Tuesday, November 25, 2014

And Baby Makes Five.

No, we aren't expecting, and I only have one human child.  My daughter wanted a brother a couple of years ago, so we found Piggybank (the Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound, Rottweiler, St. Bernard Mutt).  She started asking about getting another sibling, so we surprised her with a Boston Terrier Mix Baby.  So without any further ado, here is Tuna (named by a five year old).


Wednesday, November 19, 2014

My Before 30 List.

I want to re-learn how to enjoy life the way my daughter does.
I turned twenty-nine back in August, and I've been working on my goal list for the year before I turn thirty.  Here is what I've got so far:





  1. Six-pack Abs.
  2. Daily Yoga.
  3. Learn to Sew.
  4. Enter a Juried Art Show.
  5. Can Some Garden Produce.
  6. Start a 365-Project.
  7. Write a Short Novel.
  8. Explore 5 New County Fairs.
  9. Go to 5 New Art Galleries.
  10. Visit 2 New Museums.
  11. Paint an Extra-Large Painting Just For Me.
  12. Hang Up All My Collected Artwork.
  13. Start and Keep to a Cleaning Schedule.
  14. Go to a Play.
  15. Go Camping.
  16. Find a Deer Antler Shed.
  17. Buy a Potter's Wheel and Kiln.
  18. Build a Garage.
  19. Explore an Abandoned House.
  20. Reach 550 Sales in the Shop.
  21. Make a Quilt.
  22. Get Dressed Up and Go Out.
  23. Take a Class/Workshop.
  24. Make a Habit of Going to Estate Sales.
  25. Move Chickens to New Coop.
  26. Buy a Piano.
  27. Be More Spontaneous.
  28. Make a Printing Press.
  29. Go to the Junk Gypsy Prom in Texas.
  30. See the West Coast.
  31. Travel to Maine.
  32. Daily Painting/Drawing Habit.
  33. Read Fifteen Books.
  34. Blog on a more reliable basis.
  35. Pursue the John Deere Building into Art Space Realization.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Snow, Winter Farm Chores, and November.


This time last year I was teaching two first-time momma cows how to let me milk all while learning how to milk them.  It was quite the steep learning curve, but we all came out in good shape.  They'd both calved heifers (girl calves), and were doing a very good job raising them.  Fast forward and the calves are a year old, mommas are bred to a Hereford bull to have spring calves, and they are all out grazing in the woods lot tonight.  We hit a cold spell this past week here in Southern Indiana.  It is actually snowing as I type.  Farm chores take twice as long this time of year.  Ice is broken, fresh water is poured, and animals are checked over well while they eat their feed twice a day.  What normally takes all of a half an hour in the summer takes about two full hours in the winter.

Things are really heading quickly into the end of the year.  Doesn't seem possible, but I'm sure 2015 will be here in a blink of an eye.  The chores won't get easier until things thaw out next spring, but at least I have the hope that two more adorable calves will be here in about five months.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Have no fear, I'm not lost.

So, it's been a busy summer / fall.  Again I seem to have abandoned my blog.  Have no fear, I am back, and (will hopefully) be posting on a regular basis again.  Here is a quick glimpse of some things I've been up to.  If you want, you can follow me on Instagram for more images like this.










In other news, I'm doing my first craft fair this weekend.  I'm excited, nervous, and hoping for the best.  Stick close, and I'll write again soon.