Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Moving Forward



The lull that follows directly after the holidays, has had a tendency in past years to get me down. All the excitement and merriment has suddenly ended and a lengthy period of cold days and dark nights descends upon us like a thick woolen blanket- comforting but heavy.



Somehow, this year- I don't feel that. The holidays were so special, so complete, that I was compelled to leave it behind- preserved and perfect. In it's place, I found new hopes, new dreams, and plans, oh, so many plans.



Here are five things I'm most excited about. . .

1. Tapping Maple Trees. I'm quite sure I'm the only fool in Arkansas who taps for maple! Last year, I got a bee in my bonnet to try it, and it was delightfully prairie-ish, fulfilling all my Laura Ingalls fantasies. I got enough to sweeten a few cups of coffee:) which just fueled my fire to go bigger. My spiles have been ordered, my buckets purchased, and I am set to start tapping!

2. I'm weaning myself off sugar and getting back to our whole foods and healthy eating habits. I'm invigorated, inspired and so, so ready.

3. I'm banking on snow this winter. We usually get a handful of days where we are snowed or at least iced in- and they are complete bliss. I love the idea of being secluded, holed up, just us. They are the most exciting days for our posse. We venture out, playing til our bodies can't take anymore then huddle inside cramming around the fireplace until we've regained feeling in our fingers and toes, which means the time has come to head back out and do it all over again.

4. Back to School. Sometimes homeschooling can be overwhelming, tense and downright difficult. Yet, in that same vein- I love it. Cherish the time no matter what come. I miss it when we're off- It provides routine and stability, it paves our day and it's special time that I get to spend with the wilds, one on one. Now, someone please remind me I said this next week!

5. We've had some exciting opportunities present themselves here on the farm. Winter is our slow time, down time to get re-charged, a calm moment for growing excitement and exploring new ideas for spring. The next couple months will be spent going over and over new routes and notions- always trying to align our hopes for the farm with our heart for our family.



Dreaming up new projects and adventures is what wintertime on the farm is all about.



-pictures were from a near all day hike yesterday, I would say one of our first big successful ones here on the farm- no tears and everybody had fun. Anywho, what about you, anything upcoming that's got you all aflutter? 




30 comments :

  1. Great pictures as always! I get the same feeling after the holidays. It's like sad feeling of what to look forward to now. I'm glad you found some things to fill this lull. For me, I just have to keep dreaming of warmer weather to get me through the winter.

    Mel
    http://girlandthepolkadot.blogspot.com/

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  2. all awesome goals and you can do it. tapping maple trees sounds pretty awesome and am a little jealous of.

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  3. Sounds like you are entering this new year with lots of hope and promise, and that is as it should be. How fun to tap the trees, we have been doing it for a few years now, three, maybe four. Just a few trees, we get a gallon or two of syrup, but honestly it isn't really about how much syrup we get, it is about the process and the connection to the earth we feel when we do it. I am pretty sure you will totally understand that :)

    Your world looks so different from ours right now. It has been so very cold (-30 degrees C) and windy. We have had to bundle up warm to head outside, and the last few days about an hour is all we can do. Hoping today is a little warmers.

    Enjoy your days. xo

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    1. -30!!! I don't know how get out in that at all- I must stop complaining about mid twenties!

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  4. Ahhh I was such a Little House on The Prairie fan so I love your reference!! Sounds like you have a lot of fun things planned for this winter! I need to get back into healthier eating habits too.

    lovejoanna.com

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  5. what a gorgeous way to describe your post-holiday feelings <3 excited to see what adventures 2015 brings you.

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  6. also, i wanted to tweet a quote from this post but i can't find you on twitter -- do you have an account?

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    1. Thank you! That's very kind, sadly I've never joined Twitter, I am so lame in the social media realm:)

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  7. Oh I miss back when I used to make maple syrup. We don't have access to the maple tree since we moved two years ago...but come February I get the "sugaring" bug. Love your blog!

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    1. Thanks! You will have to give me some tips, I'm brand new to the "sugaring" game, but just love the excitement of it!

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    2. We did it "back yard" style so I prolly don't have too many tips=) just the love for the entire process=)

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  8. Amazing post. I like the idea of getting maple syrup. Thanks for sharing and do not forget about the Givenchy Aviator Sunglasses Giveaway.

