Farmhouse Fridays - Weeks 12-13

 Good Morning (it's Saturday) I'm playing "catch up" - even though I do try to "keep up."  

Well, here at my farmhouse this morning, I am listening to an audio book by Mitch Albom "The Little Liar."  We started yesterday on our car ride up to the UP.  I'm trying to type here in tears - such a good book!   It's a story of 4 individuals who all have a shared bond during the terrible evacuation of 50,000 Jewish residents from Greece.   It's fiction, but one can see how this could have taken place during the Holicaust.

So, what have I been up to?  Well, getting ready for and doing the antique show last weekend.  Teaching some of my youngest 4H kids how to cook from scratch.  Went up to the UP to Pelkie, MI to look at the Sauna Guys production of barrel saunas.  We are ordering one.  Took in some mindful moments on the shores of Lake Superior.  Went to the neuroscience department for a 3 month progress appointment.  Other tests and visits to come.  Spent time reflecting on the meaning of this weekend - Easter.

We made roasted tomato and creamy potato soup, biscuits and scones all from scratch.  The kids did it all.  They also tasted it all.  Found out that maybe they do like soup.  ahaha

Oh and Robin asked about the cupcakes I made.

Not much else going on....Happy Easter

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Farmhouse Friday Week 11 - Signs of Spring

 Good Friday Morning!

Well, we sure have had spring like weather this past week!  I was coming out of the barn the other morning and heard a Robin.  I've seen a few already.  The "cheep/chirp" of a Robin just makes me smile.  My bird feeder has welcomed many returning favorites this past week. 

When you think mountain, you may not think central Wisconsin.  However, we do have a "mountain" one that qualifies at least.  Rib Mountain is located in Marathon County in Wausau.  I've spent my whole life in Marathon County, looking at Rib Mountain.  For our state, Rib Mountain is a destination for skiers.  I took a ride up the mountain the other day, while is was still FREE...it's a state park.  There were people skiing.  It was over 60 degrees.  

I've never went downhill skiing.  Growing up in a large family, activities were limited to what we could afford.  Skiing at Rib Mountain, nope.  I remember one time I tried to ski our wood pile, yes, stupid kid mistake.  My pole got stuck between two logs.  When I fell, my neck landed on the stuck pole and left a huge bruise.  I was in like 5th grade.  My elementary school secretary, thought I had a hickey and was called to the office.  Oh, how times have changed....  This same secretary, called my friend Michelle to the office and accused her of wearing blush/makeup.  Michelle just had rosie cheeks....oh the memories.  

There was a snowboarder resting at the top.  I asked him if it was a lot of fun.  He said "yes, you should try it."  I said, "I can hardly walk much less do that, my skiing days are over."  

The view of Wausau and surrounding areas.  

I was only up there because I had an hour to wait for Lauren's school to finish.  I was the guest art teacher that afternoon.  My "take away" (from my previous post) was, to remind myself to enjoy doing something spontaneous once in awhile.

Students from the art class - needle felting of course!  

The spring flowers are coming up.

I forgot to show you my window swag for St. Patrick's Day.

I am having fun making seasonal themed things for the branch.  I hope to keep it up until next Christmas, when I will replace with a fresh one.  

Justine, Josh and Lauren are coming for a load of hay later today, I plan to make a treat for Lauren that is St. Patty day themed.  After Sunday, I will take this down and make it Easter.

Are you doing anything for St. Patty's Day?

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

3 - 2 - 1 Daily Takeaway

Good Morning.  

I have been thinking about something I read.  It's 3-2-1 daily takeaway.  Each day, identify 3 takeaways, 2 successes and 1 thing to focus on for the next day.  

Sometimes, as I plop myself into my bed at night, I think - what did I even do today?  I know the day is over, but...

This article came at a good time for me, as I had to do some self reflection after our Town of Ringle meeting Monday night.  Somethings aren't worth the anxiety attack!   

Tuesday, I was physically, emotionally and spiritually drained.  After a LONG day of pushing myself, I came home from an evening meeting and told Al "I think Monday night had a deeper affect on me than I thought."  He agreed and said "was it worth it?"  Good question.

So, I started my 3-2-1 right then and there!  

I challenge you to give it a try.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday Week 10 - Postivity Vision Board

 Good (Saturday) Friday morning.  Happy Farmhouse Friday.  These weekly posts are just my sharing with you all my week at a glance type thing.  Helps me remember as well.  

