Spring Renewal & Good Finds: Your Monthly Guide to Inspiration, Reads, and More
Welcome to our monthly roundup of delightful discoveries! Each month, we curate a list of good things to do, buy, read, watch, and more, designed to inspire and enrich your life.
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Are you feeling the invigorating pull of spring as strongly as I am? It’s that wonderful time of year when the mild weather beckons us outdoors, sparking a flurry of activity. My mind is constantly buzzing with thoughts like, “The sun is shining – what outdoor projects can I tackle today?” and “I should really get those seedlings in the ground, but first, we need to finish building those raised beds.” And, of course, the eternal gardener’s lament, “Ugh, look at the grass and all those ambitious weeds!”
It feels like there’s an endless list of tasks, doesn’t it?
Our spring awakening was a bit delayed this year. We experienced record rainfall during the first few weeks of April, which kept us indoors more than we would have liked. It’s only been in the last week or so that the weather has truly turned lovely, making outdoor work a joy. So, the spring race is officially on!
Interestingly, despite the flurry of outdoor activity, I managed to finish more books in April than I have in any of the last three months! You might think the opposite would be true – that cold, rainy days are perfect for curling up with a good book. And while that’s certainly appealing, my secret weapon for increased reading productivity has been audiobooks.
It’s not much of a secret, especially if you’ve been following along here for a while. Working in the garden, tidying the house, or even just going for a walk becomes prime time for me to dive into an audiobook. I’m incredibly grateful for the various platforms that make this possible. My Audible account is a staple; I’ve actually downgraded to their “silver” plan, which gives me one credit every other month. This works perfectly because I always have a robust list of books queued up, and it still allows me to take advantage of their $2.95-$5.95 daily deals and claim the two free Audible Originals each month. You can click here to explore their 2 free books offer if you’re curious about getting started with Audible.
Beyond Audible, my local library is an invaluable resource, offering audiobooks through both the Libby and Hoopla apps. It’s fascinating how some titles are available on one app but not the other, even though they’re linked to the same library system – a mystery I still haven’t quite unraveled! Regardless, these platforms ensure I’m never without a captivating story, no matter what spring project I’m tackling.
Read on to discover all the “good things” that brought joy and inspiration this past month, including detailed reviews of six remarkable books that kept me company!
Good Things to Cultivate, Create, and Enjoy This Season
Building a Round Raised Bed From Rocks: A DIY Garden Project
For those who follow me on Instagram, you might have already glimpsed the progress on this unique round raised bed. It’s constructed from some of the many, many rocks we unearth every time we dig anywhere on our property – a seemingly endless supply! You can hear more about our rock predicament in our podcast episode on landscape machinery.
I’ve never attempted to build a raised bed higher than a single rock level before, so this was a new challenge. As I pieced it together, I impulsively shared a photo on Instagram, and to my surprise, it’s become my most-liked photo ever! Who knew that rustic round rock beds lined with cardboard would resonate so much? I actually hesitated to post it, thinking it wasn’t the “finished” or “pretty” Instagram-worthy shot. It turns out, authenticity and real-time projects are what people truly enjoy seeing – a valuable lesson I’m learning!
So, let’s dive into the creation process for this charming garden bed:
- Foundation with Cardboard: First, I laid down a generous layer of cardboard, extending beyond the intended footprint of the bed. Our starting base is mostly gravel, which is a breeding ground for weeds, and I wanted to ensure they wouldn’t push through the rock crevices. Eventually, all the path areas between our raised beds will be covered with cardboard and wood chips, similar to what you can see in the background. (We’ve been diligently collecting cardboard since we moved in a year and a half ago, storing it in the shed we relocated to the garden area – planning ahead for sustainable gardening!)
- First Layer of Rocks: I began by arranging a single layer of larger rocks to form an approximate 6-foot circle. While I used a tape measure initially, the organic nature of rocks means things naturally shift a bit, but it’s still quite close to the desired diameter.
