Farmhouse Friday 2025 - Week 1

 

I love journals, calendars and such with cute artwork that inspires me.  I came across this artist and love it.  

Normal January in Wisconsin we have snow and lots of it.  However, this year we did, it melted and now we are waiting.  I like the hibernation that comes in January,   Dare I say, with the lack there of, even a snow storm to "keep us in" I miss it.  

From Christmas get together with family, 4H community service at the Homme Nursing Home, mild temps to enjoy the natural Vit. D to shopping the "bins" in Appleton, we have had a fun and rewarding week.  

Saturday

Sunday

Monday - Thursday

My porch plants are now taking up space in the laundry room.

Cup of tea in my greenhouse....little quick nap in the sun...until I heard a ruckus outside.  This hen, she wanted to come in.  She was relentless.  Silly girl! 

Then she brought friends....

With the nice weather they have been out free ranging every day.  We even found her sitting on an egg in the garage.  When did she get in there?  

Both daughters and grands went thrift shopping with us.  My friend Karen just happen to be there too.  Mind you, this is over an hour from our house.  Anyway, Karen came up behind me and said "I almost peed when I found this!"  I screamed....it was loud...eek...she found a very primitive, hand painted, like maybe 100 years old, pantry box!  So nice!  That had to be the best thing in all those bins.  She loves primitives too.  I said "I'm sorry I screamed (ahaha)."  She said last week....her friend told her people were screaming while digging, because there was a mouse in one of the bins.  So, Shannon. if you are reading this....true!  Anna said she saw turds in other bins.  It takes more than a mouse or turds to stop me from digging.  

Have you ever been to one of those by the pound "bins" shopping places?  So many 20/30 somethings buying clothes.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Happy New Year - 2025

Happy New Year!  

Have you been reflecting on your 2024?  Are you making any plans or goals for 2025?  I love beginnings of things.  The "coming up with idea," planning, preparing, starting these things are easy for me.  It's the ending of things, completing things, letting go that are hard for me.  

That is why I love January, it's always a new beginning.  Now, I know each day is a new beginning and I've had to start at that.  I've even started with "this is a new hour" - (wink, wink).  

2024 had many challenges for me.  I am truly an optimist and look for silver linings.  I mentioned it before, but in August, the unexpected death of my mother-in-love, really knocked us down.  Events after, just kicked us while down.  I know so many other people, have it much worse, but this is where I was at.  So, now I'm ready to move forward.

My reflecting on the past, had my remembering other low moments in other years.  I made it through those, tried to glean from them and grow.  Doing this actually helped me see how far I've come with some of the challenges I created for myself - yes, sometimes we create our own issues and challenges.  

Prior mental health professionals have told me that I struggle with "compare/compete" and "assume" issues.  At my LAST appointment with one of them, I challenged her with a position I took on something and asked "as a woman, mother you must feel this way too!  I can't be the only one!"  She stood up, walked out of the room.  She came back in and said "this session is about you, not me."  Well....that was true, however I didn't go back to her or any other.  I'm only sharing this with you, because I worked through my "diagnosis" on my own.  (obviously I prayed too)  She was right, I did let those things occupy too much of my head.  That 2024 reflecting had my seeing that I am at peace with where I am at and who I am.  

Now on to setting my 2025 goals.  I'm NOT going to pick a word of the year or set a resolution.  I'm not holding myself responsible for taking on every little sale (estate sales) that I'm asked to look at - I can't help everyone, Lord knows I've tried.  I'm not holding myself hostage to every single call, email, question in my private and business life.  I'm not going to jump in and create an event or opportunity for myself and put other's interests ahead of mine. Instead, I'm going to pick sales that are worth my time and efforts.  I'm going to set boundaries on what I share and how I answer.  I'm going to be as creative as I'm known to be, but for me first this year.  I think this sounds selfish, but at this point in my life - I don't care!  Selfish or self-care?  

Here is a couple poems I wrote.

For my business:  

Thanks for reading.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.