Tree in the Trunk

I don't think I have openly addressed my burning desire to live in the country here in this particular forum. Those of you who know me personally, know that it is a daily part of my existence. We are s-l-o-w-l-y making plans and working to that end. I have 4 books waiting for me at the local public library right now that are going to help educate us about raising chickens and cows - I know it's goofy isn't it? I grew up in a city of 3.5 million people and I want to live with chickens and goats? But can I tell you how it makes me smile.....it makes me feel connected to things I have spent the majority of my life disconnected from and it makes me feel alive.

I get giddy making soap, yogurt, grinding my own flour and preparing wonderful yummy things with it! I love this time of year when I can pop out the back door to the garden and snip some fresh dill and chives to put in my mashed potatoes like I did last night for dinner. It all just makes me happy..... nature, old fashioned traditional cooking, simple pleasures and handcrafted goodies all whisper come, come. I have so much to learn but the amount I have to learn is nothing compared to my desire to learn it - a good starting point wouldn't you say? The list of things I want to tackle grows every time I get a chance to poke around on some of the fabulous blogs out there ;-) I want to make root beer, ginger beer and rose petal jelly and a gorgeous patchwork quilt out of Wonder Boy's old blue jeans (which by the way I have been saving for years now for just that reason), I want to cross stitch and crochet and make potpourri, I want to raise chickens and hang laundry out in the breeze (grounds for disciplinary action in our sub-division) and that is just scratching the surface......

For now our weekend farm hunting, country exploring drives will have to sustain me and for now they do, old barns and happy grazing cows and a beautiful old mailbox covered in a multitude of buttons of every size, shape and color and this........I really don't think it gets a whole lot better than this!! If you happen to have an old jalopy that needs a home, maybe we can talk after the move........

Learning as I go,

Leisha

Meet Annabelle.........

This is Annabelle - a sheep who lives in West Virginia. I have loved Annabelle from afar since I met her online at Chicken in the Road . This is my very favorite blog - I visit it everyday - some of the best things that are made in my kitchen come from Suzanne's blog.

I made her Old Fashioned Cornbread Dressing yesterday and The Principal asked me to make it for a potluck at work in a few weeks - it was that good. SO.....why all the talk about chickens and sheep and cooking ?? Suzanne needs our help......yes......yours and mine. Suzanne is a single mother of 3 who is doing the best she can to live out a simple life in the country (oh....sigh) anyway - she is a writer and her blog is just one way she supports her family - she has entered a contest with SAM-e for a 6 month writing position that will pay well and help her out significantly.

She needs votes - it takes less than 5 seconds...click once to the site and once when you are there and that's it - done !! You can only vote once a day until December 7th -bookmark her till then -(that's 5 seconds a day for the next 10 days - 50 seconds of your time - less than 1 minute!!)Suzanne is currently about 2000 votes away from 1st place. Suzanne's blog is a joy each day - beautiful pictures, great recipes, hilarious stories - you never know what you are going to get, but it's always good - make her a morning stop like I do when you fire up your computer for the day. The Principal and Wonder Boy are on board with me - won't you join us? Help her out would you please......for me??

There are animals that need her and teenage mouths to feed!! There is nothing in this for me (or you) outside of doing something good - that and being grateful for the wonderful amazing recipes she posts!!! The recipes alone are worth the time!!

Visit her and vote for her just because it feels good to do good!!!

You guys are wonderful and I love you ;-)