finding a bright spot

Today has been a typical day. Get up early, get kids to school, get myself to school. But I wasn't feeling it. Maybe it's the weather (cold, grey and cloudy). I'm thinking of brighter places, like Florida. I just need a change. A lot of things have changed my opinion of Ohio. As much as I love the state, with it's open fields and little farms. It's time for a change. I want sunshine, I want different faces, friendly faces. I dread staying here another year. Kids and commitments keep me here. I'm trying to stay upbeat and focus on all of the new things coming my way this year, like the ten new chicks I'm getting this weekend. A whole bunch of hodge-podge little mixed breeds. All of my favorite breeds just mixed together. Some black copper maran with Auracauna and a dash of sussex.....my kind of birds! I'm also getting ready to plan my new garden. I'm hoping for new and improved from last years flop of a garden, maybe even something my chickens will WANT to get into!

I hope chickens like sand. Because mine are coming with me. Just looking at this picture I can smell the ocean air and feel the sun on my skin. I'm hoping that I find like minded people in Florida, people who like chickens, farms and things that are just natural. I'm tired of school, tired of gloomy weather, tired of negativity.......bring on the sunshine!

so many blogs, so little time!

dear bloggers,
I love you all. I want to read you all. I'm trying very hard to keep up with you while also trying to create my own little spot in the blogging garden. I want to take beautiful pictures and write witty words. I want to can my food, grow a bigger garden and post creative ideas. I feel like I've come to a party late and that I'm trying to make my rounds and learn everyone's name (which I'm not good at anyway). I'm just going to have to go with the old phrase "Better late than never". So far, I'm enjoying this stage of the game and I'm also learning that I'm a bit more of a perfectionist than I thought I was. Should it really take me over an hour to type a post? I have many grand ideas but lack the ability to get them on my screen. Hopefully that will come with time!

Painting continues..

     Hi again! We have finally tackled and repainted the kitchen. I will try to get some before shots to go along with the after pictures. We painted for over 8 hours, that included the repairs we had to make to the chair railing that the previous owners put up. They must have used some sort of NASA wallpaper glue to adhere the wallpaper to the wall underneath the railing. After loosing all of my nail polish and most of my patience we now have beautiful results. My husband, the resident decorator, chose the color. I think he did a fine job! Even though we just went through a winter sleet storm here in Ohio, my house feels warm and cozy. I found some cute things at a local thrift store to decorate with. I love old things and like the country feel they bring! I included pictures of those treasures too!

      It's very cold here today and while I dread the walk to check on the girls, it's necessary! They have a heat lamp in their coop and it's gotten them through some radical cold temps so far this year but I need to make sure it's keeping up from this cold front. For only having three hens, they are keeping us caught up on eggs though, the little dears are putting out at least two eggs a day still!  Love their little chicken hearts! I found some fresh corn on the cob at the grocery store and bought some for them to play with. I also gave them a head of fresh lettuce to tear apart (an idea I found on some one's blog). I want to keep them busy since they haven't gotten out of the coop in a couple of days. I'm making plans for the next group of chickens. We are expanding our flock, even if we move they are coming with us. Won't that be a funny sight, a moving truck with a car on back, and a truck with a camper full with chickens. I'm not sure where the dogs and cats will be but it's sure to be a sight! Many exciting things are coming my way! We don't plan to take a lot of furniture with us, what we don't sell, we will divide among our older kids.

Kitchen "after"

Sink Area

Microwave area

Gravy boat

Old canning jar

Last but not least, my 1914 Calender wall picture. I found the frame at the same store and it hides the picture imperfections around the edges perfectly. Love this!

A good change

ahhhh, it's Sunday. This weekend has been a busy one. Husband and I are slowly moving toward a new beginning. We are trying to paint and spruce up our house in the "suburban" ridge to begin preparing for a sale and an eventual move to Florida, time frame not determined yet. In the new dining room we changed the decor from a failed attempt at the "tuscan" theme to a more comfortable "farm chic" style. As I am typing you, I can't help but look into my "new" beautiful "celery green" dining room. Yuck! Celery green you say? But this color is so warm with the natural light in the room. I'm proud of it's new simplistic decor and color.....it is calming and nice. I may finally be finding my style after all. The kitchen is next. Now that hubby is getting a clearer vision of my design taste things are coming together, a bit late for this house though. But what I'm learning here I'm taking with me to our next house. Here is a quick view of the new dining room before and after. The previous room was a half maroon/yellow paint color. This is so much more calmer and natural. I'm looking forward to changing the kitchen as well. Lots to do in there!
The chickens are enjoying a day in the snow. This is the first snow they have expereinced and I had to laugh at them taking a step and then liftin thier claws to figure out just what they were walking in. Chickens are such simple creatures and thier antics are amusing on even my worse day!

After

Before

Good Morning! Pull up a seat and have a cup of coffee (or beverage of your choosing) with me! Here I am up early again. So, I'm thinking that this is a good time to do my first post. I'm surrounded by snoring dogs and lazy cats, which is a conforting feeling. Although, the calm will be broken soon since my kids will be up and getting ready to head out the door to school. I will follow shortly after. I'm hoping that this blog offers some sort of a happy and quiet retreat for you, as I have found a happy home among other blogs.
What inspired me to do this blog? I've always read that you should write down the things that you aspire to and that doing so will helps them evolve into reality. So, here I am, waiting for a new reality. Some aspirations I have for 2012 are to expand my little farm. I'm not the farmer in the traditional sense but more in the wanna be sense. I have chickens, three to be exact. I originally had six, but a neighbors dog changed that. Since I live in the city expanding my little operation will be challenging to say the least. I want to grow more food and depend on the grocery store less, my three hens are working hard and putting out nearly an egg a day so I've gone almost all winter without buying a single egg! I've been stockpiling seeds and am trying to design a garden that is both dog/hen/kid and husband friendly. I have lots of ideas, but a limited amount of $$ to do it. I am inspired by other blogs and money saving ideas that they have posted. Maybe one day I'll post some of my own ideas! Until then, have a great day!