Thanksgiving 2014....

Slept in and when we awoke the sun was shining.  It was still cold and there was still ten inches of snow on the ground.  But the day promised to be full of sunshine for which we were very happy.  Larry did the barn chores and I set about to make a pecan pie for Thanksgiving dinner at Cassie and Karls home this year.  The meal had to be fairly early as James had to go to work today.  After dinner we relaxed and headed outside to throw some snowballs and get some pictures.  Inside to a cup of hot coffee and dessert then headed home.  Larry onced again did the evening barn chores while I set the turkey bones to simmer all night and make a rich delicious broth.  Now done and settling in with our Traditional first Christmas movie....The christmas card and Christmas comes to willow creek with a cup of hot chocolate brimming with fresh whipped cream!
Be well,
Lisa

Wednesday.....November 27, 2014....

Woke to snow....the hugest flakes I have ever honestly seen!  Larry stayed home from work as the truck was in desperate need of new tires and well we knew we were in for a bunch of it!  So glad he did.  We ended up with ten inches of very heavy snow!  He ran into town and had four new tires put on the truck as it was definately something we should have done sooner.  But its done for the season now.  We shoveled, played with the pups in the snow and took a hike through our woods.  Sat by the fire drinking coffee watching River Cottage together.  We read and spent plenty of time relaxing.  One of my favorite things with him being home is the delicious breakfasts it inspires me to create.  This one was a keeper for certain.  Well to bed tomorrow is to be a fun slow family kind of day.
Be well,
Lisa

Tuesday.....November 25, 2014....

WOW...its not even supper yet and Im blogging!  It has been an absolutely gorgeous day out today.  I ran to Lowes this morning on a whim to paint the outside front door.  Yes...we are on the eve of our first "predicted" major snowfall and Im outside painting the front door!!  But it turned out to be the perfect time.  Now its finished, the house plants that were new and waiting pots are repotted and happy in the house.  The fire is burning nicely the house is toasty and dinner will be ready soon.  Larry is to be home early and we will head out for some gas in the truck so we know we have what we need to get to the Kids home for Thanksgiving dinner!  Here are pics of before and after on the front door...add the covered front porch next year and it will be AMAZING!
Be well,
Lisa

Monday...November 24, 2014....

Seemed like the day just flew by!  I finished the second part of the hardwood floor in the living room that had needed stained and polied.  That took most of my day in itself.  The pups took time to relax on the sofa nearly all day watching me work.  James came and did some hunting....unsuccessful for now!  I left early to pick up Firefly from school and made a run to the local goodwill.  Scored some new plant pots as they were very much needed.  Picked up Firefly and we headed first to Lowes for some paint as I wanted to paint the two coffee tables of sorts we have.  They were made from a barn door at our old home and needed a fresh coat of paint for sure!  While there found yet another plant in need of some love and Firefly felt certain I could do it.  Dinner at Chick Fil A and then met her mommy at Walmart.  Home for barn chores and a quick dinner for Larry then painted said tables.  They turned out quite well.
Be well,
Lisa

Daybook.....Monday, November 24, 2014...

http://www.thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

                                                                           For Today:
                                                                        November 24

Outside my window.....A goregous day!  Sun is shining, last nights rain is blowing off the trees and it is warm and breezy...but only for a few days then there is to be SNOW!

I am thinking.....About the Holiday Season and all that it has in store!

I am thankful.......That Larry will be off for an entire four days over the next weekend!

I am wearing.....Skinny jeans, and the cutest ever blue and white tiny striped pullover that is similiar to a sweatshirt but so much more dressy, and black tall boots.

I am creating.....Trying to finish the living room wood floor before the holidays, Finished the body of the cardy and working on the first sleeve, and hopefully sewing up a new dress this week as well.

I am going.....To be enjoying the pandora station over the Holidays as I love the varying of genres.

I am wondering.....If there will be venison in the freezer this season.  Sure pray so!!

I am hoping.....To keep on track with all of the buildings before spring around here.  It all looks so good on paper.

I am learning.....With this cardy I am learning to figure more knitting skills out on my own than to rely on the group!

Around the house....Prepping for Thanksgiving.  Making plans for all of the baking and Holiday movie watching.

In the kitchen....Apples and Mushrooms and LOTS of them.  We love mushrooms here at our home.  Hoping the logs we plug provide us with many years worth of the many varieties.

I am pondering.....Plans for my birthday.

A favorite quote for the day....."Collect moments not things".....

One of my favorite things.....Creating memories with each family member both collectively and individually.

