goodbye hello and everything in between

this year has been one of many changes. from the city, to the tent on the beach and now the farm. i know major changes are coming once again. there is so many things i am grateful for. so many experiences, many quiet moments and the many stressful ones. I have things i want to do, challenges i must finally conquer. i need to be a better person to the ones who need it the most and spend less time giving myself to those who are unkind. my sister has reminded me how important it is to be good to my body and this year i would like to find the balance. I need start to except more projects that come my way and get back to the mountains that k and i love so much. I am grateful for so much and as i flip through the many post of 2009 i see just how lucky i have been and how wonderful it is to have met good people through this medium. I thank you for that.

may 2010 be one of happiness and health dear friends.

elle at the farm

elle is here at the farm. phrases like " auntie am i almost a farmer like you" and " can we go for a walk and see the horses" come out of her mouth and make it to my ears like the sweetest melodies. like in all things elle is a natural and the horses are so drawn to her . she is right in there doing it right even showing her brother the way to do things around here. the weather today went from a mild and grey morning, to a heavy snow, then the sun came out as big flakes fell and the mix of all of it with elle was just too beautiful!

sunday rest

i think i waited for this day most of all. the kind of day that you stay in, wearing cozy sweaters and pj bottoms. you sit at the table and fill your bellies with jam, toast, eggs, mochas and so on. then you wipe the table and set the monopoly game. maybe later a movie cuddled on the couch with your favorite blanket, the fridge is bursting with food so no need for cooking-just warming. later still another game or craft while sipping hot cocoa and sitting by the fire.

this is the day i would hang a do not disturb sign at the end of my driveway, where the phone will be silences except for when we call the one's we love far away. but you are welcome to come as long as your not wearing anything too fancy you do not talk about malls and you do not mind belly laughs and afternoon naps!

enjoy your sunday dear friends. it is mild here and pouring and the snow is melting fast and that is all happening outside but that is okay because we are going no where and that makes me very happy.

family miracle!

dear friends. while we were driving from vermont unbeknown to us my sister in montreal had taken a turn for the worst and was rushed to the operating room, it was not going to be good, the news was grim, the operation was severe but then there was a miracle at the end of the surgery!!!! her recovery will be long, the next few days critical. . Our family is so grateful for this wonderful gift!

dear friends we wish you and the people you love warmth, happiness and most of all health! happy holidays-merry christmas!

home and away

I am in vermont waiting for the arrival of my mum, dylan and elle. I arrived way ahead of schedule after a smooth drive. walked the dogs around the darmouth campus and now i sit at a cafe before attempting some lite christmas shopping. I have not left the farm in so long, i am a bit nervous about the animals being there alone, but i do have someone coming for afternoon feeding. in a conversation with my sister yesterday she told me that i was funny, that when she reads the blog and i name mike. tolstoy, clarabelle, isabelle and so on it is as if i am talking about friends, oh dear readers i feel as if i am( i am nutty)

my sister gave us the biggest scare and the realization on how quickly things can change. she is doing better and might be home soon. i was truly terrified. her and i discussed changes we want to make, the promise to get healthy to get rid of the things that can contribute to stress that can cause illness. i also realized how little i had spoken to her these last months and how not often enough i told her i loved her and i also understood that there is many very important people in my life that i had not shared these words with. what better time to be given awakening such as now.

I am happy that the kids are coming to the farm and look forward to seeing it through their eyes and hope to share our time with you. i will post tomorrow or christmas day because i enjoy it.

the winter sun

thank you for your kind wishes, we know nothing yet.

*took these pictures outside my front door at sun set, thought they were perfect on this day of winter soltice

sunday storm

there is big storm that makes things wonderful outside. the fidgid cold weather has left us. we picked the most glorious tree yesterday she is about six feet wide blue pine and she is making the house smell beautiful. tolstoy and pepper are still in their stalls waiting for the wind to die down but soon tolstoy will be rolling in the white fluffy flakes.

the thing that is most on our minds today is my sister, i wish i was her and wondered dear readers if you have any extra wishes can you lend us one or two as she will most likely be heading into surgery today. my sister and i goof on each other so much that very rarely the words i love you come out. i love you little sister and know that things will be okay!

*i know it odd for me to post this but i believe in the power of positive thinking and you my readers have the best energy and i always feel it. thank you!

a little bit of holiday at home

i have been decorating just a little. i love walking in the forest collecting things. i covered my tiny golden lambs with wool for a winter scene i am working on. we will be getting our tree this weekend at our friends orchard, she needs to make room for blueberry and raspberry bushes so she has invited us to cut our own! i also have a few packages going out to dear friends( so behind) and i have wrapped some of the presents with birch bark, moss and acorns. the barns have been decorated. I am looking forward for my mum, elle and dylan to come to decorate some more!

mother natures way of gift giving

i had a slight meltdown. perhaps i had been indoors too long, anything over two hours has me loopy or perhaps it is the holidays and the expectation that come with it. see i have been very lucky this year for every bad moment life has given me an overflowing amount of goodness. my husband has been my knight and shining armor and has allowed me to take a very long leave from the real world, my parents in particularly my mother has given me never ending support. some cherished friends have sent me packages, when the ones headed there way are still on the table. my dogs still cuddle with me even though i spend a lot time with the horses. i have been feeling like i have not given back my share and with holidays just a very short time away i realize that what i would like to give would not be possible, not enough compared to what i have been given. so i had a meltdown( tears, anxiety,exchanged words with myself like nadia you are a looser and such).

then i realized that i had not been outside so i grabbed my always faithful camera and went for a walk. it was very mild not winter at all and all traces of snow had disappeared, i visited mike who i startled, then found the cows deep in the forest mooing at me( i love it). then i realized that once again someone was giving me something i would never be able to repay, in fact she was over flowing my cup, she was mother nature. within seconds i was filling up with happiness, gratitude and marvel. she is amazing.