Pull Up a Chair

Next week, we head to London.

Rock and Sole Plaice Fish & Chips (London, UK - Established 1871)

It’s something we do each year, yet it always feels both familiar and new. There’s the excitement — a city rich with history, long walks, good meals, and conversations that linger.

And then there’s the weight of leaving. Our farm. Our animals. Our routines. Our heart. And the people who fill it — our kids, grandbabies, friends, and the everyday closeness that makes stepping away feel tender.

We place the daily care of the farm in trusted hands and remind ourselves that love doesn’t disappear when we step away — it stretches, expands, and holds steady in new ways.

We go to London to teach for three weeks, working with honors students on human-centered design and leadership. It’s meaningful, energizing work that asks a lot of us. Teaching abroad is rewarding and exhausting, inspiring and humbling — and it keeps us learning right alongside our students.

Woven through all of that is something quieter, but just as important: time together. Date nights. Shared experiences. The gift of being far from home, side by side, noticing new things.

Travel, for us, has become part of how we design a flourishing life — not as an escape from responsibility, but as an expansion of it. A way of honoring curiosity, growth, and connection, even when it means holding both excitement and longing at the same time.

And maybe that’s what adventure really is — building a life that gives you both roots to hold you steady and wings to carry you forward.

With love,
Lane + Jules

From the Farm Kitchen

Healy Snacking - No Bake Travel Energy Bites

One thing I’ve learned about travel is that airports and travel days tend to push you toward food that leaves you feeling tired, bloated, or just plain crummy. So before long travel days, we like to pack something homemade that feels steady and nourishing.

I made these this morning while working on our travel prep, and they’re delicious!

Here is the full recipe

Out in the Garden

Garden Prep Before Travel

Since we’re leaving town for a few weeks, the garden and greenhouse need a little extra attention before we go. Late winter gardens are still fairly low maintenance, but a little preparation helps everything stay steady while you’re away.

Before leaving town, this is what we focus on:

Add a light layer of mulch around overwintering perennials and young plants to help regulate soil temperature and moisture
Cover any tender or early emerging plants if cold snaps are in the forecast
Water deeply before leaving, especially greenhouse plants, containers, and recently planted beds
Group container plants together to help them retain moisture longer
Ask a neighbor or farm helper to do quick visual checks if possible, especially after severe weather

Late winter gardening is mostly about protecting what is already growing and making sure early spring progress stays on track. A little preparation before leaving makes it much easier to return to plants that are still happy and ready to keep growing.

The Curated Corner

London Essentials

Blundstone Boots
These boots have walked more miles than I could ever count — farm chores, city streets, train platforms, and rainy countryside walks. They are sturdy without feeling heavy and comfortable enough for long days on your feet. They’ve traveled with me for years, and I have never regretted packing them.

Barbour Waterproof Jacket
London weather has a personality all its own, and a good waterproof layer makes all the difference. I love a Barbour jacket because it feels timeless, practical, and just polished enough for everything from outdoor markets to dinner in the city. It’s the kind of piece that works just as well on the farm as it does overseas.

Leather Passport Holder
This is a small thing that makes my travel smoother. I like having my passport in a leather holder that I can easily feel in my pocket or bag. It keeps everything together, protects one of the most important items you carry while traveling, and removes that constant “where did I put it?” moment in busy airports.

I’ve learned that the best travel essentials are rarely trendy. They are pieces that hold up, travel well, and quietly make the journey easier.

Designing a Flourishing Life

So much of what makes a life feel steady and rich never announces. Adventure means something different to everyone. For some, it looks like traveling across the world. For others, it might be trying something new close to home, learning a skill, stepping into a long-delayed dream, or simply breaking out of routine in small but meaningful ways.

As we prepare for our own trip, I’ve been thinking about how adventure quietly shapes the way we grow. If you’re in a season of planning, dreaming, or even just feeling the nudge to try something new, here are a few questions worth sitting with this week.

What does adventure mean to you right now?
Is there something you’ve been wanting to try but keep putting off?
What small step could move you closer to that experience
What would need to be prepared or taken care of to make that feel possible?
A year from now, what experience would you be grateful you said yes to?

Flourishing lives are rarely built in one bold moment. More often, they grow through steady preparation, thoughtful choices, and a willingness to step toward something new — even when it feels slightly uncertain.

Tuck it in Your Pocket

“A life well tended at home makes room for a life well lived beyond it.” — Jules

Have a question you'd love me to answer? A project you're proud of? Something inspiring you've seen? I’d love to hear it—and it might just show up in a future newsletter.

We’re building something beautiful here, together. Now that's BombDiggity!

Here’s to simple joys and big dreams,