This week, I spent some time reflecting on the first 2 months of the year and my progress toward my personal goals.  I started the week off feeling rather "stuck" in many ways.  So, I decided to get my thinking cap on and write down some positive things about myself to rid my feeling that way.  

I bought this frame from a thrift shop, that someone made it into a message board.  I decided to hang it up next to my "Better Than Yesterday" daily challenge card for 2024.  (I'm loving the daily challenges!) 

Art compliments of 2 of my 4H girls.  It makes me happy.

So, in my reflections, I come to realize, I'm not as "stuck" as I was feeling.  I have made some progress forward, even created a few new habits.  Ones that serve me instead of hindering me.  One main one I had to break, was not looking at my phone during the night.  I have spent many a day tired due to the fact that I woke to go pee and made the mistake of looking at my phone.  Hour or 2 later, I'm deep in a youtube hole of someone baking bread, cleaning out an old house, Swedish landscapes....it was a bad habit - not serving me toward reaching my goals.  I do miss my little youtube friends, but I need to limit my screen time to daytime hours.  

Breaking or creating habits are hard.  Not something I've EVER been good at.  In my reflections....I was thinking....DickyBird, you are 57 now...more years behind than ahead of you...fun and games are over...it's a now or never situation...only YOU can do it for YOU...don't just think, talk or draw about it - just do it.   These, things....those words...harsh as some sound, are truth.  

I had another "break through" as I would call it.  Not a total healing, but a definite improvement in my overall health.  My sister and I figured out, back in early February that MANY of my health issues were side effects of a "statin" drug I was taking.  Yes, I had a pinched nerve and weakness in my leg due to a dog bite and several bad falls, that caused my injury.  However, the progression of muscle loss, mobility, incontinence were debilitating me!  It was my cholesterol pill.  I quit taking it.  I even went to an urologist and they told me nothing was wrong.  It was the stinking pill - frequent urination.  No one, in all of the "ists" I saw last year, connected the dots to the side effects.  Now, it's not all that, I have an actual injury, but in all honesty, every day, I feel I'm getting better.  

I wasn't going to go into all of that, but it is an answer to prayers.  I am just going to trust that the Lord will work the rest out according to His will for my life.  

So, as I move on this next week, I feel a more positive about breaking or creating another habit that moves me in the right direction to a better Dicky Bird.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday Week 9 - March, In Like A

March in like a .... we had a lamb all winter.  However, this past week we had almost every season...60's, freezing rain, snow...what can I say, it's Wisconsin.  

I know it's Sunday morning, but that is just about how my week went.  Between family time, physical therapy, lot drops, pick ups, baking, cooking, cleaning for more family time....it went by fast.  

I did enjoy EVERY minute of it!  

All the maple syrup "people" are working so hard to keep up with this crazy weather.  My son-in-law works hard to get the sap from their trees and his dad cooks it down.  This picture says "Wisconsin" to me.

 I was busy making memories and not taking pictures.  However here are a few from my week.  

Ezra figured out how to drive his tractor.  Did I mention he isn't even 2 yet!  He is so smart.  He tried calling me the other day and I was in physical therapy.  When I got out to my car and looked at my messages, there was one of him crying saying "call gramma, call gramma!"  When I called him back he said "I crying" and when I saw him on Thursday, the first thing he says is "call gramma, I crying."  So yesterday, I called right away in the morning and said "call Ezra, call Ezra...."  His little face lights up....I'm so thankful for video messaging.  

We did 2 nights of "lot drops" - this is what my business selling group looks like.  We sold ALOT and the family was happy with prices.  I did have someone contact about a "buy out" of what is left.  We will see if it works out.  

O.k. that was pretty much it.  This week I plan to order my seeds.  If winter ever decides to come, it will be after I order and start my seeds....ahaha.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Farmhouse Friday Week 8 - Ever So Humble Home

 Good Friday Morning.  

How was your week?