A few plans for this week.....Dinner date with Firefly, Baking, Sewing, Knitting, Annual trip to our favored town to bring in the Holidays.

A peek into one of my days this past week.....

A trip to a local apiary and we have ordered 4 new nucs for the spring season.  

Friday....November 21, 1014

Date night success!

Day was absolutely amazing.  Started out in the barn with the early am chores and a shower I met the girls for some shopping and lunch.  Home to tend the fire and put the pups out a little.  Larry took half a day today at work to get home before dark.  We did a little shopping, gave a few ideas for a birthday gift, enjoyed one anothers company, and had a free meal at the new Noodles and Company in Hagerstown.  It was good.  We would go again for a quick meal out.  

Be well,

Lisa

Thursday.....November 21, 2014...

Woke with still some sinus issues but pushing through.  The house was a little chilly so got the stove fired up before settling down with that hot cup of deliciousness!!!  That first taste of coffee in the morning is seriously like none other to me!  Took a little time while doing the morning barn chores to take some pics.  Not much is happening here inside the home of late as we are so focused on the outside.  The calf is doing so so good...and the goat is getting large with baby...the chickens have decided to stop laying for now so warm water for them!  The sun was shining and I needed to run an errand so did that early then home to relax.  Almost done the body of the cardi so next onto the sleeve!  Hoping to be done that very soon so I can work on some little quick projects.  A pair of fingerless mitts are def in need!
Be well,
Lisa

Wednesday.....November 19, 2014....

Ugh!  If this sinus stuff would just leave me alone!!  Last night was absolutely HORRID!  The bee meeting was really a nice group of local beekeepers.  Im def going to enjoy learning there.  The ride home alone at dark feeling so terribly sick...well that was another experience all in itself that I dont care to repeat any time soon.  Larry had to help me into the cottage, give me some meds and deposit me to bed!  Thankfully I woke with it gone but it seems to have come back on the way home onced again this evening.  Left with the house in a little more dissaray than I would like and that is not going to change until tomorrow.  Felt like a real farmer today...my little red truck was full of wood shavings for the toilet...four sheep skins with the blood and yuck still on them...YUCK!....10 containers of meal worms that were a steal for 1 dollar a piece....and 5 live chickens in a box on the seat next to me!!  All of this waited for me in the truck while I stopped and had a lovely visit and a delicious cup of Mocha Breve with Maureen.  The chickens and hides deposited at James and Katies and home it was!  Larry quickly turned a plastic four drawer dresser into a meal worm farm!  Hoping this works well for the girls up in the barn!  They made good use of the dead ones for sure!  Now settling in with a bowl of rainbow sherbert....Today is the one year anniversary of the death of my Grandfather.  He was such a love of my life.  He never left me down...never gave up on me...EVER...he raised me from birth and gave me everything he could possibly give a child.  I loved him more than words could even say.  I miss him so terribly but I know without a doubt he is in such a better place than the life he had endured here on this earth the last 10 years!  So today I celebrate his love and his life with a bowl of his favorite Rainbow Sherbert ice cream.
Be well,
Lisa

Daybook....Tuesday...November 18, 2014....

http://www.thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-simple-womans-daybook-november-17th.html#comment-form

                                                                      For Today:
                                                             November 18, 2014

Outside my window.........The windiest day we have had since moving to the cottage.  Bright blue skies and cold with a windchill about 12 degrees.  Calf bawling for a bottle and a goat crying for some attention.

I am thinking.....Alot about a baby shower brunch that is sure to be AMAZING!

I am thankful for........Honestly I am beginning to be thankful for the shortness of days.  It was a little difficult a transition this year with so much to be done here but am now finding thankfulness in them.  As they allow Larry and I extra time to just sit and talk and enjoy one anothers undivided attention in the evenings.

I am wearing........Skinny jeans, cream colored long sleeved tee, a vintage coral jacket, a scarf made by my sister (my fave this year thus far) and low boots.

I am creating.....Nearly finished the body of the cardian and ready to move to the sleeves..FINALLY!  Also we are creating what is necessary for a meal worm farm of sorts for the chickens.

I am going.......To relax and enjoy this week even though it is just a little too busy for me right now.

I am wondering........Onced again about churches and where we will feel called to be.

I am reading......So stink at this right now.  Need to get back to reading more and put down the knitting!

I am hoping.....For good weather for our NY city trip coming FAST!

I am learning......To rise early onced again with farm animals!

Around the house.....Seems the floors need swept and the furniture dusted nearly daily now with the woodstove.

