Pregnant Amber

Pregnant Amber was up by the fence doing a 4 step dance this morning. It goes something like this ~ swish tail quickly, while stomping back feet, then paw ground with front feet and repeat. Oh, and you need to have a bagged up udder to make it all interesting. It helps to have loose ligaments in order to make the moves look graceful too. Wondering when we will see new baby faces? Or was this dance just a practice round, an effort to keep us exercising our legs running back & forth to the barn?

Amber & Glory ~ 2011

She is not the only one on pregnancy watch right now. Glory is within days if not hours of Amber, whenever that is. Glory lost her ligaments over a week ago, but hasn't bagged up yet. Even though her swell of baby(s) has dropped low. It is so hard to gage when they will birth as each doe has her own set of signs. Often displayed at varying times with each pregnancy.

Amber ~

Both of the ladies have large sides, with Amber looking the roundest. I wouldn't be surprised if Amber was carrying triplets, though large kids may explain her broad side better. She has birthed twins every time with each of her previous 4 pregnancies. Glory has had a single kid and a set of twins to her credit. Always with the doe looking just like her, markings and all.

Glory ~ 2011

Their due dates are not anticipated till the end of February. If so, they sure are displaying signs early. Either that or my calculations are off as to when they were actually bred. Guess we will have to wait and see like every year thus far.

Watching for the signs,

Deborah

JOY DARE ~ continues,

a gift before 9am, one before noon, one after dark ~ 1/26

168/92 time on the computer

169/93 weather radio warning

170/94 dinner already started by husband

3 gifts that might never have been ~ 1/27

171/95 sleeping till 9am

172/96 flock of Robin's visit

173/97 Jason's opportunity - job

Wednesday It Is ~

Wednesday's are the days I used to catch up on the paper trails left from the week(s) before. I try to spend time at our computer desk reading emails, researching, logging in farm info, filing and the like. I make up our dinner menu for the next week, double check my grocery list, check the online sales papers and print out any coupons I might need. It takes time but is a great step ahead for my errand day tomorrow.

Today I rose first and had the quietness of the office to flesh out some waiting posts for this blog.I think best when I can climb into a mind not distracted. Even then many times my mind thinks one thing and my pen or fingers write out something similar, but not exactly how it sounds in my head. So it helps to read and reread everything word I put out for public observance. This process takes time, some days lots of time and I fall behind in getting them posted the same day. Above all the needs of my family and this farm comes first before this pleasure of writing. Causing the desire to be shelved to a time when I can give it my attention. I keep telling myself that it okay, it's okay to be still behind. I write for my pleasure and to leave a written letter to my future family members of what touches my life. Included in my thoughts too are those of you who grace me with a visit and a lingering over the thoughts I spend my days with. I thank you for honoring me in such a way.

A special find this morning while reading some favorite blogs was a link for memorization cards for the books of Matthew 5-7. It is a year long plan of memorizing the Sermon on the Mount. If you would like to join in you can find the link on "A HOLY EXPERIENCE". Direction are on January 25th's post. I was both touch and inspired by a quote found there.

"Time memorizing Scriptures is perhaps more important than quiet time — because when we fill our hearts with His Word, we can fill all of our hours with His Word — and “quiet time” can then become all of our time." Ann Voskamp

The thunderstorms today made shopping a drippy mess. I had several errands to run while out, requiring hopping in and out of the car. Getting a later start than I had planned had me arriving home just about dusky dark. I dreaded the idea of having to unload the car and start dinner at such a late hour. I was thrilled to walk in the door and find some supper items already simmering on the stove and my husband waiting with a sneaky grin on his face. It was his love gift to me. He knew my day had been long and challenging with the rain and was ready to give me some much needed help.

While the mac & cheese and corn muffins were baking in the oven. We ventured out to the porch with a cup of hot tea to watch the last rays of light leave the sky. The turrets of rain earlier had given way to a slowing drip, drip, drip. We chatted about easy things back and forth to rhythm of our rockers. It was nice to take a moment to breathe and relax into the evening.

