7.31.2018

want/ need/ hear/ read

want:
I have been really wanting to get a Polaroid camera again, but just cannot justify spending the $$ on the film.... I remember back when I used to do my little polaroid art projects, freezing and heating them as they developed, it was $20 for a ten-pack... now it is around $18 for 8 pictures... so, not much of a change, but back then, I felt $2 a pop  was too much... I was sure the price would have gone down by now...but gahhhh-leeeee! Polaroids are soooo fun! I have a little Fuji Instax now, but it just isn't the same....sigh...


need:
I need to pin more... i know it seems like a time suck for some, but I used to get so many cool ideas when i was a regular 'pinner' !! I haven't pinned in a long ass time, but if you'd like to follow me, HERE is my pinterest!
hear:
read:
Pippi Longstocking!! YESSSS! I am re-reading this book after about 35 years... and reverting into her stylish ways again!! 

(click any pic below to get ordering info)




7.30.2018

monday morning rambles...why farmlife?

it is funny sometimes the looks of confusion when i describe the work that the farm requires, most of it in which i do, and how to me, it is not actually work... the labor of love.... i have truly figured out the meaning of that phrase.

after a long weekend of mowing, weedeating, hedgetrimming, lopping, sawing, and shoveling manure, this morning i stepped out of the house to walk Eddie before getting ready for work and actually said out loud, "wow. THIS is why i do it."

there is a ton of gratification from the work you put into a rural slice of heaven....

there are also many other reasons why living in the country is effing AWESOME. to name a few, i have compiled a list...


~ the abundance of fireflies at night
~ the smell of fresh cut hay (we have a hundred acres across the road that is hayed)
~ secretly hoping i get snowed in every year when there is the slightest chance of that white stuff....
~ the wildflowers along the dirt road
~ the numerous birds and the little treasures of birds nests.... when i find one, i have to check it often to see when the babies hatch, and then get all fuzzy and fly awaaaaaay
~ finding black snakes...oh how i LOVE my black snakes!
~ being able to have bonfires...
~ allowing the goats out of their fenced pasture to graze when i am working outside. yes! you can do this when you live where there is NO TRAFFIC. fantastic!
~ skinny dipping in the daytime - ha! YES!!
~ make trails through the woods...
~ natural blackberry vine privacy fences
~ you can pee anywhere if you are in the middle of an outdoor project and don't want to walk allllllll the way back to the house. yup - done it many times....
~ discover wild growing blueberries, blackberries, and apples (and as of yesterday's sweet treat, i plan on making more jams with these treasures!!
~ lay in the hammock outside and sit in total darkness and silence while staring at the stars...
~ have a real connection with the land.
~ learn to 'make do' more often than when living in the city, which makes you more creative, and confident. i have learned to build things, recycle things around the property for animal shelters, and i have become a real pro at handling a socket wrench, power drill, skill saw, reciprocator saw, and other tools i never laid hands on before i moved out here...
~ and lots lots more....

ahhhhh... officially counting down till next weekend...

xo

-s

7.29.2018

sweet stuff sunday: blueberry jam!

I didn't get very many blueberries yesterday morning as it was the slim pickins and the last of them... I had about a cup and a half, and decided to make jam. So today's sweet stuff is mini biscuits & jam.

what you will need for the jam:

1 1/2 C fresh blueberries

1/3 C sugar

1 good squeeze from a lemon

a sprinkle of cinnamon


put all ingredients in a small saucepan or a medium skillet (I don't have a small saucepan)

place pan on stovetop on medium heat and stir occasionally for about 20 minutes, keeping a close eye on and stirring more the last 5 minutes. You want it to thicken.... this makes about 4 oz.



Now, for the biscuits...

2 C all purpose flour (I used Cup 4 Cup GF flour)

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

6 tbsp butter

1/2 C milk

preheat oven to 400 degrees

measure out the flour, baking powder, & baking soda into a large mixing bowl

grate very cold butter into flour, and fluff with a fork

pour in milk and mix

dump out onto a floured surface and knead 4-5 times, then shape into a rectangle. I do this to prevent any waste - you are welcome to use a cutter and reshape, but for me, this is easier...


...and then I reshape a bit for looks...
now bake for 8-10 minute or until golden....

 I am off to do the evening farm chores and get animal kisses before lounging with Christian and watching a few episodes of Atlanta...

xoxo

-s





7.27.2018

friday...

i can't believe it is friday already... it has been one helluva week.... and i am so ready for some farm time, a good float around in the pool, and animal therapy.

for starters, the rescue lost two dogs due to a very unfortunate accident, one of my sweet little pibble friends at animal control passed away tuesday night due to heart worm die-off, and Reece, one of the rescue dog's, fate was 'up in the air' pending proper assessments, which he had yesterday (thanks to Bone-A-Fide Dog Training here in Athens, GA)....luckily he passed with flying colors - i learned a LOT of very helpful things that i can use with a few of the other rescue dogs. 
Hazel, my forever foster who is 35, has had a tumor pop up on her chest, but has been responding well to her external herbal treatment called 'black salve'. i applied it for several consecutive days, and then was to give it a break to see if her body would have a reaction of breaking down the tumor at a cellular level.... IT IS WORKING.   !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have also been eating really well - something i decided was going to be top priority in my busy day-to-day - healthy, lots of veggies, minimal processed foods. I had gotten used to scarfing down whatever was easy and convenient there for a while, just because life was busy.... but life WON'T be busy or fun or exciting if I allow myself to be bogged down by processed and 'fast' food.... i feel really good about where my head is at right now regarding my health. I just had all my yearly checkups, and if you remember, last year I was battling fibroids, anemia, and fatigue, which none of these things are ailing me now!


i am happy to report that other than a little weedeating, mowing (both of these are like my meditation), and chill time on the farm, i don't have too many plans! 


congrats everyone!!!! we made it through another week! last but not least, words that reset me when life seems heavy.... my close friends know that i tend to move on from people and things that are not going to bring good energy into my life. i also tend to fall off the map sometimes because i get wrapped up in the animals and taking care of a farm is time consuming (but rewarding)... i work very hard cultivating good, but sometimes, it is easy to say yes too often to things that don't really matter in the big picture. this one is easy. let go. let it all go, and focus on what you are cultivating.... 

xoxo

-s

7.26.2018

thursday's mixtape

 
it has been one of those weeks.... Christian's mixes are always the magic fix, as he listens to me, and makes it all better..... I haven't listened to this one yet, but i can't wait! 

it is almost friday!!!!

xoxo

-s