We can't control our circumstances, but we can choose how we feel about them. Those initial emotional reactions don't have to take up permanent residence in our hearts unless we allow them to. On this traditional American day of thankfulness, I choose to look back on 2018 and reflect on things to be thankful for.
January
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| Project Goat Barn; something we once thought would never happen! In January Dan completed the roof and cupola. |
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| Cozy wood fires and comfy cats |
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| Favorite treats |
February
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| Nine healthy baby goats |
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| Cooperative weather. |
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| Winter garden (cabbage collard) |
And an outpouring of prayers, support, and encouragement after Dan's accident.
March
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| Miracle, our survivor preemie |
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| An opportunity to trade for a first generation Kinder buck (Hudson). |
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| Progress on a real hay loft. (Knowing I soon wouldn't have to wade through a mob of grabby goats with an armload of hay!) |
April
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| Hay feeder under a future hay chute |
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| Spring garden - old standbys like multiplier onions, |
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| and new-for-me crops like sugar beets. |
May
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| Spring flowers (Lavender) |
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| Chicory |
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| $10 bargain windows for the barn! |
June
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| Plentiful sweet potato slips (Vardamans) |
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| My first "professionally" published book! |
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| Solar shed light for the hayloft |
July
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| Summer garden |
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| Plenty to eat. (Homegrown blueberries in homemade pie) |
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| Plenty to preserve (canned pears) |
August
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| Goats milk and homestead cheese |
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| Bountiful harvest (getting cucumbers ready to dehydrate) |
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| Learning about carbon for soil fertility & forage diversity. |
September
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| Rainwater collection system for the barn |
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| Autumn harvest (cushaws) |
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| Learning about gardening by soil temperature. |
October
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| Finishing the barn! |
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| Firewood |
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| Hopefully pregnant does. |
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| A case of frozen summer mixed leftovers for "instant" soup. |
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| Roof leak fixed and a little more progress on the house. |
And so much more. Are you taking time to count your blessings?
Thankful For ... © November 2018 by
15 comments:
God is good.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you...critters too! Another great post and it reminded me of how much I have missed out on this year! Congrats on your book....you deserve it...you are so knowledgeable. The barn is beautiful and so many neat features! So glad Dan has healed and you are both coping and flourishing despite it all. I have the same attitude as you and always remind myself..."it could be worse". Blessings and good fortune to you now and in the future.
Overall, you've had a good year!
Happy Thanksgiving :-)
Yes, I am. I'm thankful to see you and Dan doing well at the end of the year and here's hoping that will continue. Happy Thanksgiving.
What a wonderful photo journal of Thanksgiving Leigh! Thank you for sharing!
Great post and photos! Attitude is sometimes everything. Good for you both hanging in there and there's always the things that do go well. My hubby was laid off suddenly last year, and we went thru a tough time, but came out the other end. It was rough, but we persevered and actually did better than we thought we would. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Despite Dan's accident, he still got a lot done and so did you. God is good all the time.
Thankful...Indeed!
I think the older I get, the more appreciate everything we have going for us in this lifestyle we've chosen.
Dan's accident caused you financial loss but also gave you a full-time partner on the homestead. Just look at all he's been able to complete that would still be undone if continued spending so much of his time away from home. (I'm betting he's feeling better physically, too!) You are both so self-sufficient that you know how to make it without a lot of money. That will reap unknown benefits in the years to come. None of us can continue surviving in the "normal" way as the value of the dollar continues to plummet. The more we can do for ourselves, the better off we will be. We've got many, many blessings to count this Thanksgiving Day!
Hi! You certainly do have lots to be thankful for. So do we. We were just talking tonight and this will be our 60th Christmas together. Two while dating and 58 married. What a blessing to still have each other even though he has neuropathy and I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome we help each other! I saw the picture of dehydrating cucumbers and wondered what you used them for? Nancy
Happy Thanksgiving Leigh! :) I love your retrospective! Of course, my favourite part was the homestead cheese! :) Though I do remember Miracle's birth very well...thanks for the reminder! :)
Leigh, what blessings you have! You are truly blessed!
Such a hive of activity, between the pair of you. I always admire what you are able to achieve in a year. I always pray for, and always grateful in receiving, my family returning safely home, every day.
You are truly blessed. I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you everyone!
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