Random Acts of Kindness

While preparing for this holiday season I had lots of thinking time. We made several homemade presents. Including a couple fleece no sew blankets , coasters made with Christmas napkins (this tutorial even has a video), vanilla extract, braided fleece dog toys, and several tourtiere pies. While crafting and cooking I thought about what things I may want to do differently in the new year. Year after year there are always the most common goals I set: loose a few pounds, get better organized, etc.... but this year my #1 goal is to practice Random Acts of Kindness more often! Then I thought, heck with the new year! Why not start now? So the weekend before Christmas I packaged up a couple plates of leftover ham dinner, some desserts, and a fresh tourtiere pie and dropped it by the old farmer's house a couple miles down the road. Then I woke up Christmas morning and cooked them up another meal and delivered it just before noon.
Why? Because they have no children, no local family, and they both have significant medical problems.
We met them about a year ago when I randomly stopped by the farm to see if he had a duck I could buy. We've been friends ever since. He is a proud man who asks little of others but always goes above and beyond to help others. Every time I see him he tells me a story and I listen. You never realize what you'll learn from others when you first meet them. Nor do I think others realize what how they teach others just by example. So from here on out I plan to bake & deliver a meal or at very least bread or a dessert every week. Why?
~It is the right thing to do.
~They have no family and my grandparents have all passed.
~They can use the help and we have the ability to help.
~It is a valuable lesson for our children, they too learn by example!

What are your goals for the New Year? I challenge you to add practicing more Random Acts of Kindness to your list!

I will end this post with a few quotes to think about:

~Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you-not because they are nice to you, but because you are. ~Author Unknown

~Beginning today,treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of reward. Your life will never be the same again. ~Og Mandino

~ Never doubt that a small group of commited people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that truly has. ~Margaret Mead

Grocery Shopping

On Christmas Eve I went out behind the barn and dug up a couple rows of carrots. Enough to fill two large bowls. They were under at least 6 inches of snow but the ground had yet to freeze. It would have been a whole lot easier to dig up a month or so ago but....I didn't. I had it with picking and processing, thought about mulching the beds but I didn't. Little more work but it still beats buying a bag at the grocery store!

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Healthy & Happy New Year!

Wordless Wednesday

THE GREENHOUSE IS UP!!!!!

Looks kind of like this picture but with a lot more white stuff surrounding it. Someone decided that winter was to begin this week in Maine. The week before it was in the 50-60's and the only attire needed while working outside was a sweatshirt. We had a storm at the beginning of the week and it is snowing as I type. This past Wednesday was the kids first snow day from school, always an exciting moment.

If you want to read a bit about where we bought the greenhouse here is the post form back in April .

Credits to Maine Man who worked from dusk til dawn to finish this project.
First breaking ground...

Lots of cow poo dropped off by the farmer down the road.

Then MM tilled it in.

Doesn't look like a whole lot but MM spent many hours putting this together. Our new neighbor just across the way even commented on his persistence when he is out working on projects in the yard.

Challenging moments. I wouldn't exactly say we work well together. If only pictures could speak!

farm help

farm clown

Temporary side enclosure. MM will do something different come Spring to promote optimal ventilation. We do have a big box fan we bought along with it but we'd rather not use if we don't have too.

We put up 48 feet of the 96 feet we have. It is good to start with. See if it will withstand a Maine winter. We can learn from our mistakes on a smaller scale and if we find we need more we have it.

Now to all you with greenhouse experience...

Is this considered a hoop house where it is not heated or a greenhouse?

Do you have anything growing is yours right now? What do you grow in yours typically?

I have some kale and mesculin greens all sprouted. Should I attempt to put in the ground? If so should I put a row cover on top?

HELP....any advice appreciated here!

Making Memories

We took a ride on the back forty and found the MOST BEAUTIFUL TREE in the WORLD!

(our world that is)

Then the kids and I took cover.

and....TIMBER

The first Christmas Tree to be cut off the farm

by our sweet Maine Man

2 Very Happy kiddos!

Then over the hills and through the woods we went.....

back to the farm.

To do our favorite yearly tradition.

Dad puts on the lights.

Followed by the kids decorating with lots of ornaments. Many that they have made in years past.

While jamming to Christmas music.

And a whole lot of horsing around!