An Ending - A Beginning

Oh I really hope March is nicer to me than February has been.  I am feeling the effects of winter dragging on and on; along with all the rain we've had in Georgia.  Mud.  There's plenty of that down on the farm.
It has also been a busy month with life and new farm adventures!
Here is a quick review:

It has been many years since I have had to make and send Valentines to Elementary school.  Bear had fun with my old scrapbook supplies and some brand new construction paper making family cards.  My daughter, Leah, would tell you that I never allowed her to play with my punches.  Funny how different my parenting skills are with 26 years "experience".  ;-)
There have been several additions to our little farm -

A bottle fed calf, we've named ButterCup.  She is a full size jersey.  Did I mention you have to feed her a bottle twice a day?  Um, yeah.
There are also four rabbits...

This is BuckaLoo meeting Max.  BuckaLoo is really BIG!  He also has three girlfriends, one of which we named iHop.  Get it?  Yeah, we are silly sometimes.  We expect BuckaLoo to produce us Easter Cadberry eggs, like on TV.  I'm not getting my hopes up.  However, the man that sold them to us told us a week after that BuckaLoo had broken out of his cage and was found courting the ladies the week before.  So we will probably have baby bunnies here soon.  Wish it would have been in time to sell them for Easter!

Since February is the month of love, and Buckaloo got his lovings, we decided to hook Rosie up with a steady boyfriend.

Sultan is a registered mini jersey bull and he traveled from Colorado just to meet the cow of his dreams.  They plan to settle down right here in Georgia on the farm.  He is full of personality and isn't intimidated one bit by his much taller girlfriend.

Thanks to all the wonderful rain, it's muddy and messy around the barn.  We figured we might as well take our Saturday bath a bit early.  The Farmer tried making up old fashioned lye soap this month.

Since this was our first run, I am waiting to see how well it works.  If it cleans, then I may put together a little tutorial for the rest of you folks.  Cause I know all the snow and rain have left things messy in other parts of the country too.  Time for Spring Cleaning soon!

The Farm has become a clearing house of sorts for animals, seems we have some shared baby chicks in the barn.  We 'babysat' 400 ducks a few nights and now there are 3 dwarf goats looking for another home.

That's it for this month, bring on March. We are ready for spring!

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's really all about the Love right?  

Not the commercial side of Valentine's Day.  However, there will be small candy hearts for Bear and Leah today.  It's a secret, but the Farmer and Bear have been 'not so secretly' working on homemade Valentine cards.  Sweet!  

I joined a Valentine's swap via blogland and InstaGram. My first ever mug swap through Sew Caroline and Rags to Stitches. I had the pleasure of being paired up to swap with Thuy at My Paper Pinwheel.  Thuy is a mom of 2 adorable boys and is the sweetest swap partner!  I was thrilled the day I opened my mailbox and my mug swap was here!

I couldn't wait and rushed in to open it!  Look what greeted me: adorable bright happy paper and a sweet tiny card.

Everything was tucked in and arrived safely.

Thuy wrapped it up just as cheerful.

Tiny packages of fun.  Here is all my loot:

I was totally spoiled by Thuy!  Washi tape, a hello stamp, my fav candy, socks, note pad, adorable set of traveling coffee cups, pencils, heart suckers and last but NOT least...

this AMAZING coffee mug from  Anthropologie!!!  My very first Anthro item.  I loved every sweet little thing.
And just in case you are wondering, here is my package to Thuy.

THANKS to Caroline and Alissa for such a fun swap! I'm so glad I was able to participate and have made a new friend in Thuy.

My Happy Mail Project

In early January, while viewing my InstaGram feed, I spotted a mail swap for Valentines.  Fun right?  The big reveal of my swap goodies is coming up in my post on Thursday.  This idea reminded me of being around 12 years old and meeting a friend while on vacation in Florida.  After a week of fun, Linda and I became pen pals.  Of course, back in those days there wasn't email, Facebook or even cell phones!  Yes, I am THAT old.

