Dexter and Lilly

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Does our past define our future?

Lately I have been doing some self therapy by taking extra long walks with Ozzy, my loyal walking companion. And during my "self therapy" sessions, I reflect. I try to focus on what I want in my future, what is holding me back from my past, and how to forge ahead. Of course, I'm not entirely sure what an actual therapist would say to me during my "sessions" if I was actually paying him $80/hour, but I can probably guess due to my many experiences with real therapists. Therapy is NOT a bad thing. It's fine if it helps you. If not, then do something else. Exersize. Eat healthy. Get spiritual. Find religion. Whatever works. I'm just sayin, since I can't really afford real therapy, I choose to do it for myself. By walking. Long, 5 or 7 mile walks on a crisp fall day with my best walking buddy ever, our Papillon, Ozzy. He can go as far as I can, and then some. It always amazes me, he never gets tired. So, during these walks lately I have come to realize that a lot of my past history is a huge part of my future. And by that I mean, that it's better to come to terms with your past. Let go of hurt and pain and regret. Forgive and move on. Free yourself to be a better person for your the next half of your life. Don't let your past predict how your life will turn out. Not that I could really do that. I was raised in a very absurd, and priviledged lifestyle. I was adopted at birth to a wonderful loving couple who really wanted children but could not have any of their own. And in the late 60's, adoptions were closed. No medical history. No information on the birth mother, aside from basic facts, age, race, height, etc...So into this wonderful life I was welcomed. I was raised Jewish. Had a very warm and loving early childhood. I never felt resent or anger about being "given up." I thought it was a brave and selfless act on my birthmother's part. And still do. So as I grew up, my father became extremely successful. He built up his many businesses and went onto Broadway to produce plays and musicals. He eventually won a few Tony Awards and owned a famous restaurant in N.Y.C. We hobnobbed with celebrities and had a jetset life. We had houses on all coasts. But with the success came a lot of craziness and grief and the end of my parents marriage. So, as years passed and I grew up, I had a hard time trying to figure out who I was. Who was I going to be. I had some rough years. But once I met my now husband, and had a family of my own, I realized that life is what you make, it is not defined by your past, or your parents, or even the path you took to get to where you are. It is who you dream of becoming. It is who you envision yourself being and setting out to become that person. I am a nature lover at heart. I have always sought refuge in nature and animals. Ever since I was little I would find peace laying in the grass or holding a kitten on my lap. I would smell the flowers and play in the stream and climb trees and lose myself in the clouds. It is a big part of who I still am. I still find serenity in nature. And with animals. In the garden, or hiking up a mountain. I feel free and calm and close to a higher power. My husband shares my affinity for all things natural. We both love being outdoors and being somewhere far removed from the stresses of every day life. So, we bought our small farm in Metamora. It is a project that is still only half way there. But it's ok. It made us see the real joys of being in the country. It made it tangible, and now I have a new level of yearning to be in the country on a permanant basis. We always thought we would do it one day. Make the move from the suburban jungle to the wide open spaces of horse country. And we almost did about 10 years ago. We had a signed deal on an old farm house in Milford, with a horse barn, dairy barn, and a chicken coop. The house was stowic. Grand, old, white, and worn by years of living. I fell in love. But to our dismay, the home inspector found termite dammage in the basement which jeapordized the stability of the home and we had to terminate the purchase agreement. I was devastated. My dream died that day. But years went by, babies were raised, one after the other, and the urge came back. Full force. Like it never had left. I still wanted, needed to be in the country. Why? I didn't understand my desire. I am a girl who grew up, silver spoon and all, in the heart of suburbia. Why was I being pulled like a giant vaccume to make a life away from all things familier? Was I running from my past? Trying to re-invent myself? No. I always loved all things farm related. Barns. Farm animals. The smell of dirt, grass, dust and manure was something in my soul. Maybe even in my blood. But I knew that it was real. And it was pressing. So, it became evident that a better plan had to be put into place. The small, fixxer-upper farm is not enough. It only made me want to do it full time, permanantly. It gave me a taste, but not a whole bite. But it did show me that it is possible. So, my therapy sessions led me to this belief:
Realize your dream. Develop a strategy. Be realistic. But don't give up.
Your dream may have everything to do with your past, or nothing at all. It can be something to heal you, or something to change you for the better.
Just make it happen. We are only here on this Earth once. We get one chance to do it right. Listen to your heart. Use your head. And do your homework. But never, never, let the dream go. No matter what.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Makes me wanna take a back road...

