brave little one

Two journeys came together this past year, with lessons not lost on myself.

My sweet August Rose was hit by a car in May...

she dragged herself to the safety of the old outhouse in our apple orchard

- a shattered pelvis, an open leg wound.  All we could do

according to the Vet., was keep her contained in a cat carrier

for almost two months and let her heal herself.  

She did, miraculously, she did.

In so doing, this dear little one showed me such courage.

She officially became a house cat in July.

That July, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  

I felt that my very being had been shattered, 

and I wanted to crawl away, into retreat.  

But each day I was greeted by this little one, 

this little girl kitten that never gave up.  

Her presence often guided me.  

Her recovery provided inspiration.  

If such a little one could do this without complaint, so could I.  

Two lives became intertwined.

We never know how courage will find us.  

Sometimes it arrives in unexpected ways.

in the country

There are many things that make country life interesting:

• cold winds that have no wind break, only open fields to swirl through
• wells that you are responsible to and for - your only source of water
• security farm lights that may be the only light beyond the night stars
• many animals that count on you for care - often waiting in a big red barn

Winter tests the best of us in all of these areas. 
                                                                             How cold is too cold it asks....well let's just see!

 

And, often to the rescue in the country are the unsung heroes -- our contractors.  They have a relationship with each farm, as they are usually neighbors.  They know us when we call.  They are less concerned about generating money on a service call, then getting a farm up and working again.

Several years ago, a wind storm took down a giant of a Cottonwood tree adjacent to our driveway.  One mighty branch slashed the electrical box right off our brick wall.  When I called our Electrician, Dale, (after 5 p.m. I might add) he came immediately over, dropping everything.  He worked until after dark.  When we found that the electrical company would not attach the street power line until they passed their co-zillion pages of rules....Dale was on the phone with them, defending that farms need to have power (no well, no security light).  When they still said that we would have to wait for at least three days....it was Dale that brought us a generator to provide a source of power.  And -- when the Electrical folks finally showed up at 10:00 p.m. that night (two locals that worked for the power company and went against work orders to wait  - stating "that's not how we do things in the country") -- Dale returned to work by their side until our power was restored in the wee hours.  That is our Electrician.

When we first bought our home, we toiled on it until early spring, making the move prior to having a new well dug.  When the local plumbing company we had been working with and had contracted with to dig a new well heard we were moving in, they moved us to the top of their list -- digging in the early spring through a rain storm.  They were knee deep in mud, but shared with us, "you will have water before you move in".  That is our plumber.

And, yesterday, in the frigid -50 below wind chill, when our furnace had difficulty staying on with the winds slamming the intake vent....a call to our Heating & Air Conditioning company was met with a "What's the problem Dave?" and a "Here's what you can do".  They talked us through cutting the intake pipe with a hack saw and diverting it to taking in basement air.  No bill, no service call....just help.  Jeff ended with a "call me in the spring if you need help reattaching that pipe for outdoor air."  That is our furnace guy.

Yes, there are many things that make country life interesting, none the least are these unsung heroes.

Keep warm!

on to the next celebration...

And my very favorite celebration?

Why Valentine's Day, of course!

I adore everything about this special little day ~ ~

sweet, charming, simple.

So today I put away Christmas, and unpack all my hearts!

Cold, cold, cold - perfect day to stay inside & fluff my home.

Bring on the charm!

some decisions are difficult

 update...2016

Over & over each year we have debated hosting a Barn Sale again

With mixed emotion, we have made the decision to take some time off.

There will not be a Meadowview Farm Barn Sale at this time.

We began these sales in 2010, and have been absolutely amazed by the response.  Each sale has gotten better & better, bigger & bigger.  Many of you may still remember the one try at a November sale and the cold, cold, cold (but warm spirits) in the hayloft!  This last Barn Sale in October, 2013 exceeded all expectations -- actually adding a new dilemma - how to thoughtfully "manage" the volume of shoppers on the first morning and eliminate long waits to check out for future sales!  Such wonderful "problems" to have.

But, in all honesty, my health in 2013 and recovery in the years following put a wrench in it all.  Dealing with breast cancer ~ surgeries and recovery ~ has meant that my energy has been near depleted.  Working my full time day job, keeping up with our farm, loading my booth & case at the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall is all I can manage.  I needed to make the decision that right now I have needed to breathe in every day of every season.  I know you understand.

And -- I do want to say how much I honor & adore every single one of you that supported our sale through notes on this blog or through your attendance.  You have touched my heart!

