Tag: 12 days of christmas

Our 2018 “12 Days of Christmas” Holiday Countdown

by Meagan Visser | Dec 5, 2018 | Home | 3 |

Each year, I try to put together an Advent calendar for the boys in an effort to celebrate the...

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I’m Meagan, a registered nurse turned herbalist, and I want to live life naturally. Follow along as my husband and I and our four sons figure out what natural living looks like for our family. And of course, I’d love for you to join me on this journey, too! There’s nothing better than having a good hiking buddy with a compass!

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growingupherbal

Wife, CM homeschool mama, RN to herbalist, lifestyle blogger, Southern Appalachian mountain dweller, and Christ follower | Can I send you letters? ✉️

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Here in Appalachia, this time of the year can feel quite bleak—at least where nature is concerned. The wind is cold and chills everything it touches. The world is brown and bare.

I have to remind myself that this is the perfect time to slow down, look at my surroundings with new eyes, and find beauty in nature. While my part of the world is drawing inward and hibernating, there is still such beauty in this season if you look for it.

I found this dried goldenrod on a nature walk the other day, and it looked so lovely in all of its creamy-brown glory.

While it blended in with its surroundings, no longer in its prime and standing out from the crowd, it made me think about the end of life and the fact that there is still so much beauty to be found in that season. This little plant has given of itself, and while most of its beauty has faded and it’s no longer useful to the herbal apothecary, it’s not entirely useless.

It also reminded me of the hope of what’s to come next year—new life in abundance, the bright yellows of late summer that will fade to the deep golds of late fall, and the wellness support to be found in its leaves and flowers.

The more I study and practice seasonal living, the more in awe I am of the beauty of life and the fact that we can enjoy each thing in its season. As King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” So today, I’m reminded to take some time to pay special attention to the blessings of this winter season. Today, that may be taking a picture of dried goldenrod. Tomorrow it may be cutting a bunch or two of it to use in a dried herb arrangements. Next year, it may be in gathering goldenrod and extracting its gifts in teas and tinctures.
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#artofslowliving #guhlifestyle #livefolk #simplethings #seasonalliving #lifeinappalachia #easttennessee #moutainliving #tinymoments #documentlife #flashesofdelight #intentionalliving #makingwinter #dreaminginpictures #myslowandsimple #ourbackyard #morningstories #simplebeautifullife #aquietstyle #aslowmovement #simpleandstill #myquietbeauty #creationsings #motherearth #seasonalliving #cyclesandseasons #naturelover #natu

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Rainy Saturdays make the best days to go antiquing here in East Tennessee. Here’s a view of our small town’s Main Street from one of the many antique shops in the area.

Now that we’ve done some local shopping on Small Business Saturday, we’re off to Boone, NC to do some more semi-local shopping.
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#artofslowliving #guhlifestyle #livefolk #simplethings #seasonalliving #lifeinappalachia #easttennessee #moutainliving #tinymoments #documentlife #flashesofdelight #intentionalliving #makingwinter #dreaminginpictures #myslowandsimple #morningstories #simplebeautifullife #aquietstyle #aslowmovement #simpleandstill #myquietbeauty #smalltownusa #antiquing

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It’s that time of year when we get together with friends and family, share a meal, and count our blessings.

It’s also that time of year when we take our traditional Thanksgiving photo of the boys. Swipe left to flip through the past 5 years of Thanksgiving photos!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!
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#artofslowliving #guhlifestyle #livefolk #simplethings #seasonalliving #lifeinappalachia #easttennessee #moutainliving #tinymoments #documentlife #flashesofdelight #intentionalliving #makingwinter #myslowandsimple #simplebeautifullife #aquietstyle #aslowmovement #boymom #momofboys #familymemories #familylife #thanksgiving2019 #imgratefulfor #gratefullist

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I’ve been saving this @madison.safer illustration all year just so I could share it with you now!

This Winter’s Relief Oil recipe is perfect for gift-giving or for your nightly bath rituals! I love using sweet almond oil when using this as a body oil, but olive oil is better if you’re planning to use it as a massage oil.

Do you make handmade gifts for the holidays? If so, what are you making this year?
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#botanicalskincare #herbalskincare #herbalbodycare #herbalproducts #herbalpreparations #herbalremedies #herbalrecipes #Naturalhome #organicbeauty #naturalskincare #cleanbeauty #skincareroutine #lovetheskinyourin #selfcare #growingupherbal #herbalist #herbalistlife #herbalism #beautifulbotanical #botanicals #livelifenaturally #botanicalillustrations

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It’s almost been 2 full months since two of our three cats disappeared. The boys are still praying they will return, and I am too. While we miss them terribly, Oliver here is taking all the extra love we all have to give.

He enjoys following us around on our daily nature walks which makes it quite difficult to get a close up view of birds or squirrels, but we enjoy have him along.

I initially thought we’d keep him outside and not let him come into the new house, but there’s just something so cozy and homey about seeing a cat snuggled up on the couch or on the bed that I can’t help but bring him in from time to time.

So what about you? Are you a cat person or no?
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#artofslowliving #guhlifestyle #livefolk #simplethings #seasonalliving #lifeinappalachia #easttennessee #moutainliving #tinymoments #documentlife #flashesofdelight #intentionalliving #makingwinter #dreaminginpictures #myslowandsimple #ourbackyard #morningstories #simplebeautifullife #aquietstyle #aslowmovement #simpleandstill #myquietbeauty #catlady

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I haven’t captured a photo of my little sleeping buddy in a while, and I thought this was the perfect day to do it!
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I just love these early morning snuggles! 🥰
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#boymom #momofboys #familymemories #familylife

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