The most wonderful time of the year

It's that fun time of year again, and it's not Christmas. It's time to order baby chicks for Spring! I love choosing my new baby chicks and putting their mail delivery date on the calender. If I order early enough, I can get them delivered during the week of my birthday in March, so it's really like two gifts in one, Christmas and my birthday! And I can't think of anything I would rather get than chicks! This year I chose one Easter Egger, one Coocoo Maran, one Salmon Faverolle, and one white Silky Bantam.
I love having a variety of egg colors and of course a variety in cuteness and temperment! There really is nothing cuter than a white Silky Bantam hen! With the fluffy soft plumage and the feathers on their feet, they don't even look like chickens, more like a little Dr. Seuss character! I have had each of these breeds in the past, so I have come to know what I like. And with the click of the mouse on the computer, my husband's holiday shopping is done! Thanks to www.mypetchicken.com.
As for the farm, we put up our little country tree, hung a huge wreath on the barn and shut off the water for the winter. We won't be spending a lot of time there, except for snowmobiling, so it saves us a lot of money to shut the water off and keep the heat off in the cold winter months.
We haven't done more work on the kitchen or bathroom, but we hope to make some progress in the Spring. It is still a labor of love and it has helped us realize that we really would prefer being on a farm full time. The best parts of farm life are the parts that require time. Time playing outdoors on the dirtbikes, or snowmobiles, gardening, picking pears, watching the chickens forage aroung the barn, enjoying the sunset from the white rockers on the porch. Those things that make us the most happy, the most appreciative, they are things that can and should be done on a daily basis. We have learned that we are all happier in that environment, and we become our true selves out there. Whether the kids are climbing in the trees, or searching for salamander's, or swinging on the chairlift swing, they are in their element. And when Rog and I are driving the tractor through the fields of firefly's on a warm summer evening, or laying on a blanket under the apple trees, or admiring our work on some part of the house, we are all at our purest, most natural place of joy. It is who we are and who we have become as a family. And it is better to understand where your heart lies than to spend your life never knowing. Once you find it, live it. Whatever that dream may be. Here is a quote that I love by Oprah, "When you're honoring your calling, there's an undeniable sense of stimulation and exhilaration. It just feels so right."
I look at that quote every day, and it keeps me moving forward in the right direction.
Happy Holidays!

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.

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.

On the road again!

