my morning went like this...

I woke up bright and early, got the coffee started and waited for the hubs to get ready for work.  Every other Friday he's either off or goes in an hour later.  I was looking forward to sharing a cup of Joe with him on our porch.  The weather has been so mild these past few days, so getting to do this, on a cool morning at 6:30, was a lovely thought.

view towards town

We live in the middle of 400 acres of crop, pasture and CRP ground.  Not all of it is ours, but it did belong to Steve's family at one time.  Literally, the house was built right in the middle.  With no homes or buildings to cloud our view for 1/2 miles in any direction, it's just us and the wildlife.  And, we savor that...a whole lot.

This morning, our dog, Callie was digging in and under our porch...for what, who knows.  But something was keeping her attention.  It wasn't long and a bunny hopped past.  It brought a smile to our faces.  Callie could care less about the rabbits that roam here, but, the rabbit doesn't know that.  It was cautious, would hop, hop, hop.  Stop. Look over it's shoulder then start the process again.

Out of the corner of Steve's eye he saw the bunny playing in the grass at the spot where our yard joins the hay field.  It was joined by another one. I turned to watch.  They were so cute.  I've never seen bunnies play like they were.  They literally were 'playing'.  I can't even begin to describe what they were doing, but it consisted of hops, side jumps, one over the other.  It made for a pleasant chuckle.

Steve left and I continued my morning on the porch, my 'just right' coffee on the table beside me,  magazine in my hand.  Callie continued her pursuit of whatever, and a movement near the corn field caught my eye.  A coyote.  It visits quite often.  A lone 'wolf' so to speak.  Callie had not caught site or scent of it.  Again, the coyote didn't know this and was very apprehensive.  A few quiet steps, a look, a few steps more.  Finally, he was far enough away to be safe and trotted off.

the winning hummer

One of the most joyous of joys are the birds the flit here and there around the house.  We have three hummingbirds that keep us entertained.  This morning was no exception.  They are quite territorial I've decided and fight over the sweetened water at the feeder we provide.  Now, there are six spigots for these little darlings, but they just don't get along.  Did you know they make a noise?  Not the buzz of their wings, another sound.  News to me!

and rain came down...flowers danced

In the distance, the thunder clapped, the clouds rolled in and the scent of rain filled the air.  THAT~is a great scent.  Believe me, we need the rain.  Then the wind picked up and I came inside.  The rains came down and it was beautiful...and my morning went like this!

Fun at the Voltmer Farm...poem by my nephew, Riley

My sister writes:  Was going through some of Riley's folders from last year and came across this:

I Remember

By Riley

The drive down was long

But always worth the time

Never anything really planned

But fun is always had

One year was full of fishing

Reeling one in after another

It was fun then but, 

Fish never bit again

The pond might as well be empty now

Because now we never reel anything in

It doesn't matter what we do

Shooting things

Riding four wheelers

Bailing hay

Swimming

It's always fun down at the Voltmer farm

Thought you might enjoy that!!  Thanks for providing a haven for us! :)

Gina

Lessons learned and new understandings...and I have FAITH

My cousin made a comment the other day on Facebook regarding her happiness and contentment in her life.  She finished the statement off with "Thank you, Lord!"  Yes, thank you Lord!

I responded with this, "The hard part is having Faith in Him when things aren't so rosy...but, Faith I do have and that gets me through the rough spots."  And, it does!  

At the end of last year, December 31, 2010, exactly; I took a leap of faith and put my real estate license into referral.  I've never looked back.  I applied for several jobs~now I have an understanding and empathy for the unemployed looking. See, a lesson learned and a new understanding.  I gave it a few weeks, then I had to make a decision.  I also believe that a job never came about because my heart and soul is with my shop and the expansion of it, developing the B&B and making better use of our farm in "today's" market.  

I've never been one to put my goals in writing and map out a plan to achieve them.  This has been no different!  I'm haphazard that way...but, I know my heart and I know where it leads me.  It's not on paper, but it's in my head.  I decided it was time to "follow my own advise" to so many others, "if you do what you love, what makes you tick, success will come!"  AND, I turn 50 this year, and I can't think of a better time or age to make a change!

My hubs and children have not been so "excited" about what I've done, wondering "what is she thinking," I'm sure.  It's not been the wisest thing financially, either.  However, let me stress here, I was in real estate...an independent contractor, and with that, no sales~no moola; so, having a steady and normal income is not something our household was used to.  And, real estate has been ODD at best the past few years.  I enjoyed much success in real estate...it just didn't hold my interest anymore.  As I said, I've not looked back.  