Our COLD is still hanging around unwelcome. I am feeling better today, but my husband is feeling worst. You never can tell where a virus will lead you or how long you will have to stay. With hopeful hearts and resting bodies I am sure we will continue to improve. As the say "time heals all things" including nasty bugs responsible for our Colds.

JOY DARE gifts for today are:

one grace borrowed~
165/89 memorization cards- A Holy Experience

one grace found~
166/90 a baby"doll" for Preschool class

one grace inherited~
161/91 love for gardening

Seeing light just around the bend,
Deborah

Crafty Tuesday ~

Having set aside every Tuesday as my "crafting" day has opened the door to a multitude of ideas on how to spend them. I am never without inspiration or a long list of what to, need to, like to projects. I am thinking it would be much help to me if I already had the decision made on what I was going to tackle. Some of my crafting time is eaten away in trying to decide what I am going to do and gathering needed items. So I've started a list of project ideas and a organized schedule of sorts to help me out.

In the Sewing Room~

One thing for sure that I will be working on each Tuesday is the "BOM- Block Of the Month" challenge I started a couple of weeks ago. See my first square here. The squares are promised not to be hard, but for a novice machine quilter they are proving to be a little more of a challenge to me. None the less I was pleased that I only had to remove one line of stitching to finish the 2nd block in this series. It's called a "Wonky Pound Square"

Crafting in My Kitchen ~

Is another area I try to create in each Tuesday too. This week I decide to try something new in my yogurt making adventure. Each batch in the past I have added a pkt. of cultures purchased from where I get my cheese supplies from. They are not overly expensive, but the fact that we are making yogurt on a weekly basis now means we are going through them like a wildfire. In reading from other sources, many use a few tablespoons of plain cultured yogurt from the store. In keeping with eating fresh I didn't want to add something processed to my natural untampered goat's milk. So my maker makes 7 servings at a time. Lon and I eat one apiece, giving us 3 days worth of homemade yogurt. So I decided to use the 7th serving to start my next batch today. Following my usual recipe instead of adding the culture packet. I add a couple of tablespoons of the last batch we made. Setting it on the counter to incubate into some yummy goodness. It will take about 8 hours or so to finalize, so I will have to let you know how my experiment turns out. At face value it would be a frugal way to keep us in yogurt and not have to spend money that could be used in another area. Fingers crossed.

The other kitchen creation today was making some more foaming hand wash. I had found a recipe on line back before Christmas. It is an easy 1-2-3 craft. Using only 3 ingredients, talking about frugal! I scented this batch again with Lemongrass essential oil, adding some Tea Tree E.O. for antibacterial help to the container before blending. It turns out great and cost mere pennies to make. Here's the recipe if you want to make some yourself. If you have an old foaming pump bottle they can be used with this blend.

Foaming Hand Soap

1 part Castille soap ~ I used 2-4 tsp.

3 parts distilled water

25 drops Essential Oil of choice ~ I used less, till scent was right for me

I put soap in first then added enough water to fill a 9oz. recycled foaming pump bottle. Added essential oils and shook gently to blend.

Kitchen Capers on Monday ~

I decided to add a regular baking session to my Monday's Home Blessing time. We are trying to eating all of our breads without the added chemicals and preservatives found in store bought. Choosing instead to use whole grain flours, fresh eggs, our goat's milk and other simple ingredients.

I love baking breads, the feel of warm dough, the heavenly aroma, and the rich taste on the tongue. I am still learning, but my loaves and buns are coming out better with each batch. Having a sourdough starter I have been trying different recipes that can use "the cup of throw away" required each time I feed it. This week I pulled out a new recipe called "Clay's Multi-Grain Sourdough Sandwich Bread." A long name for a wonderful loaf featuring a blend of hearty grains.

It rose beautifully and baked to a lovely brown color. Soft and full of yummy holes makes you think it is store bought except for the mess in my kitchen. Plans are to use it for toast on some of our morning breakfasts and slicing it for eating with meals or even making a sandwich.

