Escaping…

Wrinkles running happily along

In these past few months I have tried to find happy places to escape to.  These woods are always my greatest escape.

Since I was 6, I have walked in these woods.  That’s 44 years (but who’s counting!!)  There were no trails, less neighbors, and tons of wildlife.  Over the years that has slowly changed, but luckily the “4 mile loop” we have created is land locked.

If I am not walking I am 4 wheeling, horseback riding, or snowmobiling!  I have shared these trails with many animals, most of them gone now, through the years.  My first dog, Daisy.  My first horse, Sugar. My next dogs through the years as a child, Princess, Sheba, Jeopardy, Ginger.  Our second horse, Mandy.

My parents liked to take us 4 kids on Sunday walks.  My dad would always have a big walking stick and I remember being scared we would get lost and he would always say not to worry, the dogs know the way home.

These past few months I have been finding myself wanting to escape this crazy world more and more and enjoy what we have without all of the negativity being thrown at us from every angle in the media, on the internet, in the magazines, etc.

Even little Sissy has had enough and wants to join us on a walk!!

Coming back up the trails after a nice long walk, the sun has set and the moon is beginning to peak out, I feel refreshed. 

The snow is glistening and the world is a perfect place again.

Snow glistens with the moonlight

 

 

For my Kids

One thing I have done since my children were born is compile a booklet of quotes that have touched me in my life.  I hope when they are struggling in life or over joyed, they will find inspiration in one of the quotes I have chosen for them and know each one was carefully picked to give them a perspective from their mother to use throughout their lives.

Here are a few of my favorites from the book to date.  This book will always be a work in progress as I come across other quotes that move my soul 🙂

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do

 

Farmers Market Co-Op

Our Island started a Farmers Market Co-Op about 3 weeks ago.  They asked all of us who farm or homestead to be a part of it and sell some of our goods.  It’s on Mondays after work hours for 3 hours.

We missed the first week but participated the second week by putting up a table and selling some of our homegrown vegetables, canned goods, baked goods, and the Teen Queen’s handmade clay jewelry, lipsticks and sugar body scrubs.  We had about 50 items and came home with 3.  I’d say it was a success!

This week we have a few more harvested vegetables to add to the table as well as some of our home baked Breads, Peach Skin Jelly, Dilly Beans and more canned peaches!

A farmers market is such an awesome opportunity to support your local farmers and meet people who like to homestead.  I always give out our Facebook site and this page so anyone who wants recipes to try their hand at adding a little of the homestead life into their busy lives can try it.

I am asked over and over again how I fit all of this in with working, kids sports almost every night, barn chores, animal care, and still finding time for boating and spending family time visiting all of the summer happenings in our area.  My answer is always…you just make the time.  Whether it’s baking, canning, or making jewelry, providing anything for your family that is homemade is such a great feeling.

Here’s to hoping today’s market is a success like last week!!!

 

 

 

Traditions

Recently someone asked me why we have a family Facebook page and a blog.  The answer was quick to me.  My blog is a place where I can share more in depth my thoughts and feelings of why we work so hard to carry on our lifestyle as well as share a bit about our family history.  Facebook users (myself included) are normally scanning quick in their spare time to possibly learn or see something new, share in the pages they follow, and keep a brief running of their life happenings.

As an example, on our facebook page today I posted a few pictures of things we will have on our Easter table.  All of the items are homegrown, hand picked, or made by our family.  To me they signify a tradition passed down from my family starting from my great grandmother, grandparents, mother and aunts.

Our ancestors were “doers”.  They had no other choice but to provide for themselves.  Today’s world is more about “consumers”.  Not many take the time to even think about where their food comes from much less contribute, except monetarily, to their own existence.  I am not implying this is a wrong way to live, but it’s important to me for my children to know how their ancestors lived and to be able to provide a bit for themselves.  Maybe I was born in the wrong era 🙂

Our Easter lunch table will be filled with food and decor our family has grown or made.

It’s a tradition and one I hope my children will carry on into their futures!

 

 

 

 

Good Ole Days

I keep this vintage milk bottle holder on our porch.  It makes me happy to see it, even in the deep snow.

There’s something about this that brings me back to a place in time that I wish to have been a part of.

Beginning of 2016 in review

Sid in the tree and little golden Henny in the hut

I once shared that for some reason “even” years are not my friend.  It always seems during even years things seem to pop up more often than normal to give my world a little shake!

Shortly after the new year we lost our little Bantam rooster, Sid.  One day he seemed to stop crowing but was eating and still enjoying his roaming time outside.  The next day he was in rough shape and died a few hours later.  Two days later his closest companion, also a bantam hen, Henny, who was born and raised on our farm for 8 years died during the night after showing no signs of a problem.  UGH…I was prepared for the worst with something going through our flock and cleaned as much as possible in the winter.  Luckily it’s been 3 weeks and the regular size hens are all healthy.

Two weeks ago one of the horses started showing signs of pain in his hooves. After a vet visit and X-rays he has a broken tip of his coffin bone in one of the hooves and he is foundering with a possible pituitary issue.  He has special wooden shoes on and is taking all sorts of medication.  He’s on rest but his brother comes and eats with him to keep him company.

The boy has been sick all week with a cold, sore throat and now cough but there have been some bright spots.

