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Author Archives: livinthecountrylife
Spring Fever?
Its March, I think that’s really all I need to say for anyone who lives in Canada… March weather is unpredictable, its mean, its windy, snowy, rainy, and cold, then sunny, melting, muddy and messy. And then it starts all over again. It’s in like a lion and out like a lion there is no lamb, unless you raise them and they have started to arrive!
So I fill my house with flowers, and plants that bring spring feelings right to my eyes and nose. And we choose to get excited about things like the holiday up coming where we get to spend time with our friends and family. And we wait for the Mean Month March to be behind us and Spring to really arrive! So for now Happy “Spring” wherever you are and whatever the weather may be!
-A
Arizona Family, Friends & New Friends
For any of my readers who also want to live vicariously thru my parents travel adventures!! Check out Moms latest Blog!
We drove from Winslow to Tonapah the next day. We stayed with my husband’s cousin and his wife for a couple of nights. It was great to exchange the snow, ice and wind for the warmth and family in the Arizona Desert! We met one of their friends which care takes over the summer months, and found him to be a wonderful story teller. Having spend time in Vietnam during the war I had many questions, that were answered with “ he’s been there” opinions, and was just mesmerized by his stories of the not only the war, but his life in the Arizona Desert! Our second day in Tonopah was not hot by any means, but warmer than home. The rain sprinkled, so they said, but I felt maybe two drops! Watching the goats and chickens were great, just basically free range, and they do get into some predicaments…
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Community Hearts
For anyone who follows me on social media, like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pintrest you know that last weekend we spent our time helping to put on the 2nd Annual Teepee Creek PBR Classic Presented by Lyons Production Services with Alpha Bull.
It was a blast; we worked hard with an amazing group of volunteers from the community who came together to pull the night off with rave reviews. We filled the building; the crowd watched the amazing show and then danced the night away to the live entertainment. The set up and take down of the entire show was all thanks to the hard work of a community full of people who can do amazing things.
But that is how we do things here. Events like this one and the Teepee Creek Stampede can’t come together without those volunteers, without the sponsors, and without the heart that lives in this community I am so happy to call home, this community I am so lucky to raise my family in.
And so I talk now about something else that is near and dear to the heart of this community. An event I have been proud to participate in and support for the last few years.
The Annual HD Ride 4 a Cure.
“One in every 7,000 Canadians has HD, a devastating, degenerative brain disorder. The symptoms are like having Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS in one disease. Every child of a parent with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. There is currently no cure.”
Our community comes together every year to support this organization, by hosting the Ride 4 a Cure. Runners, hikers, walkers, wagons, and horses head out on the trail completing 10-20 KM’s after campaigning for pledges for months leading up to the event itself. Followed by a dinner and auction event, where those from our area, and our families from afar donate items to the silent and live auctions.
This August I will once again saddle up and ride the trail in support of this amazing cause. My donation website HERE is where you can help too, if you are interested in donating to support further research, and support to those effected by HD.
“To date, there are no drugs to slow or stop the progression of Huntington disease; however, there are specific drugs available to reduce some of the symptoms. Research is being conducted in Canada and globally to find promising treatments and approaches to treating HD.”
There are other options also to support like the Amaryllis Campaign, (you can watch my Amaryllis Video HERE,
Visit the WEBSITE for more information, on how to get involved or support.
Huntington Society of Canada
151 Fredrick St, Suite 400
Kitchener, ON N2H 2M2
P: 1.800.998.7398 F: 519.749.8965
As I say with anything you choose to support, make sure you do your research too. For me it is important to know that the dollars I am raising thru pledges, and donating myself are going to supporting those effected and their families, particularly in this case, that it is going to research to find a cure for this damaging disease. I hold likeness to any organization I choose to support. So I say again look at where your dollars are going if you are choosing to support something and make sure it lines up with your passions and priorities!
-A
Liebster Award – Discover new Blogs
I am extremely honoured to have been nominated for the 2018 Liebster Award. I thank Brittany over at Dog Tags Dolls & Dinosaurs for the Nomination. Brittany is a (mostly) stay-at-home momma of two littles, two fur babies, and a proud Marine wife to her sweet hubby who she has been blessed to know half her life.
