spring break is on its way...

For the last couple of weeks I've been spring cleaning...you know, Domestic Goddess chores as I like to call them. But spring break is just around the corner, and on the kids' wish list is a day at the zoo, a trip to Grandma's house, and a visit to the Humane Society in a neighboring town.  

Our son volunteered at the Humane Society as a Boy Scout merit badge activity and I tagged along...we had a great time!  Yes, there was work that needed to be done...cleaning litter boxes, washing feed bowls, and filling treat buckets, but the staff also encourages volunteers to socialize with the cats & dogs...yay! That meant lots of walks, tossing balls, and simply relaxing and spending time with the animals. 

And so, since April 11 is National Pet Day, why not celebrate by visiting your local shelter...I'm sure they'd love to have you lend a hand! (and take a critter...or 5 home!)

Come on...look at those eyes!

snow day. Snow Day. SNOW DAY!

Just 5 days ago, we had a day so warm the beehives were buzzing! The girls were out in full force...bringing in pollen from the budding maple trees and sipping water in the bird baths.
I was thrilled to see they survived the winter.

But oh, how Mother Nature can change her mind...today it's a winter wonderland! School started off with a 2-hour delay, then, it was cancelled completely...yay! My best mom friends and I are texting back and forth...we can't believe it!

cute kitty gazing at the warm fire...

And the timing couldn't be more perfect...the Orchestra & Band kids just got back from their trip to Disney last night, and they all could use a day of sleep (chaperones, too!)

So today around the old farmhouse you'll find a cracking fire blazing, the aroma of cinnamon rolls and cherry turnovers, homemade cocoa, movie marathons (Dr. Strange, anyone?), and snow ice cream to go along with our Toll House Pie...after all, it is Pi Day!

(And if you're looking for some Pi(e) inspiration, visit the Royers Pie Haven...you can find their Texas Trash recipe here. Don't let the name fool you...chocolate, pretzels, coconut, pecans, yum!)

Time to bundle up and brave the outdoors...even the critters get a treat on blustery days like this. Warm mash for the chickens and apples for the goats...oh happy day!

survival...

We  laughed, we cried, we ate chocolate...Orange Milanos, Hershey bars, Andes Mints, and chocolate chip cookies were in abundance between all the moms as the charter buses pulled out of the school parking lot.

The kids didn't see us shed a tear...we waved and smiled as we quietly dug our nails into our palms. Yep...we had this down perfectly.

So today, in about an hour, the buses will be pulling up to the beach...it should be 77 degrees in Orlando and the plan is to swim, visit the surf shops, and enjoy a beach barbecue...what fun they'll have!

So what will we moms do to keep busy?  Well my friend Kathy and I have already started, but we plan to hit our spring cleaning with a frenzy!  I'm following my tried & true schedule, but found this terrific one too and thought I'd share...you can find it by clicking here...

And so I'm off!  Tomorrow is a teacher work day so the boy-child (or does age 13 make him a man-child now?) will find something fun to do.

My, oh my...time DOES fly.

time flies...

I don't know how we went from this...

and this...

to this...

and this...

Wow..time does fly.

Our daughter is going to Disney tomorrow with the orchestra/band/choir for a 6- day trip. Yep...she'll be totin' that cello down to the Magic Kingdom on charter buses
with 200 of her closest friends.

For 18 hours.

I know they'll have a ball!

I've tucked surprises in her suitcase for her to open each day, and wrapped chocolate bars with "Disney or Bust!" candy wrappers to share with friends.

However...

my best girlfriends and I are meeting at the school to console ourselves with mass quantities of chocolate as we smile and wave goodbye.

I don't want to hear stories about cutting apron strings...
I want chocolate and girlfriends to cry with.

snow!

source: http://www.maryengelbreit.com/

Yes,  Yes, Yes...we have snow!

and since no one knows how long it will last, 

today's post is short and sweet!

A Friday thought...

time flies, whether we're having fun or not,

so let's have fun!

If you're like us, I'll bet this weekend's calendar is already filled,
but tonight do something FUN!

We have plans to whip up snow ice cream,
roast marshmallows for s'mores, and enjoy pizza galore.

Let's do this together...

Laugh, lend a hand, say a kind word,
cheer someone up, deliver a secret surprise
...because yes, time does fly.

Happy Friday!

6 more weeks of winter?!

It's official...

Punxsutawney Phil says 6 more weeks of winter! (Who?  Take a peek here if you haven't heard the latest.)

And that's just fine with me!  It means more of...

this...

this...

this...

and this!

Sadly, we haven't had a lot of snow this year; however, I'm sure we are
definitely, positively, absolutely going to have a bunch this month!