Though our favorite way to eat sandwiches in on the easiest recipe for buns I have ever come across. I've made 2 batches so far and Lon has labeled them "The BEST," living up to their name as "Beautiful Burger Buns." They are a breeze to make in the bun pan we bought this Christmas. Though the recipe calls for 8 buns and my pan only holds 6. I had to improvise with 2 English muffin rings to finish out the dough. After baking these yesterday I have to decided to increase the bun count by adding a couple more rings to divide the dough into 9-10 portions. They rise a lot and the buns are soft, buttery and delicious, but a little too large for me. So making more should bring the size down to a better portion just right for hamburgers and lunchtime sandwiches. It was quite a productive day for me that took me right up to dinner time to complete. I was tired, but pleased as punch at the results.

Making my list for next Tuesday,

Deborah

COLD has 2 faces~

It is a COLD day here at the farm. The winter front due to bring in the rain is teasing us with a damp cold. One that probably has floated from off the bounty of snow coverage elsewhere in the United States. My sister in Seattle has gotten her first heavy snow of 6-8" all in one swoosh of wet Winter weather. I love to see snow falling, love to see snow sitting on the ground and dusting the trees into a wonder-land of beauty. I don't care for broken power lines, frozen pipes, loss of water and a multitude of other inconveniences that can come in with a snow storm. But I will confess my eyes search constantly with the forecast of a possibly. My blood starts pumping with the first flake and I get giddy as a kid when it starts to cover the ground. Can't help it! Living in the south limits the opportunities we have for descent snow or any snow for that matter. Ice we can get, rain we can get, bitter cold even at times and a few tornadoes which we dread. For those who feel they get "blessed" with too much snow I feel for you, but I still love snow.

Both of us have come down with some form of a viral illness that has us looking to each other for help, but not able to find nor offer any. So not only is it a nasty day outside, it is a COLD day inside. It's not a good thing for both of us to be down at the same time. Chores still have to be done. Animals are funny like that, no sympathy for your sneezing, coughing, runny nose, stopped up head, blah like symptoms. They still like to eat regularly whether you do or not. They still need someone to milk them, give them water and fresh hay. The hens don't simply stop laying just because you don't feel like gathering the eggs.

Getting the essentials done is a challenge. The threat of bad weather is all about us, as we are under a tornado watch today. It has been raining since before my eyes open this morning. Making us wonder if there will be a break in it long enough to make the trek down to the barn. The worst is yet to come both in the weather and our COLDs, when night time hours seem to elevate how bad it can get and how bad you can feel.

Good news is COLDs are limited to a week to 10 days duration. Bad news is the only thing you can really do is wait them out. They are caused by viruses that don't respond to antibiotics or most meds we reach for when sick. Though somewhere in my memory I remember the saying "Feed a cold and starve a fever." Best course of action is to put on a big pot of homemade chicken soup. No fear to eat away our discomfort as there isn't any fever to starve at this point.

Tissues in hand,
Deborah

JOY DARE GIFTS~ January 13th - today, January 20, 2012

3 Sounds you hear -
120/45 roar of wood burning heater
121/46 purr of contented kitty snuggled close
122/47 excited chatter of granddaughter over visit

one thing you wore, one thing you gave away, one thing you shared
123/48 brown boots
124/49 a smile
125/50 bible story with granddaughter

3 ways you witnessed happiness today
126/51 Leah dancing & singing in abandonment to Praise CD
127/52 Silas curled up on bed napping
128/53 Daisy's excited to see you tail wiggle

one gift that made you laugh, one that made you pray, one that made you quiet
129/54 Kenny
130/55 time extended
131/56 journaling today's adventure with runaway horses



132/57 runaway horses rescue
133/58 dog pen & house for Daisy
134/59 The Bread of Life
135/60 Living Water
136/61 Temple (House) of Prayer
138/62 grace given & extended again

3 gifts from God's Word
138/63 2 Corinthians 4:17
139/64 Philippians 4:7
140/65 Jeremiah 29:11