Well, we did take that trip afterall. We loaded up the old airstream and hit the road to Cave City, KY. It was a long drive, lots of stops along the way, but we made it there in one day and spent our first night at Jellystone Park, in Cave City. It's a great park for young families. Lots of activities for kids, clean, and close to all of the area attractions. We got a nice spot backing to a big open field, with a cow pasture beyond that. So just before dawn every morning we would hear cows mooing in the distance. Not a bad way to wake up. The park had a nice pool, a waterslide, an arcade, a store, a fishing pond, and golfcart rentals. The second day there we rented a golfcart and had the best time booking around the park for 48 hours. They also have Yogi himself walking around each day to greet the kids and take photos with. Quite a highlight for the little ones! So, I recommend that RV park to anyone traveling with kids. They also have nice cabins and cottages to rent if you don't have an RV.
Cave City is really interesting. It is a true time capsule, not much has changed there in the last 50 years or so. Same roadside attractions, same old shops, same old motels, pretty much stuck in 1970 for the most part. But it gives it that old feeling of traveling from when I was a kid. It's an adventure. We stopped at a small go-cart track that also had the old alpine slide. It was something I remember doing as a kid. And I don't think there are many left these days. So, both of my boys decided to do it. We rode the chairlift to the top of a small foothill, and from there you sit in a little flat cart with a lever to slow you down. Then, you basically just ride down the mountain on your cart on a cement track. No helmet, no safety to speak of actually. Just the hopes that you know not to take your hand off of the break! And the locals who work the slide, the chairlift, and the other parts of the park are all characters right out of a movie. They ALL chew tobacco, they all look somewhat dirty, and the one at the top of the slide even had a twitch, probably from too much tobacco! Plus they all have a very strong southern accent, which my 6 year old daughter can now recreate in perfect dialect! Pretty much everywhere you go in Kentucky, the accent is the same. You get quite used to it after a week. And we didn't meet one person who was not completely hospitable and kind. We also toured Mammoth Cave, which I highly recommend! The tours go all day, every couple of hours or so, and it's good to call ahead if you are there during their busy season. But they are guided tours that are about 1 to 3 hours long depending on your preference. We did an hour and a half tour of the New Opening. It was really wonderful, and the kids just loved it. We also toured the Lost River Cave, which takes you on a boat tour into a short cave and tells the stories surrounding the Lost River and Jesse James and his gang. There are lots of different caves to see and tour in the area and they are all amazing. There is also a lot of antiquing in the area, which we did a bit of, but it paled in comparison to the caving.
So, after 3 nights at Jellystone, we loaded up and drove to Cumberland Falls State Park, which is outside of Lexington. Cumberland Falls is called the Niagara of the South. The falls are really impressive and there is a lot of history about them which you can read about at the tourist center and viewing areas. The campground was more rustic. But still we had bathrooms and showers close to our site. It is black bear country there, so there are lots of signs around about being careful with your food. Of course the first night there, my husband carved a mellon and threw the insides into the woods next to our Airstream! Within minutes, we had a raccoon hanging out under our picnic table looking for more free meals! Not the most brilliant move on his part! But luckily, no bears.
We decided to go horseback riding through the mountains the first day and the kids loved it! It was a huge highlight for me too. The next day we heard about a hike that leads you to a smaller waterfall that you can swim in. So we found the trailhead and went for it. The kids did the hour long hike like pros! And it wasn't easy, lots of tight areas, narrow spots and huge rocks to climb over. But when we reached the falls it was breathtaking! We had it all to ourselves. We all jumped into the water under the falls and cooled off. The kids were awe-struck! Just us, the water, the rocks, the river and the views of the bigger falls in the distance. It was the highlight of the whole trip! So, we stayed there for a while and took lots of pictures before hiking back out. It was one of those moments in time with your family that you know you will cherish forever! The ones that stay with you, long after you go back to the daily grind.
So we spent two nights at the State Forest. We also ate dinner one night at the old Dupont Logde which has rooms for rent and a nice restaurant with sprawling views of the forest and valley below. When you eat dinner there, the racoons come up to the windows and eat birdseed outside, so it's really fun for the kids to watch them. And they have really good berry cobbler and banana pudding! We also spent an afternoon swimming at the Dupont pool which is only $2.00/person if you stay at the campgroud. A nice way to cool off and relax before heading out to see the Kentucky Horse Country. It was something that I really wanted to see since I had heard about it, and seen glimpses in movies. And Lexington had the most unbelieveable equestrian estates around! The properties are amazing, prettier than I've seen in movies and the Horse Race Museum is fun to visit too. They have tours, but not on the day we were there and a nice gift shop. But we did do the scenic driving tour which takes about an hour and drives you through all of the fanciest estates. Wonderful!
Then, it was time to head home. But on the way back we decided to surprize the kids with an impromptue stop at Cedar Point. There were beyond thrilled, so we settled in at the campgound for the night and woke the next morning to spend the whole day at the park. It was really hot, so we spent most of the day at Soak City which was a perfect way to end our vacation. I must admit, nothing beats floating down the Lazy River on a 90 degree day in August! By 5 pm, it was time to hit the road, and drive home to Franklin. We were all cooled off, tired, relaxed and happy. Our second Airstream adventure may have even topped the first one to the Adirondacks, or at least it tied for the best. But now Maryann is parked back at Hentennial Farm where she will spend the winter, and await our next travel destination....

