Merry Christmas

What a lovely day. We had a low key and stress free day, amazingly! John and I woke up fairly early to get things going in the kitchen...starting with coffee, naturally. Once we got to a breaking point, we opened our gifts. I was very happy to receive my new kindle. Yippie!

My Mama, my sister-Karen, her boyfriend-Glen and my neice-Lindsey came to our home this year for a Christmas lunch. Their arrival time was on schedule, lunch was perfectly cooked, gifts were exchanged, and good memories were made. A really nice Christmas for me. One of the best I've had in awhile and I am very grateful for that.

Tomorrow is my pre-op for the dreaded tonsillectomy. I go under the knife in 2 short days. I'm thankful for a fridge full of (planned) left overs so the guys can eat well while I am 'out-of-commission'. I'm still a little nervous about the pain that comes after this surgery. But I am ready to get it all behind me and start a fresh and healthy new year!

Merry Christmas  2012.

~Insomnia ~

It's 2am and I'm lying here wide awake. A million thoughts rushing through my head. A lot of things I need to do before Christmas Day... Finish shopping for gifts, gather recipes and menu plan so I can grocery shop, clean this house, wrap gifts, bake, etc.....it's an ongoing list. Typically, I like to keep it simple and enjoy it all, however, I feel cluttered and somewhat claustrophobic.

Also, I have this continuous feeling of having something stuck in my throat and I'm finding it hard to relax. It's driving me kinda nuts. An upcoming scheduled surgery for a tonsillectomy (2 days after Christmas) has me feeling nervous.

Tomorrow, today actually, I'm taking  my mom shopping. So...I should really be asleep right now! Instead I'm writing and debating wether or not to just get up!

Orrrrrrrrr...maybe I'll try for just a few more hours...

In search of Christmas spirit!

December already? Really? I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Christmas is near. With temperatures nearing the 80's, I'm finding it very difficult. I don't have a tree up or a present purchased. What?! Really not much else to say about it either. Sad.

On a side note: I took this picture of this beautiful house. It's quite lovely, but very much lifeless (reminiscent of the Christmas spirit in our home). Although this house is dead and quiet, I found myself standing there, just staring. In love with it. Drawn to it. Wanting badly to sit on it's steps and be still. Time did not allow. Nor did the "no trespassing" sign.

A little under the weather!

I can't seem to stay well this fall. Starting the 1st of September, I began to get sick with the flu. It lasted two miserable weeks. Apparently, an early season this year for the flu. Not fun at all. Two days ago I noticed a sore throat and congestion coming on. Today I can barely speak. Ugh... Really?

I decided to make homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner. I've  been thinking about it all day. It was better than ever. An easy recipe I've had for years, and one that my family loves.

So I settled in for the night with my handmade vintage sheet pajamas, a handmade vintage afghan, a burning vintage oil lamp given to me by my favorite Aunt, and a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup! A thoughtful night!

An easy Sunday...

Today was a good day. Slow and easy. Up early to drink coffee, let the chickens out to do some free ranging, took a nap, mulched the garden, set out the carrot seedlings, hung laundry out to dry, homemade ham and potato soup for dinner, some mindless tv and now off to bed.

A weekend @ Mexico Beach, FL.

What a wonderful weekend I had @ Mexico Beach, FL. It was a much needed getaway. No schedule. Just a 'lets do whatever' kinda weekend.

Sunsets, early morning sunrise, long walks on the beach, great seafood, a boat ride, search for shells, red wine, a bonfire, new friends and lots of laughs. Perfect!

Full moon and a fall garden!

Last night was a full moon.... The  'hunters moon'. It was absolutely beautiful. I love the energy that the full moon brings. It always drags me outside for a little late night meditation. Candles and incense included. It's quite magical really.

Our fall garden is doing great so far. This year I've planted broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, tomatoes, red mustards, swiss chard, lettuces, peas and carrots. I love to see the seedlings push through the dirt and watch it all grow! It makes all the hard work worth while and always makes my hippie heart happy.

October!

