Welcome December

Okay, It a has been a very long month of November.  Let me bring you up to date:
Thanksgiving is over..  We had many things to be thankful for. Friends, family and a safe journey. Home for a short while before we hit the road again....
  Thank you all for your  many condolences for my aunt, we know we will miss her and her immediate family will gather strength and comfort from each other. Aunt Alyce believed in Life and we will celebrate her life by moving on...Enjoying  each day and each other.

December first is tomorrow.... As I
pulled out my calendar,  I see I am  going to be busy.. Which is a good thing...Starting with today,  Four of my Charming Chick Farm girl members got together and each made  an ornament  for ( One of our yearly projects, which  is to provide a memorable Christmas to a family who may not otherwise have one. We get our needy family from the Salvation Army and provide a Christmas tree, Decorations  which we make, a complete Christmas Dinner, and a couple gifts for each member of that family.) We will gather with the other members  Dec 11th  and deliver them with a fresh cut Christmas tree.
Saturday, I will post  pictures from an Artisans Craft show I will attending with a few more of my Chick friends and Lunch as well... there is so much more going on as my busy month unfolds..with  Clay's Birthday trip with  other friends  to the coast and a concert. A Christmas cookie exchanges and other Holiday parties

With my family members spending Christmas with their families in different states and our daughter in Australia, This year we will be renting a house  and spending Christmas with Clay's family on the Oregon Seaside..and  I  must  have a Christmas tree so I found a cute small table  top one and decorated it  to take along with a candle centerpiece for our table there.  Its a perfect  size to pack and take dont' ya  think?
Please, Be sure to come tag along with me as the Activities and Events unfold...I will be posting pictures  as I go...Ho ho ho!

Sadness in the family

Today, I am Thankful for my Mom. She is 82 years young.  She is  the youngest of 4 girls in a large family of 10. Several of her siblings have passed away   during  her life time, including her parents. She has had a few  illnesses as she ages, but She is a strong woman. I am especially thankful She is still  with us .  Yesterday her oldest sister of 90 died unexpectedly, we now know from cancer. She had not been feeling well for a few days.. My Aunt was a "Rock" in her family. Her family  nicknamed her that "Rocky". Aunt Alyce  had a good long life and lived it to the fullest with her children and grandchildren.  I know her absence will leave a large void in her immediate family and my heart aches for them today.  As Thanksgiving approaches  I can only think how grateful I am that I have close family ties and we have Mom still with us.  This year my Mom will be with her own remaining sister and nieces and nephews, as they gather around their table, they will celebrate the life and Love that  Aunt Alyce leaves behind.. RIP dear one..You will be missed by every one. ( she didn't want a service, just that later her family have a Big Party)...  That was so like her....


Thank you all for your kind words,   I appreciate them.

Here she comes..

Caught these quail running  for cover as the snow started  falling again. I am thankful we planted these  berry plants here for them to seek shelter. We love our resident birds so much. There is snow predicted for the next couple days and it started early hours this morning.  I didnt get my plant pots  put away for the winter in time so you can see how much snow has fallen on the porch. So bundle up Birdies  find shelter quickly because "HERE SHE COMES"... Do you feed the birds in your yard?

Storm Warning! Bundle up that overcoat...

Winter storm coming  by the end of this week, with Snow accumulations of up to 10 inches. Today I am Thankful I have warm boots,  A coat a hat and mittens.. I keep those in my coat pocket. This is the time of year when I pull out my winter clothes and try to fit into "last years outfits". There are many people out in the cold without these essentials. I have donated  many out grown items through out the year and it's again time to gather extra blankets and winter wear and make a stop at our local drop boxes. Do you have extra warm clothes taking up space in your closets?

Wash Day Before & after..

Today, I am thankful for my own Washer and Dryer.. As long as I am listing the "things" I am thankful for this is  one  luxury, although it may not seem like a luxury  in today's
description.
Don't get me wrong ...On those sunny warm days  I Love to hang my clothes out on the clothesline. But now  during the colder, wetter months I am grateful I have indoor facilities to wash &  dry our clothes. I do remember in my early marriage  back in 1967 having to take my laundry to the laundromat because I could not afford a washer and dryer.. I remember hanging out on the line jeans to dry that became  frozen solid by the end of the day because they did not dry and bringing them inside to dry hanging by the fire.. Oh  that was a long time ago....
Can you imagine how it must have been to live in these times?

