Sometime today, between noon and six, Maddie lost her collar. Both girls are growing fast, re-adjusted their collars today, and perhaps I didn’t snap the break-away catch tight enough and she knocked it off while scratching, or maybe she got it caught on something and it did its job. A fifteen-minute search of the pasture revealed nothing – no bright pink collar to be seen lying in the grass or hanging from a branch. Maybe Fiona ate it. (Yes, I’m being serious here, and yes, I seriously hope not) Either way, it’ll turn up sometime, I’m sure.

But I did find something I wasn’t looking for… daisies! I love those pretty little white flowers with the cheery yellow center. I’ve walked that pasture countless times through the years – just for fun, with my horse Allie, with the goats – and I’ve never seen daisies there. I know where the violets grow, where the “fuzzy” daisies are, where the multiflora roses tangle around the trees, and the approximate, if not exact, location of every wild raspberry bush and mulberry tree. Last year I found a small patch of daisies on another part of the farm… but never in the lower pasture. And they weren’t hidden among the tall grasses or in the underbrush in the part of the pasture the goats seem to avoid, but rather right out in plain sight, in one of the girls’ favorite grazing spots, so it’s a wonder they hadn’t feasted on the blooms before I got to them. There weren’t many, but I picked all the ones that were fully blossomed out. 

Thanks, Lord, for brightening my day with little white flowers with the cheery yellow center.

Charlotte and Madeleine

Smelling:

blooms and blossoms, fresh-turned earth, just-mowed grass – the sweet air of spring

 Seeing:

a large stack of library books, including the much-anticipated “Nourishing Traditions” – I’ve been on the waiting list for that book for a *long* time and it’s finally my turn

Hearing:

French phrases as I begin to work my way through Rosetta Stone French Level 1

Tasting:

Green smoothies – I’m on a health kick & I hope it lasts

Feeling:

An inexplicable mix of emotions as we come ever closer to Éclair’s kidding date. I’m incredibly excited yet nervous and apprehensive. It’s weird to think that it’s possible (not likely, but possible) that we could have baby goats running around by this time next week.

(it’s been a long time since I’ve done one of these posts – that was fun)

coffee :: I tried home-roasting for the first time. It was pretty easy, although the popcorn popper died on me and I had to finish roasting them in a skillet on the stovetop, so I didn’t get the most even roast possible. It was a super good cup of coffee, even it it was a tad weak.

instead of cake :: Chocolate pots de creme with salted caramel. Yum.

other stuff :: daffodils, yummy cheese, Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino ice cream, my birthday meal of lamb, peas, and herbed basmati rice, getting mobbed for raisins, posing with my “twin” – yes, I share a birthday with my goat.

it was the most wonderful day with everything and everyone I love.

:: aww, a heart-shaped, strawberry flavored marshmallow in my hot chocolate

:: i decided to play with paints and brushes again. it was fun.

:: library stack. {“the backyard homestead” has since been returned and replaced with “growing a farmer”}

:: feeling Éclair’s kid(s?) moving around and watching her grow wider by the day. so precious. less than two months to go!

:: loving this! “off to see the world” embroidery hoop art by ThreeRedApples

:: it took me three tries at two different places to fill up the van with gas this morning – ridiculous.

by Maciej Pietuszynski

:: my 50mm lens has been “broken but useable” for a long time – finally decided to replace it with a new, non-broken fully useable one. planning on doing this with the old one!

(sneak peek)

:: i’m working on our farm website and blog. the designing part is finished; it’s the “about us” profiles that are taking longest. it’s hard enough to write your own “about me” and i have four to write, plus a home page intro + bios about the animals.

:: on the plus side, we received our herd name certificate from ADGA today… we are now officially HICKORYCOVE and all baby goats born here will carry the name on their registration papers.

I had fun yesterday putting new knowledge and understanding of manipulating light, gained by reading Plate to Pixel by Helene Dujardin. It’s amazing what a simple white bed sheet can do.

