week 15: life, lately
this week on the little dream farm
I’ve mentioned in passing before: I have a love-hate relationship with social media…and more so lately with devices and screens in general. Love, naturally, because it is the means by which we’ve connected with most of you reading this right now.
Hate, because I’m concerned about its addictive design, the ways it breeds so much comparison and doubt and lack as we scroll on, and how it steals away peace and moments of joy in our lives as we’ve become a global society of faces staring into screens, often missing out on being present in the present moment.
So—every now and then you’ll notice spans of time where we’re quiet on social. I used to say I needed it a break from it…now I just more firmly believe it’s a necessity—that we’re not and were never meant to be so highly connected to social or to screens.
I’m deep in the work of my current health protocol following my Hashimoto’s diagnosis back in the fall, and in some profound work in my therapy sessions as well. I’m also in the process of building something new—all of which have had me feeling the desire for more space, more margin, more quiet, and more moments going within.
While that might look like a lot less time sharing daily posts and IG Stories on Instagram, it certainly doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a whole lot of living going on here at the LDF, so this week I thought I’d catch you up on some of the wave tops…a sort of life, lately kind of update, if you will:
Wondering about how Little Lady is doing post-Jimmy adoption?
It’s been three weeks now since Jimmy went to his new home and we’ve been working really hard to stop Little Lady’s marking behavior. It’s still very much a work in progress, but I’m happy to report that she’s marked only once in all that time, and we think we’re really hitting our stride with getting things back to normal. Would it help if I went into more detail about everything we’ve done and how we made it work? Let me know in the comments and I’ll create an IG post about it!
Speaking of Jimmy, I picked him up from his new home first thing Thursday morning this week to take him to his neuter appointment and Chris picked him up from that to drop him back off at home. We’d already had the appointment scheduled before he was adopted and told his new mom and dad we’d be happy to handle it if it made it easier for them—Jimmy did great, he was snuggly and smushy as ever, and his family adores him and said they’re so in love with him!
I haven’t mentioned to you yet—I got a new job!
You might remember I got a new Air Force contract back in late-November that will go through this year. Well, it’s clunky to explain, but I have two jobs as a Reservist: I have my regular Reserve role where I was previously serving one unit in New York City and would fulfill that commitment about thirty days out of every year for the last several years. Then, I also had a full-time contract where I was on active duty orders supporting another unit, like I’m also doing right now.
In order to promote to the next rank (which is Lieutenant Colonel, for me), I needed to move on from my role with the New York office. After applying to several opportunities over the past year, I interviewed and was selected for a role at the Pentagon where I’ll be responsible for helping the Chief of the Air Force Reserve (who is a 3-star general) communicate policy for the Air Force Reserve, mostly on Capitol Hill and with other government stakeholders. Instead of heading to NYC for duty I’ll now be headed to DC a few times a year in support of this new role. How cool!
Chris went to London and I went to Tennessee and Alabama
Chris spent a week in London with a friend and then just as he arrived back home on the farm, I tagged out for a week-long trip to Chattanooga, TN and Hunstville, AL with my sister.
This is Chris’ third time going to England with one of his best friends from high school and they mostly drive from city to city for sightseeing and going to lots of football games—they had another awesome trip, great games, wonderful food, and perfect weather.
As for my sister and I, we loved Chattanooga and had the best time hiking, eating, exploring, and coffee-ing our way through that adorable little city. Then, we spent several days in Huntsville where she lives and works soaking up some quality time together.
While Chris and I wish we could have gotten off the farm together, we’ve got a few short trips planned together this year that we’re very much looking forward to!
Adventure Weekend…it’s a thing!
This is the year of doing less here on the farm so we can enjoy it—and the area around where we live—more. So, Chris and I decided to make it our goal to get off the farm more often on the weekends for day trips here and there.
This weekend we headed into Vermont up to Northfield, Irasville, Middlesex, Montpelier, and Barre for some coffee, breakfast, a bit of sightseeing, a few farm markets, a bakery, a little local shopping, lunch, and a stop into a few local bookstores.
I was telling Chris I really need to put together a roll up of all the things we see and do when we have our little weekend adventures so that I can share them all with you. I like to think we’re pretty darn good at planning out the perfect day trip for this area!!
There’s always lots more to share but in keeping with my comments at the start of this Note, what do you say we get off our screens and into having ourselves a great day instead?! Catch you next week, friend!
Sarah’s Reads:
Just finished this book, very highly recommend you read it, and can’t wait to hear what you think!
Picked this book up as my next read and very much looking forward to it.
Chris’ Reads:
Chris just finished this book and enjoyed everything he learned.
He’s onto this book next and it sounds like such a great adventure read with lots to learn!
*Note: Not all, but some of these links are affiliate links. That’s no matter to you, as it costs you nothing. However, if you make a purchase, we -may- receive a teeny weeny commission.
Just yesterday I saw a group of teen girls on the sidewalk. There were about six of them walking along absorbed in their phones.
Put your phones down and spend some time with your friends. I hope I don't sound too blunt. But, really.
I'd like to hear about how you're getting Little Lady to stop marking, please and thank you!