2018 a year of promise

As the year begins in the little red farmhouse, it’s always a reminder of things unfinished from 2017.  Last year was a busy year for our family and my thoughts were consumed with decision making, planning, coordinating, and preparing every day life.

Over the past few months I have felt the “winds of change” blowing.  I have no idea what it means, how it’s going to happen, or when it will take place, but I feel it deep inside with an excitement of what 2018 is going to bring!

I look forward to sharing all the blessings this year holds for me and our family/farm.  Here are a few pictures from our Christmas season and the beginning of an exciting year!  Happy New Year to all and many blessings for your best year yet!  Tina

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

 

 

Back to school blues

Every year at this time I get the blues.  When summer ends and school starts the thoughts that go through my mind drag me down.  Another fun summer of carefree kid days gone, another family summer vacation done until next year, the kids will be another year older next summer, I WILL BE another year older next summer….and so on and so on.  How can anyone be happy at the return of the school season???? I LOVE my kids being home!!!

In carrying on the tradition of feeling sad and sorry for myself for a few days, I hid myself in garden chores, baking and barn work.  Slowly I am returning to the happy person I usually am, but it’s a battle that’s hard won!!

Here are a few recaps of the wonderful times we had this year so far:

Tons of time sleeping in our cabin and spending time as a family

A GREAT book for summer reading, bonfires every night for heat in the spring and to cook on…and a few date nights on the boat!

Fun in the barn with friends, farm work, canning, late night selfies and sandboxes were all enjoyed.

So goodbye Summer of 2016 and welcome Fall and Winter.  Only 13 1/2 weeks until Christmas Vacation…..but who’s counting….me…yes me me me!!

 

 

Happy New Year

I’d like to wish you all a very Happy New Year filled with contentment,  happiness, health and love!!

Looking forward to 2016 and sharing more of the many new adventures we have planned for our little homestead!!  Tina

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!

HAPPY EASTER

Reflections and Beginnings

This was the sky this morning reflecting on the ice pond on a day that many use to reflect. We have had a pretty great year in our home with many many things to reflect upon and be thankful for.

I don’t make resolutions on this night.  There are basically two things I try to remember and work towards with the beginning of a fresh new year.  The first is to keep negativity out of my life be it with people, situations, and mindsets.  I don’t like to let negativity in.  The second is to be content.  Being content with what you have, who you are, who your children are and where you are going in life leads to a certain calmness and peacefulness in your days.

So with the beginning of this New Year, I would like to say thank you to all my followers for being a part of our journey in life and wish you all much happiness, peace, and a content mind in 2015!!!!!

Happy New Year

Happy Friday

It’s a cold rainy one here, but I have 8 lbs of apples to process and a dinner to cook for a special family moving into their new home!!  Enjoy your day 🙂

1955 Prestige Silverware Set

Today we had lunch with the man of the houses parents.  We then stopped at their house to pick up a silverware set his mother purchased before her graduation day from High School in 1955!!!

Every year “grandma Ruth” (the man’s mother) always asks us for Christmas gift ideas.  It was hard for her at first to understand my requests at Christmas.  I am a very practical person.  Sure, I love the finer things, but when someone is willing to spend money on me, I will choose something practical that I want and that I would love to save the money on buying for myself.  Some things I have requested are:  muck boots, black dress socks, leather driving gloves, a toaster and last year I asked for a toolbox with a few tools and different size nails I could use in my barn.  The first few years she would beg me to pick something different and now 16 years later, I think she knows me well enough to realize these are “gifts” to me.  Awesome gifts!!

So when she asked me the other day what I would like I was quick to tell her “silverware”.  Our set is now missing many things (I am sure the kids removed them at some point to dig outside or to take fishing in the creek).  I would like to have service for 8 again on all pieces.  Ruth then said to me, “you know I have a set I purchased before graduation from high school sitting in the basement” and before she could finish I said YES!!

You see these are not just silverware pieces.  These are special pieces she purchased as a young girl to take into her future with whoever her husband to be was and for the family she was certain to have.  These pieces were hope of a wonderful life and future.  These pieces were part of the mans childhood.  Through the years she has kept this set perfect.  This set means more to me than she will probably ever know.

The box has been carefully stored through the many years only making an appearance at a few very special family gatherings.  In my 16 years, I had never seen them.  Yet today opening the beautiful box they were delivered in so many years ago, these pieces are in perfect condition.

The certificate of registration of this hand picked set is in the box.  All the original paperwork and receipts are gently folded inside.

The silver etiquette book with complete instructions and pictures for the use and care of the silver is included laying gently on top.

There are many different serving pieces included.

I can hardly wait to use these at Thanksgiving when Ruth will be here to enjoy the future she chose and purchased so many years ago.  I will cherish this set and we will use it often with the same hope Ruth had for it so long ago.  I will save the paperwork and pass this set onto my children who I can only hope will cherish it as much as I do.

 

 

A True Country Wedding

We had a true country wedding yesterday for the niece of the man of the house.  I know it sounds cliche’ but this is a couple who truly are perfect together.  Lacy looked stunning in her dress and her husband, Jess, was as handsome as could be.

They put this together at Lacy’s parents house in their barn.  It was like a scene out of a magazine and I would love to share some of the beautiful touches they had.

Introducing as a married couple for the first time.  The church was a small country church full of charm.  I wish I had taken a picture of the church to show you it was once a beautiful, small house of worship. Due to budget cuts it is only used now for weddings and funerals.

After the reception we headed over to the man’s sister’s house and into the barn/tent reception area.  The couple in the picture is my beautiful step daughter and her boyfriend.

This barn housed horses for the past 8 years.  The last horse just moved out 7 days ago.  But you would never have believe it was anything other than a reception hall!!

Even the restrooms had a country touch.  The insides were beautifully done in cherry wood with lovely decorations all around.

Once inside the barn this was the first display to greet you.

Mr and Mrs. followed just behind with a welcoming sitting area.  The tic-tac-toe game was set up also with hay bales covered in fabric with decorative string inviting you to sit and have a quick game or ten I think I played with the boy!!

Names and seating numbers were placed in decorative shutters directing guests to their tables.

Just outside the back of the barn you were welcomed into a beautiful area for dining, drinks, and dancing.

The centerpieces were stunning with the flowers and a cowbell for ringing and old jars.  Each table was dressed in china dishes that did not match.  They were dishes collected from family members and friends.  Each plate held a special connection to the bride and groom!!

The cake and cupcake display was fabulous and when we were invited to try them each one we tried was more delicious than the one before.  There were many different flavors such as cookie dough, white cloud, lemonade, red rosies to name a few.

Grandma and the kids were excited to get the celebration underway. And the boy was busy keeping us all entertained with his card tricks.

Our beautiful family.

Proud grandparents and cousins

The tables were even prettier if that’s possible in the dark evening night.  They were all aglow

And after a wonderful day and evening you were guided out the long driveway by candlelight lining the way to the road.

It could not have been a more special celebration for two very special people to start their lives together.  Congratulations to Lacy and Jess and many happy blessings for a love filled life.