My favorite month has flown by way too fast. I can hardly remember it's beginning or anything we've done. It's a good thing I constantly take pictures. Here is a picture collage of some of the October happenings.

~ Fall garden was planted
~ Started walking/jogging again
~ Chicken time was spent (as always)

Some walk alone.

I'm certain I've mentioned this topic before, but it has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm rapidly approaching 40 and I've just realized the older I get, the more I like to be alone. I don't mean everyday, all day. Not quite that extreme! I like and need alone time. To sit and be quiet, to be still, to be mindful and in the very moment. Listening to and looking at my surroundings. For me, It's a release. A time to reflect and declutter my mind. It's something I desperately need, and I'm better for it. I can remember a time in my life when I NEVER wanted to be alone. I didn't like it at all. And I remember feeling as if I were missing out on something. Now at age 39, I feel like I'm missing out if I don't get my alone time. I crave it. It's become a part of who I am and who I need to be. And so I've learned...."Not all that walk alone are lonely".
... and by the way, that also goes for cows!

Feeling nostalgic on this last day of September and full moon!

Last chance to squeeze in one last post this month....

I keep thinking about the sound of my granny Newsome's slamming door on her old back porch. Hoping and dreaming that one day, I too, will have that @ my dream farmhouse! The sound that was once annoying to her, I'm sure, is now a wonderful memory for me. One that I would love to hear again real soon. I know in my heart it will happen! And I can hardly wait! Happy full moon!

Peace and love.

Autumnal Equinox and John turns 40!

This past Saturday was the Autumnal Equinox. I celebrated by planting new fall flowers (mums and zinnias), 6 new tomato plants, worked a little on the fall garden, sipped on pumpkin wheat ale beer and quietly watched the sun go down behind the pines. I can definitely feel a change in the air. Nice.

John turned 40 on friday. He spent a little over a week at the hunting camp in Florida. Bow hunting is his passion  and the opening of the season is always around his birthday. For him, its a perfect way to celebrate! We welcomed him home Sunday afternoon with a home-cooked BBQ dinner, homemade chocolate cake with Yummy cream cheese icing and fresh strawberries, and a little birthday surprise! We love you, babe. XOXO

A great tune!

Watch "Ryan Adams | Invisible Riverside" on YouTube

Only I have walked in these shoes. (a rant)

So much negativity out there. Almost daily.... you hear it, see it, and sometimes you find yourself in the center of it. Why do people feel it necessary to put others down for their way of thinking and doing? Is it too hard to simply understand or except that everyone is different and that it takes 'all' kinds of people to make this world to go-a-round? I may think to myself "well, that is not how I would do that" but I certainly don't feel it necessary to ridicule others for doing something their way. I personally believe everyone has a reason for the way they are. Not everyone has or had a perfect life. Infact, obviously, most do not. Life isn't perfect. Everyone has their own path to walk. All of the things, small and large, that we endure along the way of our lifes journey, will truly, only be known by us as individuals. You will never know (and may not want to know) every detail of what made them who they are today!

I believe it's true....People only put others down in order to make themselves feel better about who they are. I sincerely feel sad for those people and I can only hope that they can grow and become more confident in their own skin.

Remember:

*Be kind to everyone, for everyone is fighting a battle

*Nobody likes a Negative-Nancy

*Unless you've walked on my exact path, don't pretend to know my journey.

A weekend of plenty...

* morning back-porch coffee              

* fresh hay for the chicken coop

* dug the last of the Sweet potatoes

* homemade raspberry jam

* sitting in the evening sun

* late dinner of vegetables

This old door.

