Blazin' Trails - Watch Out 2020!

Whew!

After 2019, I might need a nap!

(source)

It was a year of many changes for us.

The biggest change was moving from my home of 18yrs.

Then a few months later changing my job of 6 1/2 yrs.

Then all those adjustments that go with those two moves:

where the vinegar is in this grocery store,

what cupboard the tablecloths are in,

how do I do X at work?

There are so many things in a routine that we take advantage of.

Change is difficult, Good, but difficult.

So a few things looking back before we plow forward.

There have been some challenges, to be sure.

Taking care of two homes that are an hour apart took its toll on me.

Becoming my own employer is/was a particularly difficult transition.

I wasn't sure what I was "supposed" to do as there is no job description.

It's been a good transition but difficult to wrap my brain around.

I tend to put myself in the helper role rather than the leader role.

(That's so backwards from my younger years.)

My word of the year for 2019 was Prosper.

It wasn't really for financial purposes though that was included.

For me it was about the changes we made and wanting them to be good ones.

I wanted the year to be prosperous with friends, 

 family, home, work, and goodness.

Of all of that, I would say I was better at keeping in contact with friends.

I'm generally horrible at that since I'm not on social media.

So Prosper served me well for the year but I'm ready to move on.

In addition to learning, I've had to relearn.

An example was our tomatoes.

I planted 1/2-2/3 as many plants as I usually did up the mountain

and my oh my.

We had a tomato jungle!

By season's end, I was tired of seeing them

even though my inner being loved them for the winter sustenance.

What's ahead?

This is always more fun, isn't it?

(source)

My word of the year this year is Grace.

It has multiple meanings and all in all is what I'm after.

If you do a word of the year, I'd love to hear it.

I will be taking a CAD class beginning next week. Yikes!

It was kinda funny when applying.

There were questions like:

Can your parents claim you on your insurance - haha.

How 'bout it Medicare? 

Will I have graduated high school by the beginning of the term?

I sorta remember high school-heehee

Anyways, that was a hoot!

We are designing our own home and whenever the time comes

will general it ourselves.

We have some time ;-)

It will also be a huge perk with work.

I will be able to do the detail drawings required for many jobs.

I'm very much hoping to sell the mountain house this year.

We'll work on that more towards spring,

but I'm hoping not to have to keep up with 2 yards this year.

(Prayers on that one greatly, hugely, enormously appreciated!)

Along that note, I'm looking forward to the garden this year.

Now that I have a glimmer of what gardening here is like,

maybe I can plan a little more appropriately.

Beginning January 1, I am challenging myself 

to see how long I can go with no spending.

I did this a few years back and made it to April.

I will do the envelope system for groceries

and pay our regular monthly expenses but nothing more.

I don't beat myself up if something arises that I spend.

I just start again at the beginning of the following month.

The trickiest part is being mindful of what day it is so I remember to do it.

I do keep a list of things we need or could use.

They are usually in the form of an antique so are things

that take time (sometimes years) to find.

I know if a cider press came along for the right price

sometime in February, I wouldn't think twice about breaking my challenge.

It would cost me more in the long run to wait and pay a higher price.

Bottom line is, I do what I can but don't take it to unreasonable extremes.

The other thing I'm hoping is to decrease my fabric stash.

Rather embarrassing, but I donated 3 carloads full of fabric.

Much of it had been given to me, but more and more I tell myself

"I'm not a storage unit."

At one time I made most of my clothes so had quite a bit of apparel fabric.

I enjoy quilting so primarily kept quilting fabrics - totes and totes of it!

I'm hoping to do a show or two next holiday season

which if anything sells would also generate some green stuff.

There are one or two other things I am hoping to make happen,

but I'll keep those a secret so you can be surprised.

Ain't that just like me - save the juicy stuff - heehee.

I'm looking forward to 2020 and to settling in to life here and now.

I don't anticipate any major life changes this year which is a relief.

 I have found the vinegar and tablecloths and

 am figuring out what needs to be done at work and when.

Are any of you routine people?

It sure throws me for a loop when my routine is upset for any length of time.

I do pretty good with short divergencies.

I think it's because I have that base routine to get back to.

