End of Beginning.

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end.

But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

-Winston Churchill

My but we've had some times, haven't we?

I look back over the past six years of this blog and let the fullness of it sit with me: the joy, the heartbreak, the discovery, the adventure, the longing, the learning, the trying, the becoming. To be honest, some of it seems so far removed now. And some of it feels like yesterday.

So much has changed in my life since beginning this blog. I was, in the early days, a reporter-come-home. Life intervened with my career and I found myself out of the limelight and out of the big city, tucked away in a forgotten town. I was a girl with big hopes and big plans and, soon, a big, monster of a house to renovate. Ah, Freeman House. Many of you came along as I worked to save and preserve her. It was a huge and delightful undertaking. And still many more watched as, in the crash of 2008, I struggled to keep her. I know many of you felt my loss as I packed and drove away.

(To be sure, she's okay now. Freeman House is. I should say more than okay. The owner I purchased her from- the same owner who let the house fall into shocking disrepair in the 15 years prior to my arriving- got her back. Upon inheriting an estate, the old/new owner ripped her open, gutted the place, and rebirthed it in her own image. I drove past once and ended up getting out of the car 10 minutes later and crying so hard I vommited. The historical details? Gone. The heavy, wavy windows I loved so much? Gone. The soul that made Freeman House... Freeman House? Erased. But she was saved. Folks gush that she is beautiful again. And if I played even the smallest role in protecting her, I'm satisfied.)

But Freeman House wasn't an ending, it was the end of a beginning. You all supported and cheerleaded from the webstands as we moved on, baking... reading... knitting... gardening... talking... believing. I'll forever be grateful to you for the thoughtfulness and happiness you brought into my life. If I played even the smallest role in doing the same for you, I'm satisfied.

It's time for me to move on from this blog. I'm sure you've seen it in my half-heartedness and heard it in my writing. My heart simply isn't here anymore. I hardly recognize the 24 year old girl who began writing this blog. I venture that she would hardly recognize me. But both of us have, and will always, recognize and remember you... your presence here... your place in our blog heart.

Thank you. Thank you for sitting in on the beginnings of my messy, thrilling life. I wish you all the sweet and solace in the world, and of course, my forever

love,
Brin

P.S. You can reach me by emailing me at letters(at)brinwisdom(dot)com. And I hope you will. Let's stay in touch...

The last of the spring peas are in. Tomorrow the row will be turned under, tended and replanted with a different crop. I love the cycle- and the fleeting produce- of spring.

Although I have a mechanical pea sheller (right?! How many single 30-something girls do you know with a mechanical pea sheller?) I prefer to shell them by hand. At least when it's a bushel or less. But I'm not sure whether I'll freeze or can this last picking. May run by Easy To Can and download their handy PDF and pressure can these jewels. We'll see.

Things have been so crazy down here lately- pea picking aside. My oil and gas consulting business has become popular in the past few weeks. As a sole proprietor, that means I eat and sleep with business on the brain. And the tornadoes! So alarming. This week they destroyed an oil rig in Oklahoma just near where I'm contracted to begin a project....

But that's only money. That's just business. My heart and prayers are with the people and families affected by these storms. Joplin, I wanted to go with CRI to help you out so badly....

My little effort to help coming soon.

We remember you... and those who've sacrificed their all for our freedom... this Memorial Day weekend.  -Brin

My schedule went from manageable to insane in a matter of a day. You know what I mean. I'm sure you do.

The thing I dislike about being so awfully busy is that I come up short on time to: knit, bake, garden, and care for friends. But the thing I despise about being so awfully busy is the added challenge of spending time in the Word. Time praying. Time helping out the way I want to.

When we struggle... when we're so busy, God... bind our wandering hearts to Thee...

These Are So Happening...

... today:

1. Cocoa brownies with salted peanut butter frosting.
2. National Day of Prayer.

They're so happening today.  :) 

A Story Marker Giveaway!

I'm really enjoying my little story markers. It truly is the simple things that add up to make a pretty life...

Since a few folks are asking about them, here's the 'behind the scenes' on the latest item in my etsy shop. If you're anything like me- a dreamy, bookish type- you're reading a dozen things right now: books, magazines, catalogues, journals, cookbooks. And it's hard to keep track of where you are in all these places, isn't it?

The beautiful solution: a Story Marker Set. Made from cast aside, repurposed books, magazines, catalogues, lists, recipes, etc., these corner bookmarkers are a smart and simple way to keep your place in the story- without damaging your book. No more dog-eared pages or bent spines! I've adored turning my old reads and pages into something useful and pretty- while keeping my books in good shape, too.

This week, for my blog readers only, I'm offering free shipping on all domestic orders for my Story Marker sets. Just enter the coupon code MYTHRILLINGSTORY as you check out and taxes and shipping are on me!

For those who can't order at this time, I want to send two sets off to a good home. So here's the deal: comment on this post and tell me your thrilling story in 100 words or less. On Monday, the day after Mother's Day, I'll draw two lucky stories and their authors will get a Story Marker Set of their own! Please make sure you leave either a link to your blog or your email address so I can reach you. :)

Thanks for being here, thanks for sharing, and thanks so much for your support. It means everything to me.  -Brin

Daring Adventures

Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. Helen Keller. My favorite quote of all time.