So receiving a note, letter or card in the mail was fun.  As we get older and life makes us responsible for bills, there isn't much joy in going to the mailbox.  So this year, I decided I wanted to have a little fun, enjoy the revival of pen pals and hopefully spread a little happiness to others in the process.  I put the call out for pen pals and swap pals on InstaGram and my Facebook Fan page.  Thrilled that several ladies have responded!  I've even set up my own pen pal notebook to keep up with everyone. Let the HAPPY MAIL begin traveling snail.
I grabbed my stash of scrapbook supplies and made my own stationery.  Because we all know I'm a thrifty! Have you tried to buy stationery?  One, you can't find it! Two, if you do the price of it could purchase groceries for a family of four.

The letters and packages started their journey this month.  Spreading happy mail far and wide.

I have sent out letters, cards and small packages with fun little items and homemade crafts.  If you are one of my pen pals and haven't yet received a letter or package, no worries you will!  I am going to try to send out some little something each month.  Plus I will also be sending a note or letter in between.  To keep the happy coming and going!  Sure brightens my day to get home from work, check the box and have something sweet inside.  It's also fun to make up a little envy to send off to make others smile.

My 1st letter was received January 28th and my first package came in on February 4th.
I opened my first package to find this beautiful personalized beach bag!  Perfect for that day at the lake, by our pool or hopefully this summer to the beach.

I also received a gorgeous artist postcard (which many call "mail art") from one of my IG pals.

Just in time to add to my mantel, I received an adorable garland of crocheted hearts.

I hung it that same night.
A little unexpected blessing came on Saturday via happy mail from one of my sweet pen pals.  Not only did I receive this cute package for Valentines.

Candy, a card, a cute monogram letter note pad and guess what I will be wearing on Vday?  This whimsy adorable heart scarf!
Traci also sent Bear his own 'happy mail'.

Hot wheels, candy and a sweet little card.  He was SO excited when I showed him the mail with his name.   Thank you Traci for making his day!
Since I am crafting items and needed a space to write, I cleaned off and organized my desk.  I owe a letter out this week.  So this is where I am heading off to write and send ...miles of smiles!

 

Do you have a pen pal?

Easy LOVE Banner

Are you ready for the day of Love?  Valentines?  It will be here in 10 days!  There is still time to whip up a little love for your home.

For my farm house mantel, I kept many of my Christmas items (candles and glass jars with red balls).  I pulled other things from around the house: a couple of red books I purchased from Goodwill and the little red pitcher that I believe I picked up at Dollar General a few years ago.  Plus my clearance find heart ornament from Target that I picked up for 10 cents!  I wanted a little bit more.

Then I whipped out my old scrapbook supplies and paper lunch bags to make my little love banner.

 I cut the bottom off each bag.  The cut them in half length wise.  The little red hearts were hand cut from a nice piece of thick cardstock.

I inked the edges of the hearts and stamped the other letters on with foam stamps.  A bit of twine, a little hot glue and it's complete.  I might have made more than one.

I LOVE it!  Seriously.  Plus it was so very simple.  Like I have always said, it doesn't have to cost a pretty penny to be beautiful.

Do you decorate for Valentines? 

I don't go all out, in fact, the above is it.  Besides, I think I can leave this up somewhere in the house after I take it off the mantel.

Sharing here:

Wow, it's 2013 already!

Where have the days gone?!  I really enjoyed a little over two weeks off from work to relax and soak in our holidays.  Really hating that saying that all good things must come to an end, because it was back to work on January 2nd.  

Don't misunderstand me, I am ever so grateful I have a job and a job that I enjoy.  We've started the new semester at the University, but before classes began this week; I was standing on this stage giving a presentation to over 350 new incoming students.

Every first few days of semesters are whirlwind busy, like battling a tornado in a corner.  Yet, there is something very satisfying to watch today's youth chase their educational dreams.

I've been posting some of my Goodwill outfits over on Design to Shine's Facebook page.  Watch soon for a post of recent finds and outfits I've thrown together in a mad morning rush.  Plus I am hoping to do a few posts on building a solid thrift wardrobe!  Is that something anyone would be interested in reading?

No written resolutions for me this year, although I have a few tucked in my brain.  ;-)

I signed up for a Valentine mug swap via snail mail.  Exciting!  Who doesn't like a fun package in the mail?!

