More Wins | Staying in the Lake Cottage

One busy week in August, Elsa and I made the spur-of-the-moment plan to spend a night at the lake. Not only is it a huge win to be able to plan and pull off something quickly again, but we hadn't stayed in that building for at least 10 years due to mold sensitivities. 

Our garden made for colorful meals to pack. And though we forgot to bring a bouquet from home (the tradition among the family was Grandpa's favorite tea-roses), the Mountain Ash berries from the side of the cottage worked well in an antique from the kitchen shelves.

After spending the afternoon and evening with us, including watching a family of four loons and taking our first pontoon ride in a couple years, Mom and Dad went home while we enjoyed a fitful (damp) fire and a few more loon calls.

What a novelty to wake up in the loft my uncles added onto Great-Grandpa's tiny cottage 25 years ago, when indoor plumbing was also added for the first time!

Elsa's early morning splash convinced me to try this refreshing (chilly) mode of starting the day as well.

A later swim was warmer after a bunch of sweaty cleaning. And then home again with more "wins" under our belt on this healing journey.

Where Has July Gone?!

Where has July gone?!

It began by celebrating 250 years of independence along with 90+ relatives at the family lake.

Next came a chance for a quiet afternoon and evening with just the 4 of us at the lake. A thunderstorm only made it more beautiful for us, though it caused severe damage on a nearby lake.

July also brought several times to help out my older sister's family as they are super busy remodeling a house in the country before moving.

Meanwhile, I have been busy painting at home too. I grew up with this Hoosier cabinet at the other lake cabin (no longer in the family) built when my dad was little. The cabinet was not new then, and it is high time to paint the insides and replace a few rotten areas to cut down on the old smell - especially on humid summer days.

It has been fun using this old piece as my new office space, but I look forward to fully moving in after a bunch more painting and rebuilding is complete. If you remember my years of crippling sensitivities, you will realize how huge of a win it is to be tackling a project like this, starting with scraping and sanding!

Also at home, harvest has begun!

Meantime, annual doctor's appointments made for a long, hot July day of travel. But we even took a little chance of sightseeing!

 As we look at our calendar and manage to run out to the lake for yet another quick break, we marvel at how far we have come from the decade spent in deep disability and isolation.

"Thank you, Lord..." is a frequent refrain.

Non-Toxic Choices

Hi Friends, I rarely post about this part of life, because I want this blog to be primarily a place of beauty and encouragement. But if you've followed along for some years, you know how years of chronic illness helped our family find ways to cut out unnecessary (and even harmful) toxins from life.

If that interests you, read on...

One big way we cut toxins was by switching to clean and non-toxic skincare, haircare, makeup, and lotion products from Lemongrass Spa. We soon used enough of them that it was beneficial for me to join for the discount. 

This means I can also offer perks to my friends, like you!

One of those perks is occasionally sharing the host rewards from a month of orders with one shopper! To be entered in my drawing, make sure to place orders through the event currently running here: Mystery Host Event

Besides all the current specials, catalog clearance, and new catalog launch featured in the menu at the link above, we are enjoying an extra 10% off sitewide until 9 PM central on July 31st. Make sure to enter coupon code JULY10 for this savings.

And if that's not enough, I am personally offering free shipping to any first-time customers! Just send me your wish list (or questions), and I will be in touch. My text-only business number is (218) 271-8677.

For more information and other natural living topics, text INFO to me at (218) 271-8677.

Note: Lemongrass Spa only ships within the USA. Sorry to my readers from other countries!

I also have a variety of videos - from gardening to cleaning, and from online groceries to Lemongrass Spa information - on my natural living YouTube channel: Purely.HannahMary

Next... back to regular programming!
~ Hannah

Brain Rewiring Newsletter & Encouraging Phone Wallpapers

 I have only mentioned Brain Rewiring a few times on this blog, but it is still a daily focus in this healing journey. So much so that I am just starting a newsletter for those who are interesting in learning more about healing the Limbic System and lowering the Chronic Stress Response from a Biblical perspective. 

This monthly [at most] offering contains:
- Mindset & Brain Rewiring Tips
- Biblical Encouragement
- Free Phone Wallpaper Download

You are welcome to sign up here: Hannah's Newsletter

As it says at the above link: 

Nearly a decade into her chronic illness journey, Hannah was led to Brain Rewiring to begin to heal her Limbic System which was stuck in the Chronic Stress Response. Due to the intricate brain/body connection, this focus on healing at deeper levels is having positive physical impacts and helping Hannah get back to LIFE!

February Happenings 2024

Unseasonable warmth continued to give a marked contrast to last year's deep snow. So, I did my mending on the deck, without even a jacket!

I hadn't been getting to any art for a while, but card-making from old photos was an enjoyable and useful creative outlet.

A live read-aloud was long overdue, so on World Read Aloud Day I shared a bit from my current devotional book by Joni E. Tada. Watch the replay in this short video: Here

The basement rebuild is coming along! But some old doorframes that wouldn't hold new paint set us back several weeks. The process also raised inflammation levels again - despite protective gear for those doing the sanding. 

The final touches on woodwork continue as strength allows.

Elsa launched a new sticker in her beautiful and giftable line of watercolor florals! https://www.etsy.com/shop/handmaidenMarket

A couple snows soon melted.

Dad and Mom brought home Valentine roses for Elsa and me!

A double birthday party gave us some family-time...

...and introduced us to this brilliant, new smile!

Summer Recap: July 2022

Time to attempt a little more catching up on this full summer, which included:

Cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning to be able to move back into more parts of the house.

Removing layer after layer of porch floor to completely replace the rotted subfloor as well as windows and walls. It was sad to take out the tile we had laid years ago which was still in perfect condition.

More fun was transplanting Mom's collection of fiddle-leaf figs...

...enjoying the flowerbeds...

...and drying herbs for tea.

The 4th of July was a special time with extended family at the lake.

A new generation of second-cousins are starting to play together!

Mid-month we moved our tiny summer-home 6 hours south to a state park to be near two of our clinics.

Elsa and I celebrated our last skin-tests and decided it was time to say goodbye to the allergy clinic after at least 7 years of sublingual antigen treatments.



And we tried to enjoy our campground with little bits of strength now and then despite symptoms flaring from the above-mentioned tests.







Back home the month closed out with Dad and Mom's 45th wedding anniversary!