Monday, December 12, 2011

gah! finals!

Today was the last day of the semester.  I have officially completed 35 units since beginning in January.  Tomorrow, I will laugh at my textbooks.  And then post a 'for sale' ad in hopes that someone will buy them.  


Hopefully we'll get around to decorating our "outback" Christmas tree by the weekend.  The wee one, who isn't really so 'wee' anymore, is really looking forward to it.  He's going to be in a Christmas play at one of the local churches this year and has enjoyed his weekly practice of singing.  It's the cutest thing. Darn.  It makes me want to freeze time.


Kindergarten is going really well for him, except for the 2 colds, 1 round of flu and 2 rounds of a stomach bug he's had thus far.  And his "year" of school is not even half-over.


The greenhouse is up, the pig had her piglets and winter is here on the farm.  More updates later.  I'm going to go read........a NOVEL! Or,...a NEWSPAPER!


Tomorrow:  beef stew with vegetables all brought to us by local or homegrown/home-preserved foods cooked right here on the wood-cook-stove.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

This Inconsistent Life

I've been given a warning; the blog-police have issued an invalid citation of bored-blog-syndrome and I must rectify the situation before it becomes contagious.

Admittedly, I've never been consistent with blogging.  Or dishes.  Or laundry.  Or anything, for that matter.  I'm very spontaneous, always late, sometimes a know-it-all and always me.  So, when it comes to blogging, you can always expect the unexpected.  I won't win any blog-awards.  I'm okay with that, too.

This last year started in January with me going back to school at a local community college to finish my associates degree and while I thought it would be easy - it has proven me wrong.  What it has done, though, is taught me a little bit more about myself.  I've learned that I work well under pressure.  I can meet scholastic deadlines and while not the best at it, still be a farmhousewife.  So far, I've managed to stay a straight "A" student.  I'd like to keep it that way.

Also in my other pocket of busy-ness is the volunteering I do with the Montgomery County Farmers' Market.  Formed in February of this year, a group of committed and like-minded individuals came together and moved forward with a Farmers' Market.  On a weekly basis, we all pack up our goods, meet at the designated location, and put on our tables the heart and souls worth of our life-work.  Sometimes we make a few dollars, sometimes we don't. There are some days when we actually lose money.  Nevertheless, it has been a most rewarding venture, one which I'd like to continue and mostly because of the nicest people I've come to know and love.

Rounding up the inconsistencies of life, this last summer, my husband grew very ill.  While we never did find the cause and aren't likely to, the most important thing is that he's getting better now.  Life is precious, and we must live in the "now" in order to truly and fully "live."

Aligned with the theory that life is precious and we must live in the "now" - I and my family mourn the passing of a friend, Vickie Parsons Hayden, and grieve for the family she left behind. The sparkle in her eye and her dazzling smile told me that she lived life, not for then or later but here, and now - in this moment.  And so, in her honor I will carry flashy pocket-books, wear my useless high heels and sometimes curl my hair and put make-up on for no reason.

And today, I will not worry about whether or not I can keep up with three blogs, a farmhouse, full-time school, a six-year old and a husband.  I will not worry about how to spend the paycheck from my twice-a-week part-time job or the past-due electric bill.  I'm going to soak up the colors of the changing leaves.  I'm going to go to math class and learn square roots.  I'm going to see my friends and fellow vendors at the farmers' market and then come home to a sink full of dishes and be grateful that what I have is now.

Life is inconsistent.  I'm going to embrace it.

/
In Loving and Vivid Memory of Vickie Parsons Hayden
9/27/66 to 10/9/11
23rd Psalm



Monday, July 18, 2011

1st Annual Sandhillls Farm Tour


Do you like buying local? Do you enjoy visiting farms? If so be sure to take your family on the 2011 Sandhills Farm Tour! Local farms in Montgomery, Moore and Richmond counties are hosting their first annual farm tour Saturday July 23rd from 3-7 PM. This is a perfect family outing where you can tour the farms, sample great locally grown food, and have a day of excitement!



Each farm has a specialty whether it is with local food or providing outdoor sports. Some of the farms will have cooking demonstrations and family fun activities. If you are interested in attending tickets are only $10.00 per car before July 22nd! Tickets can be purchased from Montgomery Cooperative Extension office or you can purchase tickets at the farm site the day of for $15.00 per car (giving you access to all farms). 

The list of participating
farms:

Clayton Orchard 
289 Research Farm Rd. 
Candor, NC 27229 

Dewitt’s Game Farm & Dewitt’s Outdoor Sports 
443 Jimmy Carriker Rd 
Ellerbe, NC 28338 

Hilltop Angus Farm 
1708 Pee Dee Rd. 
Mt. Gilead, NC 27306

117 NC Hwy 731 E 
Mt. Gilead, NC 27306 

Shadow Hill Farm & Kennel 
1723 Belford Church Rd. 
Jackson Springs, NC 27281 

Triple L Farms 
2205 Derby Rd. 
Ellerbe, NC 28338 

Vang Farms 
189 Beaman Rd. 
Troy, NC 27371


For more info or to purchase tickets come by the: 
NC Cooperative Extension 
203 W. Main Street, Troy NC 27371 
(910) 576-6011

Come see us!


What is this leisure time of which you speak?

my grateful button