A grace in the kitchen, in the weather, one that might never have been
141/66 running water
142/67 clear skies for trip to see Mom & Dad
143/68 the visit with Mom & Dad

3 gifts you saw only when you got close-up
144/70 the years on my daddy's face
145/71 worry in my momma's eyes
146/72 heads of emerging daffodils

One thing in the sky, one from your memory, one thing that is ugly-beautiful
147/73 rain falling
148/74 past snowfalls
150/75 a muddy barnyard

JOY Dare update ~

Seeing gifts at every turn in every day~

115/40 time appropriate devotional

116/41 warm chamomile tea before bed

Challenge focus for today: January 11, 2012


118/43 a gift below you ~ easy care flooring


119/44 a gift above you ~ heaven the seen & unseen


120/45 a gift beside you ~ my pile of favorite books, waiting to be read.


Have you seen yours? No? Have you taking time to look? They are present each day you draw breath. Held in the space of time for the noticing and waiting for your thankful praise to God for them. For they flow out of HIS hands directly into your life each day. Yours are different from mine, mine is uniquely chosen, like yours. They are HIS love gifts to you, to me. Taking time to pause and notice them nails down the moment in time with a fullness of an abundant life. Offering thanksgiving with the next breath gives that love right back to the LORD.

Won't you join in the praise chorus,

Deborah

Sweetness ~ Past, Present and . . . . .

Somewhere near the end of Summer last year, in the sweltering heat we were given the gift to pick pears from our Farmer neighbor's tree up the street. I had been wishing for some to make preserves out of and to eat fresh. The two old pear trees we found on our property were not in good shape when we bought the place. Only blooming once in the nearly 3 years we've lived here. Which was in a dry year leading to hard dry pears. I dream on with regards to having a fruitful tree of our own to gather from. Maybe this will be the year to plant one or two to satisfy the childhood rememberances I have.

I remember my Granny making pear preserves each year among several other jellys, jams and such. Our taste buds would go dancing in anticipation of the homemade treat each time she put a jar on the table next to her "bread bowl" buttered biscuits. I don't know where she got her pears from, how she cooked them up to perfection or any details about them save one. Tucked away in each jar of preserves was a thin slice of candied lemon. Back then I didn't understand the reasoning behind placing a slice of lemon in each jar. Now I understand it probably was a way of keeping the thickened syrup surrounding the thinly slice pears from turning into a sugary lump. Her jars held the golden disc towards their bottoms mostly. Occasionally one would slip up the side of the jar and give a pretty glow to the goodness resting inside. Granny shared freely the things she labored from out of her garden at each meal she prepared. But she did have one rule when it came to eating those coveted preserves. You couldn't touch the lemon slice till all the preserves were eaten. Boy did that start up a challenge between all the cousins who loved to eat it, self included. I remember we would sit at the table watching the jar being pasted around. Hoping that the last person to put in a spoon would leave the yellow disc behind. Better yet that there would only be enough left in the jar for one more buttered biscuit ~ ours. Giving us full right to the lemon slice candy. My, my, my it was good!

So when I started my first batch of pear preserves this past year. I didn't have a recipe to follow other than the brief verbal directions from our pear benefactor Mr. Rigley. You will never know if you can do something if you never give it a try. The one thing I did know was that even if my jars did not turn out as good as Grannys. They sure could look like hers, so I rambled through the fruit drawer for a lemon. Slicing it thinly to add to the the pears simmering on the stove. I made sure each jar received one slice in it. But instead of placing it near the bottom, I slid them down the sides to show forth like little yellow sunflowers.

See the sunflower sticking up out of my opened jar?

