This is the story of a packet of grass seeds and a pitcher of water. What started out as the smallest, most unexpected parts of our ordinary lives have become the very best bits we couldn’t imagine life without.
Welcome to Out of the Ordinary! We’re delighted you’re joining our conversation. As always it was recorded on the third floor of Christie’s old farmhouse, Maplehurst, and today we sat down to unpack the idea that everything big starts small.
Looking to start your own podcast? I recommend The Podcast Launch Coach!
Out of the Ordinary
The podcast for anyone who’s ever felt the nagging frustration of wondering if her life is too small, too boring or too ordinary to make a difference. Lisa-Jo Baker and Christie Purifoy, longtime friends and bestselling authors, explore the surprising ways that cultivating ordinary life leads to extraordinary stories.
Visit our official podcast page!

Christie Purifoy
Co-Host
A writer and gardener, her favorite ordinary things include strawberry jam, homegrown flowers, and old books with someone else’s notes in them.
Find Christie’s books here.

Lisa-Jo Baker
Co-Host
A reader and writer, her favorite ordinary things include hot tea with milk and sugar, a good movie, her mom’s hand-me-down books and Sunday afternoon naps.
Find Lisa-Jo’s books here.
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Happy Thanksgiving Eve, US friends. When I was growing up, we always decorated for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, but then we took everything down by Jan 1. Since my kids were little, we have observed the traditional 12 days of Christmastide (Dec 25-Jan 5), which has meant decorating slowly over Advent and taking everything (except my big paper star!) down on Epiphany (Jan 6). I appreciate how calendars allow us to live out stories in time, and I love the story of expectation / fulfillment / revelation that Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany embody. ✨ Advent doesn’t begin until December 3 this year, and I still haven’t decided if I’ll do any decorating this weekend. Eventually, I’ll clear this table for our tabletop Christmas tree. I’ll miss a good spot for piles of books (I have so many piles!), but twinkly lights and piled presents really are preferred by everyone else in this house. 😉 🎄
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#weareplacemakers #autumnatmaplehurst
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Nov 22
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Happy Thanksgiving Eve, US friends. When I was growing up, we always decorated for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, but then we took everything down by Jan 1. Since my kids were little, we have observed the traditional 12 days of Christmastide (Dec 25-Jan 5), which has meant decorating slowly over Advent and taking everything (except my big paper star!) down on Epiphany (Jan 6). I appreciate how calendars allow us to live out stories in time, and I love the story of expectation / fulfillment / revelation that Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany embody. ✨ Advent doesn’t begin until December 3 this year, and I still haven’t decided if I’ll do any decorating this weekend. Eventually, I’ll clear this table for our tabletop Christmas tree. I’ll miss a good spot for piles of books (I have so many piles!), but twinkly lights and piled presents really are preferred by everyone else in this house. 😉 🎄
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#weareplacemakers #autumnatmaplehurst
Nov 22

It was wonderful to listen to you two share; such great conversation.