Finally, my thanks with an exclamation mark to my Dave & Ian for being there!  And to Jani, Nan & Sarah -- (and at the 2013 sale, Jani's husband, Norm) --- aka "The Barn Cats".  If you attended the first morning of any Barn Sale -- these are the hard working folks that helped, checked you out...."woo hooed" their way through this philanthropic adventure called friendship...driving 6 hours round trip to be here.  My love for these peeps of mine is deep!

So, you might ask -- will there be another Barn Sale?

 I honestly am just not sure, but my blog is certainly where I will announce it if we do!

And, please "like" the Meadowview Farm Business Facebook Page for even more updates.

This is where I will post potential "pop-up sales" at the farm, vintage furniture for sale and other stuff that just might interest you.  This is also a place you can be in touch with me.

You can find us here: Meadowview Farm on Facebook

You can still find me at the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall! 

For now, dear friends, my thanks....

Kari  xxoo

onward...

Bidding farewell to 2013...

certainly a year I learned a thing or two about resiliency, compassion & courage.

Wishing you moments of reflection as you close out this year

and welcome the next.

May that blue bird of happiness fly your way!

Kari

winter wishes

Winter is here...with plenty of snow for boots & shovels.

All the kittens & goats are tucked into their barn each night.

By day, they play on paths Ian & I shoveled thru their pasture,

winding back & forth & over the bridges.

A box fort waits inside for the kittens, as well as a heater.

We take our role as caretakers of this little farm quite seriously.

We provide our animals with warmth & play...

keeping them content through these cold months.

I count the days to spring based upon our winter supply of hay, 

which is still piled high in the barn.  We will get thru the cold days 

one bale at a time.

from our house to yours

Merry Christmas!

pieces of the past...

Years ago, we lived in Sun Prairie next to Mrs. Reed.

She was a most wonderful neighbor...

we even built a special gate in our fenced yard just for her.

She would come over & sit & be "neighborly".

When she passed away in her 90s, 

the family asked what we might like as a memory keepsake.

We requested the blue spatterware bucket she would plant a geranium in, 

set near her gate each year.

We planted in it one more summer in her honor.

Now that bucket resides in my kitchen, filled with memories.

We also picked this one antique ornament, hers, now ours.

What I love most about pieces of the past is that they form a scrapbook.

Some are our own memories, some belong to others.

We cherish & honor them.

Christmas sale!

Stop by the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall

for a special 20% off sale in my booth & case (dealer SPY).

Thanks for your patronage in 2013!

All the details about Hixton....to the right under "Chapters"...

some mornings

As I walked out to the barn this morning,

this is what greeted me.

Some mornings take your breath away!

full

As I left my office last night, later than I had hoped....

I thought about how much we try to accomplish at

this time of year.  We decorate, bake, wrap.....filling

each hour to the max.  And all of that on top of our

already busy lives.  We can lose something in the

sheer busy-ness of it all.  Perhaps that is why I so 

adore the quietude of the barn or the early morning 

hours--it is solace from the running.  It is just my time

to reflect, to unfill my mind & my overflowing schedule.  

I suppose that this is part of this time of year, to fill us up to this 

place where we have to overflow, where we have 

to stop & evaluate.  It is no wonder we end the year

with resolutions for the next.

Rather than wait, I resolve right now to be kind to myself. 

It is neither selfish or wrong....it is creating our own solace

when we need it.  It is saying "no" when we must, and "yes"

when we can.  It is choosing how full we can be.  

little surprises

sitting oh so sweetly on a hanging spice cupboard in

our kitchen is an enamelware teapot & cup from a child's tea set.

My newest collection, as I now have 3 little teapots...

would guess that they traveled to Wisconsin long 

ago from Germany.

tucked in is some vintage millinary...

I have attempted to keep the holidays fairly demure

this year, little something tucked here & there.  I like

the sweetness of it all.

the holidays arrive

Stopped for gas in Fall Creek this morning.

And there to my right was a truck full of trees.

Off they go to a holiday near you.

If anyone follows the Wisconsin author, Michael Perry,

Fall Creek plays a predominate role in his book, Truck.

Hixton Antique Mall

Dave & I worked behind the counter Saturday

at the Hixton Schoolhouse Antique Mall

in Hixton, Wisconsin...biggest sale day of the month!

It was my first working day back there since September, felt good.

I redid the front display, below...love red, turquoise & jade green!

Added a Christmas display in my case & a bit more to my booth.

For details about Hixton....head to the right under "Chapters".

Hixton also has a new Facebook page!

giving thanks

before the next days get busy...

    with travel

    with fixings

    with family & friends

wanted to be sure to let you know how thankful I am for you.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!