“After every storm, there is a rainbow. If you have eyes, you will find it. If you have wisdom, you will create it. If you have love for yourself and others, you won’t need it.”
―Shannon L. Alder
Sitting at my writing desk in the office that used to be the front porch when I was growing up here. Watching the sun sparkle off the white, frost-laden fields on both sides of the straight driveway. Beyond I can see the white vinyl fenceposts that we installed out by the highway last weekend.
A bright red cardinal swoops from the feeder I provided him and starts “rat-a-tat-tat-ing” on the window in front of me. He’s been doing this for over a year now. Apparently, cardinals are extremely territorial birds. I thought if I moved his feeder away from where he would see his reflection he might discontinue this practice but alas, that has not helped. Our fat siamese kitties love to lay on my desk and watch him.
At the end of the driveway near the house, I see bluebirds squeezing in and out of the birdhouses that Ken, my husband, built last spring in an attempt to entice them out of a recently acquired martin house. Last year he was too late, the bluebirds had already claimed the martin apartment house before their arrival in May and the mockingbirds would not allow the bluebirds access to their new houses because they were within their territory. Bird drama…never-ending on the farm. Yesterday, Ken brought down the martin apartment house and cleaned out last year’s bluebird nests. He’ll run it back up when the weather warms and the martins return.
When I go back and read my last “Writing Update” before The Storm, it seems like it was written by a different person. A lighter, happier, more hopeful person. Not long after that update, my environment and psyche were blown away. You can read more about my experiences the last few months in my latest Over the Hoopee Farm newsletter. Like the trees that lay uprooted all around, my soul felt uprooted and untethered as well. It’s been a long, slow slog back to some sort of normalcy. I’ve journaled through hard feelings daily and I’ve written a few essays I’ve published here on Substack.
Just before The Storm, I had my first essay published in Salvation South entitled Chicken. Dumplings. Legacy. I was humbled and grateful for the opportunity.
Between my small family farm and my Swamp Sanctuary located just a mile southwest of here, much of my time during the last few months has been on what I call “Legacy Projects”. Of course my writing is one of those as well, but these are actual tangible things that will be included in my stories to help root the following generations to this place. Much of my writing this year will probably include allusions to these projects.
Current Reads
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times…Katherine May
Journey to Mindfulness: The Autobiography of Bhante G.…Bhante Gunaratana with Jeanne Malmgren
The River of the Mother of God and Other Essays…Aldo Leopold
Substacks I’m Enjoying
Katherine Beckett Winship’s words have taken me through much of The Storm aftermath from the harder hit area of Appalachia.
Jenks Farmer’s words have given me hope and inspiration to keep planting.
Sue Kusch’s words as guest author for Janisse Ray’s Journey in Place inspired my vision of cleaning up my swamp.
Continuing Education and Future Endeavors
Today I will begin a 5-week journaling course with Janisse Ray entitled Journaling the Way Forward. This is the first of her Sunday journaling courses that she offers throughout the year and I think it is just what I need to jumpstart my focus for 2025.
I’m really just taking it easy with myself for 2025-NOT setting lofty goals or ambitions. Continuing my work of self-healing, self-love, and self-nurturing. My word for 2025 will be simplicity as I move forward.
SIDE NOTE: I don’t know if anyone else is experiencing any issues here with Substack, but I’ve gotten many new subscribers recently—many of whom I don’t think are real. When I post on Notes I’m getting lots of “troll” comments from accounts which are obviously not real and I’ve been receiving many creepy direct messages. I don’t know if anyone else is experiencing anything similar. I keep deleting and blocking these accounts and I’m going to avoid using Notes for awhile and see if that helps. I’m not interested in numbers here, I’d rather make real connections. If you’re only reading my Notes but not my essays, please don’t subscribe.
Thank you for being here on this writing journey with me. May we all thrive in 2025!
Blessings,
💜B💜
💜B💜 Thank you for taking the time to read my words. Thank you for the mention.
I am so glad to be in Janisse’s class. She gave us a lift last night. I am content to know that you are there, too. 💜k💜
I can't wait to see your strategy for Self-Love & Self-Nurturing. Actually, you don't need a strategy. You just need rest. Plus let me say again, that rainbow is killer.