The zeitgebers (time-cues) of daily life were more obvious as the weather warmed, and it behooved us to take advantage of them. Why not work with nature instead of against it? Rise with the sun, eat hearty earlier in the day, and tackle outside chores (as much as possible) before the hottest part of the day. When evening came, reduce the artificial lighting, turn to calmer activities, and rest in cool and soothing darkness.

"I had an idea" may be another way to say, "Prepare yourself", but hopefully in this case it's preparing for good things. I've been thinking more about what people did to stay healthy - before there were health coaches on every corner, over 23,000 prescription drugs on the market, and over half of all U.S. adults living with at least one chronic condition.

Maybe we can't "fix" everything that causes problems in modern life, but if we shift habits to better options, it's still an improvement. With enough small changes, it adds up.

We've talked about walking, better sleep, reducing EMFs, gardening benefits, and more. Today I added an article about the benefits of sunlight, which used to be praised before it was feared. I figured it was time for a closer look.

Another thing I struggle with is taking time time off to relax, because the to do list is always a mile long. I also don't enjoy some of the activities that many people seem to find relaxing. (Crowds and traveling, for instance.) If you're willing to share, I'd love to hear about some of the ways you unwind. Time in nature is my go-to, along with music and reading, but it's always interesting to hear different perspectives.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost

• Follow the natural cues when you can. Step outside in the morning light, move more during the day, and allow evenings to become calmer and quieter.
• Pick one better swap. You don’t have to overhaul your life overnight — choose one small habit that nudges things in a healthier direction.
• Build in intentional rest. Put moments of renewal on the calendar with the same importance as tasks and obligations.
• Rediscover simple pleasures. Reading, music, gardening, birdwatching, a walk around the yard, or sitting quietly under a tree can nourish us more than we realize.
• Pay attention to what restores you. Relaxation doesn’t have to look like a vacation or a crowded event. Notice what genuinely leaves you feeling more energized, peaceful, or alive.

Resilience isn’t built only through hard work. It also grows through rhythms of rest, light, movement, and making space for the things that refill us. (And yes, these reminders are often for me as much as everyone else.)

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

P.S. - The boiler repairs are done and the new system is functioning as it should. We're waiting for a new sensor for the solar water heating system.

This week's featured articles...

Here comes the sun... Learn about the benefits of sun exposure - it's more than vitamin D. And if you accidentally overdo the sun, we have home remedies for sunburn, too.

​Abundance gardening is all about getting more food, more harvests, and more value from the garden space you already have. You don't necessarily have to have a bigger garden to have a more productive one.

The weird weather patterns seem to favor pests like ticks and mosquitoes. Deer fly season will be kicking off here soon, so I figured it was a good time to share natural ways to get rid of deer flies.

This strawberry rhubarb crumble is an easy alternative to rhubarb pie.

Azure Standard has some nice sales running on beverages for your summer gatherings, like lemon juice for making homemade lemonade, lemonade concentrate, and sparkling water.

I am an Azure referral partner, so I do earn a credit for new qualifying customers that I refer through my link - https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/category?a_aid=e69e63cfe5​

We've been very happy with the quality of products we've received in our monthly orders.