As for me, 2018 marked my jump into full time blogging, I was writing extremely sporadically for a little while but decided this was it; I wanted it to be something I could do much more consistently. So I set out to write more often and I have to say that the process has been helpful in so many ways. I love writing; it is an outlet for so many emotions and thoughts.
I have had a journal since I was in grade 3 when my grandmother gave it to me for my birthday. At that time I wrote things about my friendships, sleepovers and daily things that came up and were important to me. No body read it so I could write anything! As time went on so did my writing, I kept a Journal or Diary for the rest of my life, I still do now, although now its less journaling and more private thoughts and emotions that I cant share or am not ready to share here! Since my children were born I began journaling for them. 1st times trying or doing new things, funny things they have done and said, mostly letters and notes to them as they grow, these books I will leave to them when they are all grown up, kind of a keepsake of their lives thru my eyes.
So my blog really has become a way to share with others who might be in the same place as I am, others who can know they are not alone if they are experiencing something similar to me, things they can look up and read, have a laugh at or try out a recipe I have tried. I blog to share with my friends and family who are so far away what is happening in our lives because sometimes it is difficult to connect individually all the time! I blog about life on my little farm with my family because it is real, it is my everyday, and it is special to me. We are busy here we have so many things on the go and if someone else can connect to my material and find enjoyment in it I am happy.
10 Random Facts About Me:
- I am a mom to three-year-old twin girls and a two year old boy yes they are close in age – 16 months apart, yes this was planned, yes I am busy, yes I love it – not every minute but most of it!
- I love wine! See the Point above Nuff said!
- I believe in reading, reading to our children, reading to ourselves, and reading about anything and everything that interests us. I feel strongly that when you read you grow, I love watching my children “read” now it melts my heart when my son flips thru a book reciting lines he remembers from the time I have spent reading to him, it is one of the most amazing things to watch.
- I am a wife to an amazing man, who encouraged the move from the city to the farm and I wouldn’t want it any other way, even on the days I complain about the snow, or mud.
- I love my chickens; they were the first “farm” animals I wanted when we arrived on our little farm.
- I have always loved Photography although have never pursued it to learn more or make anything of it other than filling albums of my children and our lives. I find the art of photography fascinating and beautiful.
- I worked at a community college for years after graduating with my Disability and Community Support Diploma before leaving to pursue motherhood and family life on our farm.
- I was a figure skater most of my childhood life, meeting many of my closest friends and learning more about life than skating sometimes! I believe active children learn more than just the sport they are involved in, extra curricular activities are important parts of being a child, and growing up with balance whatever that activity might be!
- I am actively involved in our small community, because I believe in the power of a community, a community that comes together and accomplishes amazing things. I believe giving of my time teaches children to think of the big picture, the world and other people around them. We can go nowhere alone, everything we do in life we do thru and with other people.
- I have amazing family and friends who are my support system. I only hope I am as supportive to them as they are to me!
Questions I Was Asked.
1) What is the number one thing to do on your bucket list?
Travel to Greece. I have always wanted to see the amazing architecture colors and beautiful sunsets. Not to mention the food! I would eat and eat the whole time I think! Oh and own a Ford Mustang Convertible, I don’t know why? My cousin owned a mustang in highschool it was his car I learned to drive standard on and I think I just have always had a connection to that car! Especially because it managed to keep us alive thru some pretty precarious situations!
2) If you could only have two functional senses (touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing) of your choice, which would you choose & why?
Sight for sure, watching the world around me, my family, the farm, the garden grow, is so important to me. I have pondered the loss of sight previously and feel strongly that it would be the hardest of all to lose. And taste, I love food too much to give that up, given the choice!
3) If you were extremely athletically talented & could play any sport of your choosing what would it be and why?
I would figure skate, really, I did for my entire childhood and so although I wasn’t extreme enough to land me at the Olympics or anything I still have such a love for the sport! And do some coaching still so I can keep my skates on my feet and help the local kids get involved in the sport too!
4) What is your favorite bible verse or quote? Do you have a special connection to it? If so, explain.
As I am not religious nor have I read the bible I feel it would be unfair of me to answer this question or “google” a good quote to amp up the answers to my questions so here I will leave this answerless!
