*work in progress done! WIP'D!

This past year was the beginning of our new normal which we are all still getting used to, I know you have read that here before, but it is the truth!  We had a quiet simple life in North Carolina it did not include 19 chickens, 3 Nubian goats, 20 rabbits (currently) and 6 acres of land.   I had friends that I ate lunch with on a regular occasion, I drove to the foothills frequently to visit my best friend, and on a weekly basis I went to a quilting class that I loved being a part of.

My new normal does not include eating lunch with friends on a regular basis, nor does it include hopping in my  packed car and happily driving to the foothills to visit Franziska because I have a heap of animals that need constant care. Nor do I have a sweet quilting group to call my own - yet.   I love what God has blessed us with here and while it might sound like I am complaining... I am not.

In an effort to start and finish more than 3 quilts in 2012 I could use some encouragement, or a push along the way, perhaps some inspiration!  So join me in this WIP'D challenge if you will.  Each Friday I will be hosting a linky for you to come and share your WIP at any stage, no need to write a separate post to include in that weeks link up, just include a recent post sharing a quilting project you have made progress on in 2012.  I will start the WIP'D link up on the last Friday in January. Please tell your friends, grab my button and post it on your side bar, write a post about this on your blog if you will, and come back on the 27th of January to link up! 

Please take the html from the button in my side bar to add to your blog.  It would be great if you would like to blog about this in you are in a circle of quilters who might be interested. The more the merrier!  May all of your ups and downs be with a needle!  Keep a watch out, the first link up will be on the last Friday in January, see you then!

*year in review

January was our (mine and Henry's - Eric was still in NC) first real month in Florida.  Before heading back to Florida I took a whirlwind trip to NC to visit my best friend. Then after getting to Florida, my sisters and mother came for a visit. A few weeks later momma moved an RV onto our property.

February we added chickens to our new homestead as well as rabbits.  We had our first visit in this home from Eric's parents on this month.

March is spring break time and our house is usually full during those days.  Summit, Henry's best friend flew in from Colorado for the break and a week or so later Kierstyn  and Austin arrived for their spring break.

Near the end of March first of April we planted our first garden on this land.  We were busy to say the very least. 

 The first of May we put our first Beehive onto our property, built our monster Chick-Inn Coop for our maturing chickens.  It is now summer, so by May's end the niece and nephews showed up again. Eric put NC behind him and headed to FL permanently.

Momma was here off and on over the past few months. This is June, welcome to heavy harvest time! We sliced, battered, froze, canned and ate fresh harvest from the bounty of our gardens! Momma was truly invaluable to our homestead during this time.

July brought Kierstyn back to NW Florida for several more weeks stay before her school started up again in August. We harvested our first honey after only having the hive for a short time. We harvested a total of 50lbs of honey and left a full hive for the bees to live off of over the winter months.

August brought me a breath of fresh air. I was able to settle down for a bit and just be.  I got some quilting and sewing of different sorts in during this month.

September was also a good laid back month, although we did plant some fall/winter crops during this month. 

In October we had a cookout at our house for the lovely people from Eric's office, it was nice to host! Eric's folks made a quick trip over to visit too! We picked winter squash throughout the month! OH, and our house in NC SOLD!!

November brought with it much joy! Our home was full all month long and it was really fantastic. Franziska had a willy nilly idea, she decided one evening that she was driving down for a visit and got up the next morning and did it!  This was the first time we have ever had all of my family at one of our homes for a holiday.  All were present for Thanksgiving except one of my brotherinlaws and one nephew, they were both missed.

The December month started out with a visit from 4 lovely ladies (2 being my sisters) the very first weekend in December.  We went to a Beth Moore Conference and then a few days later our oldest son deployed for 3 months.  During the Christmas holiday's we had Austin and Kierstyn back for during their Winter Break. We finished up the Christmas holiday with my sister Lori and her husband, Mark here at our home.  


I am exhausted after reviewing the past year in pictures.  It has been a full year in so many ways.  This has been the first year in our "new" normal here in Florida. We look forward to what God has in store for us in the coming year!  Happy New Year to each of you and yours!

*from the rising to the setting

From the rising of the sun,

 to the place where it sets,

the name of the Lord,

 is to be praised, Praise the Lord!

I know the sun sets where it is you read from today, but these were just to beautiful not to share!  The last one I did a bit of editing, just for fun!

Psalm 113
1 Praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD, you his servants;
praise the name of the LORD.
2 Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.

Praise the LORD.

*Christmas past, but Christ forevermore!

This year we had my older sister, Lori and her family here for Christmas. We had a wonderful, smooth, laid back celebration. Lori and I cooked, cooked and cooked just for the 6 of us. It was a blast!   We even had to run out last minute on Christmas Eve to pick up a few items... we "ran" to our local Walmart, who totally let us down! They closed at 6pm, we were a few hours too late. I was happy for all the Walmart employee's being anywhere but Walmart! However, Walgreens saved the day the apple pie and coconut cake!  I did thank the Walgreens clerk for being there and wished her a Merry Christmas. 

Christmas morning kisses were given...

We watched as each other opened their gifts..

Images were captured...

Preparations were made, food was cooked...

A moment to sit and relax ....

Turkey and Duck were carved and served up with all the side dishes we could hope for..

I took this because I love him, well I love him whether I take a picture or not...

This is the after feast glaze that you see on our faces. Our hubby's jumped in and did a bunch of the clean up after we ate, we were just enjoying sitting and watching...

Aren't they cute? It looks like they are carrying out a performance with detailed choreography, it was truly beautiful... (he was cutting a piece of plastic wrap)

After Lori and I cleaned up the counters we put out an important informative message for all to see...

Then we took a stroll around the property, bringing juicy Christmas carrots to the horses...

Christmas 2011, the holiday celebrated, is now in our past. Christmas, the gift of Christ, came to make a way to be in our presence now and forevermore!   May your next 365 days be filled with the joy, love and the giving attitude we practice in the month of December each year! 

*Joy to the World

Joy To The World

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Merry Christmas to each of you. May your days be filled with Wonder! 

*scenic Sunday on Friday

I like all of you will likely be far from my computer on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and I know that I CAN go without posting a Scenic Sunday but I have some great pictures to share, so with that having been said, I present you with scenic Sunday on Friday!

 This is Starlight, isn't she majestic? So beautiful, sweet and demure. 

She even looks majestic when she is kicking up some dust.

 But, Kierstyn and I both decided she was MUCH prettier when she kept her mouth shut.

 I am not sure if she was tired or if she thought something was really funny.

Come on over the Farmchicks Farm Photo Friday, I shared this today at Farm Photo Friday..

*to skate or not to skate that is the question

We are spoiled, let me just say that. Earlier this week I took the boys and Kierstyn to an ice rink at the Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin.  It was a rinky dink.. can I say that?  We were terribly disappointed, well Kierstyn was grateful, most grateful.   Kierstyn was the only one who skated.

Then! Then I found out that the Civic Center in Pensacola had ice skating open to the public for a few days this month.  The boys were delighted! I can't say that I blame them really, for not wanting to skate at the smaller one.  By the time they stretched their long legs out on the little rink at Baytowne Wharf they would be at the other end already!

Some how ice skating feels like part of the holiday season to us and I am so glad we located a rink for them to skate at this year!  Our boys had this privilege often when we lived in North Carolina.

I hope you all are enjoying some holiday festivities along the way this year, whatever it might be!   Three days left, are you ready?