She's a natural!
04/27/2010
04/23/2010
Spring Maintenance..YAY! Can you hear the sarcasm?
Oh the joys of maintenance....thank god for this miracle liquid that is probably filled with chemicals and stuff that would kill any living thing in the vicinity. Yes, this most likely goes against my "organic" leanings as of late, but what can one do in the face of dirty aged wood? Is bleach organic? Hmm, according to the world wide web, I believe it is inorganic, and as we know...highly toxic.
I'm going to pretend that I didn't know that, that I didn't read that. Cisco is already annoyed that I don't want to use weed killer on the lawn...hence rows and rows of beautiful dandelions, and prickers, and crab grass...or whatever you call it. Besides, Mia loves those little yellow flowers! She picks me a new bouquet everday. He'd wring my neck if I said no to the fence cleaner. What can I do? I should just keep my mouth shut I suppose, or I'll be cleaning and staining the fence all by my lonesome!
04/15/2010
Sunshine and Swings
This girl has captured my heart (even if she did wake up screaming four times last night).
04/14/2010
Hangin' with Rodney @ SMILES
This is Rodney...I think I'm in love with him. Isn't he gorgeous! So maybe he has a few whiskers, but that's okay. He's pretty sweet.
Rodney lives at SMILES. An equine therapy center for the disabled outside of Darien, WI. He was my buddy last night while my son (Riley) and I were volunteering there. You can read more about that here. Riley and I were pretty excited to practice our saddling skills that we learned last week.
Riley is getting pretty good at this stuff! I can see riding in his future (he wishes it were now, but we have to wait a while. At least we are learning, that's the important thing).
This is Rodney telling me to quit taking his picture. I don't think he likes my camera...I suppose it doesn't help that I had to use the flash. I was probably blinding the poor guy! I don't have the right camera or lens for this situation at the moment, though, so it had to do. Sorry Rodney.
"I'm serious, quit taking my picture!"
Ah, I'm just kidding. He was a sweetie pie. All the horses at SMILES are calm and gentle. I know they are trained to be that way, and they aren't accepted in the program if they aren't, but it still surprises me what they will put up with.
Now Honey here....
She thought it would be fun to try and eat my camera. She's a beauty! I have a picture that I drew when I was about nine years old that I swear looks just like her! I had goose bumps when I met her. It was like I knew I was going to meet her one day when I drew her long ago...
I'll have to see if I still have the picture in my studio somewhere.
This time we even had to sweep the barn.
It's amazing, though. Tuesday gets here and I'm always in the middle of something. I have a fleeting thought that Ah, I shouldn't go, I'm too busy. It's not like I have to bet there, but I go anyway, and I'm never sorry. I love that we get to be around the horses, that we're learning how to handle them, work with them, and take care of them.
I love that I get to spend the time with my son, too. Every time I'm walking across the arena, and I see him from a distance I feel proud. He's here because he wants to be. He knows he's doing a good thing, and he's ready and willing to learn more. It makes me happy, to say the least...something is working. He's growing into a fine young man.
And I'm loving the experience with the kids, as well. I wish I could take their picture, but there needs to be legal forms of consent signed before they can have their photo taken and published.
The girl I worked with last night was named Lacey. She is already to the point where she can walk her horse off lead, steer him through an obstacle course, start, stop, and back him up. She was quiet and shy at the beginning, but once we started walking, she relaxed almost instantly. Next thing I knew she became this little, laughing, chatter box full of noises and stories. It made me laugh, smile, and just plain feel good to be helping her.
I'm glad I finally decided to do this.
04/13/2010
04/11/2010
Preparing the Garden Today!
We're off to assess the damage and find some compost! Wish us luck, it's gonna be a busy day!
04/10/2010
In Memory...
I wandered for a moment today,
beyond the boundaries of my day to day.
I rambled past the state-line,
down twisted roads and country lanes...
back to my grandmothers house,
my mother's house,
the basement once built by my grandfather.
I wandered into the vacant yard,
through the empty rooms, rotting with decay.
I wandered into the shell of a home,
haunted only by vague memories.
The house in which my mother shot herself.
There were no signs of angry ghosts,
no faint sounds of sullen mouths,
only a silent tranquility.
I know I shouldn't revisit these memories, but with her birthday coming soon, I can't help it. Some intangible force, perhaps the ashes of my grandmother that were scattered across the empty fields, or the quiet grave of my mother, beckon me.
I arrived soon after, beside her grave...
unprepared, and unannounced,
I hadn't planned on coming here the moment I left the house.
My hands were empty,
I had nothing to give,
but a few whispered words,
a promise that I'd never leave my children,
that I'd never give up as she had...
and so I left her,
I left her only with my tears.
At odd times throughout the last five years I've been called back to take that journey and remember. I'm forced to reflect, to accept, to transform, and most importantly to continue living...fully, a life that is gone to her, but still vital and real to me.
