Author Archives: gmayeaux

When I left my old organization, I tried to explain to people I cared so much about why I was leaving. In the end, I used the lame excuse “it’s not you, it’s me.” While it was lame, it was true. Others could handle the hustle and bustle, the daily demands, the multiple headspaces, theContinue reading “It’s not you, it’s me…”

It’s 5:17 a.m. here. It wasn’t what anyone would call the greatest night of sleep. From time to time, my allergies decide to get restless. When they do, there’s no stopping them. Sometime around 3:30 a.m., my nose started itching. Around 4:45 a.m., I started sneezing and gave up the fight to come downstairs. AsContinue reading “The secret to a good cup of coffee…”

Before I began to work from home permanently, I had a lot of visions about what it would be like. Now, a little over three years later, I can see where I got it wrong, I got it right and, candidly, I was way off-base. Because the discussion strikes at the heart of why IContinue reading “The myths and truths of working from home…”

Yesterday in my yoga class – yes, I am a YUPPIE homesteader – our yoga instructor urged us to say “yes.” Specifically, she urged us to be open to new opportunities and to not immediately reject something. I came home that night and immediately said no. The “no” was to another new proposal that IContinue reading “Winter life on the homestead…”

They happen swiftly and early, these winter blues. No sooner is the Christmas tree down, the boxes of decorations stored and the house picked back up than the winter blues set in. In summer, we experience over 15 hours of daylight. In winter, it goes down to just under 9 hours a day. All fall,Continue reading “The winter blues…”

It’s been 129 days since Twister first came inside as a sick, hungry and parasite-infested stray. It took nearly 30 days for him to get healthy and then he became our happy, healthy, bouncy baby boy. It took another 30 days to gradually introduce him and Meadow, first feeding them with a bedroom door in-betweenContinue reading “And finally we are one…”

So, I mentioned my butcherblock countertops, which are one of the pride and joys in my life. Just like we source my pets from the strays that start hanging out in my back yard, we like to source materials for our house locally as well. It likely all started with the garden. My husband oftenContinue reading “About locally sourcing…”

For once, I’m not referring to the pandemic or other world or national events. Instead, I’m referring to renovations. When Darryl and I got engaged in August 2013, we sold my house and I moved in soon after to his house. My house was fully renovated, but small at just over 1100 square feet. HisContinue reading “The end is in sight…”

It’s 6:14 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. By the time I finish writing this missive, it will likely be closer to 7 p.m. And what does all of that add up to? About just five short hours until the end of 2020. If the year were a person, I’d tell it not to let itselfContinue reading “Saying goodbye to a difficult year…”

Its about this time every year that my attention turns to renewal. It seems like Christmas is a real marker in the ground for me. As soon as Christmas is over, my attention turns to the new year and new opportunities to do things better. And after this year? Well, let’s just say I needContinue reading “Renewal…”