pretty + simple

{ presley }

 

A memory.  That's what we have left.  It all happened so fast.  No matter what the decision was... it wouldn't be one that we would ever want. 

For 17 years she was with me.  11 years with us.

Through everything.

She had the world's most beautiful fur coat.

She could purr like a little locomotive.

I miss walking in the door and she's not there to greet us.

I miss her in the morning.  Cat napping in the sunshine.

I miss that living, breathing soul that was here all the time.

She's in the hands above.  At peace.

Catching up with her Cousin Almay.

And her long, lost pal... Miss Moppet. 

I miss her.

More than words can say.

... xoxo.

 

balance

 

twenty-eleven

 

Right now, I am...

thinking ::  that its due time that I update this blog and really wanting to update it again on a regular basis.

hoping ::  that even though this year has started off on unsteady ground ... it will get better.

reading ::  this book.  It's winter and the perfect time for bread making. 

planning ::  an update at the shoppe.  It's for the birds!

loving ::  the new cross country skis that have been a little blessing in disguise... good exercise + fresh air = incredibly invigorating for cold, dreary winter days.  Seriously.

eating ::  smoothies, this week's flavor includes peaches from last summer and 8-grain hot cereal with more peaches.  Super yummy!

feeling ::  that the new year is well on it's way and already so much has happened.  In an exhausting sort of way.  So let's begin anew.  Shall we?

 

oh yes we did!

 

...with a little leftover Halloween and one good egg to boot!  :)

Hope you did too!
 

farm work

We are back at the farm for the season and I've fallen in love with it all over again.  This is the third year that we've helped out and by far this is the most satisfying job I've ever had.  As I've mentioned before the owners are incredible.  Always thankful.  Always grateful.  Always encouraging.  I've been working pretty much every day so that's been delaying my efforts in updating the shoppe.  Does it help if I tell you that I've brought a whole load of goods to the farm to share with the customers?  If you happen to be in the area, be sure to drop by for apples, squash, pie, pumpkins, dried flowers, honey, jam, and a treasure or two!  You might also find me behind the counter to greet you.  :)

Here are a few late afternoon photos from today.  The light was golden inside the barn.  Although I did notice that I don't have any apple photos in the bunch.  You can bet those are coming!

  
 
 
 

Have you had your apple today?

Enjoy your week!

{ xoxo }

so.

 

It was one of those thorny kind of days.

One that pokes you with a surprise and it hurts.

It was an end, and it is a beginning.

I believe that everything happens for a reason.

Somedays I just need to remind myself of that.

just dandy

Happy Mother's Day to all those awesome Mom's out there that visit this tiny space.  I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing day... spent just the way you wanted it to be!

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Sorry for my absence here last week.  Gordy has been having severe back pain and it was a week filled with phone calls, doctor visits, a MRI, pain meds, and many restless nights.  Every time I tried to take a step forward I fell two steps back.  I felt helpless yet overwhelmed.  What's a girl to do when everything's turning upside down?

Thank God for a new week.

I'm ready for a fresh start.

Because back pain really bites.

Even if it isn't mine.

{ xoxo }

tippy top

From the tippy top of the old oak tree I wondered...

Was it a bird?  A plane?  Maybe it was really Superman?

 

Ah nope.  It was that courageous Gordy and that's all the Superman moves I need for a loooong time.

He had to rent a 40 foot 60 foot lift this week for a job he was working on.  A small tree removal job.  He was talking to the birds when I snapped that last photo. 

 The tree was an old cottonwood that measured over 4 1/2 feet in diameter.  That's HUGE!  These pictures don't quite capture the massiveness of it.  I think I need to take another picture using it as a table or maybe the chickens would like another photo opportunity. 

Thankfully everything went according to plan and no troubles to be found.

And no injuries.  That always worries me.  Worry wart. ;)  I can't help it.

This week has been crazy fast and it's left me feeling a little out of sorts.  I was feeling a bit under the weather last weekend and that makes for a short week.  I was hoping to bypass all ill-weather this season but somehow it found me.  Of all people!  Me.  This weekend we are working on another little wood cutting project and hopefully by Sunday we'll be ready to throw a log on the sap boiler and soak up the sun.

I'm ready for the weekend... are you?!

taxes + coffee

It's done.  The taxes.

This year I *will* update my records monthly instead of waiting until the end of the year.

Seriously.

After the taxes were completed, errands run, and I was back home again... I made a pot of dandelion coffee which consists of roasted dandelion root and roasted chicory.  Good for the skin (and your liver).  Good for you.  Good for rashes caused by taxes.

The recipe came from this book:

Good for children of all ages.  As in a big kid.  Like me. 

It's an excellent book.  If you haven't seen it yet you might want to check it out sometime.

Coffee anyone?

Up next... kim-chi!
  
 

nine it is!

This weekend there was a little celebrating going on... one that involved a handsome nine-year-old, birthday presents, a baseball cake, sparkler candles and big smiles all around!

 

Can you say nine is fine?

I think so!

... xoxo ...