Yes, oodles! And you'll find us sleeping in during snow days from school, then waking up to enjoy cinnamon rolls, movie marathons, board games, homemade cocoa, crackling fires, snow ice cream, and settling in under a cozy quilt with a good book at the day's end. 

It's true...

I LOVE WINTER!

Stepping outside to do chores can be, I admit, tricky, depending on the ice or how deep the snow has fallen.  But oh how I love to stand still and watch the lacy snowflakes fall, listen to the birds chattering around the feeder, and take in the smell of woodsmoke in the air. Even the crunch of snow underfoot is a wintertime delight.

I always watch to see if the geese are flying overhead, and if I time it right, and I've found the perfect silent snow day, the sound of their wings can be heard.

Yes, I'm hoping Phil is right...I'm not ready for winter to be over just yet.

getting together with the girls...

For me, January is a quiet time to catch my breath after the holidays. I feel as if I can relax a bit before jumping into the unknown adventures of a whole new year. It's a time to reflect on the past year, hopefully learn a thing or two, and then move forward.

Ahhh - 2017 stares me down with a to-do list that's a mile long. My plan? Look my list squarely in the eye and chip away at it as best I can.

However one item on my list will be easy...and that's to spend more time with girlfriends. The time flies...how does it happen? We wave from passing cars in the parking lot at school, text when we find a spare minute, and talk about how we really need to get together.

This year, I've made it a goal to do just that...get together!  I know we're all busy, but sometimes, we just need a day together...a day to laugh, a shoulder to cry on, or simply solving the world's problems sipping a death-by-chocolate milkshake.* 

And because we all get stirred up over those three little words...

"Do you work?"

Here's my handy-dandy invitation...

And so this year, my girlfriends and I are going to get together as often as we can...we already have plans to meet at our favorite farm sale, go out for lunch, start a friendship garden, walk the local trail, and help each other as we roll up our sleeves and begin painting, removing wallpaper, and sprucing up our homes.

"Help one another is the religion of our sisterhood."

-Louisa May Alcott

If you already get together often with girlfriends, share your ideas to get us inspired! And if you're like me, wondering how I can squeeze in one more thing, let's do this together.

Let's make this year one where we offer a hand, lend a shoulder, and make each other laugh.
I have the feeling sharing just a little bit more of myself, will make all the difference in making me a better person. 

Here's to a happy, happy New Year!

* And if you're wondering what a death-by-chocolate milkshake is...

In a blender, add scoops of chocolate ice cream, drizzle chocolate syrup, add chocolate milk...whirl until blended, heaven!

make.

one.

now!

I love, Love, LOVE snow days!

When I look out the window and see this...

and this...

and then get a text alert that school is cancelled...I do a happy dance and build this!

Because I absolutely love snow days (or in our case, today was an ice day)!

I love that we all get to sleep in a little more...it's so wonderful settling back under the warm flannel sheets and cozy quilts. And finally, when I do pull myself out, I want to sneak downstairs before the kids are up and make cinnamon rolls...there's just something about waking up to that aroma...mmm.

The house is quiet, except for the crackle of wood in the fireplace, and soon I am sitting right in front of the hearth. Az, the orange tabby who stole our hearts when he appeared on the doorstep, is quite content to be curled up on a favorite blanket.

A crackling fire, a purring cat, and the sweet aroma of cinnamon rolls...these "always" things warm my heart. I will never forget my son asking for real hot chocolate several years ago. Looking at me he said, "You know, the kind made with love?" 

At home by the fire on this frosty day, I am keenly aware of how good life is.

A new year is here...time to ponder, time to plan...what will we do with the days given us? 

Happy New Year!

Time to ring out the old and ring in the new!

Wishing you the happiest new year filled with good health, family & friends...let's resolve to find the joy in each of the days ahead!

from our farmhouse to you...

 Wishing you all the blessings of the Christmas season!

photo source: unknown

readying for Christmas...

The scent of gingerbread and balsam, the excitement of secret surprises, and visits with friends are all part of the joy of the holiday season. 

December is a month of activity...

Our daughter's performance in The Nutcracker ballet has just wrapped up...

As have orchestra and band concerts...

Now, while we count down to Christmas, let's take time to slow down and gather together. Soon we will be standing at the start of a new year, ready for renewal and hope.

But for now, let's remember the simple pleasures...hanging stockings, walking around the town square, reading by a crackling fire, and watching our favorite old movies.

Ready for Christmas?

Indeed.

keeping it simple...

There's a cold wind whistling around the old farmhouse today, crows are feeding in the field to the east, and birds are flocking around the vintage bird feeder. Mornings start early here with the alarm going off at 4:30 a.m.. However; stepping outside today, there's no feeling of drowsiness...we feel very much awake with heads bowed down against the icy blast of December air. Errands are done quickly...chickens have a breakfast of warm mash, goats get extra hay and apple slices, barn cats and our faithful guard dog get goodies as well...Christmas cheer for all!