In Michigan we have the most gorgeous Indian Summer's. It's the time when the weather stays warm and the sun comes out and the trees are all transforming from green to shades of burnt orange, red and gold. It's when you can smell burning leaves in the air, feel the warmth of the sun on your face and absorb all of the colors bursting around you. It happens to be my favorite time of year here. It's a time that is full of hope and renewal. It is the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana, and Yom Kippur. A time to make apologies to those you have hurt, and to pray for forgiveness and to start fresh. A time to buy pumpkins, and mums and to rake leaves. It is a time for Halloween, and Thanksgiving and visisting cider mills. It is a time to go for long walks and admire the beauty around us, and to breathe long, deep breaths and give thanks for being alive. The days get shorter, and the nights get colder. So snuggling with the kids, or dogs, or loved ones becomes are priority. It is a time to cook more, bake more, and sit longer after the meal is gone.
Change is good. Change is renewal. Change is a time to reflect and improve and to feel energized. Season's give us change. Season's define so many parts of our daily activity. So, in the Fall, we prepare for winter. We cut back our gardens, empty the birdbaths, fertalize the lawn, and put away our flip flops. We get our our scarves, and hats and Uggs. We open the windows, and sleep in the cool Autumn air. We let the freedoms of Summer slip away and refocus on work, and school, and a schedule.
As I drove home from dropping my kids at school this morning, I noticed the sunbeams streaming through the tall pines, each one like a beam of golden glitter. It made me stop, just to admire it's beauty. The beauty of a crisp fall morning that couldn't have started any better. These Michigan fall days make me wanna take the back roads, just like the song, by Rodney Adkins. That song, "Take a back road," and an Indian summer, have a way of just recharging your soul. If you get the chance, take a back road. You'll be amazed what it can do to lift your mood.

Inspiration that helped me get here.

Keep your eye on the prize and hand on the plow. It's easy to lose sight of what you want, especially if you haven't gotten it. I know it's less work to put the wish away, to pretend that the wish itself has disappeared. But it's important to know what your prize is, because that is part of who you are. Whether it's financial stability, two children, a collection of poetry, or a happy marriage, take Winston Churchill's advice and never give in. Never give in. Never give in.



Food for thought

The increase in U.S. food prices from 1982 to 2009 rose 128%.In the same period, prices paid to farmers rose only 34%.



1 in 3 Americans born in 2000 is expected to develop diabetes in his or her lifetime.



Jargon-food sovereignty: the right of peoples to eat healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.

(from the declaration of Nyeleni, 2007)



32 hours, 50 minutes- The amount of on-screen media, including television, videos and video games that American children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old consume each week, according to the Nielsen Company.

A must see film

Food, INC. by Robert Kenner is a must see film. You can rent it or buy it on Amazon for $10.00.
It will change the way you shop, the way you feed your family and the way you look at food and farming in our country.
For small hobby farmers, and health conscious people alike, please, please, see this film! It is eye-opening to say the least!

Chicken-ism

I loved this so much that I had to post it. I cannot take credit, I found it on the web.




All I need to know I learned from my chickens.


Wake up early, stay busy, but always stay alert.


Visit your favorite places every day.


Scratch out a living.


Routine is good.


Plump is good.


Don't ponder your pupose in life, your brain is too small.


Accept the pecking order and you know your enemies.


Weed your garden.


Protect your children fiercely, sit on them if you need to.


Take them for walks, show them the little things, and talk constantly.


Brag on your accomplishments.


Don't count your chicks before they hatch.


Protect your nest egg.


Test your wings once in a while.


Squawk when necessary.


As you age, demand respect.


Leave a little something for those who care about you.


Chase butterflies.































































About Me

My photo
I am a busy mommy of 3. Ages 10, 8 and 6. Two crazy boys and a just-as-crazy daughter. My husband Roger and I have been married for 11 years this June. He runs a family owned Architecture company in Bloomfield Hills. I am a clothing consultant for a wonderful company. But for the most part, I am just a country girl at heart. I have an amazing love of animals, all kinds, big or small. I love nature and feeling the rythms of the earth. I love to garden and grow my own veggies and fruits. So, it was only natural that I would some day grow up and buy a farm. I am just a mommy who wants to share my passion for all things natural with my family and friends. So, we are giving it our best shot!