- Layering and Fitting: Next, I started fitting subsequent layers of rocks on top. The trick is to position each new rock where two lower rocks meet, creating a sturdy interlock. Sometimes, smaller rocks are needed to wedge into the bottom layer to provide a stable base for the rocks above. This is where the puzzle-solving aspect truly comes into play – you have to experiment, turning each rock until it feels perfectly firm and secure, resisting any easy movement.
A crucial note: Since I knew the bed would be filled with soil, which would provide internal support and pressure against the rocks, I didn’t need to build it with the same structural integrity as a freestanding wall. For a truly independent rock wall, you would likely need to build more of a pyramid-type shape from the base up for enhanced stability.
As I write this, the bed stands with about three rows of rocks, reaching a height of approximately 1 to 1-1/2 feet. This height aligns well with our other raised beds visible in the background, so I believe it’s just right, though I always have the option to add another layer after filling if needed.
Building the Soil Layers Organically: To create rich, healthy soil, I’m employing a layering technique, much like I do in our regular raised beds:
- Manure Base: On top of the cardboard, I’m adding about six inches of free horse manure, generously provided by friends. (A quick tip: Horse manure is excellent for bottom layers in raised beds, but I advise always covering it completely, as it often contains numerous weed seeds and undigested grains.)
- Carbon Layer: Next comes a thick layer of straw or grass clippings, or perhaps a mix of both, as we have plenty on hand right now. This adds essential carbon to the soil structure.
- “Compost in Place” Experiment: Following that, I’ll incorporate shredded paper and kitchen scraps directly into the bed as a “compost in place” test. This enriches the soil over time without needing a separate compost pile.
- Quality Garden Soil: Over these organic layers, I’ll spread a couple of inches of good quality garden soil that we’ll purchase. This provides an immediate planting medium.
- Finishing with Compost: The final layer will be about an inch of nutrient-dense garden compost, ready for planting.
Once filled, if rain isn’t in the forecast, I’ll give it a thorough watering and let it settle for a few days before it’s ready for planting. Building soil this way is one of my favorite organic gardening tips – it genuinely makes my gardening life easier and more productive. You can find 20 more valuable organic gardening tips here.
The center of this new round bed will feature a climbing vine – I haven’t settled on the perfect one yet – supported by a trellis. The outer perimeter will be a vibrant mix of annual flowers, basil, other culinary herbs, and perhaps some fall vegetables like beets and carrots. The possibilities are exciting!
Elevate Your Printables: The Beauty of Watercolor Paper for Inkjet Printers
A brilliant idea recently came from one of our newsletter readers regarding your VIP Subscriber Library Watercolor Floral Garden Quotes printables, and I absolutely had to share it. She inquired about printing them on textured watercolor paper to give them an authentic, artistic appearance, much like original watercolor prints. I thought this was a truly fantastic suggestion to elevate DIY home decor!
I did some research and discovered that there’s specific 8.5 x 11″ watercolor paper designed to work seamlessly with inkjet printers for this exact purpose. Here are two excellent options that caught my eye (I’m especially fond of the idea of paper made from cotton rags for its quality and feel!):
- Fine Art Inkjet Paper 100% Cotton Rag composition in Natural Watercolor – reviewers consistently praise its performance for printing watercolor images.
- Classic Strathmore Watercolor Inkjet Paper – a trusted brand known for quality art supplies.
You can find both of these specialized papers, along with other helpful supplies for printing and enjoying all the freebies available in the subscriber library, in my Amazon shop at this link. It’s a simple way to transform your digital prints into beautiful, gallery-worthy art pieces for your home.
Effortlessly Chic: Flowy Dresses for Warm Weather Getaways
Last month, in my previous Good Things List, I hinted at an exciting upcoming trip. Brian and I are finally embarking on a long-anticipated Caribbean vacation to celebrate our 30th anniversary – a trip we’ve been meticulously planning for a few years! We know it will be warm and humid, so packing loose, flowy, and breathable clothing is absolutely essential.
