Happy New Year's!

    

When I originally sat down to write this New Year's post all I could think about was the negative that 2020 brought, and I originally wasn't going to make resolutions (Gasp!), but that's not me, and a lot of great things did happen this year, and while I'm looking forward to the new beginnings and hope that a fresh year brings, I will miss 2020 a little bit.

    2020 taught me what was important to and made me realize how much I had to loose. It demanded I slow down and pause, something I'm not very good at, and it also brought with it the chance for re-evaluating my life, who I am, and where I want to be. 

    2020 outlined just how important "my tribe" was to me, and it showed me who was real and who was hiding behind a mask. It gave me a chance at closure, and it took away the sting of what was once a painful "goodbye". 

    I was able to wrap up the first draft of my first lesbian fiction piece, and get a pretty good handle on my next book, a memoir on emotional abuse. Without the stillness of a pandemic I would have never had the time to write to the capacity I did, and boy did I write: 1,138,112 words! (Santa brought me new journal inserts so I can go into the new year with my pencils flying....)

    As we enter this new year, let's do so with a reckless abandonment, in awe of the possibilities before us, and let's listen to our heart's desire, for the heart knows what we are made of and all of our potential. 

    

    

    

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas 

from all of your friends 

On the Urban Farm!

A few of my favorite things!

This Christmas has been different than any other Christmas I have ever celebrated.  I started off  the season in a funk because of the fairly new budget we are on.  I was struggling hard with the fact we were paying cash for everything, and I was stressed that due to this fact I was literally not done with my shopping until December 23rd.  (Usually I am done before November 1st!)  

After taking the commercialization out of Christmas, I was forced to look for the deeper meaning of the season, and believe it or not, I found myself.  (Somewhere between a little bit of eggnog and a Christmas tree that would rival Charlie Brown's tree.) 

I got caught up in the small miracles that made this holiday one to remember, and it was beautiful!  These were a few of my favorite things:

 This little Charlie Brown-esque tree caused quite the argument between The Reluctant Farmer and I .  She wanted our usual tree, big and beautiful.  I didn't trust myself to put up a big tree for fear that I would stuff a bunch of expensive gifts under it.  This little tree reminded me to simplify, and made staying on budget much easier. 

I wait on these buckeyes every year, they are the next best thing to Heaven.  A co-worker knows I love them so much.  I am so blessed that she thinks of me every year and always saves 2-3 just for me!  

Even though we were on a budget, we were still able to donate to less fortunate folks.  I am forever grateful for the opportunities I had to serve others this holiday season.  This is what the true meaning of Christmas is about!

  

Katzya performed in her first play.  She joined the Tipp City Players for a performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas.  It was adorable, and really drove home the reminder that the season of Christmas was not about commercialization.  

I was able to attend my nephew Isaac's first school play, and I was the proudest Aunt in the all the audience!  (He is the redhead in the red shirt in the center of the screen...)  There is nothing cuter than a bunch of kids singing carols.  When you watch the innocence and faith on the faces of these little people, it is refreshing to the soul...  

The Reluctant Farmer made Christmas sweaters for Esa and Fat Tina, since we were on a budget and couldn't buy sweaters.  They were so cute, and I was in awe of her talent!

We started a new family tradition: Bingo!  The Reluctant Farmer and I won 5 rounds, making the rest of the folks a bit jealous, so I am not sure but they might be plotting their revenge for next year.... 

This cookie was made by my niece Katelinn.  She and her sister had just taken a cookie decorating class, and brought these cookies to our family gathering.  It was so cute that I couldn't bring myself to eat it!

The one event that drives home Christmas for me every year is the candle light service at church.  There is nothing like 400+ people singing Silent Night in unison to put you in the Christmas spirit.  This year I went with my sister for her first service, and it was something I will cherish forver!

Due to our budget many of my Christmas gifts were handmade.  How blessed am I, just look at this fabulous stuff!

 The Reluctant Farmer made me this awesome alpaca/wool blend hat.  

I got the cutest bag made out of an old sweater!

And the most touching gift?!  My daughter drew this zebra, freehand, and then pained it.  I am in shock over this painting.  It is beautiful!  She is so talented!  (I think she gets that talent from her father.) 

I started this holiday with a little less zest than normal, and minus the Charlie Brown tree, I pray I can relish in the simple things of the season again.  (The Reluctant Farmer has already warned me that next year her big tree is back.)  I now realize that with out the commercialization of Christmas, this holiday went by beautifully slow and I was able to savor more of the season than ever before.