So the holiday season is here, and I feel more determined than ever to enjoy the simple country pleasures of getting ready for Christmas.   

Outside decorations are old-fashioned...

Nothing blinking, nothing bold...

No glimmer or glitz..

 Time for simple pleasures...

I've always loved old-fashioned ways, yet sometimes it's hard to embrace them in our fast & furious world, but I'm not giving up. It's time for simple swags of evergreens and berries, homemade marshmallows floating in mugs of chocolaty cocoa, crackling fires, home-baked cookies, and secret surprises. Traditions and gifts from the heart will take the chill out of any frosty winter wind.

Saturday we'll bundle up and head out looking for the "perfect" Christmas tree, going back and forth, like we always do, usually deciding the first one we saw was our favorite...you know, the one waaaay back at the beginning of our trek! That night we'll enjoy a get-together with friends.  
As it's been said, we're never to young or too old to store up memories...let's enjoy every minute this year, and keep the spirit of Christmas in our hearts.

happy December!

It's that time of year...

Start today...this very minute, because the month will fly by!

-put up the tree early...play music, sing loudly...no one cares if we're off key!

-be an elf...deliver secret goodies to friends & neighbors, knock and then run!

-bake oodles of cookies, every shape, size, and kind...
tuck them in pretty bowls or baskets;
just right for teachers, school bus drivers, or the mailman
(or mail lady in our case...have I told you her name is Betsy Ross? How cute!)

-make snowmen and snow angels, and REAL hot chocolate!
-have a movie marathon (best if you stay in your jammies all day!)

-whip up home-baked dog and kitty treats and fill bird feeders to overflowing.

-sit by the fire, light candles, watch the snow fall, read, knit or crochet, dream...

-bundle up and walk around the town square to see the festive shop windows.

-invite  your best girlfriends over for lunch and catch-up on all the holiday plans.

-write holiday letters...real letters, handwritten in cursive!

Have fun, hold hands, laugh, make memories...

Be An Elf!

a time to give thanks...

These November days are worth enjoying to the fullest...shadows of flying geese, woodpiles and woodsmoke, the sweet busyness of country life. So much to be thankful for; here's a little walk around the farm to share some of the things I'm grateful for this season...

Catching a sunset at just the right moment...

Amazing spiderwebs in the grass...

A vintage hay wagon...I feel so lucky it came home with us (love those colors!) It was such fun to see the kids & their friends take it out for the first time.

Bittersweet tucked in my favorite color pail...

Handmade greetings...

to welcome the magic of fall.

A time of harvest, home, and hearts filled with sweet memories. Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving from our house to yours.

life is short...learn to fiddle!

Yes, we all know time flies...somehow the days turn into weeks, the weeks to months, and the months to years. And although many years have passed (I'm not saying how many!) I've never lost my desire to learn to fiddle.

See this?



This is a violin made in 1890 - yes, 126 years ago. I love anything old, so when the chance came along to make this mine, I was oh-so tempted. But first, I had it looked over from top-to-bottom. It had already been given new strings and a new bridge, so I took it to someone who could play...ahhh, how he made it sing!

I was sold, and so it came home with me.  That was May, so it's been six months...and while it doesn't always "sing" for me, it's a step toward one of my dreams. I'm polishing up old tunes such Amazing Grace, Red River Valley, Old Joe Clark, Come, Come Ye Saints, Lead Kindly Light, and Ashokan Farewell. 

Yes, most days when I play I still hear the dreaded squeaks and squawks from either too much or too little bow pressure. But some days, when I have the pressure just right, it does "sing." That just makes me want to learn more! I'm practicing daily and looking forward to a "jam session" with a young friend who loves the fiddle as much as I do.

And so today's post is short and sweet...time does fly, so do what you love, you're never too old to learn something new!

October magic...

The weather is crisp and the colors glorious...it's a fine time for a fall picnic and a hike in the woods. It's October! And my affection for this month goes beyond simple preference. 

I love the russet, gold, and crimson leaves and the sight of tangled bittersweet.
I love the scent of woodsmoke from the season's first fire.
I love hayrides, barn dances, and carving a plump pumpkin.

The shortened days seem to quickly drift into evening shadows filled with an autumn chill. We find it's time to slip on a cozy sweater, prepare a pot of simmering stew, and lay an extra quilt at the foot of each bed.

Not long ago, the early summer days melted into even hotter ones, so I welcome fall...soon we'll be in the icy grip of winter, but I'm shrugging that thought off!

