It is hard to believe my first born is 11!
Where have the years gone?
...Snapping turtle wrestler
....Snake Whisperer
.... Amazing Big Brother
....Fish catching
....Bird saving, cabin building, deer slaying, guitar playing, farm helper. You truly have NO problems living up to your name Country Boy!
I mentioned I wouldn't be posting this week but then I remembered my baby girl had a birthday and I couldn't miss out on my traditional birthday post. Thanks to technology I was able to schedule this ahead. Wishing Flower Girl a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. We LOVE you more than words can express but I'll try...
It is hard to believe another year has passed us by. When we are young the time doesn't seem to go fast enough and as we get older the years seem to fly right by, funny how that is. Not much for resolutions here...same old, loose a few pounds and such. Each year I like to pick a theme and stick with it. 2 years ago I proclaimed that it would be the year of the berry. We planted strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries that year. Last year the theme was bread and even though it took me until November to get a grip on it I did it. Found a recipe that was easy to make and now we have homemade bread readily available. This year I will be the Year of the BEE. Will see if my dreams come true....they usually do if I wish hard enough;) In addition to that I will be writing about my experiences with making gelato, yogurt, and feta cheese, and soap just as soon as I attempt it. Before you know it the greenhouse will be in full swing. We've already talked about starting some seedlings inside. Cheers to a New Year filled with new adventures.
I've never been much of a decorator
Not much of a shopper either
Year after year we pull out a same tote of Christmas decorations that we've had for years.
Maine Maine with his brew....lol 
We chuckled when my Mother gave us this ornament 15 years ago. Now each year when I place it on a branch I am thankful for yet another year with such an amazing man.
Made by Flower Girl a couple years back.
Each ornament tells a story ........
.......of our simple life.
In celebration of 36 years of life I thought about doing an "about me" post for my birthday then I dug through my archives and came across a post titled 25 things about me. So if you care to learn more you can just click on this link, otherwise disregard. Nothing has changed except I finally got rid of my old Nokia cell phone. Believe it or not I have a texting phone. I do not text often. Actually I swore I never would. Hate it when that happens! I swore off facebook too and now I'm a junkie.
I am grateful for the life I share with Maine Man! 
Where to start? There is just so much about this young man We LOVE!
~I love that you....get just as excited as your sister on her birthday
~I love that you ...are creative and imaginative without needing toys as a source of entertainment.
I love that you....love your sister unconditionally even though some days it is not always easy.
I love that you....have an OBSESSION with water balloons! (P.S you have until Friday to pick up the balloon remnants from the party, or else.......;) 
I love that you... pitch & play first base. SO Proud! It was not long ago when you would not go to birthday parties for fear of the crowd and if you did I had to be within arms length of you. (remember that next time I go to kiss you at school;)
I love that you....are not scared to get your hands wet.
and your feet dirty, in every sense of the way.
We LOVE the WONDERFUL young man you've become!
Does your Easter Bunny hide eggs in trees? Rascally Rabbit!
No dressing up here on Easter morning. They hit the ground running after a night's sleep in search for goodies scattered about the farm. FG did take the time to put on her new fishing hat.
HAPPY EASTER!
At the end of every year I download all pictures I've taken. I couldn't help but keep a few out I hadn't previously posted and reflect back a little at life on the farm in 09.
We only have 3 Khaki Campbells that we kept through the winter. I love baking with duck eggs, everything just seems to be fluffier. Too bad they are not laying right now.
Maine Man spent many hours cutting up meat in 2009. A record breaking year for raising and putting up meat. Loving freezer shopping!
Caught lots of fish. May the ice fishing begin for 2010.
My boy won 1st prize at the local fair with the above photo he took. For 2010 we hope to do a display of our farm at the fair. It should be a lot of fun.
We enjoyed endless hours surrounded by the joys of Mother Nature.
Our second season of garlic. This past fall MM was able to replant with our own cloves.
Lots of meat bunnies. MM has since decided they are just too cute to kill but we do agree they are tasty. We have a few males free ranging in the barn for the winter but for the future we will stick with chicken. 
TO ALL
A HAPPY
HEALTHY 
NEW YEAR
FROM THE FOLKS @ ACHORN FARM!
