Happy Thanksgiving! :-)
We had a quiet but enjoyable holiday, with plenty of sunshine which made it relatively pleasant to work outdoors as long as I was bundled up against the chill. My efforts were somewhat limited by a bout of hip pain, but I managed to finish the rest of the garden cleanup and fall harvest (radishes, turnips, carrots, and the remaining tender greens), do some mulching, and start working on cleaning up the yard.
We made entirely too much food for two people - as usual - but it was all delicious and featured a good amount of our own homegrown food, including deviled eggs, collard greens and kale, mashed potatoes, and butternut squash (which I did not grow intentionally this year, but we had a volunteer by the chicken run that produced 3 good-sized and delicious squashes). I also made homemade cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, and homemade raw-milk vanilla ice cream, which we enjoyed with apple pie and sparkling rose. It was very enjoyable and not too stressful, as I prepped ahead of time and made the ice cream and cranberry sauce the night before.
Anyway, Thanksgiving means it's time for this year's gratitude list, and while I found great inspiration in re-reading last year's list about the homestead, this year's list is a bit more eclectic. Here are just a few of the many things I am grateful for as we wrap up 2023...
We had a quiet but enjoyable holiday, with plenty of sunshine which made it relatively pleasant to work outdoors as long as I was bundled up against the chill. My efforts were somewhat limited by a bout of hip pain, but I managed to finish the rest of the garden cleanup and fall harvest (radishes, turnips, carrots, and the remaining tender greens), do some mulching, and start working on cleaning up the yard.
We made entirely too much food for two people - as usual - but it was all delicious and featured a good amount of our own homegrown food, including deviled eggs, collard greens and kale, mashed potatoes, and butternut squash (which I did not grow intentionally this year, but we had a volunteer by the chicken run that produced 3 good-sized and delicious squashes). I also made homemade cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, and homemade raw-milk vanilla ice cream, which we enjoyed with apple pie and sparkling rose. It was very enjoyable and not too stressful, as I prepped ahead of time and made the ice cream and cranberry sauce the night before.
Anyway, Thanksgiving means it's time for this year's gratitude list, and while I found great inspiration in re-reading last year's list about the homestead, this year's list is a bit more eclectic. Here are just a few of the many things I am grateful for as we wrap up 2023...
I wasn't expecting this to be a banner year, but I feel like 2023 was one of the best in quite some time. Not only was this one of the best garden years we've had in a while, but we also had quite a bit of fun, and made great progress on the house and homestead!
We finally got our leaky roof replaced with a brand new, beautiful, and leak-free upgrade, and I also got a new (to me) car. I said a fond farewell to Cherri - one of my favorite cars that I've owned, but after 15 years, she had started to become unreliable, and it was definitely time to move on. I LOVE my new (2017) cute little plug-in hybrid, and she is so comfortable and efficient!
We also built a new chicken shelter and small chicken tractor, which give us more options for managing and protecting the flock, and upgraded our garden rainwater tank to 3,000 gallons, which has made a huge difference in water security. Not that we needed it with all of this year's rain (see below)...
But our most exciting project this year (for me anyway), was updating the living room! After years of living with a stained ancient carpet, dingy walls, and an outdated fireplace, we FINALLY have a gorgeous new hardwood floor, a beautiful paint job, and a brand new cute little free-standing gas fireplace/stove that makes the room feel cozy and homey on cold nights. I finally have a living room that I actually want to live in! :-)
And, we took several vacations, including a trip to Florida, a visit to relatives in Minnesota, and a weekend with friends in Tennessee. To wrap up the year, Christmas will be a bit different this time, as hubby is staying home with the dog and chickens, so I'll be heading to Arkansas on my own for a few days. It will be strange without him, but is always wonderful to see the family.
Now, with that quick recap out of the way, here is my top 3 gratitude list this year!
1. My Fabulous Brain
Yes, I know, it sounds odd, but I'm trying to appreciate more things about myself, and I realized the other day that most of us probably don't really ever think about or appreciate the marvel that resides between our ears!