Image from the Fresh website

If you care the littlest bit about what you eat and where it comes from, I suggest you take an hour and ten minutes to watch FRESH-The Movie while it’s streaming for free online this week (until February 1st) Go right here to watch it and see what it’s all about.

(Thanks to Caitlyn for spreading the word first. And, just as she says in her disclaimer, I’m not being paid or perked to share, it’s simply that I’ve just finished watching it with my family and wanted to spread the word even farther.)

this hairstyle, this recipe, this poster, this Chopin piece

Happy New Year!

Goodbye, two thousand eleven. You flew by. You brought more changes, new things, good times, and trials. You’ll be looked back on with fond remembrances.

Hello, two thousand twelve! So glad to see you. Looking forward to the fresh start you offer. Hoping you’ll be the best year I’ve lived so far.

Here’s my short list highlighting what I’m especially grateful for this year. (Some might be repeats from last year’s list – no matter, they’re some of the most important!)

1. My Salvation. Truly, the most important decision a person will ever make is what they will do with Christ, and the best blessing of all is the life and hope we each can have when we accept Him as Savior, which I have done. He fills my life with hope, joy, peace, and blessing.

2. My family. I truly have the best in the world. I am thankful for the way that my parents have raised me. For Dad’s quiet but strong leadership. For Mom’s hard work every day to make our home a haven. For my sister, Ada,  who is also one of my best friends. For grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I love you all!

3. The Bible. It tells me what I need to know to live this life, it is how the Lord speaks to me. I’m thankful that I can hold my very own copy, in my very own language, in my hands, that I can read it and learn and grow.

4. My friends. We’ve been through a lot together, and we’ve been there for each other  through it all. I love spending time with them. I love our fun chatter and deep conversations. I love that we are all as close as sisters, because in a way we are, as sisters in Christ. I love being sure that no matter what, we’ll always be friends because our friendship is built on a solid foundation .

5. My church family. It is such a blessing to be able to look forward to worshipping and fellowshipping with them every Sunday and Wednesday. To know that they care, that you can share concerns and know that they will pray for you. Along with this, I am thankful for our pastor and his wife, or “Pappy” and “Grammy” as we sometimes call them. They care about us all so much, and help encourage us to do right and follow God by their strong stand and faithful example.

6. My freedom. Thank you to all the men and women who have sacrificed through the years, and to those who are working to keep us free today. Thank you to the military spouses and families who are giving in their own way, waiting for their loved one to come home. I am thankful that there are people who willingly give up so much to protect the rest of us.

7. My job. I love the people I work with and the children we care for. I’ve been blessed this year to work with one of my best friends, even though it meant that my other friend couldn’t work with us this year. We have lots of good times at work.

8. My health. Just the fact that I was able to get out of bed this morning is amazing. I can walk, talk, hear, see, smell, taste, touch, feel… I am healthy and whole, and for that I give much thanks.

9. Our little farm and all it produces. Our garden did well this year, providing us with plenty of produce that we could preserve for the winter. Our strawberry patch did well for its first year, giving us the treat of fresh, sun-ripened berries when they were in season. The berry trees and bushes that were growing here when we came still produce fruit we can use. Our kitty can roam to his heart’s content. We have plenty of space to raise beef steer for ourselves and others. We have space leftover for chickens who provide us with fresh eggs every day. And even more space left for our goats, but they get their own point.

10. My goats. It may seem like a funny thing to be thankful for, but I am. I think they’re the best animals we’ve ever owned. I love going out to the barn in the morning, knowing that when I open the door they’ll be right there waiting for a pat on the head, and more likely, their grain. They make me laugh with their antics, they make me smile when they just want to rub against me and stay with me, they make me feel good when they follow me everywhere. I’m thankful that the Lord provided us with helpful information and, I believe, sent us in the  right direction when we were looking for a place to buy them. I’m thankful for the milk they provide, and the other products we make from the milk like cheese, butter, and yogurt.

Have a wonderful

Thanksgiving!