This is my mom's parents, Grandma and Grandpa Kincaid.  They lived in a very humble, part log, part roofing (asphalt/tar paper type) for siding, little house.  I've heard some call it a shack.  I would never call it that.  For me, it was the best place - right there along that old chrome kitchen table.  I have memories of coming through the door at their house and running right to that table.  When we would come up to visit, grandma always had trays of cookies all on the table and covered with a dishcloth.  If you look the the far left side there is someone with long hair....that might be me?  Right there, as you entered that little back porch, I can still see my grandpa using a mixer to blend the 10 pounds of mashed potatoes.  Oh, we couldn't wait to come home from Sunday school and dig into the good ol' "lake o butter" in the middle of all the potatoes.  Not to mention the plates of fried chickens...yes chickens...s added.  Grandma used to feed it seemed like all us and half the church.  I now know they didn't have much money, how did they always feed everyone?  Then after our bellies were full, grandpa would get out his fiddle, banjo or harmonica and start in with old time gospel music.  My cousin or brother would join in with guitars and my aunt would sing. They fed us both - bellies and soul.  Then grandma would say "well, Jess, lets load up some plates of food and deliver to (lots of people) and go visit the "old people" at the nursing home."   We did that EVERY Sunday I was up and I'm sure they did it on a regular basis.  They were old people themselves!  Wonderful, wonderful memories I wouldn't trade of the best house or biggest inheritance EVER!!!  My inheritance they invest back into me and I'm the richest for it!

O.k. I guess I was feeling a bit nostalgic.

Our estate sale went about as good as I expected.  This week we are staging and posting what is left for a lot drop on our selling group.

I worked on my "window swag" - if you remember, the branch I hung above my kitchen window.  I plan to decorate it seasonally until I get sick of it. ahaha

I'll share it next week when I have it all done.  

I did teach the second needle felting class to the group of home schooled girls.  Wow, I was so impressed with their creations!

I also was thinking about my Easter and spring decorations and started to "force" some bulbs.  They seem to like the sunny spot in my laundry room.

  I had more physical therapy this week.  I did confess to my therapist that I almost didn't come back.  She asked "why?"  I said, "I'm a repeat offender....I'm sure you see people like me that don't keep up with their heath and need to come back again and again."  She said, "well, we do...."  I guess the first step in recovery is admission.  So, "hey, it's me, I'm my own problem..."

Now, on to step 2 - "I can't do this by myself"

Step 3 - "Lord help me, help myself.  If you do, I will do my best to keep up this time."  

Step 4 - "I know my limits and lack there of of them."

I'm still working on the others....I'm looking at this like a 12 step program.  Because for me, it is!  

Are you doing anything fun this weekend?  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

The Trouble with Being an Optimist

 Hello friends:

If you are new to my blog, welcome.  

Question:  What do you see?  A weed or wish?

I'm sure those who know me, even it you only do through reading my posts, can guess I am an optimist.  As long as I can remember; even being called "Little Miss Sunshine" from the neighbor lady and several grade school teachers.  

I have to say, I do have a "knack" for finding the "silver lining."

The problem with that, I have come to realize the older I get, is that optimists are often misunderstood.  

"Oh Jacky, my dog died" - "I'm sorry, but you gave it a good life."

"My mother had a stroke" - "Mine did too, enjoy her while she is still here." 

"I am tired of walking" - "I'm am too, but we are almost there."

Do you see it?  

My coping and dealing with trials lets call them, is finding the good in whatever it is.  I mean, I can't help myself at times, because I don't want to go down a path of sadness, it leads no where.  I've been surrounded by family, even faced it myself, that suffer from depression.  I watched, witnessed and wondered why they felt such deep sadness.  

Don't get me wrong here, I've had trials that have knocked me on my knees (in prayer).  I've been down too.  I just seem to find a way out - that "silver lining."  Because of this, optimists like myself, can come across as "unsympathetic."  It's not that I don't recognize other's trauma or trials, I do.  I feel for them.  I guess, I just jump to something positive to try to help them.  

Recently, I read an article about my personality type (enneagram 7) and it shared things that we 7's do that we could improve on.  One was, before we turn on the "bright side," we take time to acknowledge the pain or dismay with what our friend is telling us.  We, 7's, want to help....sometimes, helping is just listening and giving advice later.

I've tried to do this more, since becoming aware of it in myself.  I believe each feeling, emotion deserves a bit of reflection.  If someone tells me their "bad news" now, I try to listen, acknowledge and be sympathetic.  But, mark my words if after a awhile, one is still down in the dumps, "Little Miss Sunshine" will be on her way sharing unwanted advice.....ahahaha.  I only do this out of love.  Truly! 

If you happen to be an optimist too, or know one, please keep this post in your thoughts.  Don't judge the optimists too harshly, they are just coping with what you told them, the best they know how.  We don't want your thinking we belittle the situation, we are just trying to help you.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.