A Homestead

One thing, the main thing about me is that I want to be that strange lady who doesn't leave her property and please do not knock on her door.  I want land.  Not a huge, acres and acres of land, herds of cattle farmer, but just a small homestead. Part fairy tale and part "Little House on Prairie". Living a life filled with chickens, goats, gardens and an orchard sounds like an excellent way to live naturally, nurture my spirit, love some animals and grow some good food. How great would it be to shear a goat or sheep, then spin its lustrous fiber that will turn into a warm blanket or shawl to curl up under in front of a wood stove on a rainy night? Okay, I have really romanticized this dream, but believe me, I have planned out my future days and they are filled with milking, chopping, weeding, sowing, veterinarian-izing, cooking, cleaning, crocheting, sewing, canning, drying, repairing, feeding and definitely loving.

The Backyard Homestead was my introduction to self-sufficiency and living with the seasons. Carleen Madigan is a wealth of information not only useful to the homesteader.  Even the urban apartment dweller, like me, can discern various ways to connect to and appreciate a natural life.

It is a lovely book.  Take a look if you are interested in growing herbs in your kitchen or veggies on your patio.

Another wealth of information is the Encyclopedia of Country Living. Talk about wanting know just about anything about homestead living.  There are answers to so many questions a novice doesn't even know she has. Again, a great read and one that you will refer to for years to come.

Finding like minded souls is a favorite past time.  I scour Pinterest looking for cooking and growing ideas and get inspired by others living a simple, natural life.  If your aren't on Pinterest, what are you waiting for?! I am not sure how I found Lindsay at A Wooden Nest, but she definitely doing it right.  Love the chickens and the baby clothes!! 

this could be a problem

I find it hilarious when my 16 year old daughter makes exaggerated vomiting sounds when she sees, hears, smells or witnesses something she finds off-putting.  I say off 'off-putting' because that cracks her up. She gauges the length of the sound by how off-putting she finds the situation.  For example: a man was smoking in his car on the highway.  The smoke wafted into our car.  Her vomit sound was loud, exaggerated and lasted at least as long as it took me to roll up my Prius window.  It took a long time.

Well, hello there!

Awesome surprise. I stumbled across a blog that I started years ago and forgot about.  Look at my kids!!  Look at my life.  Things have changed sooooooo much.  For one, I have a granddaughter, a 16 and a 18 year old and two additional pets.  Frank, the rabbit, is still kickin' it in his cage.

I am sitting at my desk at work right now,  but would love to be the woman in this picture reading in a dimly lit room.  What is she reading?  What is she wearing?? I want to read it and wear it.

no title

tea love

awesome tea cups and pots.

http://www.mariagefreres.com/boutique/UK/welcome.html

Between Parent and Teenager, By Dr. Haim G. Ginott

http://www.betweenparentandchild.com/index.php?s=content&p=Between_Parent_and_Teenager

"A day comes in any parent’s life when there is a sudden realization: “My child is a child no longer.” This is a unique moment of elation and fear. There is joy in seeing our seed – a sapling. There is also apprehension: No longer can we protect our teen from all winds. No longer can we stand between him and the world, or shield her from life’s dangers. From now on our almost-adult must face unavoidable challenges unaccompanied by us.


There is also conflict. As parents, our need is to be needed; as teenagers their need is not to need us. This conflict is real; we experience it daily as we help those we love become independent of us.
This can be our finest hour. To let go when we want to hold on requires utmost generosity and love. Only parents are capable of such painful greatness. "

lots of Chekhov short stories. love it.

http://www.eldritchpress.org/ac/chekhov.html

New York 2010

north from the terrace of the hotel mulberry
morning from our terrace. i dont know what building that is, but it is lovely.


another morning view from the terrace.

gigi, melissa, adam, evie and me.
melissa and adam.





that i what they do.




leaving for new york.

i can use the camera on my mac