"A tussie... what?"

My husband and I were creating a market stand together when google did it again. I like to say I learn something new every day but this one threw me for a loop.

Me: "Another name for a mini bouquet is a nosegay, a posey and a tussie mussie."

Brian: Just stares blankly. Then, "A tussie... what?"

We both start giggling like kids. Sometimes, laughter is all you need.

A google search teaches us both this is a victorian era term for a small bouquet of flowers which was a popular fashion accessory women would wear around town in the 19th century. The intent was to ward off unpleasant smells, thereby promoting well-being. In honor of the language of flowers, the particular flowers included in the small arrangement would send a message to its recipient, often as a romantic gesture.

Honestly, the official definition might be the above. But for me, the term conjures a second, perfectly imperfect interpretation for this season of our lives. The term makes me think of when you wake up in the morning and your hair is rumpled, your eyes are groggy and you're just trying to get life going before that first cup of coffee and then... you find your "tussie mussie". Your little glimmer that keeps you going. Yup, that's us in a nutshell.

This has been a hectic few months for our family and sometimes, I wonder what we are doing. While we loved our lives in Amelia Island, Florida (where we lived for over 10 years), I had long been seeking a change. A change of life, career, scenery. In fact, I'd always dreamed of living on a farm with my family. So when Brian seemed increasingly on board, I knew it was time to make the leap.

Crazily, we knew no one in Virginia and had never really even visited the state when I came across an article lauding Charlottesville as one of the happiest places in the country to live. 6 months later, we visited in the middle of January. The weather may have been bleak and cold but the community was filled with warmth and kindness beyond the typical southern charm. An elderly gentleman gave my daughters beaded bracelets (handmade by him) and told my husband he'd "struck gold having 3 daughters." A couple on a date decided to forego their table to allow my family to sit down at a busy restaurant. Shop owners would chat for 30 minutes, curious about who we were, offering advice on where to live and what to do while visiting. The hotel clerk hugged us- just because. The examples go on. By the trips end, I was hooked. More than anything, I wanted to raise our kids here to share in this spirit of community. Fortunately, Brian agreed. And so, we fully committed. Last summer, we officially became Virginians, license plates and all. While we miss our friends and family in Florida, we have not looked back.

And yet, it's been a scramble figuring out this farming life. Even though I've poured over every book I could get my hands on, I'm constantly clambering to gain enough knowledge to even call myself a proper beginner. Despite the whirlwind of it all, this time has also awakened a part of me I'd forgotten existed. How I love to learn. How I yearn to try something new and simply... fail. How I love to be outside, getting my hands dirty like I did when I was a kid. And most of all, I love sharing this experience with my kids and husband. I've started to tell all my colleagues they need to garden. They listen politely but I'm not sure I've inspired them yet.

Over the past month, after all that hard work last fall, the garden is waking up, bringing new shoots and flowers every day. I'm stunned by all the life generated from those tiny seeds. And proud that our patience has started to create such abundance.

It's a bit generic to say but I know I have so much to be thankful for. While this season really does feel like a whirlwind, I keep finding my "tussie mussie." Like those victorian era mini bouquets warding off those bad odors, it's such a luxury to recognize that these daily pleasures of life, both figuratively and literally, are actually all around me.

Cheers!

To finding your Tussie Mussie,

Chelsea