I wanted a couple of versatile dresses that could serve double duty: stylish enough for casual dinners and comfortable enough to wear as beach cover-ups. I ordered the two beautiful green dresses pictured above from Amazon, both of which were surprisingly affordable, coming in at under $25 each.
- You can go here to read more about the striped dress on the left.
- And here to read about the maxi dress on the right.
Both styles are available in a variety of other colors, and the maxi dress, in particular, boasts a ton of positive reviews. I had also seen it recommended on a couple of blogs I follow, so I knew it was a popular and well-loved choice. Upon arrival, I found them to be wonderfully soft and comfortable – exactly what I envisioned for our tropical getaway. However, I encountered a small design hiccup: the pockets.
While many reviewers praised the pockets, I found them less than ideal, especially for women with wider hips. The extra fabric created bulk right at my widest point, which wasn’t the flattering silhouette I was aiming for! Additionally, both dresses are made from a very stretchy material, and putting anything into the pockets caused them to stretch out, creating unflattering bulges. Practically speaking, they weren’t functional for carrying items anyway.
So, a simple DIY solution was in order! I carefully cut out the pockets and stitched up the seams. Voila – these dresses are now exactly what I envisioned and loved completely. A quick alteration made all the difference!
One ongoing challenge I’m still trying to solve for humid climates is what to do with my hair. I desperately need product or technique recommendations that work well on thin, wavy hair (to clarify, my natural wave isn’t a “nice” one, so I usually use product and blow-dry it straight). If you have any suggestions for managing humidity frizz and achieving a polished look, I would be incredibly grateful to hear them in the comments below!
Rediscovering Inspiration: The New Country Home Magazine
Years ago, Country Home was a non-negotiable must-buy magazine subscription for me, right alongside beloved titles like Country Living (which, by the way, is an incredible deal at only $6 a year through that link!) and the much-missed Cottage Living. I was genuinely saddened when Country Home ceased publication, so you can imagine my delight when I discovered that a new, quarterly edition is now being offered!
These new quarterly issues are typically more expensive than standard magazines because they are published with fewer advertisements, allowing for more substantial, inspiring content. However, when I subscribed through the auto-renewal option on Amazon, the price became significantly more reasonable than the $12.99 cover price. (Rest assured, they send you a warning before renewing, and you can cancel anytime, making it a genuinely good deal without commitment.)
I’ve received two issues so far and absolutely love them. The magazine has beautifully retained that charming, rustic, and cozy feel that I always adored. Each issue is packed with gorgeous photography, inspiring home tours, and thoughtful articles that have already sparked some wonderful ideas and inspiration for our own farmhouse renovation and decor projects.
Here’s the link to secure this fantastic deal on Country Home if you’re also seeking a dose of timeless country and farmhouse style inspiration for your home.
April Reads: My Top Book Discoveries of the Month
I finished an astounding nine (!) books in April, bringing my year-to-date total to 32. Honestly, who am I becoming?! It was a truly exceptional reading month. Here are six of the standout titles I couldn’t wait to share with you, offering a mix of memoir, fantasy, contemporary fiction, and theological insight:
Educated by Tara Westover. This powerful memoir has garnered immense press, and you’ve likely heard of it, as it held the #1 spot on the NYT Nonfiction Bestseller list for quite some time. It is an utterly eye-opening and truly astonishing true story. More harrowing than I anticipated, it’s difficult to fathom the descriptions of parental neglect and an older sibling’s abuse of younger ones. I initially questioned why the author kept returning to such circumstances, but by the end, she masterfully articulated her complex motivations. That this woman could emerge from such an isolated and challenging background, essentially self-educating to gain college admission, and then continue on to earn a Ph.D. – all on academic scholarships – is profoundly inspirational. Given her relative youth, the resolution with her family wasn’t as hopeful as I’d wished, but it was a deeply impactful book that fostered a more sympathetic understanding of individuals from vastly different circumstances. It truly broadened my perspective.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (specifically the audiobook narrated by the author). Neil Gaiman’s narration of his own book was so utterly captivating that both Brian and I were absolutely blown away – this was one of our go-to listens on car trips. In fact, Brian highlighted this as his “Cool Thing” in this podcast episode precisely because of the incredible narration and, of course, the compelling story itself. It’s consistently ranked among the Top 100 Science Fiction Books of all time for good reason. I had some reservations, fearing it might be gory like some of his other works (thinking of American Gods on TV), but it was not. The story follows an average Londoner, Richard Mayhew, who is inadvertently pulled into “London Below” – a hidden, fantastical version of the city that most people never see or even know exists. Unable to return to his mundane life, he embarks on a challenging, perilous journey to find his way back, encountering a vibrant cast of interesting characters and ultimately discovering his true self along the way. It’s a masterful piece of urban fantasy that I secretly wish would be adapted into a film!