I'm not afraid anymore. I am no longer weak.
This was goodbye in more ways than one. It's been five years...it's time to let go. Forgive, try to forget, and move on.
04/09/2010
04/07/2010
Guest Writer for the Renegade Farmer
Originally posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010
The ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm writing for The Renegade Farmer!
Okay, here it is finally....
I'm going to be a contributing writer on The Renegade Farmer!
I'm going to be a contributing writer on The Renegade Farmer!
This opportunity has been in the works for the last month or so, but I didn't know until last Friday whether or not I would be chosen to be one of the writers. I am so excited!
First of all, I'm sure many of you are going to ask: What is The Renegade Farmer? Well in the words of Zan Asha, the beautiful woman who created this network...
"We are a collective of farm-loving writers on a mission to discuss farming, self-sufficiency, green living, and much more. Join us as we tackle baking, livestock, agribusiness, and more with wit, humor, and candor. Plus, don't miss The Renegade Farmer Radio Show. It's all Farmtastic! Dedicated to old fashioned farm life, farming, self sustainability, old fashioned art and similar handmade lives.. Expect discussions on agriculture, handcrafts and sewing, livestock, urban farming, beekeeping, cooking and much more.. Stay tuned for guests and experts on various subjects. "
If you aren't familiar with The Renegade Farmer, then you should definitely check out the link above. It was just recently launched this year, so it is still getting started, but there is a wealth of information coming in everyday, not to mention Zan always has a wonderful interview coming up on the RADIO SHOW!
Which, by the way, I will be on this SUNDAY! It starts at 5pm central/6pm eastern time. This Sunday's show will be an interview of ALL the wonderful writers who will be contributing to the blog. We'll be introducing ourselves and answering any questions that may come through in the chat room. Aside from us, though, Zan regularly interviews many authors, editors, and farmers who give excellent advice and insight into this way of life.
As for what I will be writing about? Well, I guess you'll just have to check out Saturday's posting! Now I'm going to be honest. I have all intentions of getting in my introductory post this coming Saturday, so anyone tuning into the show will know who I am and what I'm all about. However, life is not agreeing with my "wants" at this moment....so we'll see how it goes. It will definitely be soon, though.
So, you may be wondering now how this all came about. It is quite amazing in my opinion! I first learned who Zan Asha was through one of my most favorite magazines of all time: Mary Janes Farm! Before I go on, I must share with you this video that is about Mary Jane Butters as a way to show you how and why I am in love with this magazine and every idea it represents:
For reasons that are hard to explain...I wish this were my life. I would love to be living like this, but I have to live in reality, too. I currently reside in a small town, with a small backyard, and several neighbors surrounding me. Yet, I constantly feel like I need to move closer to the "farm" kind of life even if I don't have the land at the moment. The feelings I get when I dig my hands in the dirt and the pride I feel when I feed my family from our own garden are like none I've ever experienced before. There is a tremendous sense of calm and contentment that go along with self-sufficiency.
There is also the romantic in me that is drawn to the ways of the "old life", of learning how women used to cook, sew, and create in a time when technology wasn't the main focus of our lives. I have a feeling that families stayed together then because they worked together, as well as played together. And now, I cannot escape the desire to bring back some of this knowledge and wisdom into my own modern life and the lives of my children and husband. Only I don't have a grandmother, or a mother to teach me how it used to be. I have to find it out for myself, and I am certain that I'm not the only one in this position.
So, Mary Janes Farm Magazine had done an interview on Zan that highlighted her artwork, and the fact that she is a beekeeper...in NEW YORK CITY. Obviously I was interested in her efforts of living a natural, farm style life in the city, so I checked out the links to her sites, and made contact. I've been talking to her occasionally through facebook and the OWOH ride, and have also been following the launch of The Renegade Farmer. Then, I got brave enough to ask about writing for it. I wasn't sure if I would even be considered since I have only been an online presence for a short time, but now...here I am, preparing my first post!
I really am excited. Since I jumped on the blogging band-wagon, I have been astounded by how many people I have found that share my same interests, and appear to be on the same journey as I am. I am so thrilled that I will be a part of something such as this; that I can share my discoveries, as well as my mistakes, and all that I am learning with others who are attempting this same way of living. We need more places to go in our lives for ideas, inspiration, and the knowledge that we aren't the only ones out there struggling to make something meaningful out of our lives...and that we CAN make our dreams come alive, even if it consists of a series of small baby steps to get there.
So, I hope you all will take a moment to check out The Renegade Farmer, join the site, see what I post each Saturday, and take the time to listen to the show! Even if you can't make it to the live show on Sunday, there will always be a link to the interviews on the site. Hope to see you there,
Darcey
2 comments:
I love her hair -- are those dreds?
Sadie@
nelliebugs-swaps.blogspot.com
Hello Darcey, Rock On! You are definitely a Renegade Farmer :)
Hey Nelliebugs, last I checked they are indeed dreads ;)