5) Hypothetical scenario…’The Walking Dead’ has become real life. The zombie apocalypse has commenced. You must do anything to survive. What is your weapon of choice & why?
I am thinking along the lines of a baseball bat, striking the zombie like a t-ball and watching its head roll!? Morbid Eeek!
6) What languages can you speak OR which would you like to learn to speak?
I speak only English, however have always thought Italian was such a beautiful Language. Spanish as well is something that I have often thought I would like to learn!
7) What is your favorite part about being a momma? If you are not yet a momma, what do you most look forward to when you think about motherhood? & if you do not want kiddos or don’t see yourself having children, where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Being a mother to three children Twins Daughters 3 and a Son 2 there are so many things that are my favorite. The snuggles, the hugs, the paintings and pictures of fridge worthy artwork. The pride I feel watching them learn a new skill. The excitement when we talk about the things to come. Motherhood is tough most of the time but these things these moments make it all worth it! It’s a love that is indescribable!
8) What is one thing/moment that has happened in your life that you would want to relive?
There are many things I would want to do again for a second time, but relive I don’t know that I could pick anything. I have always been of the mindset that the experiences I have had in life have guided me to where I am now; I wouldn’t want to re live to change anything.
9) You just won the lottery! What’s the first thing you buy?
A Plane Ticket (well if that lottery is a large sum!) I would head off to a remote location with my family to make a plan! … oh geeze is that boring?! I’ve dreamed about all that I would do if I won millions, but practically and actually I would need to step away for a minute to collect my thoughts if that actually ever happened!
10) If you had to live out of the country for a year, where would it be?
Greece, I would spend a year touring, eating, learning, and writing.
11) You have officially been cast in ‘The Wizard of Oz’. Dorothy is strolling down the yellow brick road and comes across the scarecrow (in search of a brain), the tin man (in search of a heart), and a lion (in search of courage). Then she finds you! What are you in search of? What do you seek most in life?
Happiness. Not that I feel I am missing it per-se but its nice to find things that bring a smile to our faces, light to our hearts and calm to out lives. So if she’s the girl, Dorothy can help point those things out to me any time, it’s always nice to find new perspective!
I Nominate (and also recommend for reading and following!)
Questions, should you choose to accept to those I have nominated are:
1) If given the power to time-travel would you rather go into the past or the future?
2) Have you ever watched the cloud and imagined it to form some shape?
3) What is the story behind your blog and how did it get its name?
4) What does true love mean to you?
5) If you could travel to any place in the entire world, where would you go and why?
6) Which would you rather watch, the sunrise or sunset?
7) What/who inspires you in life the most?
8) If you could grow a garden, would it have flowers or fruit/veggies?
9) What’s the youngest memory you have of your past?
10) If you could visit a fantasy land from one of your favourite films, TV shows or books where would you pick?
11) Is there a quote you strive to live by?
Official Rules of The 2018 Liebster Award
1) Thank the person who nominated you, and put a link to their blog on your blog. Try to include a little promotion for the person who nominated you.
2) Display the award on your blog.
3) Write a small post about what makes you passionate about blog posting.
4) Provide 10 random facts about yourself.
5) Nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel would enjoy blogging about this award.
6) List these rules in your post.
7) Inform the people/blogs that you nominated
If you choose to accept the nomination answer my questions, remember to tag me and inform me about your post by leaving a comment here for me to have a look at your answers. I truly hope you enjoy answering my questions and get a little kick out of them! Don’t forget to nominate other bloggers to discover, connect and support the blogging community!
For more detailed information on the Liebster Award 2018 visit here.
-A
Fit Me
Yikes just writing the title scares me. I have decided to journal my experience on my journey to a more fit me. I realized after looking at a photo of myself recently that I have become extremely unhealthy. I discovered that the reason my ankles are aching at the end of the day and the reason my back is sore, the reason my body doesn’t move the way it used to, is because I have put on a significant amount of weight on the last while. I got busy caring for my family and not caring for myself.
Now I know this is a country living blog and that Chickens and Children are usually on the reading menu but I have discovered that this too fits here nicely… its life, life out in the country, away from the city gyms, and the conveniences of the well beaten path!