Each of us were blessed with this amazing tool without which, not only couldn't we function in the world, but we wouldn't be our own unique selves. We each think in our own way, process things differently, and see the world through unique eyes. No one in the world (even a twin) will ever experience life the way each one of us does. It is totally unique to each individual, and although our differences in thinking can often bring conflict, I think this uniqueness should be celebrated!
I especially appreciate the fact that the brain can grow and evolve over time, learning new things and building new neural pathways throughout our entire lives - no matter how long we live.
That said, just like our bodies, the brain can also decline with age, especially if we don't take care of it. I have always been proud of my spectacular memory (although sometimes I admit that I occasionally "dumb" it down, pretending not to remember things that I actually do, just because of what other people might think). My brain is so thoughtful, curious, and creative! It remembers momentous or even ordinary events for years on end, as well as tiny everyday things such as exactly where each item is located in the refrigerator. :-)
But I know it's not a given that my brain will always be this sharp. So lately I have been thinking I need to pay it a bit more attention. Exercise and nutrition are essential for healthy brain function, as is mental stimulation. I've been practicing meditation and guided visualization lately, and can already feel a shift. My goal is to incorporate more brain-stimulating games and activities into my life on a regular basis, so that I can enjoy my fabulous brain for many years to come! :-)
2. Food Abundance
As I mentioned above, this was one of the best garden years in a long time. We finally (knock wood!) got the deer problem under control with a tip from my wonderful mother, who has had great success keeping deer out of the garden using a strand of electrified wire above the garden fence. The trick is to rub dabs of peanut butter on the fence, so the deer will taste it and learn to avoid it. I was doubtful at first since the deer had been so bad the past 2 years, but we had not a SINGLE issue with deer in the garden once we implemented this trick! It completely saved our garden this year, and we enjoyed bumper harvests of pretty much everything from beans to tomatoes to beets, onions, potatoes, and more.
We had plentiful rain for the entire summer up until September when it got very dry for a bit. However, for some reason, the tomatoes weren't bothered by blight until fairly late, and we canned more tomatoes this year than we have in several years. The peppers were a little slower for some reason, so we didn't have as many ripen before frost as usual, but still ended up with a good amount.
After last year's wet start and pitiful potato harvest from the raised bed, I opted to only grow potatoes in hay bales this year, and we ended up with over 50 lbs of potatoes from 6 hay bales - our biggest harvest ever by far! We also had the best onion crop in years, including a whole onion sack filled with a long-keeping red Italian heirloom variety that I tried this year for the first time. Lots of garlic, shallots, and massive green onions the size of leeks rounded out our allium harvest.
We froze countless bags of peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, green onions, green beans, and more, and I made jars of pickled peppers, canned tomatoes, and fermented salsa. A neighbor gifted us with all the ripe crab apples we could pick, and I made crab apple schnapps and jelly. Our refrigerators are full of apples, beets, cabbages, carrots, radishes, turnips, and greens, and the freezers are so stuffed we can barely open them without things falling out!
We finally got our leaky roof replaced with a brand new, beautiful, and leak-free upgrade, and I also got a new (to me) car. I said a fond farewell to Cherri - one of my favorite cars that I've owned, but after 15 years, she had started to become unreliable, and it was definitely time to move on. I LOVE my new (2017) cute little plug-in hybrid, and she is so comfortable and efficient!
We also built a new chicken shelter and small chicken tractor, which give us more options for managing and protecting the flock, and upgraded our garden rainwater tank to 3,000 gallons, which has made a huge difference in water security. Not that we needed it with all of this year's rain (see below)...
But our most exciting project this year (for me anyway), was updating the living room! After years of living with a stained ancient carpet, dingy walls, and an outdated fireplace, we FINALLY have a gorgeous new hardwood floor, a beautiful paint job, and a brand new cute little free-standing gas fireplace/stove that makes the room feel cozy and homey on cold nights. I finally have a living room that I actually want to live in! :-)
And, we took several vacations, including a trip to Florida, a visit to relatives in Minnesota, and a weekend with friends in Tennessee. To wrap up the year, Christmas will be a bit different this time, as hubby is staying home with the dog and chickens, so I'll be heading to Arkansas on my own for a few days. It will be strange without him, but is always wonderful to see the family.
