We raise our own beef and I must say that there is nothing better than a homemade cheese burger. I prefer Colby Jack cheese with a small amount of mustard and a slice of onion on mine. Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s so funny you happen to mention the best burgers ! We discovered two places in our area of New York . I’m talking the New York with hills and farm land as far as the eyes can see. There is a bar call TommyBoys. The best burger ever, lettuce tomato thin slice of red onion and mayo. Cheese too. I save the tooth picks from our burgers! Like notches in a fun. Lol. Another place in the city of Rochester is a place call The Beer Park. Made to look like an old diner with lots of beer taps. Just one light for me but their burger is just wonderful ! Same ingredients and tastes mouth watering. That sounds like fun having a book club at a bar with great food.

I made an awesome burger at home with grass fed beef on whole grain bun with very little
condiments and maybe a few organic carrot sticks and yes katsup.!

Enjoying your posts! The full moon and changes in the weather make me feel like spring is coming! Glad you were afforded a good vacation and will be ready for break-up and new growth! Thanks for sharing.

I started to embroider this poem when I was pregnant with Evan. It never got finished❤️ Happy birthday sweet Opal! Love, Grandma Gail

Babies Don’t Keep

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

Author: Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Kentucky home has same …. um,…. I’ll call them qualities and stuff rather than junk. Good to know another mother/English major/farm girl shares much the same world.

Yup! We got the case of the piles, too! Mostly laundry, but have the occasional rock, pressed four leaf clover, feather, of butterfly wing(from already dead, not live!) piles have caught my eye a few times. While my girls haven’t tried to bring in anything big (yet), and they’ve managed to keep their tiny object piles out of my sight, but I still know they’re around somewhere… And, like any other farm family, we track in who knows what onto our floors! So, I’m in a constant state of tidy up! I’ll share a sneaky trick with you! If I see someone coming who I know is a clean freak, I answer the door holding my broom. Instead of criticism, she gives me a hug of understanding from her past farming days! Happy Birthday Opal! and Happy Blog-iversary Alex!

Happy Birthday to Opal. May she have a year of happiness and blessings.
Marilyn

After being married for 45 years, my husband and I began the incredible tackling of our storage room. 45 years plus of accumulated stuff! We bought special heavy duty shelving, totes, and organized it all. It took us 3 days. It was amazing the memories, old papers, things we didn’t even know we had. We got rid of all those old receipts, and tons of other paraphanalia that we didn’t need. Our children will thank us someday! It is so nice to be able to finally find the things we need. What a great feeling to get it all organized. Now, on to tackle our closet!!!!

Dear Miss Alex! First, don’t be so hard on yourself. Everything you said about is accurate. Especially the “energy sucking” part. Sometimes life is more about clearing a path than it is about moving a mountain. Clearing anything involves tackling one thing at a time. It’s similar to weeding the garden. We are constantly working at removal while other forces are constantly working on regeneration!!! Piles are a force of nature, they have a mind of their own. Better yet, a firce of nature fuels by everyone who lives in the house!

I love the picture of your outside clothes. My abandoned, deserted, lost, wandering, forsaken, lost sock pile is that big! We have on occassion taken to wearing mismatched socks out of a desire to have on a pair of sock. A colourful expression of companionship with just one of our piles.

Rocks and all things nature that small children live (& love) to collect. My daughter loved to collect rocks. I still wonder why rocks? Having travelled to far parts of the world, I’d find myself home, unpacking to find a bounty of rocky treasures. After finding a pile big enough to start building a small wall, I needed to come up with a better, get them neater, storage plan. (I am hopeful my pictures will attach to my comments.) I found two huge pretty glass containers, one is actually a crystal vase, the othere an enclosed candle holder. I filled one with rocks, the other with things from the water. Something unique happened. Once the items were put on display and I struck up conversation about the items, my daughter slowed down her pace of collecting to accommodate the space left in the container. Recommendation, find sturdy, cool glass containers to contain and limit the pile size. Fill and enjoy for years to come!

Here’s to longer and warmer days (it’s -32C here today.) Be well my friend and pair down that huge outside clothing pile. Put on all the clothes, at the same time, see just how many you can wear at one time. Make sure they are all your favourites from the pile. When you can’t out on anymore, donate the rest! I promise you’ll have a good time doing it and a great selection of working outside clothes.

