am so grateful for this experience! Hope you’re enjoying a lovely day!
Diana
Sorry to hear that you’ve been ill this week, but glad you’re feeling a bit better.
We’re getting ready to visit family for the holiday—going back to my hometown to visit my parents and my mom’s family. It’s always quite an adventure because although we love each other, we’re all very different, and it takes quite a lot of energy for me to be around them for extended periods of time. At least we get good food and we play games!
Diana recently posted…#WeekendCoffeeShare: Almost Holiday Time
Melissa @ Ever Growing Farm
Diana, thank you for your well wishes! Best of luck to you with your family time 🙂 At least you can see the bright side of food and games 😉 I’m right there with you in terms of differences and dynamics! Funny how you can live people while being so different!
Tara
I hope you’re feeling so much better today. And don’t worry about not blogging every day. It’s fun to meet a challenge, but if you don’t, that’s OK, too.
Tara recently posted…#WeekendCoffeeShare: A Hole-y Experience
Melissa @ Ever Growing Farm
Thanks, Tara! I’m just bummer about the challenge, but it *is just a challenge, not the end of the world 😉