Anyways, 2020 holds many promises for each of us.

Each day is getting just a little longer and each day brings us closer to our tomorrow so we might as well enjoy it, because

tomorrow it will be a memory.

Wishing you all much Grace

and many Blessings~

A Little Corner

I don't do a lot in the way of decorating,

but this is an odd little spot in the kitchen

where I happen to eat my eggs each morning.

I was quite sick last week for the first time in years

so I've missed much of the hubub and frinzie.

That part is actually fine by me.

But I'm not a good sick person.

I'm pretty sure I snarl and growl and bare my teeth, etc.

Anyhoo. . . 

Feeling better now and am looking forward to tomorrow.

I just wanted to take a moment to wish

each of you a very blessed Christmastime.

May your day be beautiful and your worries be few.

Merry Christmas.

A Fowl Christmas

(Disclaimer: For entertainment purposes only, not to be taken too seriously.)

The blizzard just won't let up

It's blown a week straight you know

The coffee pours cold in my cup

and I'm plum tired of trudging the snow.

This drafty shack don't stop the wind

The fire spits when the snow falls in

Only two more days 'til this torture's end

I'll be home for Christmas with all my kin

I bundle up to go lay down

And dream of the feast the folks will serve

I awake to more snow on the ground

Is this really what I deserve

I throw the saddle on ol' Red

He tries to blow snot but it sticks to his nose

He's mountain grown and ornery bred

I climb atop and off we goes

We've just made it down into the trees

The wind dies down but there's still a chill

Only one day left out here to freeze

I'll stop at the cave 'neith Donner Hill

Ol' Red must know, he's actin' spry

Off once more, not many a mile

The cold bright sun has lit the sky

I'm thinkin' of grub the whole darn while

I can finally see the homestead

Ol' Red picks up his pace

I can almost taste the homemade bread

Can't wait to feed my face

As I pull in, greetings to all

Unsaddle Ol' Red and throw him some hay

Inside's the cheer of a Christmas ball

What a wonderful happy holiday

Time for dinner, we each take our place

No more cussin' "You dirty dyer"

Then the shock, it shows upon my face

On the table sat an overgrown fryer

Moral~

If there's a cowpoke in your clan

Don't make this grave mistake

Instead of pots use a cast iron pan

And fry up a thick beef steak.

Thanksgiving and a Restoration

There are a thousand tutorials on how to restore old cast iron

so I won't bore you with the how-to's of it.

But. . . 

I did want to share.

You might already be aware that 90% of my cooking arsenal

is cast iron or terra cotta.

Love them both!

For the longest time, I had what I called "a stew pot," of cast iron,

but I really wanted a true Dutch oven.

I wasn't really impressed with the poor quality or the high price

 of the new ones available in stores.

My mother-in-law is just awesome.

She likes to go to yard sales etc.

so I let her know a couple years ago that I would like one.

Not long ago, she sent me the following picture

with a message that read "$25 ???"

I said "YES!"

Brought it home, hubby took the wire wheel to it,

then I scrubbed and seasoned it.

And the results~

Oh but there is more :-)

It wasn't evident in it's rusted state,

but after cleaning it up,

we saw that it had one of our family names

 that is not entirely common

engraved on both the lid handle and bottom of the pot.

That makes it even more special.

MIL is going to go back over and ask about where they got it

as she kinda knows who the folks are who had the yard sale.

Until she finds out for certain,

we will be left to wonder.

I've not had a chance to use it yet,

but oh I will.

I am just thrilled to have it at hand.

Also, I wanted to wish each of you a very

happy Thanksgiving.

I hope you find the day enjoyable and are able

to give thanks for the many blessings received.

We are taught that we should be thankful not only for our easy times

but for our trials as well.

I know first hand how difficult that can be.

But, if that Dutch oven could feel & speak,

I have a feeling it would have known even in the rusted state

 what it was made of

regardless of what was present on the outside.

Because life isn't pretty at the moment,

doesn't mean it won't be beautiful 

in what is yet to come.

And yes, I see cast iron as a thing of beauty😊

If life is trying for you right now,

I would like to wish you even a greater blessing

in that there is beauty yet to come.

Happy Thanksgiving dear friends.