Everyday for the past year I have driven by a building with a small old barn sitting just behind it. On the steps of this barn was this old pink door. I always thought to myself 'I really want that door'. So today was the day. I pulled into the empty lot and looked around. No one insight. Darnit! I got out of my car and started walking toward the back of another nearby industrial type building. It was very quiet and honestly a bit scary, but I kept walking... all the way up to this old opened garage door. Just inside I saw two older gentleman sitting there chatting....like old friends! I stepped in and one of them asked if he could help me with something. Thank goodness! I explained the old barn and asked if he knew who owned it. His reply "yes, I own it". My heart was happy. I questioned him about the old door and asked him if he would be willing to sell it. After all, it had been sitting basically outside for all this time and through all types of weather. His reply, "sure, its a 50 year old door and the paint is chipping off badly, but you can have it for $10.00". My reply, "Sold"!  Turns out these two older gentleman were really funny and very talkative. I sat and talked with them for about 30 minutes. We chatted about military life, small towns, old fashion chocolate malts, his lawn mower repair business and coca-cola with peanuts. It was a great time! Ok, so back to business. I told him that I would be right back with his money. So, I went to the nearest gas station,  bought 3 coca-colas and 3 packs of peanuts, and got $10.00 in cash. When I returned to the garage and saw the smiles that came over these two gentlemans faces, once they saw what I had for them, I thought 'how priceless'! In the end we were all happy, and at last, I had that old pink door!

A time to reflect...

I love my evening walks with my husband. It's a good time for us to 'just talk'. About anything we want. No Interruptions. No phones. No text. No Emails. Sometimes, on rare occasions, I walk alone. Not because I want to. Just because it happens. I must say it's nice. Just me, alone with my thoughts and nature. A time to be quiet. A time to soak it all in. A time to reflect.

Shhhhhhh, don't tell the others!

Of the four chickens, Hillary, pictured here, is my very favorite. Don't get me wrong, I do love them all, however, she is very loving. She runs up to me for petting and follows me everywhere I go, just like a shadow. Often she jumps on my lap and just sits. Don't tell the others, but she has my heart. I love how she pecks at the freckles on my arm and I swear she knows what I'm saying. I know its a bit crazy, but it's simple and priceless love.

Where did August go?

August flew by me it seems.  And what happened exactly? Let's see...

-Back to school for J.T. (10th grade)

-A long weekend get-a-way with Aunt Nell @ her beach house in Keaton, FL. A weekend full of sunsets, sunrises, sewing, wine, food, movies, karaoke, long talks, and nurturing for my soul. Just exactly what I was needing. Aunt Nell is my mothers sister and is very dear to me. I love her very much.

-Planning and getting ready for the fall garden. Preparing the soil, etc.

-Two of our hens started laying. And in some very odd places I might add.

-Hunting season is just around the corner. Football as well. (my husband can hardly contain himself).

-Cooler temperatures. Fall is definitely in the air. My favorite time of year!

Four little girls....tap tap tap!

Our hens are such a joy. We laugh constantly at them. This past weekend we were inside trying to stay cool (and putting up tomatoes of course) and my husband kept hearing this noise...tap...tap...tap. Once he got up to investigate, he quickly found the source. Outside on our screened in back porch stood four little hens pecking on the glass patio door. As if to say "hey, Mom and Dad, can we come inside or can you come outside? We just laughed....and of course immediately went out to spend some time with them. Those girls have made their way straight to our hearts.

Tomatoes!

I'm picking atleast 20 tomatoes a day now. Trying to find my favorite recipes for spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce and salsa. Spent part of the day freezing Roma tomatoes and figuring out the process for homemade tomato juice. Going to be busy for awhile with 26 plants growing strong!

Happy 4th of July!

Had a relaxing day at the beach, although it started out a little rough... missed an important turn that resulted in a longer drive, spilled sweet tea in the floor of my jeep and dropped my book in the water. However, we spent some quality time with my sister and niece, took a nice long walk while chatting and picking up seashells, and enjoyed an early seaside dinner. A nice 4th.

Where we are and where we've been in June

It's been almost a month since my last post!?! It turns out I'm not such a great blogger. I'm gonna keep trying though!
So much going on lately. So far since my last blog, I have:

- creamed 10 gallons of corn
- picked a gallon of blackberries    for smoothies and cobbler
- transplanted 8 loofah gourd seedlings to the handmade clothesline/trellis
- shown lots and lots of garden love to our 26 tomato plants, yellow squash, cantalope, potatoes, bell peppers, carrots, etc...
- laugh daily at our four funny chickens
- cleaned, organized and declutter(a work in progress) our home
- endless yard work

Here are a few pictures from around the house...