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12.31.2011

shining...

seeking

finding

trying

learning

gathering

an abundance to reflect on this past year of many feathers, cupcakes, spoons, and a new soul

sometimes being so far from home yet not leaving anywhere






learning

trying

finding

seeking a new life within me through untangling the brambles i have caught myself in

i cannot go back

i must follow the star

seeking my soul

finding what He wants from me

trying desperately to always please Him



learning my failings and the strength that comes from this knowledge

gathering memories and losing the moments in time to once again clear the way to seek the star


finding the laughter...

(never too far to look)



my star



not of fame or fortune or greed or something of this world

my star

peace + new year blessings,

{1} sisters
{2} together as a family is all we want
{3} reflecting, admiring
{4} hair by oldest daughter - that is so fun!
{5} cinnamon rolls - enought to feed the county
{6} Christmas morning table at the farm
{7} brothers
{8} "rabbit man" (a.k.a. our comedian son)
{9} little "lumberdanny"

12.28.2011

inspiring

Greg came here and graced the farm with his sounds

this new song he wrote is now quickly becoming another favorite...



12.21.2011

there wasn't a lot of sparkle here at the farmhouse this past December

the serious nature of life overshadowed that sparkle

i accept this




i accept the serious nature

i accept

to truly love God, i must accept it.........

whererver you may be at this very moment reading this........know that you are a gift in itself

there is no need for the material

there is no need

no need to be sad..........nor worry.........nor fear.........but accept

open your heart this moment to His will

seeing the poetry in life

feeling the sense of the acceptance

breathing in His love


exhaling it to others..........

(photographas taken of my dear little girl and her spirit is what inspires me upon this day)

12.20.2011

storybook cake...

I don't normally repost, but I miss my very dear niece and her family....and this cake I made, entirely from scratch just for her last birthday here before they moved, is something I wanted to share with all of you, and her (again)....

hope you enjoy......(the music I added and snowfall goes with the 'storybook cake')



She has lived through the bitter winter before, but this year, the temperatures were much colder, after a heavy snowfall, ice showered the countryside........it was one of the most unpleasant winters she could remember.........and even though it was Christmas, there was no sign or even a whisper of His blessed name.........



she was determined to tend to those who needed her most, for they had no one....no wood for their stoves....no food for their bellies........and she knew, if she didn't help them......that no one else would........



Of course, leaving your home, to visit others, was forbidden in this gloomy and bemired land....




The evil ruler did not want anyone in his path to one day overpower all of humanity, even the smallest of children, and thus, sent a decree throughout the land "keep to yourself, and help no one, you must do what I say, or death"....Balmala rules cruelly over the land...without mercy....without regard to others.....the most selfish person to have lived thus far....and Balmala especially has no mercy upon those who call themselves "believers"........


putting all fear aside, and bundled in her woolen cape, Elisabeth did what she was taught by her dear Grammy......she sometimes can still hear Grammy's words on such a cold, still day such as this; "do His will, no matter what the obstacles, and always give glory to the Father, and the Son, and to the...." "what was that?" Elisabeth was startled by a scraping sort of noise, and then the earth below her shook......




sometimes, after such a thing would happen, Elisabeth would feel, as though someone much bigger than her was watching her every move........not always an uncomfortable feeling, but rather, like a warm whisper within the trees.........






and felt eyes were upon her back....but she wasted no time.......she had one last stop.....or as she thought.



Elisabeth was almost there......to a home no one has ever lived in.........





and legend says, that the only way out, is through the basement.........for if one traveled around back, they would surely peril from the cliffs below...........but knowing this, and with strength from all the faithfully departed surrounding her heart, Elisabeth was guided forward, to hopefully.......finally......find what she has been searching for, for the last 17 years..........


*end of story.....thank you for reading*





this is the way the cake looked all lit up with her birthday candles.... 

that picture is from a very talented and creative and SUPER sweet friend of mine:

please pop over to see her wonderful ideas for wrapping
and I am so going to do this

(and she herself has a great blog)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
can you believe it's only a few days away???

how very exciting!!!!!!!!!!

xo,

12.19.2011

Christmas dinner...simply

one of our favorite dinners this time of year is what I shared in our e-book
inside the e-book you will find originnal na-da farm recipes for:

 a slow cooked apple jelly ham + homemade cranberry sauce + yeast rolls + from the garden squash





some of the things I like about this meal are that
{{ it is simple
{{ slow cooked 
{{ all from scratch
{{ in season

I made the ebook step by step in order for you to take your laptop or iphone onto your kitchen counter (or look to your desktop) so that everything is perfectly simple

easy

and delicious

I am actually "in charge of the ham" this Christmas for the big family get together at Jason's family...
and there is a reason for that

they too love that recipe

Whatever you are cooking for the holidays, think about doing something slow cooked that will feed a crowd....ham is one of our favorites, because after an early supper, you can put the ham in the fridge and eat some delicious ham and cranberry sandwiches for a late snack!

you can order your copy of our ebook: simply Christmas...with na-da farm

it also makes a great virtual stocking stuffer!! especially for $2.99


Have a wonderful first day of your week!
and another 'have fun' planning your Christmas dinner!!!

peace + blessings,

12.18.2011

B&W Sunday and thought 4...

thought 4...dedicated thinking....

we are all thinking all the time

pouring our coffee we are thinking........putting on our shoes we are thinking....

combing our hair........cooking breakfast........

spending the afternoon when visiting with our sweet Mom and Dad.......

when you tucked your child to bed tonight.....you were thinking......

we are constantly thinking...


what are you thinking about?? 

thinking is creative....you think about something and your actions will follow

these actions are directly a result of the thoughts we are thinking

what we think = who we are



believe + think you will do good

you will do good


spend the rest of this week of Advent dedicated to creative thinking

dedicated



spend each day this week in a bit of silence within yourself

keep it simple

think good 




and you will do good


12.17.2011

and even more...

decorating that is...or I should really say: rearranging

lace is so amazing to me.....hand done lace that is, not mass-produced items
I love the thought of a woman sitting and creating her signature piece..and this is one of my favorites

I don't care if lace is in or out: it's in here at na-da farm


can you believe we got snow??  this picture is so much better looking now with snow!!!!

so if you remember my post a few days ago, you remember the bird cages hanging?  well, that's exactly what I did!! with a very unique piece of art by Dore, from Burlap Luxe
she has some amazing pieces of art - and I especially like the stages she has created
puppets, marionettes, finger plays, paper plays....I love it all
thank you again Dore




I don't care if things don't match
this is a bowl from my late grandmother and a shepherdess picture of a girl that reminds me of my young daughter...surround yourself with things you like!! forget about trying to fit in....


pears = organic & safe decorating :)

absolutely now the best place in the house - we were all here in this room last night decorating the tree, eating a treat or two and enjoying chai tea (the kids' favorite)

Christie Carter, from Carter's Cottage, generously gave me a hostess gift of some Annie Sloan paint, in a creamy white, and I am so tempted to paint this cabinet....

Christie has a very generous giveaway going on right now with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and accessories!!
giveaway ends December 31st!!!



and from "some" of us here on the farm......

have a jollyFULL day!

sale ends this next week in the shop!!
order this weekend for you to get your package by Christmas!!!!

thank you again to all of you who love Jason's spoons...they have gone to a chef, a mother of six, and gift wrapped for people all over the country...
btw...we just added a few more yesterday!!
here's the link to the shop:  http://ndafarmlife.org/


peace + blessings,