In the kitchen.....Amazing homemade pizza creations nearly every week, Sweet potato, sausage and kale soup for this evening, and a few new recipes on the menu for this week.  And onced again....I love my early Sunday am coffee in this piece of art!  Add to that those gorgeous corgi eyes and my day is set!

I am pondering.......The arrival of bees in the fall for the garden/herb/orchard area of the farmstead.

One of my favorite things......Settling in at the end of the day with clean dishes setting in the drainer waiting for me till morning.

A few plans for this week.....well a bit more than a few but theres always a slow week "next" week perhaps!  Beekeeping meeting this evening, lunch with my love, coffee with a dear friend...and chocolate!, Shopping and a new cafe with my girls, date night with my love and trying onced again another church at the end of the week!

A peek into one of my days this past week......

It had been about 16 years sinced we had been to the livestock auction....and without the girls!

Home with this guy to fatten up for the freezer....MEATBALL!!  He is healthy and doing well!

Sunday....November 16, 2014....

Ahhhhhh winding down another relaxing day.  As I type the rain is falling on this metal roof and is putting us both to sleep!  We attempted to make our way to church this am.  Sat in the parking lot scoping the area before making the leap.  We did not feel like it was someplace we would be comfortable so set out on a Sunday drive.  Saw some amazing countryside and so close to home.  Onced home I settled in to relax and Larry puttered around outside with no agenda but to do his own thing.  James came to set up a hunting blind and he and Larry puttered the four acres together.  We took an evening drive to see Firefly for a bit....Oh how I have been missing that little thing!  Home and together made a yummy homemade cheeseburger pizza.  Now calling it an evening.
Be well,
Lisa

Saturday....November 15, 2014....

A peaceful work sort of day it was.  Larry worked early this morning.  Going to every other Saturday very soon.  Then he had to go and help Mr D with his leaves and mowing.  While he was gone I managed to get the rest of the garden area he had cut down last week cleared, raked and the new beds laid out.  Onced he was home we put together several beds...still so many more to do but taking it slowly.  We also got matilda erected in her own little bed and dressed her in some warm winter clothes for the season ahead.  Larry asked me where I would like to go to eat as he wanted to take me out for the evening.  No fights there!  We set out around five to town.  Oh how I love our little town.  This was our first time heading there in the dark to eat dinner at one of the little cafes or organic local fare restaurants.  This time we chose Taris Cafe...the bar side as the dining side only serves very expensive local organic fare in the evenings on the weekends and we really wanted a good burger. And a good burger it was!!  They make them fresh handmade with all local ingredients cook to order.  It was EXACTLY what we had been craving.  Just to sit and listen to some good appalachian music with the man of my dreams was the best ending to a very good day!  Home with all barn chores done and all animals bedded we are settling in with some netflix and calling it a night.
Be well,
Lisa

Friday....November 14, 2014....

No simple and special meal tonight.  Def on the agenda tomorrow though!  Gone mostly all day today.  I love having lunch dates and spending time with dear friends and loved ones but oh its such a double edged sword as I miss home so so much!  Settling in now for the evening.  Fire has been rekindled and that awesome Husband is doing all of the chores for me in the barn so I can put my feet up and rest a bit.
Be well,
Lisa

Thursday....November 13, 2014....

I remember an episode of the Waltons when Pa says to John Boy....Its a nice feeling when a man stands back at night and looks at his home with everyone settled and happy inside....I know that feeling today.  It wasnt exactly a busy day today...there was time for work...time for rest...and even time for play.  It was nice to not have to leave home though.  We bought a beef calf last night so the twiced daily bottle feedings had begin early.  Along with tending the chooks and Indie the dairy goat.  Made a pot of soup on the woodstove.  Temps are dropping and even snow has fallen.  Now dinner over, dishes done, barn chores, wood brought in and the fire burning nicely, and the house is aglow with the two oil lamps.  Settling in for the night and just ready to relax.
Be well,
Lisa

Daybook....November 12, 2014....

http://www.thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

                                                                For Today
                                                    
Outside my window.......Windy, temps dropping and quickly, grey sky with an almost navy blue on the sides.

I am thinking......So many things early this am.  How good that very first gulp of coffee really is, how quickly winter is arriving, and just why oh why are the price of calves so outrageously high???

I am thankful for.....I am over the moon with thankfulness this morning that we have the ability to raise all of our own foods!!!  It seems things are rising in price so quickly we are shifting our ability to the outside of the cottage to prepare homes for many different types of livestock!

I am wearing.....Skinny jeans, new knee high boots that tie up the back, dark long sleeved tee and the cutest sherpa and denim vest.