This is not about thin, this is not about unhealthy expectations, this is about being able to run and chase my children in the back yard. This is about standing on my feet all day cooking, cleaning, folding laundry (yes I do that sometimes) and not feeling the ache in my body at the end of the day. This is about my health, energy and feeling good about myself.
So what is to follow will be a series of posts journaling my exploration to a healthier me, you can still expect to see the regular ponderings, parenting, and country livin’ posts you have come to know. I will just also be incorporating thoughts on this new journey I am taking to a healthier more fit me!
I feel scared, how will I add one more aspect to my day, how will I manage to incorporate fitness and healthy eating into my day. All these challenges are to come, and something I am looking forward to working out!
I have the necessary tools, I have the knowledge as a former athlete, I have the equipment and I have a personal trainer to guide me.
So now it will be time to carve out time in my day to add in some fitness activities, healthy timely eating and find alternatives to wine Eeek!
If you want to see more ramblings on the topic check THIS out!
-A
Guest Blog
I have recently been given an amazing opportunity!… I was asked to write a guest blog! It was much more nerve racking to write for someone else than for my own blog! But what a cool experience and I am so honoured to have been asked!
You can check out the post HERE if you are interested! And as always look forward to my next post right here early next week! 🙂
Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!
-A
Is it too Soon?
February Yard and Garden Tour 2018 – And a few other Projects!
Enjoy a look at my Yard and Garden in February! And don’t forget if you enjoy my Vlog Subscribe HERE!
-A
Is Spring Here?
I keep asking myself “when it is coming”, I keep looking for signs of its arrival, I know somewhere buried under many feet of snow there is grass waiting to grow, and flowers waiting to bloom!
But for now I can only wait. And maybe start some seeds inside!?
Yesterday we had a great day finally warm enough to spend some significant time outside, you know the time that is longer than it takes to get ready to go out! In fact the kids have spent the last few days outside and we all love it! Steve headed out in the morning to build an epic sliding hill and we took out the toboggans and proceeded to climb and slide and crash and laugh and enjoy the bright sunshiny day!
The kids even convinced me to trek thru the back yard to the play structure, which I have not been keen on doing since the last big dump of snow, mostly because when the snow is waist deep on me which means it’s a lot of work to get them where they want to go! … But we did it made it out there and tramped a path around so they could use the equipment, and once again climb and slide!
Hot chocolate and cookies were to follow an afternoon outside and sleepy tired children who fell asleep almost immediately after their heads hit the pillow… that is what I love most about the outside world and fresh air! So we hope the weather keeps up staying warm now so we can enjoy being outside more.
With nice days it is so much easier to get out and work on projects, for us in February that means snow removal, snow removal, feeding animals and oh right snow removal! But after yesterday Steve accomplished most of the barnyard snow removal, we can even swing a few gates again!
I have to say that by far this is the most snow we have had on our little farm since we moved out here and I am worried about the spring! A few years ago THIS happened and I am certainly concerned that after the run off last year washed out the culvert in the barnyard that there might be an even worse fate this year! We will be keeping an eye on everything as the melt starts to ensure our animals have safety away from the flooding areas!
What are you doing while you wait for spring?
-A
Traveling with Toddlers!
Last week we took a trip! It was a long trip… it was a busy trip! We took two travel days to get to our destination and three to return home. WOAH!
It was my Grandmothers 80th Surprise Birthday party and we are so lucky to have gone, spent that time with her, and were able to catch up with relatives from all over, some of whom were meeting my children for the first time! My heart was so full while we were there seeing everyone!
We headed out after gymnastics practice, loaded up an aunt and a grandpa and started down the road. I was ready, and I was prepared. My children don’t own technology. They are two and three years old so we have decided that the owning of tablets, I Pads, Phones etc. is perhaps for older kids and teenagers, I wont get into it here… another post, for another day!
I packed snacks, because the key to motherhood and happy children is snacks. I packed games, books, and activities in their own back packs. I made sure the kid’s songs were ready on the stereo. I allowed them their favorite snuggle stuffies and bedtime blankets in the car, which on any regular day would be a big no no and off we went!