Pauline

I read a book that has really helped me it is, “Decluttering at the speed of Life” and it spoke to me so well. I read something that said “I” don’t have to find a home for what I don’t want either. for a while I was trying to see if my friends or family wanted my “things” and then after reading that, I can now feel free to donate it without finding it a home. but if you get a chance check out that book by Dana K. White. Good Luck!

Only my husband and I live here, so I am happy to learn about the Different Places Hippo. We certainly have one hiding in this house. Hope Opal enjoyed her birthday. Who knows, you might build a house with all those rocks someday. Well, at least some fairy houses. Always enjoy your blog and hearing about your lovely girls.

Hi Alex,

This is a timely subject, as awareness of clearing clutter is at an all-time high. Worldwide, or just in my world? I have 2 boys, now 22 and 24 and i have been spending last couple years working through 20 years of accumulations. I have kept A LOT in the name of sentimentality. Symbols of my boy’s childhoods are rampant in the piles of bins of Stuff that I own. As my children leave the nest and start their own lives, I am hopeful that some of this stuff will move on with them, however, I have learned they are not interested in most things I thought were so precious to me. I am learning how their childhoods live on in my heart and not in all this stuff ! Anyway, as Evan’s mom’s poem illustrates, what is important is the living, the playing, the loving of our children. The mess is secondary, yet because of your awareness, perhaps you can start the clearing/organizing/recycling process earlier than I did. Seeing your happy, joyful, creative children, I would say you have your priorities straight.

Thank you for taking us through your Quake experience! It was such a good read. I love the stories and pictures of your sweet family! Thank you for sharing and may you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy (and safe) New Year!

Living in Kansas you would think there wouldn’t be any earthquakes here. They started happening after all the fracking going on. Such a weird experience to go through and granted they aren’t anything like you went through, but very disturbing, none the less. Thanks for sharing your experience. Do you think you could share some of that beautiful snow for Christmas? Sending love to you and your sweet family.

Natural disasters are the worse! Unpredictable. I’ve never been in a major earthquake but have been in a tornado. Sounds like you handled it well and you have beautiful children! God bless you! Debbie

I wondered if we would get a recount of this magnificent quake by someone that lived through it. How scary that must have been? I remember having felt one in my lifetime. I did not realize that Alaska was so prone to them.
Another interesting item, I just finished reading a book that was placed in Palmer, Alaska. How exciting to know that I have a blog friend there.

Wow! So glad you’re all safe. That’s something I’ve never experienced nor is it on my bucket list! Quite an adventure for you. Thanks for sharing.

Alex, so glad you all are safe. I also didn’t realize Alaska was so prone to earthquakes. I have felt a few in the mid-west, but none as big as the one you described. I also felt one in Arizona when I was a child playing in the Colorado river. You are a great teller of stories and I enjoyed this post immensely. Thanks for posting it as soon after as you did. We always think of others during a disaster and try to help, it’s a natural thing to do and sometimes we forget about the more important things, but I am glad your children didn’t suffer any bad effects from it. Keep safe and keep writing.

I so enjoyed this. Sounds so fun. I’m 60. Widowed almost 5 years ago. I have 3 sisters. We have so much fun when we get together. I’m so thankful I’ve started spending more time with them the last few years. Thanks so much for sharing your awesome vacation.

Happy after Thanksgiving, Alex. I don’t have biological sisters either, but I have sisters-in-law who are just as sisterly as any sister can be. I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I do have a brother. So glad you got to relax in San Diego, CA. I used to live in Arizona and California at different times of my life and both were pretty warm and sunny most of the time. I love Kentucky now even with it’s different weather patterns and my birth state is New York and I read it has had the most of 5 worst Thanksgiving storms in history. I think 1950 was the worst for accumulation of snow on Thanksgiving in NYS. Glad you enjoyed your time away and so glad you are back home now.