We opened up another jar to eat at breakfast and even though they didn't thicken up like hers. Their taste is wonderful on anything buttered none the less. I still smile each time I see my "little sunflowers." In keeping with tradition I too have imposed the wait till the jar is empty rule for snitching the candied slice. I am sure given the chance at having more pears this coming year I will try again. Practice makes perfect as the saying goes. Until then we are enjoying my trial and error preserves. My eyes never leaving the emptying jar like I did as a child. Though I don't have to watch the jars near as closely, as Lon doesn't care for lemon anything. It doesn't matter ~ the rule still stands, the anticipation remains and the goodness is savored each time I pull a "sunflower" out of the jar and pop it in my mouth. Yummm.

Savoring Autumn's sweetness,

Deborah

Crafty Tuesday's fun ~

When I set out my ideas for the day, they didn't look too large on paper. Boy was I wrong!I even went so far as to post them on my FB page in hopes of the accountability factor.

Good Morning, today is "Terrific Tuesday" and "Crafty Day "for me. Plans are to make yogurt, some Chevre cheese and finally putting together my first batch of Goat Soap in my kitchen pursuits. In the Craft room I will be starting the "Block of the Month" challenge. Creative Writing on Heartland Farm blog will need to be squeeze in somewhere. Whooo~ wonder if I can get it all done? What do you have on the agenda for Terrific Tuesday?

Either I'm getting slower or I must think that there are more hours to my day than reality says there are. Of course there are the little things that can pop up to take your focus from the task at hand. Thankfully today's didn't derail me too bad. They tried though, tried really, really hard. Probably would have too if I hadn't had my best friend by my side to help me through the hurdle's. Thanks baby! With hubby's help we were able to mark off the dairy projects planned. Thanking the Lord for the rain that kept him inside and the desire to "hang out" in the kitchen with me.

With his extra set of hands we were able to get the Yogurt made, have Keifer brewing on the counter, made a batch of Chevre mother culture also perking on top of the fridge and a pot Chevre incubating on the back of the stove. Even though I did get to start my soap :-( the kitchen was just too busy for something that takes undivided attention. Especially since I've never made a batch before. Thinking it might need a day all to itself, considering the learning curve on my part. Good news is I did get my quilt square made for the BOM challenge. Yea!

This is my very first machine stitched block. In years past I've only pieced together a few small pieces by hand. I was amazed how fast it went together. Angles not quite perfect, but I'm pleased with this first attempt. Next one for the month will probably be more forgiving as the sashes are set on odd angles. Definitely will work to my favor . It's not too late to join in on the fun, cause it is just starting. Just click on the button link to the right to get all the details.

Joy Dare ~ 10th of January (counting 1,000 Gifts in 2012)

#109/34~ a gift that's sour -discussion about God's word with one who doesn't see it the same.*

#110/35~ a gift that's sweet - my deceased Mother-n-laws pickle recipe I made this summer @ dinner tonight*

#111/36~ a gift that's just right - having Lon home 24/7*

#112/37 ~ working side by side with him

#113/38 ~ hearing him singing favorite songs of praise.

#114/39 ~ first machine stitched quilt square

It's been a Terrrific day,

Deborah

Marvelous Monday ~

Mention Monday mornings and you can literally see faces fall of those who work outside of their homes. A chorus of moans could be heard around the globe if we had hearing like our canine friends do. There is just something about the start of a work week that puts people in a negative frame of mind. I remember there being the weight of a full work week staring you in the face each Monday when I used to work for someone else. Funny thing is I still have a full work week doing the exact same thing~ laid out before me . I've just changed my surroundings is all, that and doing what I love has changed my perspective in a lot of ways. I always knew I was made for the country and it was made for me. Spending time outdoors is a treat, being surround by animals a plus and having the freedom to play at will is down right thrilling.

Monday now-a-days, is the day that I set my house in order ~ cleaning, picking up, organizing a little, laundry and a few odd jobs that are helping to keep us going forward. I've decide to add Bread baking to this day as well. Trying out the new bread pan today was fun in making some sandwich buns for our lunches. I used a new recipe from the King Arthur website. Coming out of the oven they smelled delish, making me want a sandwich for dinner instead of what I had planned. Can't wait to try one out tomorrow!