Now, with that quick recap out of the way, here is my top 3 gratitude list this year!
1. My Fabulous Brain
Yes, I know, it sounds odd, but I'm trying to appreciate more things about myself, and I realized the other day that most of us probably don't really ever think about or appreciate the marvel that resides between our ears!
Each of us were blessed with this amazing tool without which, not only couldn't we function in the world, but we wouldn't be our own unique selves. We each think in our own way, process things differently, and see the world through unique eyes. No one in the world (even a twin) will ever experience life the way each one of us does. It is totally unique to each individual, and although our differences in thinking can often bring conflict, I think this uniqueness should be celebrated!
I especially appreciate the fact that the brain can grow and evolve over time, learning new things and building new neural pathways throughout our entire lives - no matter how long we live.
That said, just like our bodies, the brain can also decline with age, especially if we don't take care of it. I have always been proud of my spectacular memory (although sometimes I admit that I occasionally "dumb" it down, pretending not to remember things that I actually do, just because of what other people might think). My brain is so thoughtful, curious, and creative! It remembers momentous or even ordinary events for years on end, as well as tiny everyday things such as exactly where each item is located in the refrigerator. :-)
But I know it's not a given that my brain will always be this sharp. So lately I have been thinking I need to pay it a bit more attention. Exercise and nutrition are essential for healthy brain function, as is mental stimulation. I've been practicing meditation and guided visualization lately, and can already feel a shift. My goal is to incorporate more brain-stimulating games and activities into my life on a regular basis, so that I can enjoy my fabulous brain for many years to come! :-)
2. Food Abundance
As I mentioned above, this was one of the best garden years in a long time. We finally (knock wood!) got the deer problem under control with a tip from my wonderful mother, who has had great success keeping deer out of the garden using a strand of electrified wire above the garden fence. The trick is to rub dabs of peanut butter on the fence, so the deer will taste it and learn to avoid it. I was doubtful at first since the deer had been so bad the past 2 years, but we had not a SINGLE issue with deer in the garden once we implemented this trick! It completely saved our garden this year, and we enjoyed bumper harvests of pretty much everything from beans to tomatoes to beets, onions, potatoes, and more.
We had plentiful rain for the entire summer up until September when it got very dry for a bit. However, for some reason, the tomatoes weren't bothered by blight until fairly late, and we canned more tomatoes this year than we have in several years. The peppers were a little slower for some reason, so we didn't have as many ripen before frost as usual, but still ended up with a good amount.
After last year's wet start and pitiful potato harvest from the raised bed, I opted to only grow potatoes in hay bales this year, and we ended up with over 50 lbs of potatoes from 6 hay bales - our biggest harvest ever by far! We also had the best onion crop in years, including a whole onion sack filled with a long-keeping red Italian heirloom variety that I tried this year for the first time. Lots of garlic, shallots, and massive green onions the size of leeks rounded out our allium harvest.
We froze countless bags of peppers, tomatoes, tomatillos, green onions, green beans, and more, and I made jars of pickled peppers, canned tomatoes, and fermented salsa. A neighbor gifted us with all the ripe crab apples we could pick, and I made crab apple schnapps and jelly. Our refrigerators are full of apples, beets, cabbages, carrots, radishes, turnips, and greens, and the freezers are so stuffed we can barely open them without things falling out!
Besides all of the garden goodies, our new additions to the chicken flock started laying earlier and heavier than expected, and we continue to get nearly 5 large, gorgeous dark brown eggs per day, even as the days shorten into winter. We will see how much they slow down in the next couple of months, but I'm not expecting production to decline much this winter from what I've seen so far.