The ice pond finally has frozen and we have had many visitors and fun skating!

The boy finally learned how to blow a bubble and the Teen Queen’s basketball team is undefeated for the season and has won the Catholic Schools Varsity girls Championship!!

Here’s to more bright spots in 2016!!

In the moment

Sometimes all you need is a bit of sunshine, warm ground, and a great place to rest your mind and body.

Coming back from a walk in our woods today the horses were enjoying the warm earth for the first time this season.  I envied them being able to lay there in utter peace, no worries, no responsibilities, just  to be.

Interestingly enough the two relaxing are my geldings (male horses).  They are both so different in personality.  My oldest one turned 25 last week.  This is a “senior” horse now.  He’s always been a loving animal, so full of pride and so gentle.  He has a very hard time trusting people and things and after 14 years, it still warms my heart to see him be able to relax like this.  The other one is a 16 year old who has the personality of an eight year old boy.  Full of mischief, inquisitive, loving and carefree.  He trusts his older brother with his life. He does not like to be far from him and knows he can lay next to his brother and not have a care in  the world.

And yet while these two are having their moment of inner peace, there is my mare (female) horse standing to the side.  She is an 18 year old gentle soul.  She is brave and trusting and skimpy with showing her love for you.  But it’s there and you can feel it even when she doesn’t show it.

Stopping and looking at them after my relaxing walk, it came to my mind that she is like me.  I want to relax, I want to lay on the warm ground and not have a care in the world.  I envy people who are able to do that.  Shut off the world and just be.  But that is not in my makeup.

And so like my mare, I will be content with where I’m at and accept who I am knowing I may never be able to “just be” and that’s ok.

Perspective

When things tend to crop up that stress me out, I withdraw.  The past week has been that way for me and I have avoided posting on my blog, getting more of our first plantings going, seeing/talking to friends and spending more time in my barn alone to process things.

I had severe allergies as a child.  My father used to clean carpets for the doctor in exchange for the much needed allergy shots I received twice a week.  As a result of being sickly my teeth have always been a problem as the enamel is soft and problematic.  I have had major dental work done over the years with no dental insurance and paid more than my first new car cost.  I have been with my company for 24 years and we have good medical insurance but no dental.

I recently had an issue with a front tooth that has already been worked on twice before.  I went to my dentist of 20+ years and he said it needed to have a root canal along with the tooth next to it that already had a root canal as that root canal did not hold up and needed to be redone and then I would need new crowns on those and a bottom root canal also needed to be retouched.  This would be approximately another $6,000 to $8,000.00.   WHAT?????????????????  I paid $4000 for these teeth less than 7 years ago.  I also need to see a specialist (Endodontist) for the root canals.

There is no “good” time to be told about a huge expense like this and it hits a bit harder right now as it’s time for spring vet visits for the horses and goats, to stock up and purchase hay for the upcoming winter, and to try and save a bit of “fun” money to enjoy the summer.  We gave up the cottage we rented in Long Beach, Canada for a week, I sold my round pen for training horses (which really stings as this has been a life long enjoyment I have working with horses), and are selling a few other horse items we are not using to put towards the dental work.  Luckily there is a dental “credit card” with zero percent financing for a year as that will help as well.

So while I have been wallowing in my pity party for myself it’s amazing how God can put things in perspective.  I have a friend who lost a son to brain cancer at the age of 7 who has now been diagnosed with cancer herself which is horrific as she has a tween daughter who lived through losing her brother and will now face the fear of her mother being sick, another friend has recently had a double mastectomy, and yet another friend dealing with an addiction issue with her only child.

Sometimes we need that kick in the head to remind us that regardless of what we are facing, there are others who deserve our pity WAY more than ourselves!!

So tomorrow while in the dental chair for the first of my proceedings, I will be praying…not for myself but for the others whose lives are so terribly uprooted right now.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as well!

Winter winds down

The winter is giving way to spring.  Slowly the snow melts and adds to the little streams which run to the creek.

The creek is already bursting at the seams and taking over the lowlands of the woods.  Mud on the trails begins to peer through.

Beautiful old farming equipment is exposed once more still holding onto the secret of how they ended up so far back in the woods and abandoned so many years ago.  These pieces are about 1/2 mile away in an area that is not cleared and is wooded.  I’ve often thought about pulling them out to display at the house but they are a piece of history, our property history, so I leave them to remain in their final resting place and enjoy my walks past them in all seasons.

Is this the luck of the Irish on display for me today or rather just a gold mylar balloon that somehow passed through the taller trees and ended it’s flight on our trail?

And on the way back to the house the ice pond is a gentle reminder that Old Man Winter has lost his battle with the newborn spring and is going down slowly.

Candles

I always have candles lit in my house.  In the evening with the candles lit all around the house, I feel cozy and the house feels warm and comforting.

Two years ago I bought my first set of battery operated candles that have a timer on them.  They go on at dusk and shut off after 6 hours. I bought them from a Christmas section in the store for the Holidays.  I have never taken them down.

I love the soft yellow glow they have all year round.  I replace the batteries about every month or sometimes a little longer.  It’s well worth it to not have to worry about turning them on or off and they look so nice when you drive by the house at night.  It looks like a true country home.

It’s the little things sometimes that mean the most.