Sink or Swim

 

What an amazing end to a beautiful day.  We have always enjoyed swimming at Norrie Lake.  Al grew up in a Navy family, living everywhere, but no matter where it was, he spent weeks in the summer in Wisconsin with ALL his grandparents and they swam at Norrie Lake.  I didn't start swimming there until after my sister Lori moved to Eland.  When our girls were little, it was many, many evenings swimming at Norrie.

Some days, I get rather "blue" I do fight it though.  I had a few aunts and truthfully, my own mom, rest their souls, that happen to have "blue" days too.  I have a vivid memory of opening a door to a dark bedroom during the day as my cousin asked her mom if we could do this or that.  Another memory is looking for a cup in the kitchen cabinet, only to find it stocked like a pharamcy.  No matter the ailment, my aunt had a pill there to "help" it.  That really stuck with me.  I use to say to my girls "there is no 'magic pills' for (whatever it was)."  Even my own mom, had issues with emotions and controlling them.  She one time chased the "meter man" (does anyone still do this job?) off our yard with a pitch fork because he yelled at one of her kids.  This is the cloth from which I was cut.  ahahah  Anyway, I have been blessed in my life by all the examples - good or bad - that have created my story.   

I guess, I say all that to say, some "issues" I did inhereit.  But, I fight like hell against it.  Yesterday, was a "blue" day for me.  We've had some rainy days that didn't help, but summers on the farm aren't quite what they were.  I walked from barn to coop, garden to stoop, looking at and thinking about all the fun I had with my girls in the summer.  Horses, rabbits, sheep, hogs, fair projects, baking, canning, swimming, just all the "things."  Truthfully, sometimes I look out by the barn and think I still see Peppy and Jack.  Both are at each of our daughter's homes now.  I guess, it was just that it was such a big part of my life and I really, really enjoyed it!  I'm crying just typing this.  I had to quickly switch my mind to think "oh, how blessed it was to do all the things we did and we did them together."  I am happy, not sad, but oh, how fun that stage of life was!  

So, I grabbed my phone and notebook and walked out to the barn to group and stage lots for sale in my group and clean up from the sale we had here Saturday.  I was thinking, I would emerse myself into that.  But, even that is on a short list of things I will have to quit doing too someday. 

The past couple of weeks of reflecting I came up with a phrase that really has been a true to life mantra for me.  I shared it with Al and pointed out examples of this sentence as it applied to our relationship.  I shared it with other examples from my life.  He said, "I do see it!  You are right!  I'm sorry that sometimes it seems to go that way for you."  I shared part of this with my daughter, Justine who is a therapist, she pointed out it could have to do with my "change" of life.  Yes, I was thinking that too.   Less life ahead than behind and did I do all I could do?  

I had to run pick up something from a client last night.   I talked Al into coming with me.  Good thing too, as it was heavy and up steps.  So, we took the dogs, stopped for icecream and went to Norrie Lake.   I had no idea when I left home, that I would go swimming.  I thought, I am not going to let this opportunity pass without my taking advantage of the beautiful water.  Other than 2 guys fishing in a boat, I was the only one in the water.  It was wonderful.  As lay floating, I thought, "Dicky Bird, you can sink or you can swim."  Swim it is......

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Tenacious Pansy

 

Look at these tenacious little Pansy plants.  We are redoing some of the landscaping around our house this summer/fall.  We have just let the weeds and such be, as they will not be there much longer.  Every time I walk past this, I think about how cute these little flowers are.  It actually makes me smile.

I was thinking about this, look at the poor ground they are growing in and look at all the rocks around them.  Yet, they still bloom.  

I don't need to share "bloom where you are planted" for you to understand the lesson in this little Pansy patch.  We've all heard that one before.  I was thinking, however, do we?  Do we actually bloom and even thrive in and during a "rocky" moment.  

I've had my fair share of "rocky" moments in my life.  Some I've been like the Thistle, all picky and sharp.  Some I've been like the Dandelion, letting all my emotions blow away into the wind and ears of others.  Some I've been like the Pig Weed, all tough and self absorbed.  I have been like the Pansy too, a time or two all sweet and happy.  "Rocky" times really bring out all the emotions.  This little patch has made me think about my blooming and thriving.  

So, maybe plans didn't work out the way you wanted, make the best of what they are.  Maybe, age and time are less ahead than behind, make the best of what is left.  Maybe, you're overwhelmed with things to do, just do something.  But, bloom, thrive while doing it.  

Thanks little Pansy patch, I'm taking this with me and growing.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Sale in the Barn

 I'm going back to the beginning.  The beginning of Town Hall Trinkets, LLC (A Monthly Market).  There wasn't social media at the time, however, when we first moved here 26 years ago, I did sales at our farm.  

There was a small outbuilding, cracked floor, weeds growing up the inside, 2 little windows - I only wish I had a picture of it!  We had a tornado touch down in 1997 that tore it apart.  We were actually picking up pieces of it at our neighbor's farm, when we were helping them clean up after they lost their whole barn.  It was very rustic, 15' x 30'? ish.  I remember an antique dealer came to shop and she said "this is the cutest little building" (why didn't I take a picture?)  At that time, I only did 2 sales a year.  

Eventually, Al built me a shop/studio.  I painted it inside and out and that building was where I did my sales.  For several years I did a monthly sale, but not in January or February, I'm in Wisconsin.  Our life was turned upside down in 2005 when our youngest daughter was diagonised with bladder cancer, she was 10.  I closed my shop here and focused on caring for her and my failing parent's.  I always sold though, I rented booths.  It was that next year that we moved the Ringle Harvest Day  to the town hall, open fields, parking lots and sides of roads in Ringle.  

Anyway, that's the 411 in short....