Elinor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. This book took me entirely by surprise in the most delightful way! I knew very little about it beyond having seen it highly recommended, so the gradual unveiling of the title character’s world and past truly worked its magic, surprising me again and again. What a thoroughly lovely, profoundly uplifting, and genuinely joyous book. We witness Elinor, a woman leading a solitary and lonely existence, through a random, “right place at the right time” circumstance, get drawn onto a path she never would have chosen. This journey ultimately saves her life, quite literally. I don’t want to reveal too many plot details, but I urge you to add this to your to-read list immediately – I believe you will adore it as much as I did! It’s a heartwarming story about human connection and the unexpected turns life can take.
On Turpentine Lane by Elinor Lipman. I had read that this author is known for clean, enjoyable reads, and this book certainly delivered on that promise. It’s a lighthearted contemporary fiction novel. However, I found the plot a little formulaic, and I could anticipate many of the narrative twists and turns from quite a distance. Perhaps it suffered slightly because I listened to it immediately after the brilliant Elinor Oliphant, and it simply didn’t hold a candle to that experience. Nevertheless, it served as a fun, undemanding way to pass some time while gardening, offering a pleasant and breezy escape.
Surprised By Hope by N.T. Wright. Here’s another book that completely surprised me, but in a deeply intellectual and spiritual way. Brian has read several of N.T. Wright’s books, and from his descriptions, they always struck me as very academic – perhaps even a bit intimidating. However, I stumbled upon this title in the Hoopla app and decided to give it a listen during my morning routines. It was SO VERY GOOD. So good, in fact, that it profoundly shifted my perspective on several significant theological points.
While I didn’t agree with every single assertion, Wright’s major arguments resonated powerfully with me: that Jesus’ resurrection was a bodily, not merely spiritual, event, and that our resurrection will be similar; that we are destined to be with Jesus here on a perfected earth, which mandates our stewardship of creation now; and that many prevailing ideas within Christianity over the past 200 years have roots in Gnosticism. These points deeply aligned with my understanding of the Bible, God’s creative intent, and Jesus’ ultimate purpose.
Indeed, I filled numerous pages in my book notes journal with profound quotes, such as:
What we do in the Lord is not in vain, and that is the mandate we need for every act of justice and mercy, every program of ecology, every effort to reflect God’s wise stewardly image into His creation. In the new creation [instituted with Easter & the resurrection], the ancient human mandate to look after the garden is dramatically reaffirmed.
And my absolute favorite, which I believe may become a new guiding motto for An Oregon Cottage:
After observing the pervasive ugliness in impoverished, outlying areas around London, N.T. Wright concluded that the church has a crucial role in bringing hope to people not only through justice and evangelism, BUT ALSO through beauty, because:
When people cease to be surrounded by beauty, they cease to hope.
I absolutely LOVE this! It perfectly encapsulates why I’ve always believed it’s incredibly worthwhile to invest whatever time and effort you have into making your corner of the world a bit more beautiful. Whether it’s by adding cheerful pillows for spring, planting a couple of pots with vibrant flowers, or simply refreshing a room with a fresh coat of paint – beauty truly does equal hope. This book was a profound read that I highly recommend.
Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton. Here’s a science fiction book that, based on its description, sounded very promising, but ultimately, I felt quite misled. My primary issue was that very little of significance actually happens throughout the narrative. The premise involves a group of astronauts returning home after a lengthy space mission, only to lose all contact with Earth. Concurrently, an elderly man, voluntarily stranded at one of the Earth’s poles, survives and eventually manages to establish contact with the spaceship. However, this connection feels almost pointless because we never learn what ultimately happens to any of them. The ending is a frustrating non-ending, which is incredibly disappointing for readers like me who appreciate a sense of closure in a story. I suspect it was aiming for an enigmatic, “Ah! On the last page, we discover her name was Iris, too – was it all a dream? Did it truly happen?” kind of conclusion. The problem is, by that point, I simply didn’t care enough. All I wanted was to find out one crucial piece of information: what happened on Earth? And that’s precisely the one thing the author chose not to reveal. Boo.
Watching: Engaging Stories on Screen
Side note: I just realized, as I compiled this list, that almost everything Brian and I watched in April was based on a true story! There’s something inherently captivating about narratives rooted in real-life events.
On Amazon, Netflix & PBS:
Amazon Prime Video:
Greenbook. This film was the deserving winner of this year’s Best Picture Oscar. We had intended to see it in theaters but were snowed in, so we were thrilled to catch it at home. Inspired by a true story, our entire family thoroughly enjoyed this movie, which sensitively portrays how both men, from vastly different backgrounds, come to a deeper understanding of each other and humanity as a whole. The performances were superb, and the message of acceptance and growth resonated deeply.
Netflix:
The Highwaymen. This riveting film offers a fresh perspective on the infamous Bonnie & Clyde story, told from the viewpoint of the two Texas Rangers tasked with their capture. It’s exceptionally well-done and sheds light on the often-overlooked side of the story, particularly the immense difficulty in stopping the notorious duo because they had become folk heroes to a segment of the population (a fact that was incredibly hard to believe, given the tragic loss of life they caused). Starring the incredibly believable Woody Harrelson and Kevin Costner, this movie held our attention throughout. We learned that many elements of this portrayal were true, and their success in tracking down Bonnie & Clyde ultimately led to the reinstatement of the Texas Rangers, who remain a vital part of law enforcement today.
PBS Masterpiece:
Mrs. Wilson. I absolutely adored this series so much that it became my “Cool Thing” in these Podcast Notes. It tells the unbelievable, yet true, story of a woman who, after her husband’s death, uncovers a web of astonishing secrets, including other families and women he had “married”! Ruth Wilson, the lead actress and granddaughter of the real Mrs. Wilson, delivers an incredible performance. It’s a fascinating, emotional, and captivating watch that keeps you guessing.
Unforgotten, Season 3. Brian and I both agree that this is an exceptionally well-crafted police procedural. Unlike many contemporary crime dramas that linger on graphic details, Unforgotten thoughtfully focuses on the profound emotional toll that unsolved murders take on the victims’ families, and even on the dedicated police officers investigating these cold cases. The character development is strong, and the mysteries are intricate and compelling. Are you watching this brilliant series? It’s a nuanced and engaging exploration of justice and humanity.
Theater Movie:
The Best of Enemies starring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell. Brian and I were both deeply moved by this film and have been enthusiastically recommending it to everyone we know! Inspired by a remarkable true story, the lead characters – a civil rights activist and a Grand Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan – actually did become lifelong friends in real life, which is as hard to believe as it is inspiring. It’s a profoundly hopeful and compelling story about two individuals who, despite their ingrained prejudices and adversarial positions, learn to truly see each other for who they are, rather than simply judging based on external appearances or societal divides. A powerful testament to the possibility of change and reconciliation.
That’s it for another exciting edition of the Good Things List! I hope this roundup of spring projects, fashion finds, inspiring reads, and captivating shows has brought you some joy and fresh ideas. If you’d like to explore more of my favorite recommendations and discoveries, you can check out all the previous Good Things Lists here. I’d absolutely love to hear your thoughts – whether you’ve tried any of these recommendations or have your own wonderful finds to share. Please leave a comment below with your insights and suggestions!
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