As my husband often reminds me, I tend to live largely in my head. Most of what I write, therefore, comes from deep hours of reflection and rumination. Every once in a while, though, it’s good for me to simply take a walk and look around. Here are the sights and sounds in my backyard this week. What’s happening in your neighborhood?

The week began with Backyard Story Night, a local event that meets around Austin. Over a hundred people came into the “backyard” of our outdoor amphitheater and listened as amateur storytellers shared poignant, entertaining, and fascinating tales.

Lots of enormous, rumbly equipment all over the property this week. Drilling deep supports, laying foundations, pouring RV pads — they roar and roll this Village into hope.