Life Lately #6

It’s been a while since I’ve done a life-lately update, mostly because nothing dramatically exciting has happened. We finally moved into our new home, and life has been quiet—quieter than we thought it could ever get.

The house sits far from the main roads, tucked into a peaceful street that ends in a cul-de-sac. The neighbours keep to themselves, and the sections are wide enough that you rarely hear anyone else. The only constant noise comes from the birds, flitting around the yard and keeping us company.

Most of our days have been spent turning the house into a home: cleaning corners, unpacking clothes into new cabinets, and figuring out where everything should go. John, even though he doesn’t consider himself handy, has taken on all sorts of house tasks. He set up the washing machine, changed the door locks (it took him two hours, but fair enough—it was his first try), and organised the pantry. I’m so lucky to have him. Half the time, he tells me to stop what I’m doing and rest, to take a nap, and he’ll finish whatever’s left. And he really does.

Unboxing and assembling our new appliances

Of course, there’s still plenty to do. With more than 800 square metres of land, we’ll soon be mowing lawns, weeding gardens, taming towering bushes, and trying to revive the plant box that’s clearly seen better days. But we’re not rushing. We’ll get to it. There’s time.

Lake views two minutes away from our house

For now, we’re enjoying simple pauses—our walks by the lake when cleaning feels endless, curling up on the couch to watch Bridgerton Season 3, singing and dancing in the kitchen while we cook our meals, cuddling and reading before drifting off to sleep.

Life lately hasn’t been loud or extraordinary. But it has been steady, and full of small joys.

And maybe that’s exactly what we needed.

No Rhyme, Just Reason is a Taupō, New Zealand–based blog by Ariane about books, good food, long walks, and unapologetic naps.