At the end of the Day

"At the end of the Day" is my nemesis catch phrase of 2013. I hear it EVERYWHERE and I know that is just because I have declared it so. But for once, I am going to use it appropriately on the last day, truly at the End of the Day, to say goodbye to 2013

 

and Hello 2014.

Happy New Year to you!

Carrie

Christmas wishes and winter blues

When you find it hard to get in the spirit of Christmas, what do you do? Are there any go-to things you know will jump kick your nostalgia and wishes for a Merry Christmas? This year I barely put up the Christmas tree, it has lights, balls and a star on top, I left about a hundred little ornaments in boxes. We are working a lot this season, happy to have the blessings and finding little moments of joy.

Some things that do it for me are seeing the lights at Silver Dollar City, seeing the people there, the sounds the songs the smiles and good cheer (sounds like a rhyme). We haven't gone as a family this year but I see them going to work when I take the time to look. What a beautiful site too.

Children singing.... in a choir setting, now that will take me down in a second, to smiles, goose bumps and tears. Best in person but this might help.

Making fudge to Christmas music, that's another one that usually does me in, it didn't this year but I did make some!

Sometimes the snow if we are lucky enough to get some, and we have this year, will make me feel like holidays and good old fashioned SNOW DAYS. Loved those as a kid.


So far I am beating the Winter Blues with a blue light, my new gadget this winter, well actually it came as a gift in the spring but it is best for winter time. I think it is very interesting and fun and I feel something that is for sure, definitely seem more cheery this year. I maybe channeling Walt from Northern Exposure though, because I rigged my light bar to sit on my sun visor instead of the computer. I like it, I really like it and I am thinking so fast and have so many great ideas! :) If you have no idea what I am referring to, sorry, you have missed out on a great show and I am showing my age.



Whatever it takes, that is my motto, when it comes to finding some moments of meaning in Life. Be real, be honest and be grateful for what you have. Most of us are truly blessed.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

December days

This is a cool quote: Any man who draws a line for himself [and says] ‘Today I step forward for myself, my family, and humanity’ is a hero to me. So let us now, jointly, put this in its proper place, behind us.”
We had a good Thanksgiving, how about you? We opted for a quiet Turkey Day, dinner made for us and a movie (or two). Then the trip to Superdude's family on Sunday was very pleasant, hard to believe it is December already.

I am working on a new line of jewelry, here's a sneak peek. Not in a rush to post it to the shop but will soon, work's super busy, and I am happy to putter out in the studio when I get the notion. I am excited about this new stuff though, it seems to be making itself, always a good sign.

We had a window break, one of the big ones, just the outer pane. The last yard mowing of the year was a mean one :). The window looked so amazing, I took some photos before it finished shattering to little bits.


Have you ever read much about Honey Bees? We hosted some very hungry bees in November. I filled the feeder 3 times!



I made a sound composition for work stress or focus background sound, check it out HERE and if you need a visual, picture a cabin on a bluff overlooking a river in the fall with a wind chime on the porch--all that's missing is the creaking rocking chair....don't fall asleep now.

Happy December to you!

Daylight Savings Time ends, 20 yrs done! and isn't it pretty outside?

How do you feel about the Daylight Savings Time change? Fall back an hour....gain an hour of sleep, lose an hour of daylight at night, all that? Me, I go back and forth, I like not getting up in the dark but I really don't like the leaving work in the dark or driving more in the dark, getting old I guess!

My drive this week did give me a pretty sunrise or two.

This is Superdude's official last NG Drill weekend, Big Smile. He says it is also his last haircut for three years, Oh My! It is going to get a little hairy around here! I feel like taking bets to see how long it lasts, him dealing with lots of hair on his head or me missing the crew cuts. Time will tell. I made him a final Bullseye, maybe he'll shoot this one, I just think it would be cathartic somehow...

