thankful.

It is Thanksgiving Day. For the original occupants of this land, the Native Americans, it means something different, and that we have to remember also... For the rest of us, we were raised from babies to acknowledge what we are thankful for on this day. Family. Friends. The roof over our head, the food that nourishes our body, and the love that surrounds us. I try to be mindful of it all, and I am thankful for the ability to be self aware. To be able to look at things I've said and done, sometimes hurtful to others, most of the time, not, and to move forward and learn from the good and the bad. I wish to start this post with my personal thanks, and then I will share what has been happening in my world since I last posted (it has been a while!)...

I am thankful for the love and support from my family every single day I have been in this world. My mom has always been my number one fan, no matter what it was I was pursuing. My brother has been the sweetest, and most loyal brother any gal could ask for and always hands me the truth (sometimes it is not what I want to hear, but nonetheless it helps me grow). He was my rock last year after our dad passed away, and together we were able to rise from the ashes of a very difficult year and form a closer relationship with our little sister, and now the three of us are closer than we ever were. I learned last year what growth was all about. It requires discomfort. It requires you to look past differences. It ain't easy, but nothing worth having ever is. Anyway, I am thankful for the pain; it helped me feel more alive than I ever have felt. I am thankful for the tears, because they allowed me to take advantage of the support and love that family, friends, and even strangers had to offer. I am thankful for the darkness, because I came through it and was able to see the beautiful light. I am thankful for the unconditional love that those around me extend every single day....and last but certainly not least, I am so very thankful for the man that makes my heart swell every day. My Christian. This week marks our 17th year together, and I am thankful for the growth, love, and perspective I have gained from sharing life with him all these years. <3

....annnnnd now, the catch up:

It has been a while, yes, and a lot has been happening behind the scenes.... I will start with the not-so-great things that have happened since I last posted:

Eddie had a bout of some stomach issues, but this morning as I type, he has been back to normal for about a week now! We have been in a drought for MONTHS and the hay shortage has been causing a little bit of anxiety, but luckily I have managed to keep enough to keep all the farm critters fed, but hay is an expense I have not really had in the past because of all the land I have, so the cost of feeding the animals this year has been a little painful to my wallet... then, yesterday I had to have the septic tank pumped... ahhhh... and then the last bit of news from the farm is that I spotted the skunk! It apparently lives right next door to the fox den! Speaking of the fox, that thing has some major control OR Pancha and the fox have some kind of agreement because Pancha STILL hangs out solo right next to the fox den now for the last two years.... My sweet little one-eyed oblivious Pancha girl....

Now, I wanna share some of the good stuff!
I have put my etsy store on vacation, and will be having a lot of really cool things this weekend and next weekend at the 'fox and the forest' holiday market booths in both Arnoldsville, GA and at the Indie South Holiday Hoorah in Athens (the weekend of Dec. 3rd)! I will be alongside other ladies from the 'fox and the forest' collective of female camaraderie and support! If you want to come out and find gifts for pretty much any lady in your life, I will be at the booth with a little bit of everything! Vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, locally blended & small batch teas, handmade organic, fair trade skincare products, small batch chocolates, and even locally made pickled heavenly goodness!!

I am probably gonna slowly start clearing out the vintage clothing store and then start working on my own closet. I have too much stuff and it has completely taken over my creative space. As most of you know, Christian and I live in a pretty small house, and lucky for me, he hasn't really minded all of my creative ventures spilling over into pretty much every empty corner of our 900 square foot house! He is more patient than I would have been able to be...ha! So anyway, in ridding my space of clutter, I will be able to have our living space be for just that, and the loft will once again be mine for playing, creating, and sewing!

I may try to list a few things here for local pickup, but will also pull some of the best things this weekend to have at the Indie South fair...

I hope everyone has a delightful time with family and friends today. I am having lunch at my grandma's house with my family, then heading over to a local community center to help out with a Thanksgiving dinner for locals with no family. Think about that before you go picking a fight today with family (or friends) over anything EVER - not just today, but everyday! If you are lucky enough to have family, then realize that, and think about all those that do not. I have been a sh!# stirrer myself about certain things (and I am really trying hard to better myself in this department), but if we only surround ourselves with those that agree with us, when do we ever grow? Seriously. Stand up for each other. Love one another, even when that isn't what you are receiving. This is how love spreads. Be thankful for what you do have.

xoxo
-s