Hello 2014!

Well, we made it!  2013 is in our past and we've got a fresh new outlook on things!

It's with great pleasure and intermittent melancholy, we say goodbye to 2013.  It was a rough year for our family.  Daddy was gone for 8 months and, as always, that's when some of the most trying times occur.  We bid adieu to some great friends who moved on to their next assignments.  We were able to really appreciate the family and friends we have, we wouldn't have made it without them!  We added to our family, a cutie named Whipper, Klassie, misc birds and such.  We also welcomed another niece and nephew!!!  We have The.  Most.  Adorable.  nieces and nephews, this brings us to 14 grand kids for my parents...holy moly! 

We also had to say goodbye to several of the world's best men.  All unexpected, all a direct hit to the heart.  Sometimes real life just gets a little too close for comfort.  While I am very Blessed to have known them and I appreciate the times I had with them, I just was not ready to let go.  Death has no age discrimination and all three were gone, IMO, much, much too soon.  And I'll have to stop there, Some wounds are still much too fresh.

So, on to 2014...

This year I look forward to more.  More of everything.  I know there will be heartache but there will also be joy.  We are getting really, really close to Brian's retirement days so we are kicking it into high gear on planning and preparing.  I have a feeling I'm gonna blink and have a daughter graduated from high school, a "baby" entering middle school, and a retired hubby.  Time is flying.  So, resolutions?  I don't know about any of you but I detest the word for it's expectations, then "failures."  We are focusing on continuing to build our foundation, one tiny step at a time.  Small, reasonable goals we can accomplish, and in doing so the feelings of accomplishment and growth which will lead to more success.  Crossing Fingers, Right!?!

Anyhoo, all that aside, it's time for me to get my groove on.  The house has been somewhat neglected with all of the holiday activities and people being home.  I just detected a smell needing investigation....ewww....so, off I must be.  I hope to be on here more this year and hopefully I'll be able to grow this blog a bit.  Anything is possible, correct? ;-)

Much love and many Blessings for the New Year.  Thanks for stopping by!

~Ashleigh

"The Small Things"

Good Afternoon to you all.  It's a lovely, albeit cold, Sunday here in Montana.  This week is the beginning of Lent...Shrove/Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.  While most of us look forward to Fat Tuesday and the excesses it "allows", I have been pushed closer to the solemnity of the season.  We will, as usual, have our Mardi Gras fun and start this annual journey with eyes wide open.

This past week I've been seeing a quote quite frequently.  It seems to sum up what I've been feeling lately.  I guess 2013, for me, is about self discovery.  So far I've had a very different mindset to the world and life in general.  I guess this back to basics discovery is my first step.  It carries into all areas of life, be it feeding my family, taking care of the animals or just smiling to a stranger.  It is quite simple and has become a sort of mantra for me.  I hope it touches you and helps you think a little more about the little things because we should all remember that it's the little things in life that brings great results.  Are you ready?  Here it is...

"Do small things with great love."

~Mother Teresa~

To read more about Mother Teresa click here.

What are some little things in life you can do to make a difference?  Just something to think about so please share and maybe your little thing will be a big thing to someone reading.  

Thank you and have a Blessed week.

~Ash

Resolutions

Good Afternoon.

Today I will be revealing a little about my New Year's resolutions.  In the grand scheme of things I am hoping to change my lifestyle a bit (LOT).  Every day seems to remove a little more "city" from this girl and add a little more "country."  For those who aren't "schooled" in WoodsFam history, here is a quick background.  Brian and I married in 1997.  We have three children.  We have lived in four different states and one other country, thank you Air Force.  We've been Blessed to see so much of the world and we take things away from each place we live/visit.  We are Catholic, Catholics who have a hard time making it to mass.  No excuses, it's just how it's been lately.  I am a SAHM and have been since the birth of our first, Kyleigh.  We have learned to cherish our privacy.  We enjoy time with family and friends.  We are looking forward to Brian's retirement and the next stage of our lives...full time hobby farming.  We have been on this little nugget of land (20 acres) since May 2011

As for the first of resolutions I am working to maintain this blog on a regular basis to record our history.  To share with any and all who wish to read.  I appreciate you all and thank you for taking time out of your lives to read a little about mine.  It's also a way to keep family and friends up to date on our little world.  Our family and friends are spread out, really spread out.

