Happenings Around the Nest - Week 8
Welcome to this week's Happenings Around the Nest!
Every Friday I share little pieces of life at home: what we're working on, what made us smile, and the things currently filling my mind and my camera roll. Grab a cup of coffee and settle in. Let's catch up.
Making the most of the end of the season
The change in seasons always sneaks up on me. This week I finished prepping my herb garden for winter, trimming, mulching, and tucking it in for the cold months ahead. But when I saw how many herbs were still thriving, I felt that familiar end-of-season panic - an armload of rosemary, thyme, and sage that I just couldn't let go to waste.
So instead of composting them, I got busy and turned my harvest into three fun DIYs: herb soup rings, cozy herb bundles, and a beautiful fresh herb wreath. Each one smelled amazing and reminded me why I love working with herbs so much. (Posts coming soon!)
From the heart
My siblings and I have spent the summer slowly clearing out our mom's home, and over the weekend I finished my part. It has been more emotional than I expected. Every drawer held something that made me stop, remember, and sometimes cry. It is a tender kind of work, both final and full of love. I am grateful we took our time and did it with care.
If you've been through something similar, I'd love to hear how you found your way through. You can reply to this email or leave a comment if you feel comfortable. I'm always grateful for the stories we share with one another.
Midweek moment
A couple of quiet days in Salem with my daughter and my grandpup, Piper, were exactly what I needed. Salem is buzzing this time of year, but inside her cozy home it felt peaceful and calm. We made slow meals, lingered over coffee, and took Piper out on fun adventures among the already-turned leaves. We spent time together and it was the best reset. Simple, grounding, and healing.
Thanks for being here and catching up with me this week. It feels good to share what's happening in real time, not just the polished projects. If you ever feel like replying or letting me know what's going on in your corner of the world, I'd genuinely love to hear it. Wishing you a calm, steady week ahead.
Missed the last few weeks? Catch up here!
Wishing you a calm and cozy week,
After my mom's passing, my brother and I were tasked with clearing out her home. I volunteered to clean out the attic myself. It was filled to the brim, wall to wall! So many memories stored up there! The vintage Christmas decorations, in particular, reminded me of my youth and the clackity clack of the train as it circled the tree. I swear I could smell the fragrant pine tree and I had visions of all the tinsel and the lights. Ahh ... to be young again. I found myself looking for the roller skates I so deeply loved, Nancy Drew books I coveted, and my beloved red-headed Barbie doll. Those items were long gone, of course. Clearing out my mom's attic was both merrily nostalgic and profoundly sad.
Thank you so much for sharing this Melanie. I really felt every word you wrote. It is such a strange mix, isnāt it? The tenderness, the sweetness, the overwhelm, the ache of it all. You think you are just sorting through things, and instead you are walking through your own childhood again.
One of the most meaningful things I found while going through my momās things were a few of her journals. Just simple notebooks, but seeing her handwriting and the little notes about her days made me feel like I got to sit with her for a bit. Such a gift in the middle of a hard task.
I am grateful you shared your experience with me. It helps to know that others have walked this same path and felt both the nostalgia and the sadness together. Sending a little extra kindness your way today.