Something special happened on A Holy Experience that made this Monday even MORE marvelous for me. You see, Ann's book has become quite successful, gaining fame on the best sellers list, winning an award and being praise on national tv. Ann's passion for Compassion International has her in contact with some very needy folks down in Guatemala. You can read her story of meeting the pastor of the "Dump people," his ministry and dream here. Entitled ~ "Because saying thank you can change the world."Okay, I can't wait for you to get back. The marvelous part is in the fact that because of her willingness to meet a need and the success of the book. She is including everyone who bought a book in on the opportunity of helping this group of people. She states that by January 2013 we should see the fulfillment of the pastor's dream of a ministry building to serve and worship in.

Never would I have thought that by buying a book for my own pleasure and inspiration. Would it lead to a greater use of the money spent for it. To help those who hunger in a greater way than I have ever know. I was humbled to tears this morning as I read of the unfolding of a greater purpose for this book that sits by my chair. God has allowed me to join in a ministry opportunity to an area I may never see. Because of the vision of one focused child of his. WOW! What a marvelous gift to the "Dump people" and to those who reached for the book in an effort to grow closer to the LORD. Grace, grace, God's grace. HIS Marvelous grace.

JOY DARE day 8 & 9

97/22~ following intuition, Princess is thankful

98/23~ rainy Sunday afternoon made for napping.

99/24~ hot cup of tea with fresh orange peel

100/25~ smiling snowmen everywhere I look

101/26~Sanctuary lights shimmering on a cloudy day*

102/27~reflection that lead to realization that counting what appears insignificant to others is the greatest praise I can give the LORD*

103/28~ the soft smoky fog rolling in after the storm*

104/29~ warm bread dough ready for the oven*

105/30~ my bread machine for the kneading*

106/31~ my husband of 35 years*

107/32~ light for the evening

108/33~eyes to see the physical and the spiritual

I am continuing to make progress on the homefront, not as completely as I had hoped. I keep reminding myself to not get distracted by the undone. In an effort to be kind to myself physically. Instead to walk through my day with an ultimate goal of being pleasing to the LORD and with those I share it with.

Walking in grace, dancing in the marvelous,

Deborah

Weekends are for ~

Catching up, at least for me on this Saturday, with all of the activity & challenges happening right now. I wanted to be sure to share it with my family and friends by way of this blog. Since I haven't been writing on a regular basis for most of the past 4/5 months. I was WAY behind in finalizing the posts I had started. Sooo, being in a writing and organizing frame of mind today I decide to get caught up. Spending most of my afternoon coaching pictures from my camera, spell checking, writing and re-writing notes I was able to finish 5 posts! Which is both shameful to not already been done, but euphoric for wrapping up 5 loose ends. Guess it depends on which side of the keyboard your on. If it has been awhile since you stopped by, as in the obvious one of nothing new to read. I will tell you the updates begin with "A Butterfly Saturday" and reads right up to this one. Hope you enjoy catching up on them too.

My JOY DARE gifts ~ counting the blessings from the LORD.

93/18~ talking to daddy on his 80th Birthday today

94/19~ my husband, Lon's fresh wheat biscuits @ breakfast

95/20~ starting the JOY DARE

96/21~ phone call from my son, Jason


Feelin blogging relief,

Deborah

New year ~ new activities

I got most of what I wanted to get accomplished done yesterday, but not for the week as a whole. Even so I feel good about the progress of my new daily/ weekly schedule. Like all new habits, getting comfortable in them takes time and practice. Note to self - remember I said time and practice. It is so easy to get discouraged when plans don't go as we planned. Many who make resolutions, goals or plans will give up at the first sign of resistance. A sure sign of defeat. Each morning breaks new with the opportunity to live the day out with fresh resolve and understanding, that an ultimate plan is in place that can trump our plans. In doing so we can better understand what is often perceived in our eyes as set backs. As instead heavenly detours back towards what our focus needs to be. Or a turn off the self chosen path onto a journey waiting to be experienced that we hadn't even considered. Both of which lead to living the intended purpose for the day, living an abundant life.