Ahh...days aglow with brilliant hues and nights illuminated by the harvest moon. Let's slow down and take time to savor the sights, sounds, and aromas that mark the changing of seasons.

photo source

October ushers in the harvest...

October has come to the country and I am filled with autumn busyness! Ahhh, the days are finally cooler.  The passing summer has been extremely hot & humid in our part of the Midwest, and I admit, I'm not sorry to see it pass.  

Chores that were hard to accomplish in the muggy days of summer seem easier to tackle now. I'm washing quilts, sweeping porches, and shaking rugs.  On the to-do list is making grape jam, salsa, and pasta sauce, along with harvesting sweet potatoes. We'll clean out the chicken coop and compost bin, toss the contents into the garden, and put it to bed until spring.

Farmers' markets are still busy and filled with pumpkins, acorn and butternut squash, okra, cabbage, and gourds. And since Halloween isn't far away, it's time to bring home several plump pumpkins!

October is my favorite month...a time of full moons and richly colored mums, of cider and woodsmoke, glorious trees, and of crisp days and cool nights. I love the brisk weather, and the daytime light feels somehow different...it is clear and bright, signaling an end to summer.
To me, it's a month like no other!

It's said, "life is a series of memories"...with that in mind, let's take the time to recall happy ones shared, and make new ones along the way.

so God made a farmer...

The harvest has begun...

as the combines bring in corn and bales of hay are stacked in the 90-degree heat, this came to mind...I hope you feel the spirit that comes from Paul Harvey's words.

farmgirl photos...

A quick trip around the farm for a look at some of the things that make me smile...happy Friday!


A scarecrone keeping the fruits & veggies safe...

The sprinkler watering our bee garden...I love these sprinklers, they are oh-so pretty, but really do the job!

Meet Vinnie...I LOVE big, yellow, cats! They always are sweet, easy-going, and friendly. This guy magically appeared this year, and while it took some time for him to trust us, now he follows us everywhere...he's a keeper!

A DIY hummingbird feeder...oh-so easy. Take one colorful bottle, a feeder stopper, a length of heavy wire, some colorful beads and there you go...done in no time!

Sunflowers...ahhh, need I say more?

At the end of the day, there's nothing like sleeping under a quilt that's been dried in the fresh air and sunshine...heaven.

Another big, yellow cat...this is Azrael (named after the cat in the Smurf movies!) Oh my...truly, the sweetest cat on the farm. He comes inside after the kids go to school, curls up and naps until lunchtime. 

Found this antique pedal grinding stone at an old store that's going out of business. I've always wanted one and it was half off...doing my happy dance! 

And so it goes...another week has flown by. Hope all is well...enjoy your weekend!

family history and hollyhocks...

A short post on this cool summer morning to share a photo..



My daughter and I help in our church's Family History Center twice a month,
and on our last visit, I found this photo had been added to our family tree.

Her name is Matilda, and as I gazed at the photo, I became lost wondering about her.
The dress (oh-so warm in summer) the pin (a gift or maybe handed down?)  & shawl
(surely handmade), the clapboard home behind her with the pretty window trim. 

And those stately hollyhocks..so beautiful. I wonder if she loved them as much as I do...a trait handed down through the generations, maybe?

Have you done any digging into your family tree? What treasures have you discovered? You may want to give it a try...there's so many wonderful stories and photos to bind the generations.

farmgirl photo...

Things like this just make me smile!

Happy Friday, friends!

farmgirl photos...

As summer winds down (school begins in 2 weeks!) there's lots happening here on the farm. Just like everyone else, there's always much to do...for us, we're reworking the mudroom and half-bath, gardening, beekeeping, and catching up on odds & ends. Summer heat and humidity are relentless, with temperatures in the 90's each day. Unfortunately, there's no chance in sight of much-needed rain.

What cool can be found in the early morning, is spent watering the garden and flowers, and topping off buckets of water for the goats, chickens, barn cats, faithful guard dog, and even the honey bees. Throughout the day we make quick trips outside to be sure animals have fresh water and are doing well. And as for us, homemade ice cream is on the menu for this weekend!

And so it goes...it IS summer, and soon fall...my favorite time of year, will be here to enjoy. 
In the meantime, here's a peek at what we see each day...a little walk around the farm.

Happy Friday to all!

A sweet, elderly lady at the nursery suggested this heirloom variety, San Marzano.
Can't wait to try it in our favorite tomato sauce recipe.



 

Who doesn't love a volunteer sunflower?!





Plump blackberries are ready for picking - hint: plant the thornless variety! 



I can taste the peach cobbler now...yum! 

Limelight hydrangea add a pop of color to a shady spot.

It's hard to find a flower that can take the heat of full sun, all day long...but these zinnias have been fantastic.
I'll be saving the seeds for next year!