A good sign

Haven't written in a while, got a little busy with three kids at home, and no real schedule to speak of! The kids all went to farm camp for two weeks at Upland Hills and I drove them, so that took a chunk of time out of my schedule. But they love it there, it was their third year going, and this time for two weeks instead of one. It's a wonderful camp, full of baby animals, lots of crafts, activites, and swimming in the lake. My eldest son, who is 11, wants to be a counselor there when he's old enough. The farm is in Oxford, MI and the camp runs by the week in the summer. If you click on the picture of my daugher with the calf, it links to their website. So between camp, trips up North to Oscoda, work, fishing at Wing Lake and the swim club, time has really flown by. I can't believe that summer is almost over!
I am happy to report that the new chickens are adjusting quite nicely. They all mesh well with the ladies, and they seem to love the new outdoor addition to the coop. I noticed last week that the white one is actually an Arucana, and the black and white one is the Leghorn, so we ended up with one of each breed that I ordered, and two blue egg layers. One Maran, one Leghorn, one Salmon Faverolle, and two Arucana's. So I will have chocolate brown eggs, white eggs, blue or green eggs, and light cream eggs as soon as they start laying. A perfect easter egg variety in my egg basket!
Today, my son Dylan and I are running out there to feed and water them and get some eggs, and bring them a watermelon treat. They absolutely love watermelon on these hot summer days! Roger is working on our farm sign through a sign company that he uses at his office and he sent me the rough drafts yesterday. I think we found a winner. A simple white sign, with black letters, "Hentennial Farm" and circa 1870 at the bottom, with a black sillouette of a rooster in the middle. Simple. Old school. Original.
Maybe we will have the sign up by next week! I can't wait!
And as crazy as our schedule has been lately, we decided to cancel our trip during that last week in August, so now I am hoping we can spend some real time at Hentennial and maybe even get some work done. Even if it's just gutting the rest of the kitchen, and prepping the walls and floor. The hardest part of this renovation is finding the time. Time is fleeting, especially in summer. But it will get done, we just need to be patient.
Pics of our new farm sign coming soon...

It's a dog's life

Anyone who knows me knows about my intense love of animals. Anyone who has been to our home knows that we have a small menagerie living amongst us.
And luckily for me, my husband was well aware of my animal appreciation before he married me. I had 3 dogs when we met, and we have 3 dogs now. So not that much has changed, except now we also have 3 children, 2 cats, a tortoise, a hamster, a goldfish and the chickens. But let me start with the dogs. Our Goldendoodle, Bella, is an all around perfect dog. She is well behaved, very loving, very playful, and a good watch dog. She only barks if people come to the door, and she loves, loves, loves our children! Then we have Lulu, our Lhasa apso/Bichon mix, and she started out being my dog, but now she is very much Roger's dog. She has melted him with her charms and wit. Yes, wit. She is hands down, the funniest dog I have ever known. She does this thing when she is feeling friendly where she will drag her hind legs around the floor in circles, the whole time batting her eyes at her target. She also snores, and grunts, and is 100% trusting of us. She makes me smile a million times a day. Then we have Ozzy, the tiny Papillon who we rescued from his second owner who didn't want him anymore. And we cannot imagine who wouldn't want such a wonderful dog. He is perfect. Smart. Beautiful. Sweet. Good. He has no flaws. He came to us very malnurished, very sickly and thin. But we got him all fixed up, and now he is a gorgeous little guy. People stop me in the street to ask me what kind of dog he is. I have even had someone offer to buy him from me. I always tell Rog, I wouldn't give him up for a million dollars! He is the sweetest, most gentle little soul. The perfect lap companion and I can take him everywhere with me. And I can't forget to mention Scout, our recued cat who I got at "Meet your best friend at the zoo", 11 years ago. He was a tiny kitten, and now he is a majestic pure white cat. He comes and goes as he pleases, unaffected by dogs or any other animal that enters the home. Just an easy going, good guy. And our latest addition is the kitten, Mittens. She was free from a lady in Metamora, along with her littermates, so we took her home. She is sweet, and playful, and a fun little girl. She reminds me of Scout when he was little, and I know she will be a great pet for the kids.
So, my days, as busy as they are, are always filled with joy from these amazing pets. I wake up and the dogs are all looking at me, so happy to see me, licking various parts of my body and wagging their tails. It's a wonderful way to start a day! And they are always there if you need a lift. Always loyal, always ready for anything. They are the same way with our kids, the dogs love them immensely. Bella swims with the boys and watches them like a hawk. If they get too far away from her view, she swims out to get them. She is very protective, very noble. And if anyone is sick and bed-bound, the dogs will stay in that bed the entire time, keeping the sick person company, and sleeping next to them.
Of course there are times in the midst of chaos, where I imagine what it would be like without pets, without the added stress it can sometimes bring, but it would like not having kids. Unfulfilling. We manage it well. We work as a team. Our house is never boring or quiet or calm. But it is always, ALWAYS, full of life and love. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