Some years Fall seems just a little colorful and some years it just seems to dazzle, I think this is a dazzle year in the Ozarks. It happened in what felt like a week's time too, one week it looked like a pretty slow end to the summer and then Bam it gets cold and Bring on the Color!

One of my favorite foods of Fall are the many varieties of apples you can get in season now. I like tart apples and have found McIntosh to be one of the best! Recently I tried HoneyCrisp-they are HUGE and very good, I made a meal out of one with  Extra sharp cheddar cheese, Yummmm.

okay so my sight to size judgment was a little off, I had to hand cut this one

(too much cheese-yes I know but it was a big apple :)

Hope you are well and enjoying life's little and big pleasures.

Ahhh Fall is here

Happy Autumn Equinox!

Not a cloud in the sky today and it is a glorious 73 degrees!

Need some celestial perspective? Try this
Need some distraction? try this colorful test


Something on my mind: How to be kind (a work in progress-taking suggestions)

• Empty your thoughts and just listen
• Look INTO others and not AT them
• Assume you might be wrong and ask what if I am?
• Expect to like someone before meeting them

Things we've been up to for the past month or so:

The James River up after some heavy rain

 

Would you live on the river?

 

Do you Gamble?

 





 
 
 

Another baby shower! And he arrived shortly after this.

 

There is something wrong with this, what do you think? Does this bother you or do you think it is wonderful? I just found it thought provoking....something about too many choices, too much stuff.

 

Morning fog in August = Winter Snow, have you heard that one?

Garden delights.

 

The James River in fog (another day of snow?)

 

Maybe not for everyone, but I liked this Place.

 

SuperGirl loved her first river kayaking venture.

 

And this just made me laugh. She's 17 and acts like a kitten sometimes and a cranky 90 year old the rest of the time. Chaquita...

 

On that note, have a great Fall, get out and enjoy it while you can!!!

Farm life reality check

Farm raised, farm fresh, ewww :) a farm life reality check!

So....we eat meat and grew up on a pseudo-farms with off and on animal raising adventures, FFA projects and the like. Today we have chickens for eggs and this summer we tried out a chicken tractor project, raising a "Fry Pan Special". I don't care for moving the tractor (a pen) around so we are going to reconsider the setup but the coop did very well. We raised a mix of chicken breeds, called dual purpose for eggs and meat, and ended up with mostly roosters. This is the end of project, time to do the deed. I googled it and found this lovely site and blog, which I think I will have to start following!

http://girlsguidetobutter.com/

http://girlsguidetobutter.com/2010/08/chicken-butchering-101/


We have some learning to do yet, our technique is somewhat lacking, but I am ready to get some more. We buy from Estes hatchery and this time I am going to try the Cornish Cross, a mix breed that grows fast and big, not engineered or GMO really just a hybrid of two breeds that grows fast but is not viable for long term, kinda weird and maybe a bad idea but I want to try it.

How about you? Would you raise your own food, do you already, or is this a story of torture to you?

Summer fun

Rainy Sunday here, I do not mind one bit myself.

 

I am heading into a long week, 7 days on call for work which means my laptop is my baby. At first I was not liking the idea but I have decided to make the most of it and do things at home that I have been putting off. Now I am kind of looking forward to it. Strange how you can turn something around to make it work for you.

 

We've finally had some summer fun, went to the fair, went to a sweet 2nd birthday party, went to the dentist-wait-that wasn't fun but the photo is funny, yes that is me. Hope you have a great week!

 



this year's theme: Sweet Summertime

watching them drop!

Yumm!

someone, (nameless in photo), ate 3 of these.

Nate Fredrick at the Fair

 

She has grown so much!

Fishing theme (she loves to fish, really!)

She has a new little sister too!

The ballerina princess all tuckered out.

 



That is one expensive tooth and 3 hours of fun, actually I almost finished a book!

neighbors next door (neigh, get it? sorry, feeling goofy today).

I am dreading the end of this project, not going to post the gory details...

The James River is up again, we are planning a float soon though.