I am creating.....STILL working on that blasted cardy!  Shifting the creativeness to the outside of the cottage and creating spaces for little and big critters to fill the freezers!

I am going.....To run a few little errands before meeting Husband at the liveestock auction for the evening.

I am hoping....That we are truely blessed this evening with a calf we can afford to raise for meat!

I am learning.....You can never be too prepared for rising prices!

Around the house.....Finishing the shop for Husband, finishing the living room floor and working more on the garden area, laundry and bedclothes need to be tended as well.

In the kitchen....Lamb has been on the menu a few times this week with last weeks purchase.  Hoping to blog on Fridays with our simple but special meals as we have really come to enjoy that time together to just stop and enjoy something simple but special together.

I am pondering.....Things of the future

One of my favorite things......Walking to the barn with Husband after dinner in the dark to help with the chores.

A few plans for this week......Coffee with a friend I used to work with that is home with an injury, Lunch with another old co-worker, Breakfast with my sister and an annual trip the the I heart handmade show, Another church on the agenda and family time with everyone here on Sunday.

A peek into one of my days of the past week.....

A chocolate/coffee shoppe with the best chocolatier ever!  Not much can get better than this except the company you keep while there.  Love!!!

Tuesday....November 11, 2014....

Sitting here in the morning with my cup of coffee watching the sun rise over the mountain here and listening to the fire crackle and just thinking just how blessed I truely am!  I have the most amazing husband that goes to work every single day five days a week and works so hard so I can stay at home and tend to the things that would otherwise get overlooked.  I do love him so very very much and hope to never take him for granted!  The past few days have been quite busy.  Sunday we made our way to the first of 6 churches we plan to visit.  The people were friendly and the service ok as well.  And well if it were the only church in the area we would be ok to go but we are very thankful there are five more.  Indie came home over the weekend and I am trying hard to get back into an early morning routine to make myself able to get to the barn after coffee but right about sunrise, finding it more difficult as it is winter and I honestly just want to snuggle by the fire.  Katie called over the weekend....seems they have yet another possum that has now killed two of their hens....James has declared it time to be gone!  Rhoda will have some fresh young hens waiting on me on Friday for replacement for them.  Worked on the garden area more the last couple of days.  Its really clearing up out there and looking amazing!  Hoping to get it all tidy and ready to plant spinach in January.  Garlic is starting to sprout.  Larry has been busying himself in any spare moment he has cutting wood and laying the second of three sections of hardwood floor in the living room.  Hoping to have this second part stained and polied by the weekend.  The guys...and girls....are coming on Sunday after church to help Larry with a second addition to the cottage.  Nothing special like a major room or anything.  Just a laundry/storage room really.  Looking forward to having all of our things here on the property and out of storage.  Well off and ready to tackle another day here at home.
Be well,
Lisa

Saturday....November 8, 2014....

Larry worked this morning then had a few errands to run before coming home.  I took advantage of the time to clean the house and wash all the bedclothes.  It will be so nice to fall asleep under fresh line dried sheets!  Onced home we worked a little in the garden and finished some projects here at home.  I had really wanted to get the tv up off of the table and hanging on the wall.  That was accomplished and I LOVE it...just waiting on the snow to fall and to settle in watching a nice movie with the love of my life listening to the fire crackle.  This home is truely becoming the place of our dreams and I honestly could not be happier.  Friends came to visit this evening and we enjoyed a lovely dinner in town.  Now for some netflix and a cup of hot tea.
Be well,
Lisa

Friday....November 7, 2014....

Thought for sure I would be home today ALL day long.  But it would seem I forgot the paint brushes and if im to get the floor finished today thats a pretty important reason to head out.  A quick trip to walmart and home!  I did relax more today trying to catch my breath from yesterday.  A load of laundry was done and hung outside even though its pretty chilly and im sure they wont completely dry.  Worked a very small amount in the garden tomorrow will be a big day out there.  We try to keep Friday night dinners simple but special so tonight it was baked nachos.  Larry came home late as he picked up Indie.  She went to the barn like a trooper!  Nearly cried with joy when I looked into her eyes.  How I have missed that goat!  This will be her last breeding then she will be out to pasture to enjoy her last days here on the farmstead.  Well off to bed.
Be well,
Lisa

Thursday November 6, 2014....

