week 19: a flash

this week on the little dream farm

I have this theory.

It’s that time is actually, literally speeding up and all of us keep thinking it somehow just feels like it.

But truly…

Some days I wake up and I’m like…

How is it Sunday again? Or how the heck is it already May? Or I can’t believe this is our third growing season on the farm. Or that Chris and I have spent a decade together. Or that we somehow are 36 and 38 years old.

I’ve been saying for years now, if I could choose a super power it’d be what I’d call a Life Remote—one that allows me to pause and slow down time so that I can live in and savor moments, both for small things like the smell and color of the lilac bush just off our patio—it erupted into full bloom this week and it’ll be over in a flash. Or for the big things, like getting to meet and hold my newborn nephew, Michael, for the very first time this week—with his tiny head of thick black hair and the softest cheeks and his perfect little newborn-ness…only a newborn for a moment in time.

Chris and I spent our Saturday Adventure this weekend in White River Junction, VT then up to Norwich, VT, then over to Hanover, NH.

As we walked around Main Street in Hanover and then the Dartmouth campus, I was noticing all the college students enjoying their weekend with friends, out for breakfast or coffee with their families, and even a group of students graduating and taking photos in their caps and gowns.

Back in my college days I remember only ever wanting time to speed up—can’t wait to get to college. Can’t wait until finals are over. Can’t wait until it’s summer break. Can’t wait until I’m not a broke college kid anymore. Can’t wait to graduate and commission into the Air Force. Can’t wait to get my career off the ground.

I laughed so hard the other day when I saw this meme on Instagram:

Funny, isn’t it?

I just remember so easily wishing the time away. Now all I ever want is for it to simply just slow down.

Speaking of time…this week went by in a flash.

It poured down soaking sopping rain all day on Sunday and we woke up to our Internet being out and then eventually the power being out—one of the power lines up the road totally fried. Thankfully the teams were on it quickly and we were back up and running by the next morning.

I mention it, only because it gave me a chance to hop over to Vermont to one of my favorite coffee shops to post up for work. As I sat there and sipped a London Fog (here’s how I always ask for it: a 16 or 20 ounce London Fog with whole milk with 1 pump lavender and 1 pump vanilla syrup), checked emails, knocked out some tasks, and had some time to do a few things for myself while the hours went by, I decided I’m going to make that—working at a coffee shop—a regular occurrence. I’ll mix up the coffee shop from week to week, but that is a wonderful tiny delight I’m adding to my weekly work from home routine.

Tuesday, Chris and I tackled mowing and bush hogging some of the pastures that have already gotten ahead of us—with all the rain we’ve had so far this spring everything is taking off like crazy! Thankfully, Mary next door let me borrow her lawn tractor so I could mow some of the taller, thicker pastures down at the front of our farm.

Without the LDF cows here this year we’ll be maintaining more of our pastures more frequently than we’ve had to in previous years, and then later this summer Ted from next door will mow all of our pastures like he does once each year.

We had just enough daylight left on Tuesday to knock out some prep in the Big Garden and did an initial weeding and clean up ahead of planting our fruit and veggie garden for the season, which we’ll plan to do likely in the next three to four weeks. I’ve made it my own personal rule that we wait until Memorial Day or later to plant out most of our garden, as those late season frosts are so likely up until then and even sometimes into June around here.

Wednesday I was up and on the road before daybreak, headed to Allentown, PA to meet my new nephew, Mikey! I wanted to soak up as much newborn time with him as I could without also being in their way now that their world is a little different with two boys under two years old, and I’m so glad I was able to squish that adorable little fuzzy precious boy when he was just five days old! It was pure joy getting to spend time with them.

Funny enough I looked identical to Mikey as a newborn. I, like Mikey, was the only one in my family with a full thick black head of hair that stuck up all over the place! We’re kindred spirits, he and I!

I was back on the farm by Thursday night and Chris and I wrapped up our work week on Friday and then did a full clean out of the chicken coop—we swapped all their bedding over from straw to pine bedding (straw is warmer for the winter but the pine bedding is easier to manage), and let me tell you that is a dirty, nasty, dusty, disgusting job. You’ve got to wear a face mask and eye protection to do it (because you really don’t want to be breathing in all the dust from their droppings) and every last piece of clothing needs a deep washing, as do we. But now it’s checked off the list and the coop is ready for the summer months!

For our Saturday Adventure we ate at an awesome Turkish restaurant for breakfast in White River Junction, then stopped at the Norwich Farmers Market, one of the best little farmers markets we’ve been to in this region. We visited the King Arthur Baking Company store and cafe which we really loved getting to see (I bake everything with their gluten free measure measure flour!) and then we headed over to Dartmouth to see the campus.

Random fun fact about Chris and I—every city or town we ever visit, we always make a point to stop at and either drive through or walk around whatever the college campus is in that place. The Dartmouth campus definitely now ranks high on our list of favorite and most beautiful campuses.

Tuckerbox in White River Junction, VT is such a lovely surprise to have such an awesome Turkish & Mediterranean restaurant in such a small town. We loved it!

Depending on the weather for Sunday, my neighbor may get to tilling the Cut Flower Patch and then we’ll likely pick up all the dahlia boxes and start sorting them out to get them planted the last week of May (which I don’t worry about since the tubers get buried and a late frost won’t bother newly-planted tubers that haven’t yet started sprouting).

So we’ll see what today holds! Either way we’ll be knocking out some chores around the farm and soaking up some time together at home before Chris heads out Monday for a weeklong work trip in Milwaukee, WI, and then I’m gone the following week for another stint in DC at the Pentagon.

We’re sending you lots of love from all of us here on the LDF until we catch you again next week!

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So which is it?

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Got a couple fashion finds for you this week!

1. This summer Chris and I are looking forward to what we’re calling Lake Life—we’ve made a list of a bunch of nearby lakes to go hang out at on the weekends. In my excitement for Lake Life, I have found THE most flattering one piece. It comes in lots of colorways but I opted for the vertical stripes, as I think that patterning is what makes it just so fabulous. It’s comfortable, covers your bum in just the right place, is slimming, and most importantly is incredibly comfortable. Highly recommend if you’re in the market for a new suit this coming season.

2. Need some good garden/outdoor/chore/rain boots? I’ve got you. I’ve been wearing these boots since we moved here in 2021 and they’re my go-to boot for so many different things here on the farm. They’re like Hunter quality with a much better price tag, and I love that these aren’t too high or too low—it makes them the perfect boot for getting things done.

3. There’s nothing like finding your go-to jean brand. For me it’s Banana Republic Factory—all the J. Crew, Banana Republic, Gap vibes but at a better price. I generally order all my jeans true to size here and the fit is unlike any other. This pair is currently 40% off and makes for a great spring/summer style go-to jean in this fabulous light wash.

4. Are you into bike shorts? For me it depends on the length and the style—too long and I think they can make your legs look thicker. Too short and they ride up. But this pair seems to be all the right things—flattering waist line, just the perfect length, and the softest most comfortable material. I’ll be wearing these for both workouts and athliesure looks.

*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.

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