You fill out a very short survey, provide your information and then swap!  Can you believe when asked what type candy I like it took FOREVER for me to decide? It's not that I am really *that* picky, it's just that I don't really purchase a lot of candy.  My favorite mini candy treat are the individually wrapped small Reese's peanut butter cups.  Just the right size and not too much.  I keep them in the frig occasionally and have them for cravings.  Other than that my only other sweet treat favorites are usually chocolate chip cookies, homemade fresh pound cake and banana pudding.  LOL  Can you imagine shipping banana pudding in the mail?  Just made myself laugh.

When asked where I like to shop, uh THRIFT!  Although I don't think that is exactly what the organizers meant.

If you would like to join the swap, you still have time.  Check out the details at Sew Caroline or Rags to Stitches.

How is 2013 treating you?

Christmas down on the Farm

Merry Christmas from the farm! 

On the front porch an old sleigh found in the barn, dusted off and holds my fresh cut wreath with a simple bow.

Our Christmas tree is decked again this year with my $20 worth of decorations made four years ago, plus 2 new special ornaments Bear made at PreK, hand-print Rudolphs.  The rustic nature theme fits for the farm house.

Our mantel keeps the nature theme with more large pine cones.  The only new items purchased this year are the 2 tiny wreaths (from the Dollar Tree) and the adorable snowflake garland (Target, $4).   The stockings are not hung here because it's been cold in Georgia and we are using the fireplace.  Nice and cozy.

I've been enjoying my time off from the University.  We finished up our shopping early last week and I've had time to soak in the spirit.  We've had fun here too.  Last week with Bear's little PreK party where we made tiny gingerbread houses (the base is a milk carton! Love that idea.)

Then kicked off our holiday weekend on Saturday morning with a North Pole Breakfast, compliments of Sam, our Elf on the Shelf.

I have spent time in the barn with our little jersey calf, AnnaBelle.

As I sat rubbing her head the other night, I thought of the song, Away in the Manger.  What it must have been like for Mary to give birth to Jesus in a stable.  

 My wish for each of you is to enjoy the next few days surrounded by those that love you.  May your days be Merry and Bright!

North Pole Breakfast

I know many people that have fun with the Elf on a Shelf have a North Pole Breakfast to celebrate his/her arrival.  However, life was crazy and busy so that didn't happen here.  Instead yesterday morning, our elf, Sam, provided a North Pole Breakfast to kick off our holiday weekend!  Simple, low stress and FUN.  Who says I have to be on anyone else's schedule?  Besides a little boy didn't know the difference.  ;-)

To set the mood, I pulled out some of my previous years Christmas decor: a cute little Santa and Snowman, snowflakes, the pine cone trees Bear and I crafted last year, along with a pedestal found from Goodwill that I had spray painted.  I also found my foam snow flakes and candles from last year's New Years Tablescape.
Then I set the table.

Dollar General paper snowmen plates, paper towel 'napkins' fancied up with a candy cane and some of my ribbon stash.  Plus 2 sweet little Santa ornaments found in my wrapping paper box that I had never used as a 'favor' for our little breakfast party.  The adorable Snowmen mugs were a recent gift from Granny.

The menu was all North Pole Breakfast foods:  Snowball donuts, Berry Merry Muffins, Snowmen filled with popcorn.

Fruit candy cane, made with apple slices and a banana.  The store was out of strawberries, so I used what I had on hand!  Bear loves apples.

To drink:  Hot chocolate with 'snow' whipped cream.

Thanks to Pinterest for this easy and adorable snowman cup to hold our popcorn.  Totally makes it OK for breakfast right?!  Ha! You could also fill them with marshmallows.
Total spent for our little breakfast was $3!  I purchased the $1 paper plates and the Merry Christmas picks for the muffins.  That was it.

That sweet smile:  PRICELESS!  Bed head hair and all.  He loved it!  What a way to kick off our holiday weekend and enjoy the Christmas magic.  Bear woke up my baby girl (who is 21!) to have breakfast with him.  She played big sister right along with him in the spirit of Christmas 'excitement'.  These are the things this precious child (who is my nephew that we have custody of for 2 years now) will remember.  Thanks Sam!

Our little Elf on the Shelf isn't 'naughty' at all!  He does do a few silly things, like making a balloon ride from Bear's underwear:

Or fun things like our North Pole Breakfast.  Thanks for the memories Sam!  We are going to miss you, but we know you will return next year in time for the holidays to spread a bit of Christmas cheer to a little boy.

 

We are ready for Christmas, are you?