Now, what my hubs has witnessed is how things just come together and weave themselves in and out of our life.  One thing leads to another and things just take shape.  He said to me one day, "it is funny how things just seem to come together for you".  Oh, ye of little faith.  I live with gratitude in my heart, mind talks with God all the time...and Faith.

I'm reminded of this constantly.  As I said, leaving a career in real estate may not have been the best decision~OR, maybe it has been!  When the other stresses and demands on me are gone, I can get to the business of my LIFE.  The life I'm supposed to live...the life I have imagined.  

We also had an investment property that was draining us financially... Something had to go...and it did~we sold it!!!  I hope we never get to where we were again.  I like living a more "authentic" life, where less is more!  Lessons learned and new understandings.

We're strapped like we've never been before.  It's been fun, actually!  I shop wiser, we eat at home more, and my meals are planned with longevity and frugality in mind. We started getting books at the library, instead of purchasing them.  I put things back on the shelf that I otherwise would have purchased without a thought.  We got rid of the frivolity in our household...no home phone, we didn't use it anyway!  The Directv is out of our budget, too.  It's all been well and good.  I actually think I could live without t.v. completely.  I find I'm more active and look forward to creating, rather than watching a program.  It's really, really been good.  And, regular t.v. offers more than just a few channels now...who knew?  If anything, I have gotten "wiser" as to what I spend, where and when.  It's certainly been a time of adjustment...but like I said, it's been really, really good!

I'll sell something from the shop when I'm there working, a forgotten refund check will come; I say "NO" more, rather than "Yes" to everything.  And, I've put it out there.  I'm not ashamed or embarrassed.  I'm willing to sacrifice for the things I really want.  My life is more in balance and I'm happy and content!  

And, I have FAITH.  I always have had.  I've always felt that I had guidance and safety from the Man upstairs.  He's led me thus far and he'll lead me further.  With that said, if I fail, my Faith in Him will continue...it always has.  He's never forsaken me.  I.Have.Been.Tested.  There's always a lesson learned, a new understanding that one would never have had, if they had not walked down a certain path, taken a different turn or kept the monkeys on their back.  

Here's a funny thing...I'm finding dropped coins all the time.  Not just pennies, but nickels and dimes.  Each time I see one, I'm reminded that God does provide.  Sometimes I pick them up and sometimes I leave them, hoping someone who really needs them will find them.  It's just a gentle reminder to me...it inspires me!

"The hard part is having Faith in Him when things aren't so rosy...but, Faith I do have and that gets me through the rough spots."  Lessons learned and new understandings...and, I have FAITH!

61 calves, a semi, a John Deere tractor and a super rainy, muddy day...let the fun begin!

Well, day one~first feeding down and all is well on the farm front. 

Steve, my hubs, hurt his back again(the first time was Jan. '07) and so, the past few weeks have been an adventure, again!  He went horizontal.  Not able to sit or stand for two weeks, right leg affected, a trip to the ER, with a two day stint in the hospital have been part of the ordeal.  He finally ruptured the disc, where before, it was just "bulging." Doing much better after an epidural in the back, he was finally able to go back to work, and all was well!

We normally get calves at the first of the year.  Not quite ready for them at that time, we knew it was getting a little late and now the back problem.  Well...we had to get them bought, so, the call went out to his buyer.  Our son came over and helped me finish getting the lot ready; our son-in-law said he'd come and help me, too. 

So, the call came in and the cows, 61 of them, would be delivered on Tuesday.  Perfect, (son-in-law Chad has Tuesdays off) ...except for it has been pretty warm, so the frost was coming out of the ground, topped off with a rainy, rainy day.  Hmmmm?  Would the semi be able to make it down the half mile lane to the lot?  THAT WAS THE QUESTION...THAT WAS THE PROBLEM.  NO! 

So, leave it to the John Deere tractor...it was able to pull the semi, loaded with the calves up the lane.  Okay, that worked...until it got stuck again.  Back up, hook on, didn't work!  Back up, unhook, re-hook, unhook...finally, unstuck!  Too much messing around for me...

Meanwhile, the rain came down, the mud went up, Steve did too much, I got after him, the son-in-law finally explained "why" to the trucker.  I don't know if he was worried about the guy thinking Steve was being coddled too much, or if the guy would think I was being far too bossy (can't imagine that) whatever it was, I was worrying about the same thing, so I'm glad he told him what the deal was.  Except, he said "mother" is worried about him hurting his back, he has back problems, which then made me say, "I'm not his mother, I'm his wife".   Didn't want him to think I was THAT old, or, that I was pulling the Charlie Sheen card and the boys were my "gods". There was laughter...at least it explained what was going on, to my relief...and Steve's. 

61 calves, a semi, a John Deere tractor and a super rainy, muddy day...let the fun begin...