Ok so im home and so seriously exhausted!  Started the day off with both feet hitting the pavement running.  Cleaned up and out the door headed first to meet larry at his work.  Fueled up the truck and headed to Chambersburg...Thrift stores, Fabric stores, Target, and lunch at Aki with Karla.  I do love it there.  The fire is so warm and seeing your food cooked before you knowing it is fresh.  Yum!  Karla and her Husband are one of our oldest of friends and spending time with her is always a treasure.  Our girls literally grew up together!  A trip to bbs....picking up the meat and cheese and organic produce order....A very quick trip to Rhodas to pick up three live young chooks to add to the flock and one final chambersburg trip....to pick up the organic grass fed lamb we had butchered from a friends farm...oh and the hide!!!  Yep the hide a lovely chocolate brown...James will salt cure it for us before we ship it off to the tanners.  And the butcherer which are friends of ours is going to be saving me many more hides...hoping to make a king sized bed cover out of them!  A trip to Katies to drop off a few things and I am finally 12 hours later home and settling in.  I will have one more major trip like this in December to Chambersburg then im thinking I will have Larry take me out for the few things we need on Saturdays until Spring.  Ready to watch a little Hulu and head  to bed!
Be well,
Lisa

Here is a pic from lunch!

Wednesday November 6, 2014....

Thinking im ready to slow down and take time to do some journal blogging onced again.  I miss coming here daily and writing down my days.  This little journal place is nice and I enjoy capturing my thoughts daily....good and bad!  So on with it.....This was a VERY physical day.  Woke early had my coffee and devotions by the window looking out at the makings of a garden.  Decided today would be the day to tear into it for the week.  On the weekends Larry cuts down more trees, cuts them into pieces, puts together any raised beds I have ready for him and then leaves it all there for me.  So today I got right to it and let me say it took ALL day long.  Add in there that I polied a third of the wood floor as the other two thirds is yet to be laid.  LOVE the floor so much!  Larry came home with another truck load of the skid wood ready for all of our many creations.  He had to run back out to Berkeley Springs to pick up his riding tractor we had some work done on.  Dinner was very laid back and bed came early!  Busy busy day ahead tomorrow!
Be well,
Lisa

Daybook....November 4, 2014...

http://www.thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

                                                                      For Today:
                                                                  November 4, 2014

Outside my window......Sun rising is making the change of the leaves so bright and colorful.  Cool temps but with a high today of an uncomfortable feel for November.

I am thinking.....How interesting that the roosters all around the area seem to "communicate".  And they are not exactly close to one another as homes in the area are in multiples of 4 acres and upwards.

I am thankful.....To be so close to finishing the living room.  I can feel the shift in our spirits here to settle in for the winter and slow down a bit.

I am wearing.....Brown leggings and gorgeous green and lace tunic from my fave store in Shepherdstown.

I am creating....Still working on the knitted cardy but cutting out a new dress pattern for winter as well.

I am going.....To spend some time working on the calendar and making sure things are tidy there..

I am wondering....If this woodstove is going to be too much for this little cottage until the additions are done.

I am hoping......We take our time to find and settle into a new place of worship.

I am learning......Trying that is to learn to adjust slowly to this change in time.

Around the house....Catching up on laundry, knitting, sewing, reading and readying the garden.

In the kitchen.....Smoothies again as of late.  With mango lemongrass being a fave.

One of my favorite things.....Showing friends and family around our new to us town!

A few plans for this week....Trip to the butcherer to pick up the lamb and hide, am coffee with a friend, lunch with Rhoda, errands and shopping....lots of it as this is a very busy week.  So excited the organic produce order is this week also!

A peek into one of my days this past week.....

                                                Amazing day showing Tess around town!

The Homestead Barn Hop....

http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2014/11/homestead-barn-hop-183.html

Missed this last week as we just werent ready to have any one finished job around here.  Indie (goat) comes home this week bred and we are preparing her new home!  The rain water system at the barn is finished and collecting well.  We took a day last week and put boards on the front of the utility room then stained it in the weathered grey stain.  Larry brought home a door and hung it but it is in need of a coat of paint as well.

We also finished completely the dividing wall between the living room and kitchen.  We had planned on two walls one on each side of the room...a bookshelf and a coat closet...after that we sat back and decided to connect the two walls and are very glad we did.

We are still slowly clearing the woods for the garden.  Feeling like we are finally starting to get somewhere there.  Its going to be a winter full of work out there though.  Planted the garlic and have it put to bed for the winter.  Im not convinced we planted enough but we will increase it more next year if there is a need.

As I was finishing the drywall in the living room...a job that will NEVER again be in this cottage as I hated it!  Larry took the time to finish the windows...we used skid wood onced again..really this is practically all we have been using.  They turned out beautiful...I look at them and see art lol!

Yesterday James and Katie came and we began working on the living room floor.  This is going to be an allllll week project.  Till next week!
Be well,
Lisa