I am looking to have a more "natural" lifestyle, resolution #2.  It can be called many things; homesteading, hobby farming, sustainable living, etc.  I am interested in all aspects.  I am especially interested in reducing our "footprint" and learning to rely on ourselves and our land.  I am not a "survivalist" nor do I see zombie attacks in my future.  I like the idea of having a well stocked pantry, a healthy garden, happy children and animals and much more.  I am interested in so many things.  I have so many ideas.  I have so got to start somewhere, babystepping like "Bob."  Since we are so far north I have focused on things I can do INSIDE the house.

Inside the house it's saving money and DIY plans.  I have been making my own laundry detergent for about four months now.  It is simple and it works for us.   I use a powdered "recipe" which I have thrown together after much reading, researching and questioning online.  It smells good and works even better.  I NEVER thought I would leave my Tide, I LOVED Tide.  I also stretch my liquid fabric softener.  I don't remember where I saw the idea, sorry, but you just soak a cloth (I use old socks), in the softener then wring out and let it air dry and it's good for a LOT of drying cycles.  I use vinegar for my softener in the washer as well but the store bought helps with the static we have in our winter home.  I am tweaking a dishwasher soap "recipe" but its not quite there yet.  We have well water which is extremely hard and leaves spots all over our dishes.  So far I can only use the Finish tablets and rinse aid.  I use baking soda to scrub my tub and sinks.  I use vinegar for cleaning and mopping.  I made my own liquid hand soap, another I need to work on as this one is a bit on the drying side for me.  No smell of onions or garlic are left after washing with this soap, Yay!

This week I have taken the plunge and started working on making bath soap, shampoo, conditioner and face cleanser.  There are so many ideas and "formulas" online so I am sorting out and just going with my gut.  Today was the first day I used the shampoo/conditioner.  I'm really hoping it works well because we have a lot of hair in this house and shampoo is getting ridiculously expensive.  ~Did I mention I am a tightwad?~  I'll report back on the results of the hair at a later date.

Also on the list is resolution #3, more healthful eating.  It's a goal of mine to grow as much as I can here on our land.  Vegetables, fruits, herbs, meats and more.  I have a small area of raised beds and I was able to get  a little bit of veggies this past summer.  I didn't take care of them as I should have, I accept the blame.  I am hoping to do a better job of it this year and expand in the years to come.  I would like fruit trees/bushes and maybe one day I'll even have grapes...we have a perfect area for them.  As for meats and such, we have poultry for now.  We don't eat our birds, we are gonna have to get over that but the kids won't quit naming them all!  We do use the eggs and I've realized just how much I've come to depend on the ladies.  The turkeys and the ducks are just pure entertainment for now.  Eventually we would like to get pigs, goats and a cow.  Oh, we do have bunnies but they are not for consumption.  ;-)  Nor is the horse...lol

With having all of the "food" items, I will need to learn to preserve everything.  I have canned before but I'm not great with it.  I will certainly need more schooling there.  Also, smoking meats would be useful.  I am the family jerky maker...hehehe  and with the fall animal harvesting we've done, I really need to figure out sausages and such for the venison.  Good Lord, I don't know how we'll get that out of the freezer!

So, there you have it.  It's the first installment of my resolutions for 2013.  I'm a work in progress just like the farm.  There is always something new to learn and I like learning.  Every day is a new opportunity for us...

Carpe Diem

~Ash

Goodbye 2012

Tonight we will bid farewell to the year 2012.  It's been a year of triumphs and struggles all around.  Here at the 'Ole Homestead we've seen the slow changes of our city life becoming our country life.  We've learned so much along the way.  From water pumps to branding cattle, we've been fortunate to experience these moments in life.  We are settling into our little town and our little farm.

We have strengthened our friendships and neighborliness.  The kids are enjoying school and have become more interested in sports.  It really is amazing how much more we are experiencing.  Having the kids in a smaller school offers them opportunities they weren't so lucky to have in the bigger schools.  The sense of community here is something I've never really witnessed first hand until now.  It's just a great place to live.

We have added to our farm this year.  After the "Massacre of 2012", we have added chickens, bunnies, cats and a horse.  Soon, we should start to get a little more egg production.  We have a lost (she prob doesn't think she's lost) dog, Cora, who is deeply missed.  Just today Lucy woke up crying after having a dream she had returned.  It really stinks.  With the animal additions, we have also added fencing and a new coop/shelter.  It's definitely slow progress but progress none the less.

Looking forward to 2013, we are hoping to continue building up our little area here in Big Sky Country.  We will definitely be setting new goals and continuing to work toward a better life for our family and the world we live in, spiritually, financially and healthily.  I wish everyone a safe and happy new year.  May you all continue to be blessed in the future.

Adieu 2012,
Tchuss, Ciao, BYE BYE

~Ash