Laundry as a Prayer
And Five Things I'm Loving About Fall
I stand outside, basking in the golden morning sun. A bird in the tree above sings Tuh-wheet, tuh-whee, tow-wheeee. Pulling a silky cream blouse out of the old white laundry basket sitting at my feet, I pause to watch an airplane soar overhead. A table saw roars in the distance. I wonder which neighbor is building and what they’re making today. I shake wrinkles out of the blouse and a train horn blares. I grab a pin, hang it up; grab a pin, hang it up.
I clutch my daughter’s favorite twirly dress and give it a fierce shake. The fabric billows and snaps; sand spikes my face as if I were standing on the shore. A smile emerges at the memory of my daughter turning cartwheels on the beach wearing this dress, the purple fabric swirling around her flips. I grab a pin, hang it up; grab a pin, hang it up. Reaching down for a pair of jeans, a cool breeze tickles the back of my neck. I look up to find the cream blouse and purple dress swaying in a waltz to the spring symphony of the towhee.
Laundry used to be my most dreaded chore. Mounds of clothes would make their home in my bedroom for days—sometimes even weeks—waiting to be folded and put away. But when I hang freshly laundered clothes on the line in our backyard, I am fully immersed in the world around me. Laundry no longer feels like a chore. The work becomes a gift. A chance to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. An opportunity to breathe.
I check the weather at night, eager for sunshine to dry our clothes the next day. I hang clothes up on the line even on cloudy days, in hopes that even a little fresh air will do a bit of good. I am sad if a day goes by and that little clothesline of mine is empty.
I feel a sense of calm as I grab the clothes from the basket, their dampness cooling my warm skin. The smell of detergent and fabric softener fills the air like the smell of flowers on the first warm spring day.Â
As I do this work that brings peace, my little ones play around me. Throwing sand out of a sandbox. Picking leaves and flowers off the plants that have been patiently waiting for the arrival of spring. Inspecting the world in only the way children can—with eyes full of wonder and imagination.Â
Old red bricks of our tiny patio under my feet, I can’t help but think back to when the house was built, over 100 years ago. Some mother did just as I do now; grab a pin, hang it up; grab a pin, hang it up. Maybe she talked to the neighbors as they walked by. I’m sure she watched her little ones run around in this very same yard—I wonder what it looked like back then.
When the final pair of socks is hung on the line, I take a step back and admire my work. The vibrant colors of our clothes hang on the line for all the world to see. Everyday chores and art align, creating a backyard masterpiece that dances to nature’s orchestra.
After dinner, I walk back outside to take the clothes off the line. The sun is so warm I can almost taste it, making me long for an icy cold glass of water. The dampness is gone—now replaced with warmth and dryness—and a stiffness that only the sun can give. The smell has shifted from fabric softener to the clean smell of sunshine. I hear the siren of a fire engine and the neighbors’ dogs barking as people walk by.Â
I fold the clothes as I take them down, doing as much of the chore as I can in my outdoor paradise. I fold the creamy blouse and purple dress. An owl hoots in the tree across the street, reminding me that I am just one tiny part of this vast world we live in.
Five Things I’m Loving About Fall
Late October. That time of year when we start to slow down a bit from the hectic pace of early Fall. My kids start to collect handicraft supplies for the darker days ahead. Clocks fall back next Sunday, which—here in New England—means the sun begins to disappear late in the afternoon. It makes for wonderful cozy evenings by the fireplace with books or handicrafts in hand and cups of tea at our side.
In the spirit of slowing down, you’ll find this month’s newsletter shorter than usual. Here are five things I’m loving about Fall.
Hamnet
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell was my book club’s pick for October and it may have been one of my favorite books of the year. Although I felt the last third of the book lacked the depth it could have had, O’Farrell awed me at the way she told a heartbreaking story with beautiful language. It’s a fantastic book to add to your Fall stack.
[This is a good opportunity to remind you that some links in this email are affiliate links]
Sparkle Tea
A dear friend gave me this Astral Dreams tea for my birthday and it is simply divine. It’s a fantastic blend of black tea, lavender, cornflower petals, bergamot and…wait for it…edible sparkles. Yes friends, that’s right. This tea has glitter in it. My afternoon writing sessions have been so much more fun with a little sparkle in my cup.
Mummy Enchiladas
Enchiladas are one of my favorite ways to hide winter squash or unwanted greens. My kids will eat anything as long as it is wrapped in a tortilla and covered with cheese. I don’t ordinarily use a recipe for enchiladas, but we like to use these Mummy Enchiladas as inspiration for a fun and spooky dinner.
For the filling, I peel and chop winter squash (delicata, acorn, or butternut are all good), toss with olive oil and taco seasoning, and roast in a 450-degree oven for 30 minutes or until nice and crispy. Then I mix the squash with cooked beans (Rancho Gordo are our favorite, but canned beans work in a pinch), some blanched greens (chopped small), and about 2 cups of cheese.
Put a little filling in each tortilla, roll it up, and put it in a baking dish with some enchilada sauce. This enchilada sauce is kid-friendly and super easy to make. To turn them into mummies, use string cheese in place of gauze. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Writing Prompts
It’s hard to believe November is here (almost). One of my writing mentors has put together a list of writing prompts on her blog as well as a 30 Days of Grateful Writing Challenge. Her prompts are better than gold, and I’m looking forward to digging into some of these in the coming weeks.
Years ago my mom got me this book and I’m sad (embarrassed) to say it’s mostly sat on my shelf unloved until recently. I opened it up a few days ago and remembered just how many good prompts are hidden inside its cover. Here’s one I’d like to invite you to do sometime in the next week or so. Reply to this email with your story, and I’ll compile a collection for the blog. You can write fiction or nonfiction. You can even write poetry if you want! And if you don’t consider yourself a writer, that’s okay. I want to hear from you too!
Runs (or Walks) in the Woods
Fall is my favorite time to hike. Especially if I can sneak away alone. The weather is cooling off, but you don’t have to wear long underwear just yet. The leaves are gorgeous shades of red, orange and yellow. There’s magic in the air. You just have to walk outside to find it.
We are lucky to be surrounded by beautiful nature preserves here on the North Shore of Massachusetts. We went to Halibut Point a few weeks ago for a morning hike. Isn’t it simply gorgeous? Sometimes I have to pinch myself that we live here. It’s seriously the most beautiful place on earth (or at least the most beautiful place I’ve ever been).
In Case You Missed It
We still haven’t had a frost (climate change is real ya’ll), but we harvested all of our green tomatoes anyway.
Our church has just completed the call process for a new pastor (Woohoo!!! Welcome Pastor LaDonna!) I wrote a letter to my beloved congregation in the midst of our transition. One day my robin friend will find its way into a new story, but for now, the blog felt like a good home for the letter.
Over on Instagram, I shared a sonnet I wrote for the woods behind our house, a poem about Lady Liberty, and a little about who I am.
There’s exciting news in 10 Things to Tell You: October Edition and you can read a little about the day we watched the rocket, a few things I’m noticing, and a note about why I’m running again.
And because it’s Reformation Day, I leave you with this brief biography about Martin Luther. Luther was far from perfect, but much of his theology has shaped who I am and how I follow Jesus.
Here I stand; I can do no other, so help me God. ~Martin Luther
Until next time,
Find me on Instagram | Twitter | The Blog | The Website