Ahh...This Weather

It is hard to believe that it is February 1st. It is so beautiful out today. Sunny mild day, no breeze....just beautiful. Chores were so nice, I took my time....sat in the pasture with the horse while they ate breakfast and finished my cup of coffee out there! I cannot even complain about this winter, but boy am I ready for the nice warm weather of Spring & Summer! It is days like this that remind me of all that I have in my life and just how Thankful I am to have it. Maybe me and Riles will take a walk around the place to take it all in!

Funny how important the Little Things are......

You know that saying "Don't sweat the small stuff".......well I am beginning to see that in a different light! I'm seeing how much the small stuff makes up the Big Picture. Something as small as lighting....yes, I said lighting, can make such a huge difference. We have slowly been working on getting electrical and lighting to all of the barns. We had not a single stitch of electrical in any of the barns the first year we were here, no light....no plugs....nothing! Thankfully my husband has worked his butt off the last year and we now have electricity in ALL of the barns and I can't imagine how we did without! We learn so much everyday on this farm how much every single thing means....including a simple light-bulb! Because that simple light-bulb leads to beautiful memories like our annual Barn Party and Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrated in the Barn!

Is it Spring yet.....

I have to start by saying I am NOT complaining about this winter, at all.

I am just ready for Spring! Ready for new baby chicks and piglets. 

Ready for warm weather and ton's of outside time. I am ready to get this Farm Started....as a working farm! I am ready to put my heart and soul into providing more food and variety for my family and all my amazing friends. 

It is shaping-up to be a Great Year!

To Fill The Farm.....

This morning while i was out doing chores...I looked around at the animals we have here on the farm and I had to chuckle as I thought how much easier chores are this month. 

Four years ago my chores consisted of  2 bunnies, 12 chickens and 4 goats! My chores now consist of 4 horses, 2 goats, 20 chickens, 7 ducks, 2 cows, 1 dog, 2 guinea pigs and 1 hamster! We recently sent our two pigs for processing and at Thanksgiving we processed our 24 turkeys and that is what had me thinking how much easier my mornings start. 

Then I sat in the horse pasture and reminisced on how we came to acquire each of our farm residents.....where it all started and how they ended up here! So I figured this would be a great way to introduce those of you who have yet to meet them.

Captain

Copper

Commander, aka Riley

Harry

Nutmeg

Cinnamon

Roxie & Matilda

Stormie

Periwinkle

Patrick & Ralph

Ducks & Chickens

Seuss & Ester

Thanksgiving Turkeys

In the Spring; we will add more baby chicks, turkeys and piglets......

Where We Are......

I spent some of the day looking back thru this blog and can hardly believe it has been almost FIVE years since my last post! So much has happened in these past Five Years....So Much! I am not sure where to start....I guess the easiest place to start is right here Where We Are.

We stumbled upon this beautiful 60 acre farm that we now call home about three years ago, it even seems hard to believe it has been three years that we have had this magical place. We have always had the dream to have a farm. We wanted to be self sustainable and a different way to raise our kids. We wanted open space, land and animals....a simpler life....a more rewarding end to the day. This new way of simple is a funny thing. By stripping our lives down to basic raw living we have realized that it is a harder life; it comes with challenges....heartbreak....loss....struggles....tough choices....sleepless nights....early mornings, it is laced with self doubt and constant questioning of ones self. But through every single piece of every challenge the upside is ten-fold. The rewards are beyond what we could have imagined. We come out of every situation with a bit more knowledge and confidence. We embrace all that this place has to offer and are excited to keep moving forward....adding more to our lives and inching closer to everything we have ever wanted! Its pretty exciting.....I look forward to sharing little pieces with you as we trudge through this pretty awesome journey!

It's been a long time.....

Wow....it has been more than a few years! So much has changed and happened in those few years.
They say the new year is the best time to start or start~again.....my New Year Resolution is to start writing again. I have missed it so much. It is a passion....an outlet....a reprieve! A sweet place to share, reflect and write down all my exciting plans for our future! I am looking forward to all that the future has in store, I have a feeling its going to be FUN!!

Easy Peesy Granola Balls!!!

I wanted to share this great recipe for a nice simple and pretty healthy Granola Balls! I made these tonight with RAVE reviews from my family!! I made these treats because they are perfect for my child's lunch box and my kids had a ball helping me make them.

Makes about 12

Ingredients

2 cups organic old-fashioned rolled oats

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2 cup creamy all natural peanut butter

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup trail mix

I used chocolate chips but I figure you can use any thing you would like as far as add-ins! I am going to make a "grown-up" batch with pecans and cranberries!!

Method

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the oats and coconut on a baking sheet. Place in the oven and toast for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.

Combine the peanut butter and honey in a glass bowl or measuring cup and microwave for about one minute.

Add the toasted oats and coconut to the peanut butter mixture along with the trail mix (if you use chocolate chips wait until it cools a bit more....my chips melted which was fine by us) and stir to combine. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

Working with dampened hands or a small ice-cream scoop, shape into 12 one-inch balls and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

These are Yummy!! I hope you enjoy!!