Besides making lists and setting up a schedule of sorts for basic home care, pursuit of personal interest and all the areas I would like to organize. I am trying to stay extremely flexible and more laid back in my approach to it all. Which gives me a daily challenge of not pushing ahead ~ full steam. Something I've been known to do from time to time. Though my family would probably say it's an "all the time" activity. Right now I am working towards trying to take care of myself while taking care of the necessary, not all that "appears" urgent. The enemy of my life would have me to think ALL is urgent and out of my control. The urgent is a lie, the out of my control the truth. Ultimately all is out of my control and sits squarely in the hands of the one who controls everything - The LORD. Only with HIS help can I even begin to "manage" what lies before me.

Managing my time to fulfill HIS purpose, answering the call on my life as HIS child, accomplishing what I should in the care of my family, exercising my gifts and talents to bless others and bring HIM glory in the process. When my days are viewed through HIS eyes, my "to-do" list becomes a "TA-DA" victory. And when I consider the hours given to live my life and weed out the wasteful. Now that is a successful day!

"Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us." Psalm 90:17

I picked out some fabric yesterday needed to begin an online quilting class that will run monthly for the year. WOW that is a commitment I've never done before, class that is. Quilting has always been an interest of mine. I've made a few items by hand, even sewing a few "cheat-um" quilts as I call them. Those are the ones that are already a printed not pieced panel sown together. But this class will be about cutting & piecing 20 different blocks with machine stitching. A new arena for me to be sure. I will try (try) to keep my progress blogged about for a couple of reasons. One being it will help me stay accountable to keep up with the classes and secondly it might just inspire you to join in on the challenge. If you would like to check out this FREE video class just click on this link Craftsy Block of the Month or the button on the side bar. Regardless of the outcome of my squares I am hoping to learn some techniques that have been a mystery to me. Never the less I am sure the degree of warmth the quilt will offer won't be affected by my stitching capabilities.

This must be the year of CHALLENGES for me. As I have taken on another one, The Joy Dare as a year long commitment. Actually I started the practice of counting gifts back in the Summer of last year. But have now joined in with others by making a pledge to be public about it. You can join in at A Holy Experience or click on the link button on my side bar to.

I've written about it recently at Recognizing my 1,000 Gifts. Having found the challenge just today I am trying to get caught up with posting this new JOY DARE counting. I will continue to add them to my Gratitude journal by listing both counts together. Each month I will bring new focus quests to look for besides the individual blessings that will come.

January's Counting of Gifts ~ (see calender for explanations *)

76/1 ~my curly hair- couldn't always say that*

77/2 ~ creative talent*

78/3 ~ ability to find pleasure in simple things*

79/4 ~ our farm*

80/5 ~ double kitchen windows to look out of*

81/6 ~ my husband's cooking*

82/7 ~ "Thank You Jesus" by a loved one*

83/8~ "Father we ask for your direction in our lives"*

84/9~ photo of my only granddaughter*

85/10~ Christmas portrait of our kids*

86/11~ husband's eyes*

87/12~ reading the herbal kitchen*

88/13~ knitting a scarf*

89/14~ seeing Daisy & Silas comfortable with each other's presence*

90/15~ Leah's photo by my chair - all smiles*

91/16~ fresh goat's milk in the fridge*

92/17~ Jesus*

Stepping forward into the new year with JOY,

Deborah

Happy New Year ~

Thought I would share the Christmas letter we sent out this year with you, my blog friends. It's like a quick view of the happenings of 2011 here at the farm. Much transpired though little was blogged about. For various reasons I never sat down long enough to type it out as it unfolded. Hope to do a better job this year of recording what is happening on the farm and in my heart.

Greetings from Heartland Farm,


It's amazing to us that we have been here on our fledgling farm for over 2 years. My how the time has surely flown by. Seems like we started our adventure just a short time ago and yet it also feels like we have been here for quite awhile. Not sure if it is caused by an aging mind creeping up on us or the fact that we have been so very busy.

