I gently pick my little dog up from where he is curled at the bottom of the bed. He greets me with a sleepy yawn as I carry him down the stairs and place him on the couch while I start making tea. I’m do a little dance because I’ve just remembered I have one scone from the quaint bakery on the mainland left in the freezer ready to be baked. Orange chocolate chip – my favorite!
As the scone bakes, the citrus smell fills the air. I pour my tea, add a bit of honey graciously gifted to us from our bees, and pull my scone from the oven. I call to Ronan asking him he would like to sit on the porch – a question he has yet to say no to. I gather up some blankets and head out with my current read. This morning I’m reading The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. (I’ve linked it on Amazon here for reference as I highly recommend it, but encourage you to support your local book store or library!)
There is still a chill in the early morning April air, so I wrap one blanket over Ronan as he lies in his bed and wrap another around my shoulders. The birds are welcoming the day with song and the squirrels are already busy gathering food.
This is my typical morning routine. A time to pause and reflect on the beauty of the morning before diving into the day’s responsibilities. A time to enjoy the small moments of birdsong and hot tea and to consider all of the little things I’m grateful for before planning my intentions for the day. Carving out this time to start my day slowly helps me to enter the day grounded, calm, and light-hearted. It also helps me to listen to my mind and body in order to gauge how best to spend my energy that day. Is my mind all over the place or am I very focused? Am I feeling super creative or pulled more toward checking off admin tasks?
Slow mornings also help me to live in tune with the natural rhythms and cycles of nature. To be present in the current season and observe the magic that each unique morning brings in the forest just outside my door. To feel that I truly belong to this magical world. There is enchantment to be found every day in nature if we take the time to look. And when we discover that enchantment, we realize we need to protect it.
My slow mornings have extended to my whole way of being in the world as well as to the philosophy of Misty Isle Cottage. Not only does living slowly benefit you personally, but it also helps the planet. Taking time to step away from the busyness of lives in order to evaluate our choices can bring enlightenment into how our actions affect the earth, allowing you the opportunity to make decisions that help rather than harm the earth.
Of course, these decisions extend to making intentional, earth-friendly purchasing decisions. This is why at Misty Isle Cottage we carefully consider the earth when crafting our collections.
We carefully source materials
Our worsted weight yarn is sourced from a local Maine supplier. The wool comes from sheep raised in the United States and is naturally dyed in Maine. Keeping the process as local as possible helps to reduce the environmental impact of the yarn production.
Our materials are biodegradable
We use only 100% wool yarn. Because wool is a natural fiber, it is biodegradable. When you are done with it, the earth is happy to have it back. Additionally, our wood crafts are sourced from naturally fallen branches and driftwood found around the island. We never treat the wood with harsh chemicals.
Our products are handcrafted for quality
We carefully handcraft our products with the intention that they will be loved and used for years. Buying quality products that lasts, helps to reduce your consumption of resources. Additionally, it is our belief that there is something special about handcrafted pieces: the skills cultivated over generations and slowly learned over time by the maker, the slow process as raw materials are transformed and given new life, the love and positive energy that goes in to each individual piece.
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