Handmade Holiday 2018

So, has anyone started making lists and started in on their first handmade gift for 2018?  

I dedicated one of the three moleskin notebooks our oldest daughter, Abby, gave me for Christmas to make lists and keep track.  

I am going to be honest, here.  January, February, and March are very hard months for our family financially.  These are our businesses slow times.  I have been very negligent about saving money for the slow times.  This year I am committing myself to not spending anything for just this year unless absolutely necessary.  And, when business gets busy, to save money for these down times.  

So philosophically, of course, I believe wholeheartedly in handmade gifts.  I avoid big box as much as possible.  We enjoyed shopping in nearby downtown Belfast this past Christmas season and supporting local merchants.  But, ultimately as much handmade that can be made would be best as long as the recipient is going to appreciate it.    So back to being honest.  This past December, as our business was busy, I bought several gifts at Amazon - uggghhh!  Amazon is something I am committed to not using at all this year and instead, to plan ahead and support local small businesses or simply go without.

I also love making - that is another reason for a handmade Christmas.

Finally, I am challenging myself to use the materials and supplies I have on hand for making.  If I really dig and am creative, there should be few items I will need to buy.

And, I am going to share one of my harder goals for this coming year - to not buy any of the beautiful magazines - just for one year.  (I actually do like supporting those small businesses and the inspiration is wonderful.  This is going to be a very hard one for me!)   We need to get our finances in order and I know that I have a stack of back issues that have plenty of use still left in them.  Many projects and ideas I have yet to use.  I also have plenty of crafty books that I can find more than enough ideas.  Oh, and I haven't even mentioned the overwhelming amount of ideas on Instagram or Pinterest.  

I look forward to your sharing.  Let's use #handmadeholiday2018 if you like to share that way.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Handmade Christmas for 2018

So I got very few handmade gifts done this past Christmas and I am determined to do better this coming year.

The first step is for me to make a list of the people I want to make something for... and then write next to their names something that they could use or would like - that something, being something either Mike or myself could make.

The next step is to pick one person/project on the list and come up with a plan for that project.  For example, if it is a knitted item then I would need to search for a pattern and make a materials list, buy the materials if I don't already have them (although I would really love to use up my stash), and set myself a time frame to get that one project finished.  

Would you like to join me?  I am going to use one of the moleskin notebooks Abby gifted me for Christmas, and devote it to Christmas 2018 and start in on the first step.  I hope to begin on the first gift by this coming Monday.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Baby Goats and the War Machine

We weren't planning on baby goats this spring as Mike made a separate fenced in area and shelter for our buck and we moved him over the very end of October or the beginning of November.  But, this must have happened right before.  God must have known I needed baby goats this spring - they are just the sweetest.  Yesterday we let them and their mom free range around the yard.

On a separate, not so sweet note, is this ridiculous war in Syria and it seems as though the administration is about to expand our involvement.

Please do not believe the main stream media without checking out facts for yourself.  Don't even believe your politicians and intelligence agencies without seeing physical proof.

Please read through these articles and if you agree, contact your representatives and senators and demand that the United States stop arming the so-called rebels, stop escalating our involvement in Syria, let Assad stay in power for now, and get back to the negotiating table.  There is no proof that Assad was behind the chemical attacks.  Why would he have?  He was about to get everything he wanted - The Trump administration had just said the US wouldn't advocate for his removal, Syria and Russia and perhaps the US to some degree as well, were making huge gains in pushing ISIS out, and they were about to resume peace/negotiation talks.  

Really dig into the origins of the Syria war.  It was probably not an uprising from within.  The likes of the United States, with our so-called allies, Saudi Arabia (does that make any sense???), Turkey and Qatar supported the uprising that eventually over the years attracted members of Al-Qaeda and other radical organizations.  Our country, because it is controlled by the wealthiest few, loves war to fund all the corporations and  loves the prospect of putting a pipeline through Syria.

Do you know that Syria was a secular country where women had equal rights (rare for a middle eastern country), people could practice their chosen religion in peace, education was free, and there was a good free health care system.  Of course, you couldn't challenge Assad politically, but I don't believe that is reason enough for us to challenge him.  Think of how many other countries commit horrific evils to their people, yet we do nothing, for example Saudi Arabia.  I am not advocating that we should do anything, but I am just arguing that there is no justification for regime change in Syria.

