Monday, December 28, 2009

Year End Thoughts


As I begin a new year I want to reflect on what I have accomplished in the past year and where I hope to go in the coming year. This past year I finally began to take steps toward having the homestead I have always envisioned. I searched out and purchased two milk goats who are possibly pregnant, nine fat hens who are laying an abundance of eggs and a pair of piggies who I hope will breed this spring. My gardening efforts did not yield much but I got the bug to build raised beds and start again this spring. In the coming year I would like to be much more conscientious of my spending while looking at everything I already have with a fresh eye.
On a professional level I changed jobs, and while the new job may not be where I would like to stay forever, I am grateful none the less for it and the new things I have learned while there. Additionally, I had a major surgery and came through healthy and free from a long term health issue that had robbed me of energy for years.
I have been so very inspired by all of the hard working amazing people I have followed as they blog about their lives.I hope to reflect back this time next year with a sense of satisfaction that I have simplified, consumed less and produced more from my little plot of land here in Florida. I have thought a lot about why we blog, why I blog, and why I find it so cathartic. I know I do it for myself, an online journal in a way to remind me of where I have come from but why do it in a public format? I know connecting with like minded people is one of the reasons, wanting to feel like my life and my efforts mean something may be another. I would love your input on this topic, why do you blog?

Monday, December 21, 2009

Google Yourself

Has anyone googled themselves?? I was in google images looking for an illustration for my posts and I googled my profile name lauraslife and was shocked to see my profile pic as well as several of the pics from my blog pop up. I guess I did not realize how far these little messages can travel. A kind of Karma in a way, who knows how what you send out may come back to you.

Another year comes to an end.


Today is the third of three days off and I have gotten most of my shopping done which is a huge relief. Also, I have gotten some real sleep which I so needed and am feeling so much more positive. The Christmas tree has lights but still no ornaments and I have decided that it's OK just like it is. This year I will have no guests to my home, this year won't have all the bells and whistles of years past, but even so, it will be a year to visit with friends and family and to be grateful to have the chance to start again in a fresh new year.


Next year I hope to move my homesteading goals further forward. I like the egg, veggie count that some blogger's post, I like the plant something, harvest something philosophy that others follow. I would like to raise my own Thanksgiving Turkey and maybe even a few more to sell at the local critter auction. I also hope to put together a pantry system in my home that helps me to spend less time and money in the grocery store. Additionally, I would like to begin a small home business, not sure yet what that will entail but I am going to start researching possibilities. I plan to purge a ton of my junk and might even try my hand at selling some things on ebay.


As I look back on this year I have to acknowledge that I am blessed. If I don't get the chance to say so before then, Merry Christmas to all of my new friends online, you all have no idea how much you have inspired and encouraged me with your blogs.







Thursday, December 17, 2009

Letting Go


Today is a completely off topic day. As hard as it is for me to admit, I can't get into Christmas this year. I pride myself on being optimistic, seeing the bright side of life and moving forward but I am coming to realize that I just need to allow myself to face my feelings and accept that this is a year to take a step back, forgive myself for whatever it is that I think I could have, should have done differently. Anyone who has ever gone through a divorce may know what I am feeling. This will be the first Christmas in 27 years that our whole family will not be together, it's hard.


I know that time has an amazing way of healing, I pray that this time next year I will have my usual zeal for the season back. I am not a person who usually shares her personal emotions but I guess I feel the need to stop denying and mark this season as one of those life milestones that in the end will only make me stronger and wiser.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

The First Present

Yeah!! I finally bought a present. I was reminded by the music at Octoberfarm's blog of the video The Snowman by Raymond Briggs that my own children watched over and over when they were young. Honestly, I am not sure who loved it more, me or the kids. I decided to find the DVD for my grandsons. Now that I have finally made a purchase maybe I can keep the momentum going and find meaningful gifts for the rest of my loved ones.
The music you hear first on my blog is from this movie, the movie has no words just a beautifully illustrated story and wonderful music.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

JUICING DAY


My good friend has a couple of very prolific citrus trees in the yard, one is a tangerine tree that is overloaded with what looks like thousands of ripe tangerines. It pains me to see them go to waste, so today I went and bought a juicer So far I have frozen three big batches of juice. It is so good.
I think I will be doing some juicing on every day off for the next few weeks. In my quest to produce more of my own food I have added so far: juice, eggs, goat milk, cheese, fresh green beans and a variety of from the garden herbs.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Eggs, eggs and more eggs.

In the course of a week my two eggs a day has gone to seven eggs a day with three more about to begin laying. I am facing a case of be careful what you wish for...... I am giving away eggs to everyone I know and still have too many. Guess it is time to start looking for egg recipes.
Happy Friday everyone, its 4:30 a.m. time to milk the goats, then off to the hospital for another very long day. Such is the life I chose, it is challenging at times but I am grateful everyday for all that I have.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Coffee Anyone??


I finally took a minute to take a picture of my vintage coffee grinder and thrift store coffee percolator. When I stop and ask myself what would I really miss if there were no electricity I think of coffee. I know for now I am dependant on coffee beans that are shipped from from South America but I did find coffee bean plants for sale on eBay and Amazon for around $8.00.

I found a link to the University of Florida's Ag site and they say that coffee can be grown in Florida or as a potted plant. Anyone out there ever grown coffee? I will have to do a lot more research so see if it is even remotely realistic to think about on a small scale but it might be fun to try. I had to laugh the other day I was watching the show "100 Mile Diet " or something like that and the families all complained that the most difficult thing to give up was coffee.

Thank God It's Thursday!


After two excruciatingly long days at work (14 hour days) I have one day off. I am determined to make the most of it but I have already spent two hours in bed sipping coffee and reading blogs. I keep telling myself "me" time is good but I still feel guilty . So I am going to make a list and put on some Christmas music and jump in hoping that the spirit of the season will begin to creep in. Getting about 5 eggs a day now. (Quiche for dinner tonight) I love the idea of keeping a count like so many of the bloggers I follow do. I think I will start mine Jan. 1st.

Happy Thursday!!

Laura

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Happy Tuesday!!


Just a quick hello to all of my blogging friends, I had one day off (Monday) and it was full of chores and shopping trips for the essentials that keep this place going. Back to work today.

I got the coffee grinder that ordered from ebay, it works great and I am having freshly hand ground coffee this morning. I will post a pic later. Have the best of days!

To Blog or Not To Blog,,,

In January of last year I sat down and wrote a post from the RV I was living in at the time. I thought then that I really wanted to get bac...