Life has been keeping us pleasantly busy lately. Sometimes it seems a bit overwhelming in summer, because our list of projects never seems to end. The key to enjoying our busy lifestyle, we have discovered, is to focus on what we have accomplished, while trying to enjoy the anticipation of perhaps tackling other projects one day in the near future (rather than regretting that they haven't been done).
It would be easy to get discouraged about the goat fence that still isn't up, the apple trees that we haven't planted, the weeding that never ends. But if I stop and look around, there are so many beautiful, wonderful things going on. I guess life is one big lesson in perspective. Someone wise once told us, focus on the journey, and not the destination... and enjoy all the small blessings along the way.
So today, being Monday morning, and because I woke up feeling the weight of all the things that need to be done this week, I am making myself a list of small blessings. Here they are, in no particular order:
Our zinnias are in full bloom and they are gorgeous. I am not really a flower person, but am trying to change this- I have discovered that walking out to a field of brilliant colors makes me smile!
We have picked about a half dozen quarts of wild black raspberries, and they make the most heavenly smoothies. Yum!
I was lucky enough to have both of my parents up this past week to share in our farm-life adventures. It means so much to me that they love it here so much and are so willing to help out!
The first red tomato of the season is a gala affair, and it was picked this morning. That alone is cause for celebration!
We made the first few quarts of homemade strawberry jam and they are gone already! The rest of our strawberries are still in the freezer, waiting for a cool, quiet night when I can set aside a few hours to do the canning.
We lost none of our 25 new chicks this year. Thank goodness!
The nights have been so clear and and the stars so stunning. Millions and millions of balls of fire millions and billions of miles away...
Our piggies have been such an adventure for us! The hard part is yet to come- I am learning the hard lessons of raising your own food, but it is important to me that I continue to respect and appreciate the lives that are given up so that we may eat meat.
There is nothing like the vibrant orange yolk of a free-range chicken. Beautiful, glowing in its orangeness, and full of flavor!
The dragonflies are everywhere! They are beautiful and delicate and they devour the mosquitoes. Go dragonflies!
Our raw milk continues to delight us! Milked first thing in the morning, we get to pick it up later in the day, in a big glass jar like the old days (which of course I never experienced - plastic jugs were king by the time I came along, so I think it is just so cool!).
The sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, my husband still has his job, our garden is feeding us, and we are healthy. I guess I couldn't possibly complain!!
There, now I am ready to get back to work with joy in my heart!! Have a wonder-filled day, wherever you are!
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