Please just remember that our government told us that the Iraq war was justified, that there was proof of weapons of mass destruction.  They lied to the American people.

Here are links to some good articles:

https://consortiumnews.com/2017/04/08/where-was-cias-pompeo-on-syria/

https://consortiumnews.com/2017/04/07/trumps-wag-the-dog-moment/

http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured-articles/2017/february/04/the-media-coverage-on-syria-is-the-biggest-media-lie-of-our-time-interview-with-flemish-priest-in-syria/#.WOpu9D_Y-bU.twitter

corbettreport.com

Sorry for the heaviness but I feel that it is so important.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

This Weekend

I treated myself to a $3.99 bouquet when food shopping on Friday and I am so happy I did.  Flowers make me feel so happy.  

On Saturday, we boiled off some sap from Friday's run.  It was only about 3 gallons of sap, so we just did it on the stove.  I baked two loaves of bread and Abby made a cake.

Part of our payment for working at our neighbor's organic farm on Tuesdays and Thursdays is food.  They had some local frozen lamb shanks which I have never had before.   They are cooking all afternoon today.  I also added vegetable stock, red wine, onions, garlic, potatoes and carrots.

Yesterday and today the sap is flowing a bit more, so Mike is boiling the sap outside.  He made this from metal roofing and we have our roaster pans holding the sap and then we bring it into the house to finish it off.

The view of our back yard today.  Tomorrow, though, is the first day of spring!

Today with it warming up a bit, I was able to clean out the chicken coop.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.

Warmly,

Tonya

By Faith

So our family has settled into our new little homestead here in Maine.  We love the house, the land, our neighbors, and our intimate church family.  However, our business has slowed down to the point in the last couple of years that we simply are not able to really "get by".  We have never gone hungry, but it just seems as if it should not be so, and not responsible to continue with such uncertainty.  We have opened ourselves up to the possibility that we are being moved in another direction.  While we keep our business going, either Mike or I will be working two days at an organic vegetable farm just one mile up the road.  That will help just a bit but really we are opening ourselves completely up to what God has to offer us in terms of vocation and employment.  To be honest, I am tired of being stressed about finances and wondering which bill I can pay on which day and if we are going to have enough sales tomorrow to go food shopping, for example.  I am tired of not being able to afford to go to the dentist.   I trust in God but I also know that we are to use wisdom and to listen.  So I open myself up and I pray for guidance and wisdom and for clarity that either our business provides or that new opportunities make themselves apparent.  So keep our family in your prayers and let me know how I can pray for you as well.

Warm wishes,
Tonya

Summer Fun

This summer my plan for our family was to have fun when possible.  Summer is just so short that we have all the other months to work more.  Of course, our business requires at least 40 plus hours a week but we are afforded flexibility to choose when we work those hours.  We have a very modest unpredictable income but there really are so many possibilities that don't require a lot of money.

Like so many other places around the county, this summer has been extra hot here in midcoast Maine. 

We feel have been swimming at a state park just 7 miles from us nearly every very hot late afternoon.  We like to go after the crowds have left and the sun isn't as likely to burn.  These visits to the lake have resulted in meeting two homechool families that live in a nearby town and already Sarah has connected with one of the girls.  Truly an answer to prayer.

We enjoyed a family gathering at my Mom's in Connecticut.  My mother and aunt surprised Mike and I and our children still at home, by flying Nolan and his wife up for the weekend.  They live in Virginia and it had been nearly a year since we had seen them.  What an amazing surprise.  The last picture was taken at that gathering of us with our seven children and two spouses.  (There was a tropical theme for the get together.)

So this past week, we went to a state park in New Hampshire and stayed two nights in one of their cabins.  Part of the trip's purpose was to meet my mother on our last day so that Abby could spend a week with her in Connecticut.  The state park was a good midway point.  The park was just wonderful!  The lake was beautiful and the walking and hiking excellent.  

Not to mention the weather - oh the weather this summer.

Castine, Maine

Even though we have a  long to-do list on our new homestead, we left it behind and headed out on a spectacular day last Saturday to explore our new beautiful state.

Just Here

Just a simple weekend mostly at home:

planting, splitting, stacking, replacing brake pads, playing, preparing meals, cleaning, making, loving, crying and laughing.

