These long summer days here in southern Minnesota are absolutely gorgeous...and the sunsets are equally stunning! Nowhere else have I seen this much golden light at magic hour, with such a beautiful expansive horizon! It's safe to say that the horizons and the light are one of my very favorite things about living here. The other night, on one of the longest days of the year, Bjorn and I hopped in our truck and rumbled down dirt road after dirt road until we got to our own soybean field. … [Read more...]
The Biggest Vacuum You’ve Ever Seen
We had some really nice weather a couple weekends ago - that mild, spring weather that reminds you winter can't have a grip on you forever! :) Bjorn wanted to get a good amount of our stored soybeans (from last fall's harvest) shipped out to a soybean oil plant, so he and his dad worked hard on getting those beans loaded and driven up to another town. I went with Bjorn after school one Friday to pick up a Vac-U-Vator we were renting for the weekend's work. Before then, I had had no idea … [Read more...]
My Favorite Rural + Nature Shots From Our Time In Belgium
It was fun reminiscing about our great 2016 European adventure last week. (You can find our whole 2-week detailed itinerary HERE.) Since I shared my favorite rural photos from France, I also wanted to share nature shots from Belgium! I. Loved. Belgium. There was just something about it. Of course, the landscape wasn't that different from France's, especially where we were -- with our road-tripping, we were often straddling the line between France and Belgium anyway...but there … [Read more...]
Capturing the Light
Focusing more on photography these last couple years has really changed the way I look at the world. I find I'm constantly watching for those perfectly sweet, simple, magical little moments -- and honestly, looking for those snapshots (whether I have a camera in hand right then or not!) has made everyday life so much more special! If I had to choose one specific thing I'm really trying to improve in, it's capturing light. I'm a bit obsessed with light at this point. :) Have you heard of … [Read more...]
Moving the Chickens (An Evening at the Farm)
If you weren't aware, Bjorn and I have had baby chickens living in our living room for the past few weeks! By the end of last week, it was time for them to move out. :) They've gotten old enough that they aren't as fragile, and they surely need more space now! This whole journey has been so much fun. Our baby chicks arrived in a box at the post office back in February. We brought them home, put them in their new box with a heating lamp, and taught them how to drink water. They grew … [Read more...]
How The Land Leads Me to Worship
My husband grew up in rural Minnesota, while I was raised in the suburbs. When we were dating, I loved visiting his family's farm! 'What a blessing to have this life,' I'd tell myself as I looked out the window over the endless fields. 'I'd never take it for granted if I got to live here.' When we were married, we settled into life in that same community. A new marriage brings with it a healthy dose of change – as two imperfect, messy (but still certainly in love!) humans learn to live together … [Read more...]
My “Aha” Moment About Horseback Riding
Today's prompt for the Blog-tember Challenge at Brave Love Blog is: Just for fun, share your latest obsession. What can you not get enough of these days? I think this one is a little obvious. :) I began taking private horseback riding lessons back in August and I find myself thinking about horses so frequently now! I shared about my riding lessons in my recent "Currently" post and I've put a few horse-related pics up on Instagram as well. So why the obsession? What makes riding lessons my new … [Read more...]
5 Things I’ve Learned From Living in a Small Town
Good morning, friends! Happy Thursday! It's a beautiful, quiet morning here in our small town - the kind where the golden sunshine slants through your windows and makes everything in your home seem cozy and cheerful. My husband's finally home (more on that in this post), which means my heart feels like it is home again. It is a wonderful feeling waking up next to the one you love! We plan on having a slow day around here and really soaking in these last few days of summer. Meanwhile, I … [Read more...]