Life at a "Swell's" pace

Friday things

What a week. As with the last four weeks, we've had a lot going on and it's quite exhausting. The start of the seventh grade school year happened, downsizing our clothing collection-still working toward our minimal lifestyle, furniture purchases, new mattress purchase (will share soon), and enduring bouts of rain. We've also been preparing for family visits this Thanksgiving and I couldn't be more excited to have that happen this year. It's been a real productive four weeks. We always look forward to the weekend here in this house and this weekend this welcomed with open arms; No rain! Although we have a lot going on here, I still try to carve out some time to share our week. Last week we were under the weather a bit and I honestly didn't feel like getting out of bed much. Not sure what we had going around, but it knocked the wind out of our sails, that's for sure. The Bean and I are still fighting the last leg of it. We've been defusing tea tree oil and inhaling eucalyptus the last few days and it seems to be helping kick whatever we had-I'm thinking a stuffy head cold. Now we are up and about and feeling back to ourselves more and can share a little update. So here are the things we've been up to lately.

1. This birthday boy

Friday (September 30) we celebrated The Bean's thirteenth birthday and it was a blast! I honestly can't believe it! Thirteen. It's hard to swallow, but The Bean has grown into such a great person and the fantastic little man that he is. I have been having a difficult time accepting that he is actually 13 now, but just like when he was 12, it will sink in soon enough. I wish that time would stand still for just a bit, but the sad part about it is, it never will. Being present is the only way to fulling be content with what is right in front of us. He has made his dad and me so freaking proud and I couldn't see any other way to spend my life than with this great boy and his wonderful ways. Happy birthday still, my wonderful Bean! (Side note: we did a little celebrating for The Mr. back on September 16, too. I have to mention a little something for him since he is the greatest part of our family and the rock that holds steady when the ground is rocky. I do love you so!)

2. Road trips

We've taken a few road trips here and there lately just getting out and about when it isn't raining. We've done a few geocaching runs and I will share those soon.

3. Sun moment

The sun finally made an appearance here the last few days and The Bean and I couldn't be more excited to see it. Loads of rain is great, but after awhile it really gets to be a bummer.

4. Pumpkins galore

The Valley floor is covered with fields of pumpkins at the moment. It looks like a fall-lovers paradise with all of the orange dots on the ground. Makes me wonder what it looks like from an airplane.

5. Our minimal adventure

We have been on a steady purge session for the last few months. Things are starting to really come to gather and I can see light at the end of the tunnel. It's pretty liberating, to say the least.

Have a great weekend.

Week-End: Things that made my week awesome

What a great day! Well, minus the rain. We've had such a long week we are glad to see this weekend and especially Sunday. The Mr. and I have been planning another road trip for our #snsroadtrips and we have been having a lot of fun figuring out a good place to go. Hopefully it will work out for us and I can have another place to mark off of our "bucket list." For now, here are the things that made this week awesome!

1. This camera

The Bean purchased him a new Polaroid camera and he has been having a blast with it. He likes the exposure the camera creates and has been snapping pictures of everything and everyone.

If you're curious if Polaroid film is still made, it is. You can get it here.

2. This book

If you're curious about the September book selection for SNS, here it is. "Better than Before"

by Gretchen Rubin. It's a book about what the author learned about making and breaking habits that we create over time. It talks about sleeping more, quitting sugar (which is a hard one for me), and how to stop procrastinating. You can see the entire list of book selections at the link "Library" at the top of this blog.

3. This "prescription"

Meditate, exercise, avoid processed food, eat more organic fruit and veggies, and spend more time outdoors and less time in front of electronics. Seems like the right way to cure the coming on winter blues or just the daily slumps.

4. Gardening tips

September:

Feed your lawn with fertilizer.
Take down hanging baskets, replace with winter/spring flowering versions.
Plant evergreen shrubs.

October:

Prepare your pond, greenhouse, and put your tools/outdoor furniture away.
Divide perennials that have become too large.
Rake up fallen leaves and spread them between the perennials in the border of flower beds and gardens.

5. This cleaning mission

We've been taking out camping gear out and going through, downsizing, and cleaning everything. We have cast iron skillets as part of our camping gear and they were in desperate need of a scrubbing. This tip I cam across in a magazine (I forgot which one) really helped out. We have decided to go minimal with our camping equipment too, so we were in need of an overhaul on our camping box and gear. Plus, we found out, we are in need of a new tent! *sigh*

What happened this time last year?

Our Garden Currently: Garden beds and solar lights

The Mr. and I have been on a mission to bring a bit of color to the side yard of the house we live in currently. I had a vision of making a large flowerbed in the middle of the yard to break up the grassy knoll a bit. We planted mostly perennials and they have really taken off in a beauty of color.

The side of the house needed something. When we first laid the dirt down and cleaned the area up it screamed flowers to me. The picture above is the first week they were planted and I was afraid they might not make an appearance this year. The old saying goes, "first year they sleep, second year they creep, and third year they leap."

Still a rough draft on the left-side of the house. This is right down, on the same side of the house, as the perennial flowers from above. Not sure what this space will become and I am almost afraid to put much more effort into it because of the winter months coming soon.

Some wild flower seeds were spilled near the fence line and we saw a few of them peaking through the cracks.

The slow-going flowerbed The Mr. and I put in place. We like how it looks so far, but things will start to show soon. I look a night shot because I liked the way it looked. (Of course, this is the first shot when we started and it looks great so far, but we shall see what it becomes before the summer is done.) -Scroll down for an updated picture of the middle flowerbed now.

Solar lights along the privacy fence. This fence will have more depth as the years go on. I am planning a big layout to bring it all together. It's still in the works, so stay tuned. Best part of the new "layout" is the fact that once it's done we can move it with us to a new location if, and when, we find that perfect home of our own. Fingers crossed that one comes along before too long.