A Day in Our Life

Most days we meet at the table at 9:00 and talk, work, read aloud until about 11:00 when I prepare lunch.

As we learn and read, we try to find countries on the globe.

 This day Emily began to cut up some straws which we later strung to make necklaces.

While I am making lunch, Emmy asks me to put her hair in a ballerina bun, she puts on her Elsa dress and dances.

 

After lunch, I get outside to work around the homestead for a couple of hours - right now my work is preparing the garden.  By late afternoon, I generally spend a couple of hours on the business doing computer work, wood burning, and packaging.

During my work time, Mike usually works on some building projects and most everyone else is outside with him.

He just finished a little shelter for our Nigerian Dwarf buck and will start a fenced in area for him today so we can keep him separate from the girls for most of the year. 

Certain days of the week we have some other activities, such as an art/music class on Monday afternoon for Abraham and Sarah and homeschool gym time on Friday afternoons.  We try to not have to leave the house on Tuesday and Thursdays to minimize driving and to be more productive.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Knitting and Reading

Yeah!! I am here joining Ginny with what I am knitting and reading.

Well, we are working to getting back to our principles of not spending/consuming unless necessary or for a well thought out purpose (such as a trip to visit family).    So, part of that goal means using up and making do.  As we rely on our home based business for nearly 100% of our family's income, we never really know what each week will bring in terms of our income.  So when business is busy, we have had a tendency to spend (give too) but really spend probably too easily.   When business is slow, as it had been prior to the last couple of weeks, we pray, pinch pennies, and wonder if God really wants us to be doing what we are doing.  It is so funny, but, right when Mike starts inquiring about some side work, the business starts booming, as it did recently.  So our prayers were answered and our needs were always met.

Anyway, back to the knit along.  Well, I have lots of yarn.  Of course, I often find that I don't  have what would be my first choice for a particular pattern.

So, I just love the new Moonlight Garden Shawl Pattern by Mandarines.  She is offering 15% off the pattern through April 30th using the code mandarinesmaykal.    Melody, of Mandarines, is also having a Shawl Knit Along for the month of May.  She has several beautiful shawl patterns to choose from.  

So, although I would have loved to order some beautiful O'Wool Local yarn - which is a blend of alpaca/fine wool for my Moonlight Garden Shawl, I resisted and am instead using up what I have which is the only DK weight yarn in enough yardage from my stash.  It is from Peace Fleece in the colorway Distant Maple which is shades of green and purple with specks of blue.  If I could, I would have chosen, a soft brown color in an alpaca blend to create a nice drape.  But this will work and I can see myself using it just as the name suggests - wrapping it around myself in the evening as I walk around our homestead checking on the garden and animals or pushing one of the children on their swing.  

I am also crocheting a pillow cover - actually I plan to make two to add a little refreshment to our couch and to go along with the lap blanket I recently finished.

So glad to be reading a good fiction book - a classic - My Antonio, by Willa Cather.  

What are you working on and reading?

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Returning

I am back in this space after not getting the hang of squarespace.  I like the feel here and also it really contains so much of our family's journey.  Looking back at how our dreams have been realized one step at a time, but of course not without occasional interruptions and challenges.

We are mostly settled on our new homestead in the midcoast Maine area.  The house is an antique Cape, although, it has been "cheapified" over the years and I hope to add some rustic charm and character over the coming years.  It is smallish, 3 bedrooms (the girls' bedroom is quite large, though) but it has a nice open living space with a large kitchen.   The land, at 7 1/2 acres, is what is most exciting.  We have lots of maples to tap next spring, plenty of firewood available to cut, gardening space, an overgrown field that can be reclaimed for growing or pasture and much more.  

Being in a new area, however, no matter how beautiful and no matter how much more it has to offer our family in terms of homeschool groups, classes, a bit more of a diversified population (not really diversified but at least in terms of age and vocations, etc..), it has still been harder than I thought it would be.

As spring has returned, though, our eyes are on the long days of work ahead.  Firewood and fencing the garden are our first priorities.  We also plan to plant blueberry bushes, rhubarb, and asparagus.

Thank you for reading and I hope you will find your way here from time to time as I share bits and pieces of our life with five children still at home, 5 goats (at the moment), 12 chickens, 1 duck, 1 dog, 1 kitten, and 2 pet bunnies, as well as what it is like to learn and work together on our home based business which supports our family's simple lifestyle.