 I would have been one of   the first one to Go on Strike! We are  so fortunate  to have  the  modern day conveniences..don't you agree?

Birds of a feather....

 You know the saying birds of a feather... flock together? As you can see the quail and the sparrow  are doing just that.  Today, I am thankful for the birds that visit our farm throughout the year. We have many that return ( the mallard couple that start their "hatchlings" right here from their next near the pond.)  The Yellow Headed Black birds also return  to feed from our feeder.  I love to watch them and listen to them tweeting and calling  throughout  the day..  I am grateful we do not have a hungry cat   * the neighbors do and now  their birds have moved to Blue Sky Farm...where they are safe and they seem to know that...

Man's best friend...is no "Girlie Dog"

Today I am thankful for our dog.  Isn't he adorable? He's a Cock~ a ~poo .  A Cocker Spaniel ~Toy poodle breed. . He was a gift for my husband 5 years ago.. and at the time My best gift idea was not as well received as I had hoped. You see he was a fluffy puppy, * 6 weeks old)* that resembled a "girlie slipper".
 Now  my husband is not a by any count a  Macho Man,   he just couldn't see himself walking around with a "girlie" dog.. He was  wanting a rough & tough, "man's  best friend kind of a dog".  One that he could pick up toss  in his truck and off they would go.... He wasn't really  happy  that he had to be the one to  "house train " him and to teach  him other commands.. A few he is still learning.... Like the  "Come,  Now!.. not when you get ready" ( he has a mind of his own for sure) but let me assure you today this "girlie" dog would rather sit with his Master, ride in the truck with his master, and walk with his master than he would with me. ( Except on those rare occasions when he get left behind with me.) He chases the chickens off the porch and if they are eating leftover scraps and compost  in the garden he wants his share too. He is picky about Dog treats ..strange as that sounds.  He knows which drive though services had  out the best ones...the bank & gas station to name a couple...and best of all...
He loves to roll in all those "Nasty" things, you know the stuff...deer pooh, cow pies and road apples , dead fish, &   any road kill  he can find.. He fortunately doesn't mind taking  the frequent baths that follows his adventures... and He really
 Loves  his "master" and his Master Loves him and would be heartbroken as would  I if anything ever happened to him.. So we allow him to pretty much rule the house and yeah he sleeps at the foot of our bed too... (mostly at my feet) So I am thankful he's a little "girlie" dog. Do you have a Man's or Woman's best friend?

Warm place to sleep

Brrrrrr!
The nights have been getting  cold here at Blue Sky Farm.  Today I am Thankful for my warm cozy bed. Perhaps this seems silly to be thankful for such a simple thing, but  as night falls I think of those less fortunate because  personal   hardships that are sleeping on a park bench, or anywhere they can to keep warm. With temperatures creeping below freezing I am able to throw on an extra blanket and snuggle deep under the covers..and be thankful I have this luxury many do not. I hope those who do not have a warm place to lay their heads will at least find a safe place to sleep and pray for them as Thanksgiving approaches.

Remembering Them

Today, Being Veterans Day 2011, I am thankful for the Veterans  that have serve and have served our country. I have been one of the more fortunate ones who has not   lost a family members to any war. I want to thank my Son Dennis  first for serving his time. It was extremely hard for me as a Mom to let go as he made the choice to join the Army.  Today is a day I want to thank him for serving in Saudi Arabia and Desert Storm. Thank you to my brother in laws Wayne, Steven, & Pete and My cousin Michael for their time served in Vietnam, My friends David O'Connor and Ron Snipes  and all  those men and women I never met who served along side them.  Their sacrifices and service are to be honored. I hope you will stop today and any other day when your path crosses that of a service person no matter where you are and thank them for serving.

What Time is it?