We have also been enjoying our local raw-milk herd share, making plenty of yogurt, ice cream, and butter this year, and we'll be picking up our winter batch of chicken from our favorite farm next weekend. A friend who hunts gifted us with a deer last week, and we just took a day trip this weekend to pick up the meat from the processor. It was a small doe, but tender and lovely, and we're looking forward to a juicy venison steak this week!
Our cupboards literally overflow with the bounty we have been blessed with this year, and I'm just so grateful it's hard to put into words...
3. Four Seasons
Again, this is something most people probably don't think about that often, but as someone who has lived in an area where winter doesn't really happen and even fall is half-hearted, I like to try to remember how lucky I am to live somewhere where I can fully enjoy all four seasons!
In the dead of winter when all is cold and gloomy, it can be easy to wish for sunny beaches, but the truth is, having all four seasons helps to keep things in balance. It just feels much more natural to me, although I suppose those in a different hemisphere might have a different perspective...
I have come to appreciate the transitions from summer into fall, from fall to winter, and then into the burgeoning renewal of spring. Growing up, fall was always my favorite season. Living on the Gulf Coast, the spring was the best time of year (though it didn't last long), and here in Ohio, summer always feels like heaven. However, though at first, I might feel like I want it to go on forever, by late September, I'm usually ready for the seasons to change.
I have learned to appreciate the rest that winter brings. The turning inwards. The introspection and restoration and contemplation that seem so fitting for the cold season. Winter is my time to read. To do yoga. To clean and organize our indoor living space. It's the time to tidy up, to put away, to clean the slate of the old year, and get ready for a new one. Without winter, I think I would eventually burn out. Or simply be a less productive and well-rounded person.
I am so thankful to live where I can watch and feel the turning of each season into the next, and appreciate the unique blessings that each one brings.
I give thanks for this wonderful year, and for the next one - still unwritten - whose blessings have yet to come.
Thank you, God, thank you, fellow humans, and thank you, dear reader!
May you enjoy a season of joy, abundance, and blessings as well!
Rose.
We have also been enjoying our local raw-milk herd share, making plenty of yogurt, ice cream, and butter this year, and we'll be picking up our winter batch of chicken from our favorite farm next weekend. A friend who hunts gifted us with a deer last week, and we just took a day trip this weekend to pick up the meat from the processor. It was a small doe, but tender and lovely, and we're looking forward to a juicy venison steak this week!
Our cupboards literally overflow with the bounty we have been blessed with this year, and I'm just so grateful it's hard to put into words...
3. Four Seasons
Again, this is something most people probably don't think about that often, but as someone who has lived in an area where winter doesn't really happen and even fall is half-hearted, I like to try to remember how lucky I am to live somewhere where I can fully enjoy all four seasons!
In the dead of winter when all is cold and gloomy, it can be easy to wish for sunny beaches, but the truth is, having all four seasons helps to keep things in balance. It just feels much more natural to me, although I suppose those in a different hemisphere might have a different perspective...
I have come to appreciate the transitions from summer into fall, from fall to winter, and then into the burgeoning renewal of spring. Growing up, fall was always my favorite season. Living on the Gulf Coast, the spring was the best time of year (though it didn't last long), and here in Ohio, summer always feels like heaven. However, though at first, I might feel like I want it to go on forever, by late September, I'm usually ready for the seasons to change.
I have learned to appreciate the rest that winter brings. The turning inwards. The introspection and restoration and contemplation that seem so fitting for the cold season. Winter is my time to read. To do yoga. To clean and organize our indoor living space. It's the time to tidy up, to put away, to clean the slate of the old year, and get ready for a new one. Without winter, I think I would eventually burn out. Or simply be a less productive and well-rounded person.
I am so thankful to live where I can watch and feel the turning of each season into the next, and appreciate the unique blessings that each one brings.
I give thanks for this wonderful year, and for the next one - still unwritten - whose blessings have yet to come.
Thank you, God, thank you, fellow humans, and thank you, dear reader!
May you enjoy a season of joy, abundance, and blessings as well!
Rose.
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