Good morning, Reader,

What a blessing to begin this new week here with you. I’m noticing something lately in my daily life: how a good bit of our day-to-day is made of simple, repeated rhythms. For me it’s milking cows, feeding the animals, sweeping the floor, doing laundry—and of course, washing dishes. They’re always waiting for me, and as I am sure you know, always renewed.

There’s no dishwasher here, so I find myself at the sink: warm soapy water, a small mountain of plates and pots. It’s not glamorous—and yet, I’m discovering it’s one of the most restorative parts of the day. My hands grow warm, my thoughts slow, and in that work, I allow my mind to wander.

I read recently that repetitive tasks—what we often label “boring”—can free the mind to wander, to imagine, to dream. When our hands are busy doing what we already know, our brains shift into a kind of default mode that opens new connections, new joys in the small things. It turns out boredom—the very thing we try to escape—is really good for us. And I think we instinctively know this.

I’m seeing this in cheesemaking, too. The motions are so familiar now: skim cream for butter, pour milk into the pot, heat it, add rennet, wait, stir, heat slowly, stretch the curd, salt. It’s routine. Its now so ordinary. But in the mundane there is space for gratitude, for prayer, and yes—for playful, sometime wild, ideas.

And here’s what never gets old: Friday night pizza, piled high with homemade mozzarella and our farm-raised sausage and veggies goodies. The routine did the heavy lifting; the joy came naturally.

So this week: whether you’re folding laundry, tidying your bedroom, or standing at your kitchen sink, I encourage you to lean into a little boredom. Let your hands move. Let your mind wander. You might be surprised at what kind of good ideas—or peace—come visiting.

And if your curious about making your own mozzarella, here’s my tried and true recipe: https://www.greatheritagefarm.com/make-your-own-cheese/

With Joy,

Leah Matzke
Great Heritage Farm