Lanterns, Lambs and Living Slowly

“Lanterns, Lambs and Living Slowly” How’s that for a title? Ha! It’s all I’ve got. Oh, I know we’re all required to lose our minds about the upcoming US election and I know that November 1st is when everyone’s Instagram feed turns to “all-Christmas-all-the-time”, so I thought I’d take a moment to provide you with a bit of soothing distraction instead.

The scene above gives me chills every time I see it. It feels like stepping into a storybook. This is from the medieval part of the village where I live. Look closely, and you’ll see the tiny church tucked into the trees at the top of the hill. Built in the 11th century, it was once the parish church for this whole village.

The old pathways here are lined with moss-covered stones, winding through drystone fences and leading past centuries-old houses that have long been abandoned. Walking these paths is like traveling back in time, and it’s become one of my favorite hikes. There’s such a deep sense of history and quiet beauty here.

Living Slowly

The other day, we stopped by the local butcher for some steaks. When we asked for beef tenderloin, he went to the carcass and cut out the entire tenderloin right there, asking us exactly how thick we wanted each steak. He expertly trimmed them and wrapped them for us. And the price? About a third of what we’d pay back home for pre-cut steaks on a Styrofoam tray, wrapped in plastic. Tonight, we’re grilling them, and I can’t wait. All the food here is so fresh—and our bodies are already feeling the benefits of that.

Down in the pasture below the house, the sheep are having their babies. There’s nothing….I tell you NOTHING more heart-melting than seeing lambs just a few days old, trying to run and jump on their wobbly little legs. I could honestly bring a chair down there and be content just watching them play all day. Of course if I did that then I’d be the village idiot, so I shall refrain. But they’re down there… just frolicking about without a care in the world. When I capture a good video, I’ll post it on Facebook. Trust me, you’ll die from the cuteness overload.

Living here, I’ve started to notice an order in the way people go about their lives. There’s a natural rhythm, from washing laundry to keeping their homes and walkways tidy to preparing meals. It’s not rigid or forced—it’s a flow that just seems to make sense, aligning with the seasons and the pace of life. It’s living slowly and I’m finding myself leaning fully into this and trying to let it shape my own routines.

They don’t celebrate Halloween here like we do back home. Instead, it’s a religious holiday and they honor All Hallows’ Eve and All Saints’ Day. In our village, families visited the small cemetery throughout the day, caring for the graves of loved ones by cleaning them, lighting red lanterns, and placing beautiful fresh flowers. Later, there was Mass at the old church, followed by a procession from the church to the cemetery for prayers. The sound of church bells echoed all over the island, creating a beautiful atmosphere.

And afterwards, the village came alive. Kids played in the streets, families gathered on balconies and terraces, sharing late lunches outdoors. In the evening, we could see the entire cemetery glowing below with the soft light of red lanterns.

There’s something so special about the sense of community here and the deep value placed on relationships. This has left an impression on me. I’m reminded how important it is to cultivate a natural order in life and to nurture meaningful connections. These are the things that make life rich and meaningful.

Do you like hearing about this village life? How do you feel about the thought of living slowly? I realize this is different from my usual content, so let me know what you think. And I hope you enjoyed these moments of soothing distraction amongst all the current chaos!

You can pin any of these photos to Pinterest , by clicking on the Pinterest button and you can also find me there. I’d love to have you follow me in the LTK app. I’m brainstorming to curate truly useful content for you there- things that are actually helpful for you. And they’ve really improved that app to create more of a “hang out space”, and it just keeps getting better! Aaaaaannnd I’m also on Facebook if thats your jam! Anywhere you share my content helps me out so much, so thank-you!

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