my plans for the short term

Books...I am rediscovering books.
Spending far too much on pages of words, but relishing every moment, every dime.

My current book of choice is Visiting Tom by Michael Perry
     (yes, Jani, I am finally reading it).
As this story unfolds within a 10 mile radius of my farm, the words are known. Osseo, Fall Creek, Stockmans, haymows, tree lines.....words in my current vocabulary are sprinkled through this book. Although fairly new memories to me, they are still mine.

Next on my agenda, Team of Rivals.

A cold day, warm quilt & good book...doesn't get much better than this.

What is on your current reading list?

sweet little moment

after a night of tossing & turning....not even attempting to solve the problems of my little world, I gave in. I awoke, filled my coffee cup, snuggled into my winter robe & sat at the kitchen table. I found my way to this quote, "some days it's not worth chewing through the restraints"....it first made me chuckle, then it made me cry. If you are a fighter like me you will understand.

So this morning I will just resolve to greet the dawn with faith that I don't have to be in the ring all the time. And yet I can't stop shaking my head that social media can erupt over the final call of a football game when there is so so so much bigger things to devote an early morning worry on.

Oh well, the sun rise calls me as do all the sweet moments that calm my weary heart here at my farm. Here I am untethered. Here I set the record straight on what is a priority & what is not. Here I claim a world not nuanced by restraint of spirit or social conscience.
Here I am the director of what matters.

In the breeze...

I love a mellow morning with windows open. Curtains billow in the breeze, bird song fills the air, kittens sleep on the porch---and all is fine. Days like this are not taken for granted, but relished. Soon enough a storm may arrive, but for now...the breeze hears my prayers.

worn

I began this new year with my hope that this would be "the year"...you know, every day purposeful & intentional. And here it is, the 22nd day of 2012 --- and I struggle to build up the motivation to get up, attend to my list for the day...bills, vacuum, folding the clothes that I am spinning in the dryer for the third time. I feel guilt when any moment of a day feels wasted....but I am also learning that there are days when I will need to concede to being tired. Perhaps it is my new job with the challenges that that brings, perhaps it is the pace I run when I feel well, perhaps it is just the "too much" that catches up with us. I also wonder if I underestimated the power of that little deer tick bite from this past fall...and if I need to respect that Lyme Disease may just be chronic. I have been in contact as of late with the doctor's office, and discovered that the words, "profound fatigue" are in my little file. Not sure...but today I am worn...not worn out, just worn. If I respect & even revere this in my antiques....then I will need to also allow this for myself, too....not every day, not all the time....but for today. So, I will not feel any guilt for sitting in my robe, tucked inside my warm home today-with the world getting on quite well without me. Guess I need to hit the dryer button once again.

Here we go - again...

I must must must start this post with the fact that

the Barn Sale is right around the corner....

October 8 & 9!

And, all the information you need to know about it

is in the following post -- or under "Barn Sales" to the right.

It is indeed a bright spot on our horizon,

and we look forward to meeting all that attend.

However, part of the here we go again has to do with

the call I got on Thursday afternoon at my office from Dave.

It began with "You had better sit down."

Seems the north winds that were reaching gusts of 40-60 mph on Thursday

took down our gigantic cottonwood tree along our driveway.

Our neighbor, Rodney, saw it literally "blow up" at the midpoint,

scattering enormous limbs everywhere.

County Road R was closed down for several hours as they dealt with debris

and a downed power line.

We will be cleaning up for some time...
those of you that attend the sale will be able to see first hand the
volume and magnitude of this tree--
it was the eagle tree, likely over 100 years old -
one of the tallest vantage points in the area.

Our immediate thanks goes to:
Neighbor Rodney for clearing our driveway before we got home.
Dale, our electrician, who worked from the call he received at 4:45 until 9:45
to restore our power (the tree tore the electrical box right off the house).
My Ian, for hopping in his car & driving home 2.5 hours to help in the aftermath.
Ian's friend, Brad, for working after dark to begin to clear the area around the house.
And the crew from the electrical company who came out against company orders at
9:30 p.m. to restring the power line from the road to the house saying that
 "no farm will be without power overnight."

Yes, here we go - again...

Please do not worry, if you attend the Barn Sale, we will not make you cut wood -
although you are welcome to take a souvenir branch home with you.
(insert tired smile here)

hollyhocks, day lilies, snowballs and farm gardens

I am not a gardener...

however, I do like the play of foliage & perrenials & annuals -

and know just enough.

In our last home in Sun Prairie - we were fortunate to

earn "Garden of the Month" distinction

and be featured in the city's annual

Garden Walk.

But still -- I make no aspirations at Master Gardener.

When someone asks about a plant -- my answer will likely be,

"I like how it looks".

So - with a vintage farm

- my quest was to keep the gardens

pure & simple & true to the farm's age.

That meant hollyhocks, day lilies, hydrangeas (snowballs) 

& any other planting that
could stand hardy farm living.

And, with a barn red & Old Chicago brick backdrop-
colors must be subdued, thoughtful, quiet.
The pinks above were picked by the hollyhocks, not me...
but I do like their play against the brick.

Plants were rescued from the old gardens, found as
we "civilized" the farm yard edges. 
Rusty "art" was added,
just enough wild was left unaltered,
with a restful, peaceful farmyard as the goal.

What is your favorite garden secret?

ambition

I am a list maker...

even when not written down,

there is always a list hanging about in my head.

I like to check things off -

feel good about getting something done,

moving forward.

So - on days like today,

my list feels quite tiny:

1.  vacuum

2.  sweep the cottonwood cotton off the deck

See, the couch calls, a batch of popcorn & HBO calls, magazines call.

I almost wish it would rain to ease my guilt just a bit.

Guess I just may need to add to my list:

3.  put up your feet, sit a spell (it's O.K.)

How about you -- do you take time to just relax?

reaching out...

across the miles

my hand...

take it if you will.

A shoulder to lean on -

there, too.

A chair to sit in - with me quiet or listening or reflective.

Words, picked carefully, to lift you.

Thoughts, shared gently, to support you.

Reaching out -- not quite sure how -- but I am.

Words alone - sent over the miles.

Thoughts, bold & strong -- harnessing the spirit of comfort.

Prayers...prayers...prayers.

to you -- you know, you know

Once you reminded me, "wisdom begins in wonder".

remember -- we wonder first, we question second, we know, then we find the courage to wonder again.

All my love -- reaching out to you.

Kari

Half empty or Half full?

I arrived home tonight...

tired of boots,

tired of climbing over snow banks,

tired of winter roads.

My list of "poor me-s" ever so long.

Then I remembered I had taken some pictures this morning

as I was leaving for the office...

The choice is ours:  half empty or half full?

Or simply enough to take your breath away?

Where are you?

Quiet.  Empty. 

Where are you?

The past few weeks have felt very solitary. 

Dave reminds me that it is back to school, end of summer -- but it feels very quiet, too quiet.

Where are you?