What time is it really? With daylight saving time already in place in most places worldwide.  I am thankful I have all the time in the world, (at least in my corner of it )  to do or not do what I please.

I used to wear a watch,  (my jewelry box now holds 5  and some even still ticking ..) I had schedules to follow.. now I have chickens who wake me, a dog who lets me know its time  for his dinner ( at 5 pm on the dot  I am not  sure how he tells time but  he knows and lets me know) 

 I  have time to  shop, time to travel, time to play, time to watch TV time to sew, time to garden, time to read, time to blog, time to cook, time to craft,. time to give, and time to take, time to talk, time to nap, and quiet time to just sit...  

Oh and best of all time to spend with my friends and family. I know that my lifetime is ticking away on the downhill side but  I am not going to go there for at least 30 more years.....I know I have time...

( If given this grace)...I am enjoying every minute left..

So I ask you do you have the time or are you making time?

Exactly what What time is it at your house, and are thankful for the time you have?

Thanks to my "girls"

Today I am thankful for my "hens" and their delicious eggs. I love having free range chickens.
No matter what the season or daily weather they are so good to provide us with just the right number of eggs. They greet me every morning at the back door. I in turn give them a nice warm bowl of cooked noodles and vegetables.. I  think they need a warm breakfast  on winter days, just like I fed my kids  when they were growing up and sometimes they get even oatmeal.  Yes, I know ~ I am kinda silly about them.

Gift making for Christmas

I am  going to start today's blog with what I am thankful for today and  That being my Oven and Stove top.... because I am planning to use it most of the day preparing for making Christmas gifts .

On  the list: Spicy marinade for Beef Jerky, Maple Pecan Granola Cereal, Fruit  infused Vinegar. I know its a not even Thanksgiving yet but Christmas is not that far  off and I need to perfect  my recipes. I have my husband shelling peanuts for the granola and he will be my official taster for everything.. He really does know what tastes good. He does a lot of cooking himself. He made a delicious Chili Verde a couple days ago and lucky to have a bit put away in the freezer for my busy days when dinner just isn't in the list of things  I need or want to do.  Today I already prepared pasta for the"girls" who are happily scratching up the last of their breakfast.. ( They like a warm meal I am sure on these cold days) then next I am  starting on the granola and making a Beef Stew for dinner so the stove top will get its share of work as well. So off to the kitchen I go.. Hi Ho,Hi Ho~ What are you doing  today?

What are you Thankful for?

I am Thankful for many things and after visiting another Blogger's site, ( Thank you, "http://commonsensehomesteading.blogspot.com I am reminded to think seriously  about those things. 

I am listing somethings I am Thankful for every day. 

 Today is November 7th, 2011  and I am behind in doing that so here I will start catching up. 

Things I am Thankful for:

1. I am Thankful for my husband, He has made my life complete.
2. I am Thankful I can stay at home retired from my previous  job living  life a lot more stress free. ( this goes along with thankful item #1)
3. I am Thankful I am healthy physically. Working on  the mental and spiritual.
4. I am Thankful for my three children and 6 grandchildren they fill me with pride. 
5. I am Thankful for my friends , who support me in what I choose to do or not do.
6. I am thankful for my dog. He makes me laugh and loves me unconditionally.

Today, I am thankful for my home, safe, warm and inviting and room to play.

 I hope you can find time in your day to stop and think about the things  you are Thankful for and share those things with the people you love.

Brunch with the Cowgirls

This time we "rounded up 11 of our 16 Charming Chick Farm Girl members and enjoyed a delicious Farm Brunch at one of our members homes.  We certainly had fun. Mary Gails home is definitely decorated in Cowboy style. April helped with the food and set the stage ( dressed  in cowgirl chaps) Lots of collections she has displayed throughout.  Dishes, tablecloths & cups.. A few pictures of our group laughing , eating and enjoying each others company. We have  get  together often to learn from each other different crafts and skills as well as these  just for fun gatherings. We share interests of sewing, gardening, crafting, raising chickens and goats and llamas and anything country. Some of us live in the country some of wish we did.. we all have that Farm girl spirit and it is a "condition of the heart."