For the love of chickens

Last weekend we finally got the ladies moved into the new outdoor addition to the barn coop. Rog got the rest of the roof on, and then Dylan helped with securing all of the chicken wire to the frame. It took about two hours to complete it. We also made an opening under the barn siding where the hens can go back and fourth through to the barn. Once we put them through the little door, they quickly started exploring their new outdoor digs. The seemed extremely happy to have access to the long grass, dirt and bugs, and to be able to come and go whenever they desire. Now we just need to do a little trim work along the roof and cut a door for us to be able to enter the outdoor part easily. But they are in. It's official. The "Chicken Ritz", as I like to call it, is open for business! So, our new little flock of pullets will be ready to move into the big coop in the next week or so. I just wanted them to be big enough so that the older hens won't pick on them. It's amazing how fast they grow. They are already fully feathered and looking like little ladies. The kids and Rog and I named the new ones and they are: Snow white-the Leghorn, Juanita-the Arucana, Peaches-the Salmon Favorelle, Shadow-the Cuckoo Maran, and Ester-the other one who we think may be a Wyandotte. My husband must really love me because this is the third coop he has built for me and my love of chickens. And he has also spent many hours building various other corrals for my pets, dog runs, bunny hutches, etc...he is a good man and he would do anything for me and my ever growing flock of critters! I am eternally grateful!
So, today the kids and I will go out and pick up a couple more hay bales and change their food and water and see how they are all doing. We seemed to have managed our Groundhog problems and haven't had any digging lately.
And now that the birds have a permanent and very fancy home, we can focus on all the other things we need to get done at the farm. The first of those being the kitchen and bathroom. We have a guy coming to look at the floor and give us a tile quote. Just too big of a job for us with so little time to do it. And we already have the tile, so that will help with the budget. The subfloor needs to come out and a new one put down, then the large grey tiles put in. Once the floor is in, we can order the two white cabinets for the kitchen and appliances. We also need to finish gutting the bathroom: Pull out old tub, and tiles and fixtures. And for the sink I want to get an antique dresser that we can cut the top out for a drop in sink. It will look better than any standard sink, and like it has been there forever. The house has so much character, and I want to keep that even in the remodeled areas.
Yesterday I picked up some amazing art for the house at the Antique Pavillion in Saugatuck, MI. I got a vintage round horse portrait, a tiny antique framed oil painting of a covered bridge, and a framed piece with Michigan State fair livestock competition ribbons dating to 1911. And I only spent $83.00 on all three! I love antiquing, I could do it all day long and never get tired. I love how almost everything you pick up has a story. And how you can find the most perfect item for your home that makes it about you, your passions, your interests, your dreams. Your home should be a reflection of who you are, it should tell a story about you and your family. Whether it's your main house, or a cottage, or a condo. It should say, "welcome to my happy place."