I hope you were just as blessed this year!

Merry Christmas!

Sending you and yours, a Merry Christmas and a happy "Howliday"!

XOXO,  

Emily, the Reluctant Farmer, Katzya and the rest of the herd....

Happy Veteran's Day!

Happy Veteran's Day to all of the men and women who protect my freedom then and now!  I appreciate the sacrifice that you and your family have made so I can live in this amazing country.  Land of the free and home of the brave?  Not without you!

Pictured above is my Uncle Ug.  He made a career out of the military, and retired several years ago.  Growing up, I was always so proud of him, and loved watching him leave in the morning dressed in his fatigues.  He taught me to love animals, farm life, and can fix anything!  

Thanks for being my hero Uncle Ug, today and everyday!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day from all of us On the Urban Farm!

For wiping the tears off  little faces, and snot off  little noses.

For listening to, "Mom, come here!" and "Just one more time!"

For running your homestead with the precision of a skilled pilot, and 

for doing all of this with soft hands and a kind heart.

We love you!

Thank you for doing what you do everyday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of the readers of On the Urban Farm!

Thank you for a great year!

Thank you to each and everyone of you for all of your love, support, friendship and encouragement in 2012! Thank you for reading my blog and for sharing all of these moments with me.  Here is to a fabulous 2013!  

Many Blessings, Emily

Merry Christmas to all!

The White Death!

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Well, today was supposed to be the end of the world.  As I write this I'm still here though, which is an encouraging thing!  (Guess those canned goods will have to be used later this winter!)  We did managed to get a dusting of snow over night and winds of 55 mph, so I sit here rather cozy in my warm little cottage with a cup of tea and a blank screen.  All of the barn animals are snuggled in and are happily munching on hay and pellet rations, while the dogs laze around just happy to be inside.  

I find it funny how this weather turns people into paranoid beings running in circles, scared for their life.  Perhaps the 1" of snow is the end of the world that the Mayans predicted?!  I think life is what you make of it.  Some people see the "white death", I see a chance to relax, catch up with myself, and watch a spectacle I never get tired of seeing:  dainty, white snowflakes dancing on the wind are a welcome sight in this house....

I hope this blog post finds you safe and warm, and I hope you find reason to enjoy everything about this season.  If you are one of my many friends who can's stand the snow and cold, rest assure today is the winter solstice so the days are going to get longer from here on out, 2-3 seconds per day!  

Oh, Christmas tree....

                                             

Usually we put up an artificial Christmas tree and load it down with an enormous amount of lights and ornaments.  This year I wanted to put up a real tree, and I wanted to keep it simple.  We went to our local hardware store last weekend and they had trees that were already cut and we were set to buy one of those when I noticed that they had been spray painted.  I wanted a live tree, but not a spray painted live tree!  So, today we went to the local tree farm and hunted for the perfect tree and cut it down ourselves!  This will now be our new Christmas tradition. 

There were hundreds of trees to choose from, and we were on the hunt for the perfect one!  The Reluctant Farmer has had her eye on a particular tree at this farm for several weeks, but when we got up close the tree was over 10 feet tall, and that just was not going to work.

There were trees that were too skinny....

Trees that would have made Charlie Brown proud!

And trees that thought they were shrubs.....

Finally after walking for what seemed like forever, we found the perfect tree!  It was full on all sides.  It was the perfect height for our living room, and it was a brilliant shade of green.

After finding the perfect tree it had to be cut down.  I use a hand saw frequently, but not a tree saw and it was difficult to cut horizonally.  I made it though I will be sore tomorrow!

                                      

 After we cut our trees down and hulled them to the front of the lot the employees hooked our tree up to a machine that shook out all the dead needles, and then we got to take a horse drawn carriage ride around the farm.  It was amazing!

I love the traditions of this holiday and that is what I have been focusing on this year.  I hope that even though life is busy, you take the time to honor your family's traditions as well.  If you don't have a family tradition I hope you start one this year.  Remember folks, that it is not the end that matters, it is the journey it takes to get there!  The memories you make today will last long after you are gone.  The tradition doesn't have to be expensive.  It only requires that you participate with the people you love!  What are your family's traditions?  If you don't have one, what would you want your tradition to be?

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