    Eye See Euphoria : http://eyeseeeuphoria.com/post/designer-of-the-month-todd-rogers

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  9. Beautiful photos! Great to hear you sound so hopeful!

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  10. HI! I've been out of town... which was so very much needed. Now I am playing blog catch up! :) So glad to hear that you all had a lovely holiday season. Mine was better than expected, but the last few days of the year brought on perhaps the most severe anxiety I've ever had. It was exactly what the doctor ordered to get out of town on our anniversary trip. New Orleans healed and inspired my heart for 2015. :) I love your goals for the year! Tapping maple trees sounds like so much fun! I have always wanted to keep bees, though everyone sort of gives me a look when I say that... :) haha.The snow here has been the same. Very little, but the cold is ever present. I am also hoping for snow. :) XO -Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

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  11. The post-holiday-but-still-winter time is typically pretty hard for me- or, at least, I don't look forward to it. SO cold and nothing but spring to look forward to. Yes, it makes those first few warm days and green shoots pushing up through the ground THAT much sweeter, but yiiiiiiikes it feels like it takes forever!

    I love what you're excited about- and I'm hoping you get a ton of maple this year! :)

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

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  12. the maple syrup idea is awesome, and going to school has always been a nervous thing for me I'm not sure why lol

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  13. i can relate to the anticlimactic feeling you have previously sensed in january, but like you, this year feels different. i think you're right, it's because the holiday's were so fulfilling and less stressfull than in the past - what a refreshing start to the new year! let's vow to keep the enthusiasm and our hopes up for all of 2015, deal?

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  14. I'll have to start calling you Laura-that is so fun!!! Maybe you can drip it in the snow when it comes to make candy :) Love it!!

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  15. You've convinced me with this post...I see a lifestyle book in your future. Don'tcha think? Common on fellow commenters...you can totally see it too, right? It could be like an open love letter for your family. Basically this blog, but in hardback. It's okay to sleep on this idea. Consider this a seed planted!
    Texas Jak
    www.novermyhead.com

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  16. Looks like you have some great days ahead! And I loved reading about this whole maple tapping thing! So fascinating!

    xo

    Michaela

    http://michaelajeanblog.com

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  17. Hey! I would LOVE to tap maple trees. So jealous right now. Maple sirup is crazy expensive around here (try 17 € for a small bottle of organic Maple Sirup...) and I can't live without it. Are you going to homeschool your kids till the end? curious, as we don't have homeschooling in Europe. At least that I know off. xo

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  18. I often feel disheartened in January after the high levels of excitement experienced throughout December, but like you, I'm not feeling that so intently this year.. although it certainly takes a fair amount of work to shake off those 'January blues'!

    ps. as always, wonderful photography!

    aglassofice.blogspot.co.uk

    x

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  19. love these photos! sounds like you have some fun days ahead of you :)

    Jessica
    the.pyreflies.org

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  20. I LOVE those fringe boots!!! I want some. Also - wow! You have gotten maple syrup from actual maple trees? If that is not the coolest thing I have ever heard, then I don't know what is. I would not even know how to begin on doing that!

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  21. I think January is quickly becoming one of my favourite months for the reasons you described above. I love the lull, the peace and time to reflect. You've got some great goals there for 2015. Best wishes for the year ahead. xx

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  22. i just find this blog, simply wonderful, congratulations! i,ve four children too, and everyday is an adventures. Sorry for my english, isn,t very good
    From todayi,m your follower

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  23. I want to tap maple trees!! What a great idea! I remember seeing someone do that when I was a kid and thinking it was the coolest thing. I've never thought about doing it at my own home! I look forward to hearing more about your experiences with it. :)

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  24. Surprisingly, I'm enjoying this post holiday time too. I'm drastically reducing my sugar as well as white flour for health reasons. I had started in November and then, of course, the holidays hit. I've got to get back to it!!
    We'll be starting homeschooling in the Fall, so I've been trying to get my head around that and choosing a curriculum. I've always said I am not a homeschooling mom, but it's something we need to do and now I'm getting excited about it!!
    Sounds like you are off to a good start to 2015!!

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