The past year has brought many changes, challenges, laughter, progress, moans and prayers to our door. The farm is a continuous school for learning, stretching, sore muscles, bending of wills and trusting dependence on the Lord. We have been both BLESSED and tested this past year and are thankful for both gifts. We continue to find and enjoy the peaceful joys of simple farm living around us. Of walking hand in hand with the LORD in the garden of our lives.

Many ask us about the activities of our farm so I thought I would give you an update of some of the happenings. Might want to pour yourself a cup of hot tea or coffee and put your feet up for a spell ~ ~

Our "critter" family has grown a lot with the addition of farm hatched Spring chicks & guineas, a multiplying bunny trio (gotcha covered for Easter), birth of 11 goat kids in 2011, (will be keeping at least a buck out of the latest Fall births), at present the herd numbers 13 - of which 5 are milkers, 25 Freedom Ranger meat birds(they are still hanging around in the freezer ), a few more lively roosters (anybody want one?) Besides the 2010 addition of 2 livestock dogs (Great Pyrenees), Nellie and Belle. Who has done a wonderful job of keeping the nasties away from their assorted barnyard family. We have added 2 new kittens - Silas & Gracie, who have brought much comic relief to our workdays.

Enlarging our garden this year, yielded a bountiful harvest for our fresh eating pleasure along with stocking our Winter pantry. Canning, pickling, dehydrating and freezing the picked, shelled, gleamed and food gifts from neighbors filled our Summer days. We ventured out a little further this year and sowed a larger Fall garden as well. The root crops have turned out really well. Inspiring us to step a little further down the path towards providing our own "home grown" goodness year round.

Inside the home I have been busy this past year learning the art of cheese making. Using the fresh milk from our goats, Lon and I have made a variety of soft cheese like Chevre, feta, mozzarella, besides yummy keifer and buttermilk. Obtaining a cheese press has allowed us to turn out a few wheels of hard Cheddar & Caerphilly too. Cheese making is a school master that keeps me on my toes and stretches my brain cells on a regular basis. Both of which I've been told will keep you young, time will only tell. Returning once again to my love of baking this year. I have been trying many new recipes for freshly baked yeast breads. Truly a treat for the pallet and a wonderful air freshener for our home. The opportunity to share some of our Home Grown goodness at local farmer's markets keeps us perpetually trying to perfect our crafts.

We were disappointed this year not to be able to gather honey from our hives. But with a decrease in blooms and Spring showers, the bees didn't produce enough for both their Winter survival and our eating pleasure. Two new hives will be joining our Apiary in early Spring to increase these busy little bees capabilities. Plans are also in the making to provide them with some additional flowering sources in the new year. So our fingers are crossed in hopes of being able to gather up our first jar of "Heartland Farm" honey in 2012.

We are celebrating our 3rd. Christmas here at Heartland this year. It is going to be a very special one for several reasons. Besides our primary one to remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus. We have joy in knowing that Lon will be retiring on Christmas Day this year. What a gift under the tree for us! After 36 years of service in the Fire Dept. he has arrived at that place in time where he can turn in his fire truck for a tractor. He is anticipating all the opportunities this change will offer him. I for one have been giddy for quite awhile knowing I will finally have him home 24/7. We are thankful for all the Lord has provided through his tenure with the Fire Dept, this new opportunity to spend more time together and HIS promised faithfulness to be with us in this new chapter of our lives. To say we are excited is inadequate, the hope and joy we feel is an open door to life experiences we have never known and can't wait to explore.

Wishing you a loving touch from the Lord this Christmas,
The Farmer & the Milkmaid


There lies in front of each of us a new year with blank pages where with to write our life's story. Many make resolutions at this time of year but they are not all that most people hope them to be. I have learned that resolutions never stay long, goals can have a rigid time frame, but living as the days unfold gives one the most blessings. I find that I get more done with a little structure to move me in the right direction and the freedom to change or let go of completely if need be.

Here's to blank pages waiting to be filled,

Deborah