They traveled a total of 7 hours the first day with only one short break for lunch and they did amazing! They read books, sang songs, colored pictures, and visited about where we were going. We got a hotel along the way and it had pools, and open areas to run and play, we all got to stretch our legs, swim, burn off some much needed travel energy and get a good night sleep in before continuing down the road again the next day!
And we did get up early, have breakfast and head on down the road again!
After another long day of travel we arrived at Grandmas house. She was surprised to say the least! She had no idea we were coming, and the surprises continued from there. The kids and I were beat, we headed to the hotel and snuggled in for a night of rest, not before seeing and meeting great aunts and uncles who were also all arriving at the hotel, hugs all around and sneaky excited giggles for what was to come once it was party time!! My Aunt and cousin arrived later that night on a flight; all over again she was shocked. Her family was all together for her birthday and she was so happy!
The next night was the big party, everyone was ready, we took her out for dinner then headed back to the hall at the hotel to await her arrival, with a tricky fib she was led into the hall where she was given her final surprise, all but one of her siblings were able to make it to her celebration, some had traveled a great distance to spend this milestone with her. Seeing the laughter and the happy tears made the trip all worth it! The kids all danced and partied until late and loved meeting new cousins and family.
The next day we continued to catch up, visit, and enjoy everyone’s company, we spent the day at grandmas house. Once again it was a late night for the kids but worth all the family time spent together.
After three days of visiting, partying, and catching up it was time to head home. We had breakfast that morning with aunts and uncles who were also leaving that day and said all of our good byes!
We traveled once again to the same amazing hotel to spend some time in the pool again. The next day as we headed out we weren’t sure if we were going to make it… the news alert suggested that the highway we planned to travel was closed. After further investigation we discovered it had in fact just been opened back up, thank goodness. After all this traveling the children were starting to tire of sitting in car seats and traveling down highways so although this portion of the trip only lasted 4 hours it was more than enough for them and we had some major tears the last part of the trip. We stopped at my mom and dads and all three kids baled out of their car seats with enthusiasm! We had dinner that night with family and everyone headed to bed on time.
Now it was time to head home, after dropping Aunty off everyone was excited to get home, get out of car seats and spend the night in our own beds.
The trip was more than fun; it was so exciting to see everyone, I am so grateful to have such an amazing family and support system that made the trip go as smooth as it possibly could.
I have good kids, they are polite, they are well mannered, and they are well behaved. I don’t care who you are or how “good” your kids are if you stick them in a vehicle to travel for 5 days there is bound to be some hiccups!
TIPS FROM OUR FIRST VERY VERY VERY LONG TRIP!
- Snacks for the car OBVIOUSLY!! But also for the hotel, we packed fresh fruit and “breakfast” foods because, I don’t know about anyone else’s kids but mine usually get up and eat right away sometimes in their PJ’s but staying in a hotel means going to the restaurant for breakfast and so having some fresh fruit and yogurts and things to tie them over is helpful to getting us all ready to head to the restaurant for a meal!
- Activities, even if I am a believer in looking out the window and enjoying the scenery, taking in all that the world passing by has to offer having something else to occupy little minds and hands while traveling long distances is imperative.
- Bring someone with you if you can, the activities will hit the floor and someone there to pick them up can avoid stop after stop. Its also sanity saving for the driver to have someone else to talk to while three blind mice plays on the radio for the 90th
- Pull ups, for my three year olds who are potty trained they know that pull ups on a long trip when the temperature outside is -25C is a good thing to keeping their bums warm, and that they can change out of them as soon as we get where we are going! I feel it saves so much using them. Often they can hold it until the next rest station but when they cant its great back up!
- Music, and audio books, listening to something other than mom sing (although I am practically the Next Canadian Idol) is sometimes soothing enough to let the little eyes fade and a nap to happen!
- Get out, it was tough on this trip to make stops along the way because it was so cold for just a road side stop, but having travelled that highway before a time or two I know there are some fun stops along the way that would have broke the trip up a little more for the littles and bigs!
It was an amazing trip, even with all my hesitations I am so happy we set out on the journey.
Happy trails to you and yours wherever the road may take you!
-A
Livin' the Country Life 