Flash forward to 2021, COVID changes to how I operate, change in my health and heart for what I do....to back to the farm.  I do NOT plan to do a monthly market (I'd have to change my property zoning) however, the State of Wisconsin allows for some selling here.  So, this Saturday, June 26 from 9-3, there will be a sale in the barn here.  I have several buildings that are over run, sadly my shop/studio is one of them, that I can hardly get in the door.  I like to buyout estates and that is how they get so full.  I know, you're thinking, FULL! really?!?  Yes, even my trailers are full!  I just never seem to get through some of it.  Last summer, I did sell probably the equivalent to a building full and I donated what didn't.  That is how I have a clean spot in the barn.  ahahah

I had plans on starting with my shop/studio and sorting in there, however, I did a "buyout" this past week and the couple even delivered it in their trailer!  I told them, "I'd like to buy it all, but I don't have an empty trailer to pick it up," her husband said, "I do."  So, I will start with that, pull out what I want or to sell another way and add to it.  

Lisa, Caretaker's Cottage, is bringing a van load or more too.  Our daughter (the cancer survivor) is doing a grab and go, salad lunch.  Proceeds will go toward funding her and Jon's future baby adoption.  

Here is the link to our Craigslist ad:  Sale in the Barn

I think I priced things to sell.  I hope to see you, if not this time, maybe the next, possibly the end of August.  However, if I'm cleaning I may set up a few tables and post "come tonight 6-8" kind of a thing.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Motivational Monday - Egg

 

I always think of little blog posts or lessons from my daily activities; what the day brings my way.

I had another idea, but I think this poem sums it up better.

The Egg 

By:  Dicky Bird's Nest 

        Jacky Luetschwager

Big or little,

brown, green

and everything in between,

a shell will hold an egg together.

Poached, fried,

boiled or scrambled

over easy or sunny side up.

Every egg will end up cracked

and that my friends is a fact. 

Without a few cracks

a rotten egg is what you'll be

a good egg, one you can eat

undgoes these changes you see.

In brokenness you may endure

coddling or whipping,

but change will happen thats for sure

a little cracking you won't be skipping.

Blesssings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Motivational Monday - Tattered

 I was watering some seedlings in my greenhouse and noticed this swallowtail butterfly.  The poor thing was beating against the glass trying to get out.  I tried to shoosh it out for like 10 minutes, but it was not understanding my directions.  I left the door open and at the end of the day, it was no longer in there.  

I took a few pictures of it against the glass.  It wasn't until later when I was editing the photos that I noticed the wings were so tattered.  Of course, being me, I happen to think of an object lesson - Motivational Monday post.

You can beat yourself up trying to do things they way you think is right or how you've always done them and this may cause your wings to become tattered.

Wings may be tattered, but you can still fly.

You may choose not to accept outside help, even when the person has your best intersest in mind, you can beat yourself up trying to do it all on your own.

Wings may be tattered, but you can still fly.

You may think you know the right way, you can see it, but there is a something between you and your vision.  You may beat yourself up trying to achieve a vision, but there may be a "window" stopping you.

Wings may be tattered, but you can still fly.

You may rest on a plan or dream, wait on the answer and out of no where, you see the door.  

Wings may be tattered, but you can still fly.

This butterfly, tattered wings and all, did make it out of the greenhouse.   I hope she left with some valuable lessons like the ones she left for me.   

So, you may be in a "hot house" in "hot water" or a bad situation, you can make it out.  It may take all day, but when you see the answer, you'll know it.  And, your wings may be tattered, but you can still fly. 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday - A Bit of This and That

This was a productive week here at the farm.  I will admit, I was at the brink of "giving up" on Tuesday.  I have always been told, "you HAVE to have your garden in by Memorial Day."  Well, here it is June 4 and I still have plants in my greenhouse and seeds waiting to be planted.  I ran out of room, steam and days in the week.  I am also going on a small vacation with our daughter Anna, so it ALL will have to wait as I am taking a break.  

On Monday, we took Grandma down to see Anna and Jon.  We had a very nice visit and went to a few greenhouses too.   Anna's barn has a stone silo attached to it.  It's so cool and one of the stones at the top says 1905.  Her little side business is "Stone Silo Bakery" and I can't wait until I can set up a pop up at her farm.  Teehee Jon....  When they lived in Waukesha, pretty much next to an antique mall, I set up a pop up 2 years in a row.  The last one, I took down a HUGE amount of vintage clothes.  I had a few girls from Fond Du Lac/Oshkosh area come and buy a bunch.  Anyway, Jon helped me by taking all the left overs to Goodwill, so I could leave with a mostly empty van.  

Wednesday was filled with pond life, touching slimy "mucky muck," a speckled frog who wanted to listen to my stories and cloud eggs.   She is so much fun to spend time with - such a joy (for Gramma Bird anyway - wink, wink).  You know, as gramma, I don't have to be the "boss" I can just have fun.  

I have to share how inspiring my new book, Secrets of Devon Wood, My Nature Journal by Jo Brown.  Here is the link to her youtube post on the journey of woods to publication. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKHetmWdMCE

Her illustrations are amazing!  

I walked around my little wildflower garden and took a few pictures.  I may dabble a bit with some drawings. 

We started one of our next sales.  Some very interesting items.  We have a bunch we are buying, that's the beauty of setting up these sales, we get to pick first.  We usually don't buy much, but he has some cute rustic things that will mix well with our booth at Ringle Harvest Day Flea Market with this and that other buy out, we are going to have a huge booth.  

Well, Anna and I are off on a little vacation.  She planned a Laura Ingalls Wilder trip.  We are starting in Pepin, WI, Burr Oak, IA, De Smet, SD and then Walnut Grove, MN.  We plan to listen to some of the books as we travel.  We are sleeping in a covered wagon too.  

Everything will have to wait till I return.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.