The Farmhouse Quilter Blog

I have decided to merge my two blogs into one that covers my family, farm and quilting life.  This will give me more time to create and write... and I won't feel like I am leaving either blog out!  I chose my second blog to become my main squeeze... please read my post here:

The Farmhouse Quilter

If you would like to continue following me and my adventures, please submit your email address to that blog (near the top).

Thanks a million for reading and I promise there is more to come!

Deb

Tying Shoe Laces and Other Nonsense

As we were heading down the lane way to the school bus this morning, I realized something important.

I have three kids that can tie their own shoe laces.

I have two kids that are in the "big kid" hall at school.

How did this happen?

If I think about it too much, I get all choked up.  This whole parenting thing hasn't been easy but it's the most fun, fulfilling job out there... and we get to do it three times!  

This passed weekend we were at a beautiful wedding.  It was my husband's cousin and we happen to be close to her parents as they are in our life helping us with looking after our kids from time to time, inviting our family over to their cottage and home.  They have raised some magnificent children of their own and I was watching them during the festivities.  They are so proud and happy but I could see the look of sadness to, only because she is grown up now.  Getting married is just another sign of children moving on with their lives.  

That yellow school bus takes our kids away each day to a wonderful place that provides them with experiences I cannot give them myself.  As much as I love when they leave, I am always a wee bit sad. Each year, they are getting more independent and I am so proud of them that they are happy to take more freedom.  It's exactly what we wish for but it gives me that lump in my throat also.

So my wish is to continue to savour the moments because some day our kids will be having kids of their own and they will feel what I am feeling.  Well that's something to look forward to... I can cuddle their babies but then give them back to them when it's time for bed or I can play with my grand kids but not have to deal with their tantrums.

Okay now that's looking way, way too far in the future.  Enough of that nonsense.

This sweet photo was taken by my good friend, Rhonda, a few years ago.

The Beginning of Summer... Scenes From Our Home

Raising a family on a farm is a fulfilling thing. We take each day as it comes; there is always so much to do. It's hard to just sit and relax but we try. Our children know no different and my husband also grew up living the farming life. I had the pleasure of having both a farming and town-living childhood and all I wanted was to also raise my children on a farm (although I wouldn't mind living a little closer to town because of all the driving we do). I take my camera out sometimes just to capture what's happening around here and the experiences we are having. Here are some fun photos:

We just bought this trampoline yesterday and Ian put it together after a long day of work. The kids are so excited and I hope it is another reason to play outside. We are deep in strawberry season, the busiest time of year for us. It's hard to get it all in and equally hard to stay awake passed 9pm... Off to bed for me. It's another early morning tomorrow. 

Breathing New Life Into Lochwinnoch Presbyterian Church

Our church is having a resurgence. A burst of energy. I am so happy about it...

Our faith is important to us and, for me, it gives me peace, strength and guidance. 

Welcome back Rev. Milton. 

These photos were taken on Mother's Day at our church. It was such a nice touch to an already fulfilling church service. 

Ramblings...

As a parent, we can find ourselves deep in the trenches.  It's hard to take it all in; to be in the moment and appreciate it.  Sometimes I wish I could see what's happening from high in the sky, just for a minute or two.  I am prone to saying the word "busy" but I don't mean it in a negative way.  It's just that time keep on moving forward and sometimes (most of the time) I want it to slow down so I can take a breath and take it all in.  I am thankful to be lucky enough to be in the trenches, don't get me wrong, but the days are going by too fast and I don't always notice the special little things happening around me like these moments:

Our two girls having fun on the dance team.

One of our favourite things to do is hike in the bush and each hike gets easier... we started when they were just babies in a carrier.  This time we took my brother and his family.  They had their baby in a carrier.

Here's Victor... just woke up from a nice nap next to to his mommy.

The other night I had an evening just with Alex.  His sisters were each at a sleep over and Ian was working in the field.  We had supper together, we played outside and then we went for a ride on the 4-wheeler around our farm.  That was so much fun!  Alex drove most of the way on his own with my support behind him - it's a big 4-wheeler but he did very well.

No, Grace is not driving yet!  We got a new truck this spring and it seems to be a favourite place to play.  

We have a beautiful, old tree beside our house.  It's the only tree on our yard that the kids can climb and even in a dress, Jean can get up and move around the branches.  I have a little anxiety over the kids climbing but I know it's what they like to do... and what childhood is complete without climbing a few trees? 

I like to play around with some of the features on my camera.
This did not turn out the way I had planned but it is interesting anyways.

I have a very creative oldest daughter.  She moves from one craft to the next very quickly but right now it's all about taking interesting photos.  I look on my camera and find all sorts of  creative shots, such as this one.  I don't know why she wanted a photo of her dirty white sock feet... its a good example of what I find periodically.  At least it's not another "selfie" although there are still plenty of those!  Sometimes we see her run outside just to take a photo of the sunset!  She wants to be an artist and I think she has a flare for it... I love being creative as well and it's fun to see her view the world her own way and  create what she loves.  

Another example of a photo by Grace.

So here I am rambling on about our life.  My family.  My favourite people in the world.  I sometimes look in the mirror and see an older face.  I am not getting any younger but I am getting wiser, some days.  I am going to just keep on loving each day as they come and look forward to the future and treasure the past.

Enough of the philosophical stuff.  

I should probably go fold laundry and watch tv.

Featured in the Country Guide

Our family farm was very proud to be featured in an article in the Country Guide farm publication; we were profiled about our succession planning.  You can read it here:

Article in the Country Guide

The photos are amazing - such a great keepsake (and made even more special because my sister-in-law, Mandy, was in labour during the photo session and gave birth to her son, Harvey, that night). We had a small window of opportunity for the photographer to come and I crossed my fingers it would work... and it did but she wasn't feeling the best throughout it.

Our farm business and family are committed to keeping our business successful, working relationship successful and family together and happy.  This isn't always easy but we try to keep communication open and honest.  This is a business article (therefore not everyone would understand what it is about) but we feel it explains our process pretty well.  It's exciting to have a few minutes of fame!

Spring is in the Air but I Love Winter

I have really enjoyed the winter months.  I know, I know... sounds crazy, right?  Spring is taking it's sweet time arriving (it's -2 degrees right now - bitter, damp cold) and all everyone wants is some balmy temperatures to make the snow disappear so we can all run outside in a light jacket... or nothing at all!

This is not what is looks like outside my house today but it did look like this just a week ago.  It's dreary... the poor wild turkeys are looking for food.

Other than the cold temperatures, I am not complaining.  I love the winter.  This is what it represents to me:  time to be together as a family without the whirlwind of a busy farm around us.  Our business is on hiatus in the winter (that doesn't mean we are not working but at a much different pace and in a different way) so we enjoy being together just playing and having fun.  Whether we are away on vacation, watching tv in the evenings or running the roads with the kids to their activities, it is time we spend together as a family.  

The winter months also allow me to take time for myself.  I like to create and my latest passion is quilting... oh how I feel energized when I get to immerse myself in all things fabric!

But...

most of us agree it's time for spring to arrive.

I know the warm days are coming - my house is infested with flies, which means that spring is in the air.  It's time to throw open the windows and let the fresh air in!

The spring is energizing - even for me!  I welcome the change of pace and look forward to another farming season for us... I love watching our crops grow and selling them is another passion of mine.  As a family, we will still spend quality time together but it is just in a different way.