The Comfort of Home
Hey there. How are you doing? I’ve been thinking of you and wondering how you and others are handling our recent events and navigating this temporary way of life. It feels surreal. I hope that you and your loved ones are well. We’ve been spending our days at home reading, nesting, cooking together. I picked up my camera to document a few things that have brought joy and comfort during this time of social distancing. It comes as no surprise that it’s the simple things that mean the most.
As a lifelong candle lover, I know that the scent of a room can instantly lift a mood or transport you to a time and place that makes you feel nostalgic. But I was unaware how diffusing oils could make a room smell so intensely fragrant! When I was in France last spring, I purchased 5 or 6 organic oils, unsure of what I was going to do with them. Then at the end of summer, I bought this inexpensive diffuser for my studio and have continued to use it nearly every day! I’ve tried a few combinations of herbal scents but my absolute favorite oil makes my studio smell like a fancy hotel. I hope they never stop selling it.
Our orange grove is overflowing with fruit ready for harvest and many of the trees are in early bloom. This is the best time of year to be at home. We’ve donated boxes and boxes to friends, family, and local restaurants and churches to try and do what we can for our community with all the abundance. I would love to send a fresh box to 3 of you. Just leave a comment sharing something good you’ve discovered during your time at home. I’ll announce the names in the comments here next week. (Names: Mariann Ellison, Tara Mruck, and Angela Carrera! Please email me your addresses!)
The bees are hard at work and a pair of hummingbirds have built a tiny nest outside my studio doors. I sneak out several times a day to see what they’re up to. Two pale blue eggs hatched this week and both babies seem to be doing well. The mother darts about my head when I go out to take pictures making it known that I’m not welcome. I’ll miss them when they’re gone. They’ve put on quite a show.
And as soon as the days start getting longer (and sunnier) our hens begin laying again. We are down to only two chickens right now because the Newcastle disease has prohibited the buying or selling of live poultry in our county since May of last year. I hope it ends soon and we can add to more girls to our flock. Until then, Soufflé and Gray Girl are living in lavish luxury in our big coop. I’ve been spoiling them rotten feeding them sunflower seeds and fresh organic greens, and letting them run around wherever they please. When I open a back door they come running to me in their funny chicken waddle way and I still find it comical to watch after all these years.
Be well my friend. We’re in this together. xo, H
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