I’ve spent most of this week at home, getting ready for a fairly significant shift in my routine that begins next week and will carry me through to the end of the year. The rhythm of my days is about to change, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little apprehensive about how that will feel. So I’ve been using this time to meal prep, clear the decks, and tackle the life admin I know I won’t have the same space for once things get fuller.
While I’ve been steadily ticking things off here in our little corner of the world, my significant other has been on the other side of the globe, in the ancestral home that we both share. Once he’s home next week, he would spent around 24 of 33 days a world away on two different trips. I’m ready for him to be home — for us to be back in our version of “normal life,” even if it’s about to shift a little for me.
Meanwhile, the garden is quiet now. The bright bursts of summer have faded, and what’s left is a kind of bare honesty — branches, soil, straw, structure. After everything this summer held, I’ve found it harder than usual to let go of the season and welcome what’s next. It’s hard to be motivated when things look a little dull! In recent days, storms have swept through the country, and the air has finally shifted — colder, sharper. There’s no denying it now: winter is on its way.
For the rest of the year I anticipate having less time for the garden — less time to prepare for the seasons ahead, to sow, to tend. And the thought of stepping back, even temporarily, feels bittersweet. I’m hoping to find a balance — adjusting expectations while still carving out a realistic amount of time to invest in the backyard when I am home. And come spring and summer, I’m holding onto the hope that the garden will take shape somewhat close to as I’ve envisioned… even if a little scaled back.
Gathering the Good: April 2025
Knowing I’d be without my teammate for most of April, I set out to fill the calendar with good things—a weekend away at Adventure Camp, my first two running races, and some light-hearted Easter fun. The month also brought a moment of farewell to a global leader I once had the honour of meeting. It’s been a month marked by new experiences, a few goodbyes, and now a gentle sense of transition.
What small rituals help you feel connected to yourself in times of change?
Closing note:
I’m not quite sure what this next stretch will mean for how often I write, or what these reflections will end up looking like. But I hope there’s still space to pause now and then, to notice the small things, and to share them as I go.
If you do enjoy reading them, feel free to give this a “heart” or drop a comment below.
From beneath the canopy,
🌻 Issy
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