I wanted to leave a comment on Christmas RAGs, but sadly could find no facility to do so. Maybe this will count. This particular post, and the actual doing of getting a RAG, will help me so much focus on what is important and meaningful to me and to those I hold dear…vs. performing for the world around me that which I often think is “expected”. I cannot thank you enough for sharing your thoughts in such a beautiful and meaningful way. Life at our home will be different during this Holy Season, and for that, I am thankful.

ann

I love the Fall season and all the months. October is great because usually the air is clearer and crisper. The leaves start to turn into the beautiful colors. Also Halloween is right around the corner. I enjoy the nice decorations,no creepy ones. Thank you for the recipes. Your girls are beautiful. God Bless.
Marilyn

Can you dehydrate Brussels sprouts? I just bought a dehydrator this year, for the apples from my daughter’s back yard tree, but haven’t tried it yet…
Can you pickle Brussels sprouts?
Thanks for an interesting article! 🙂

Your farm girls have a blessed life !! And I love brussels sprouts. My latest favorite is smashed sprouts. I soften them by boiling, and smash them flat on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with olive oil and salt, and top with grated cheese. And bake them to yumminess… Enjoy all those sprouts of yours :)))

Love your blog and many blessings ro your sweet family!

Oh, wow, those pix are treasures. I especially love the fashionistas, the dirt eating, and the album cover. What a story they tell ! (along with your insightful words) :))))))

The dirt pictures really made me smile! So much to explore and learn. I remember when my very fastidious friend put her son in a sandbox for the first time. He was appalled, to say the least! I grew up playing in a garden and so did my kids. We’re all better for it. Big hugs from Colorado!

Thank You for sharing this post. The girls are getting so big. They are beautiful. God Bless.
Marilyn

Love your “littles” reports…as a Great great grandma I can so relate, and remember trying to pick berries with my kids and grandkids. All too soon they will grow up and those fun times will be no more. So just enjoy while you have them and make wonderful memories. Best wishes with your little “farmers”!!

Oh Alex, you’re little ones are precious. I remember spending rainy days with my dd when she was little – a new pair of cute rubber rain boots each year was a must! This year, though, we are all sick of the rain here in New England, too, as it is the most humid rainy summer ever! Think fall…Farmgirl Hugs, Nicole (Suburban Farmgirl)

Wonderful that the calf returned on its own. Most do according to my mother-in-law who raised calves most of her life. She was a farmer for many years and taught me how to milk a cow and how to wean a calf from its mother. Even named a calf I helped to wean, after me. Guess you will be glad for a rest when harvest is over or will you still have lots to do until winter time? Pray you do get some rest as it sounds very hectic for quite a while. Maybe next year I can get into a garden. We are still waiting for our home to get finished and get moved in. Does take a long time to get it all done. Bless the day and your farm and all who tred there.

Glad that the calf is safe. I love that photo of Fern laying in the garden.
Marilyn

Hi Alex, your life sure keeps you hopping! I like the title of your story; it felt kind of like a Nancy Drew mystery :))) And the suspense! I am glad baby calf found its way home to mama. And that your newborn can’t run; she looks much happier sitting with you reading or hanging with the chickweed. And I love that Ava is developing her ninja skills ! Such a fun read, and you look radishing too !!

The biggest problem of needing recharging is feeling guilty about canceling plans. But sometimes, that’s what you need to do. Give it the 2-2-2 rule. Will this matter in two hours, two days, two weeks? Or for bigger things, will this matter in two weeks, two months, two years? Give things the priority and weight they require, and you will be happier.

Thank You for this interesting update. The girls are beautiful. Sorry about your dog.
Marilyn

As someone who feels as you do, about down time at home, I am happy you found your balance. And being with your sweet family, I’m sure, is a great curative. Keep taking care of yourself first, so you can care for others !!

Balance in our lives when raising small children is the key to inner peace that allows us to succeed in one of the most purposeful contributions to our world. Raising our children mindfully with imprinting a deep connection with the natural world grows them with a deep appreciation for what supports their aliveness. Thank you for sharing.

I have given myself permission “to not”. It is ok to not_________.(fill in the blank!). When some one is really pressuring me to do something that infringes on my time, I tell them “I will pray on that and get back to you”. It stops the hard sell in its tracks! If you don’t take care of yourself, you aren’t any good to anyone else and family always comes first. Enjoy your family.

Many Blessings.

Maureen