My grandma said one of my grandpa's favorite songs used to be "I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why)" by Alabama. I know why. Because the lyrics matched his life. They spoke to him. I can relate. 

Our lives since February of this year have been one big blur of tasks, faces, feelings, and places. So many highs, a few lows, firing one after another.

A side effect of the aforementioned blur is that my body and mind are set to "I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why)" mode at all times. I often feel like I have a ticker tape "to do" list that is constantly unraveling itself inside my mind. Check this off, add that on, don't forget this, make sure to do that. And if the tape isn't actively unraveling with my lists, I feel like I'm forgetting, or slacking, or have lost all control of my life.

Yikes, huh? Yeah, that's what I thought, too. That's why I declared this coming weekend "MY WEEKEND." I need a breather from the blur. I need to recalibrate. No tasks (we'll see how long that lasts), no events, no people. Just me (and Joel of course - he is supportive of my declaration).

If this is what it feels like to maintain perfection, to feel in control, to keep up appearances - whatever I've been doing all of this for - I don't know if I want to (or can) keep doing it. We're moving forward, yes, but at full speed. That's not my natural speed at all...

That's why it's time to stop rushing. Time to start saying, "No, thank you." Time to get back to my yogic center and remind myself that to feel calm, I need to remain calm at my center and let the world whirl around me - not allow my center to be a whirlwind in order to create calm around me. I've flipped inside out it seems. Time to get back to myself. Constant recentering. Amen.

How are you feeling? Same? I encourage you to take a break with me. Kick back, do what you love, and  make time for some life savoring. Don't let rushing around become your constant - remember to take time to slow down!

I believe Joel and I have become accustomed to the ebbs and flows of country life and being acreage owners. We've had some interesting and challenging things thrown our way over the past few weeks, but here we are, still going strong!

To summarize what we've learned recently:

• No AC during a heat wave is not fun (thanks mom and dad for letting us savor your AC for a few nights), but nothing beats a cool breeze through the windows on quiet summer nights.
• Dehumidifiers in the basement of an almost 100 year old home are necessary, and when yours breaks down, it can create quite the nasty environment.
• Mother Nature is boss and will remind you of that constantly (R.I.P. one tree and too many large branches to count).
• She also doesn't give a shit about your outdoor projects, "Oh, you wanted to get that done in one weekend? Ha! You're cute. I'll let you get that other part done in about 2 weeks from today." This was not a funny joke...
• Hacksaws come in real handy when your "repaired" chainsaw gives up. We are also the number one supporters of whoever invented wheel barrows and skid loaders!

All in all, it's been just fine. Like I said, we're getting used to the flow of things, but it has been a learning curve. 

The wonderful thing about all of these "adventures" is that it has kept our life interesting, our attitudes about what's important in check, and we're more active than ever. Gone are the days when we come home from work and lounge for an entire night. We have both been outside every night doing something for a few hours before we wind down. 

I've probably mentioned before that Teddy Roosevelt is my #1 hero and is a huge inspiration to me. He was very physically active and encouraged others to be physically active as a way to live a better life. He was also a big outdoorsman. Loved nature. I think about him often when I'm dragging branches from the front to the back of our 2 acre property. When I'm scraping paint from various nooks and crannies with sweat dripping from my brow. And especially when I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and give thanks for the beautiful habitat we've surrounded ourselves with.

I've observed a growing sense of pride, accomplishment, and gratitude within each of us after we end a long day at work with a long evening outside. It's amazing and new and so lovely. Something we can share. Another way we are growing together on our journey.

I snapped a few pics of our recent work outside. Below you'll see Joel at work clearing (a lot) of  brush after the last big (surprise) storm we had. And along with it, my work on our porches. This was the project Mother Nature interrupted. But it's still coming along  nicely. 

Thank you for visiting my blog! With this first post so begins documentation of my life as a reborn country girl.

My parents raised my sister and I on a wonderful plot of land in the country. When I left the nest, I lived in various cities (large towns is a better term) surrounding my childhood home. In high school, I expressed desires of wanting to live in New York City. I never made it out of Iowa (aside from traveling), but as I've grown, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

As I got older, began seeking and practicing natural paths to solitude, and as talk of having children became more frequent, the country was calling.

My husband and I will be moving onto a two acre piece of land a few houses down from my childhood home in the country and we couldn't be happier. There is such comfort that comes with this decision, including:

• Closer proximity to the family that raised us and have so much more to teach us;​​
• A sense of familiarity and community among people that watched us grow up, which is lost in the anonymity of living in the city;
• Access to the great outdoors at our doorstep - fresh air, tall trees, silence, privacy, nature, wildlife, space, I could go on and on;
• A chance for us to grow stronger as a couple, and hopefully, grow old together in a space that is so full of possibilities.

​My blog will parallel our journey as we become country folk, living off the land and restoring the charm of our new, old home. But among all the country talk, I'll also be including information and photos about some of my other passions such as fashion and yoga. Just because 1) I live in Iowa, and 2) am on my way to living in the country, does not mean that I'll live out each day in flannels and overalls (of course I will some of the time...) and get my workouts in by feeding the chickens.

I'm bringing the big city to the even bigger Iowa countryside. On our property, current day trends will collide with everything that is good, tried, and true about simple, country living.