I feel some adventure stirring in my life again. It's never quiet for too long. For now, though, I'm out of work and quietly tackling projects around the house: painting bedroom ceilings, cleaning up debris from last week's terrible storms, organizing items for a yard sale. We're also having prayer at my house, five nights a week, two hours a day. I have no doubt that God's soon to put a House of Prayer here and look eagerly for that day.

It's been in the back of my mind again to write. I've decided to start. Look for a book from me in the future....  -Brin

In the Peas

My tangle of peas in the garden is doing so well. As clouds huddled and thunder growled overhead, I worked the damp rows Saturday pulling weeds, spreading compost, checking for signs of trouble.

I love listening to nature's music as I work in the garden. Birds. Butterfly wings. Wind mimicking waves as it sails through leaves of nearby oaks. I close my eyes and listen and breathe until I feel my heart slow... feel my shoulders shrug off the load I forgot I carry.

In the garden, at the piano, and near my stove I feel tethered to something real again. I feel whole. I feel as if everything's going to be okay.

Amazing how a patch of dirt and tangled vines can do that...

Content Call Out

Usually this stuff blows right by me. But today it's under my skin. I'm talking about stealing content. Copying and pasting others' work and words and pretending as if it's yours when it's obviously not. While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, smashing and grabbing content and selling it off as your own isn't. It's a bit thoughtless, I think. A bit thoughtless and a lot rude.

It's been happening so often with my blog lately that I finally decided to mention it. Hey, we all make mistakes. No one's a perfect blogger or completely original thinker. But if you lift words or images from this site, please attribute content or link back to this blog.

I appreciate your understanding.  -Brin

A Farm for the Future

I am a gardener. But for a living, I own a small oil and gas consulting/brokerage business. Needless to say, I am fascinated by topics such as energy and agriculture, peak oil, sustainable food supply, and even permaculture.

(You guessed it. I'm not the kind of gal you take to a funny movie. All my "Recommended For You" suggestions on Netflix fall in their "cerebral" category. Boring, right? ;)

But this isn't. If you're a gardener, a farmer, a homesteader, or anyone interested in the future of our food production, you may be as fascinated by A Farm for the Future as I was.

Or maybe not. But it was worth a shot.

*grin*

Happy weekend. -Brin

...How much piecing a quilt's like living a life...

The Lord sends us the pieces, but we can cut 'em out

 and put 'em together pretty much to suit ourselves...

-Eliza Calvert Hall, Aunt Jane of Kentucky

I started piecing this quilt four years ago, I think. I needed some bright spots, some lightness to my life. Some sunshine. Some open spaces.

Think I'll finish it these next two weeks. I think I'll sit under that apple tree in the sunshine and stitch the layers together. And I think I'll attach a special tag on the back with the above quote stitched to it.

There's so much on my heart this week. So much I want to say. But something isn't quite right so I delete it all and wander back to my basket of half-realized quilt.

Here's to pieces and the hope that they will one day come together...

. . . . .

Oh yes. If you're not familiar with Project Gutenberg, you might want to be. Digital copies of thousands of ebooks and manuals- free for the greedy taking.

How To Make Your Own Deodorant

Really.

In about five minutes.

With five ingredients.

All natural.  No aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly, or aluminum compounds.  :)

For way cheaper than you can buy it.

Same consistency as the deodorant you're used to.

And it works.

Okay, I won't bore those who aren't interested with the details. If you're into this and would like my recipe, all the information's over at the My Messy, Thrilling Life Community page here. Scroll down and there you are!

Bring on summer, eh?  :)   -Brin

Wild Honeysuckle Throat and Cough Syrup

The wild honeysuckle is blooming. We were standing in the garden over Easter weekend, my Dad and I, when the wind picked up. You can sure smell the honeysuckle today, he said.

I'm not sure why, but that moment was so comforting to me, somehow.

It turns out, honeysuckle in itself is very comforting. Its sweetly-scented blossoms are antibacterial weapons in disguise. One herb reference I read said they're useful for treating bacterial infections and dysentery, as well as urinary tract disorders. They also go to work on freeing your body of toxins and do a number on colds, flu, asthma, coughs, sore throat, congestion (chest) and laryngitis. Externally, honeysuckle can be applied to infected wounds, boils, swellings and rheumatism.

Point is, honeysuckle is herbal remedy gold. I spent part of the weekend gathering a bucket full of blooms and leaves. (All part of the plant is useful except for the berries. They're toxic. Don't pick those. You don't want those.)

 The first blend I concocted was a Wild Honeysuckle Throat and Cough Syrup.  I can't believe how simple and quick it was, and how soothing it's been. I've tried it for three days now, not because I'm sick, but because I figured with allergy season upon me it wouldn't hurt. And you know what? I think there's something to this syrup. I think I'll keep it around always.

If you don't have honeysuckle growing wild around your little house, you can always use dried honeysuckle. I'm sure it can be found at herb shops online. The first step is just taking the plunge, trying an herbal remedy, and finding what works for you. And I'm not sure about you, but I'd rather put all-natural medicinal cures in my body anyday than lab-manufactured drugs with a book of side effects.

For more on my Wild Honeysuckle Syrup, including the recipe, click here and scroll down.

(Please know that I'm not a health professional or certified herbalist and my recommendations should not be taken as medical advice and obviously have not been approved by the FDA. You should consult your doctor and carefully study any herbal remedy before taking a swig. There. Had to put my law education to work. ;)