Monthly Miscellany

forty years of paying attention

Greetings! The Ancestral Homekeeper is a newsletter dedicated to slow & simple living for all of us. I’m Kristina, and I believe that the way we shape our lives at home will be reflected in our society at large. By blending the wisdom of our ancestors with contemporary thoughts on mental health, self nurturing, and social justice, we can find the path to changing our world. New letter is out every Sunday!

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It always rains on this day. Though I am quite sure that I have had birthdays that were not graced with the gift of rain showers, I can’t seem to remember any. They say it is good luck, and I always take all the luck the universe will bestow.

I turned forty! I have been anticipating this day for some time now — not with dread, but with anticipation and joy. I feel a great sigh of relief to enter this symbolic stage of adulthood and aging. The last three years have been a period of wild growth and expansion for me internally, and the change is radiating from within. I feel… calmer. I know who I am now, and I like myself better than I ever have. I do not feel wise necessarily, but the gifts of wisdom that come with some age have begun to make themselves quietly felt.

Today’s monthly miscellany has a loose theme — attention. How we protect it, what we do with it, etc. I’ll start off with an article from The New York Times, about the powerful forces that are “fracking” our attention. In it, the authors make an argument for observation and attention as a means of building common ground. They look at the education system and suggest we shouldn’t be lamenting students’ lack of attention; rather, we would be actively teaching them how to pay attention. Here’s the gift link to read for yourself.

I have long struggled with an addiction to scrolling my phone. Sometimes Instagram, sometimes the news, sometimes Substack. I love having a smartphone handy — it’s useful for quick photos of the children, for playing music, for controlling the big lamp in my bedroom. But I would rather read a book than scroll. I have tried to keep my phone away from me and in a box for set periods of time to prevent the insidious scrolling habit, but I always fish it out early because I need it to adjust the volume on the home speaker system, or some such practical nonsense. Thankfully, the makers of Brick targeted me with an Instagram ad (oh, the irony!) and I just received it yesterday. It is a little magnetic cube, and it can control what apps I have access to on my phone — whichever ones I set, of course. It is similar to having screen limits, but actually effective because it is a physical item that I have to tap with my phone to turn it off and on. I am not explaining it well, but it is genius and I have high hopes for it. I have only used it for one full day, so I will make sure to report back with my thoughts next month. Read more about it here.

I have made sure to allow the MyNoise app to be utilized even when my phone is “bricked.” I am so in love with this sound & music generator because it allows total customization of sounds and their levels, to be played indefinitely through my headphones on trying homeschool mornings. It has a measurable effect on my heart rate and stress level. I am particularly fond of the Medieval Village soundscape when working, or the Northern Wetlands recordings when the children are feeling too rambunctious for my nervous system. You can also layer the different soundscapes to create unique little worlds for your mind. I am currently enjoying A New Day layered with Bamboo Garden while baking! MyNoise is donation-based, and it is truly a little gift for the world. Have so much fun here.

Speaking of baking, have you subscribed to Chapin over at Sourdough Story yet? I am in love with her narratives, and she has just begun a whole 12 Days of Sourdough Cookies for paid subscribers. My first effort this week will be the Toasted Pecan Brown Sugar Sourdough Cookies — yes, please! Sourdough has been our sole bread format for years now, but it has infiltrated all manner of other dishes and meals. Her entire philosophy aligns with my own mentality, and her writing is superb.

Another current Substack favorite is Jeannine Ouellette. She is an exceptional writer and teacher, and if you have any thought of turning your writing over for public enjoyment, she’s the one who will keep you true. She regularly responds to letters in an advice column sort of way, and this whole story and Jeannine’s response absolutely broke me open.

Who am I if not a writer? Who is a writer if not a reader? For my birthday, I told my spouse I just wanted to spend an hour in my favorite bookshop with no one else to distract me. I wanted to buy the books that called to me, books that contained something for the beginning of my journey through this next decade of life. Point Reyes Books is a short drive from my home, and it is the definition of expertly curated. I cannot wait to turn my attention towards these gems.

Thank you for being here with me, my friends. I love and appreciate you, and all that you bring to the world.

Love,

Kristina

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