Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Wordless Wednesday - Sharing my favorite video

You will need to turn off the soothing music on Playlist before you begin watching.

 

Wes...a kindred spirit for certain.

Until tomorrow, God willing.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Amish School Begins

When visiting an Amish family last Friday,
my friend Ellen and I arrived at 10 in the morning to find mother,
Mary,
sitting by their corner desk,
sewing by hand.

Spools of dark blue thread were near,
as she worked on sewing a dark blue dress for her young daughter Susan,
who giggled and grinned at the prospect of school starting this Monday.

Little Anna was excited too, because her birthday is today, the second day of school.  She turns 7.

The children were excited to start...  

And Mary will be home alone during the day, without little ones, for the first time ever.



The children,
all five of them,
will be taking a "double team" of horses to the school,
3 miles away.


Lunch pails in hand.  Horses tied nearby, waiting for the trip home.



Fall is right around the corner my friends.

Until tomorrow, God willing.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Farm Friends

It's so enjoyable to share what brings you joy.


Especially when friends are also experiencing that joy.

Parallel friends, such as Ellen, 
who owns and operates Bob, the Haflinger, 
on her beautiful Serendipity Ranch.







Until tomorrow, enjoying these special moments today, God willing.

Friday, August 26, 2011

From A to B - it's all I need


 Someday, hopefully soon, I'll have my small horse and cart in action.



I can't wait to feel the wind in my hair...

God willing.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Monday, August 22, 2011

Simply Abide - Sitting at His Feet

Most folks believe we live a slow life.
But, even for us, life gets too fast.

However, these past five days, we have toned it down a notch, 
to simply enjoy our time with young Jordan, who came back for an extended weekend visit.



These past five days, 
young Jordan has hit cans with his BB gun on our range (he has a good eye), 
driven the tractor (and even operated the front-end loader), 
loved on the sled dogs (and they loved back x 10), 
and picked tons of ripened blackberries (and filled his belly too!)
.


He also camped out (at the Bear's Den), 
made wood crafts (a drum, complete with head), 
hauled hay from a neighboring farm, 
assisted in training a newbie draft horse (my next Blog to come...)
spotted deer (twice!), 
and has eaten everything in sight, as well he should, as he is a growing boy.

That's the short list.



He will be 13 on the 13th.  
A true milestone in the life of a young man.
A young man who is firming up who he is in life.  
Who he will be.



But for now, he is just happy to enjoy each moment of each day.
And be a joy to us, during his visits.

Truth is, Jordan keeps us young...
and competitive, 
as evidenced by our blackberry pickin's.

But in the end, it is as it should be.
Papa Bear's pickin's are the largest.
Then Mama Bear.
Then Baby Bear.
But it could be that Baby Bear ate most of his along the way.  



Until tomorrow, God willing.  
Stop please.
Think about that phrase.  
God willing, as spoke by Paul in Romans 1:10.
It is by the grace of God that each of us will be here tomorrow.  
With that knowledge, don't run about and try to accomplish much.  
But instead, just sit at His feet.  
And abide.  
Simply abide.  
For the desire of Jesus is for you to put Him first.  
Have you put Him first today?
I'd love to hear from you.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Less is More - in action

That's pretty much our motto around here..."Less is More"...

Well, now, more than ever, we are putting this theory into action.

This week we sold Rachael and Levi.



We will miss having our pair, but reports are coming back on their new surroundings.  
Levi now has 6 girls to keep happy, and Rachael has made friends with a big doe.

And in the process, we met an amazing couple who farm and are like-minded.

But wait...we're not done.



Traveler, pictured with young Jordan on his back, is also for sale.







We will miss him.  He's one of a kind.

But someone will have an amazing horse in the process.



We'll just have to wait and see what the Good Lord has in mind...
and who will ride Traveler down the road, to his new home.

Until tomorrow, less is more, God willing.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

My GRIT-ty Family

I love being a member of the GRIT family.

For those of you who don't know, GRIT has been around for over 125 years.



And every once in a while, a critter of ours is featured on the beautiful, glossy pages within.

This issue, it is Traveler, our Mustang.



He's a good horse, who loves to work.  And cater to young budding equestrians, 
such as Ana Fortier of 


For Traveler, he's happiest when munchin' on hay.


Although he does enjoy a little adventure, and lovin', mixed in.


Thank you GRIT (Hank, Caleb, Jenn, Jean and all...
for sharing our boy with the world.

Until tomorrow, God willing.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Do You Hear the Call...

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Do you have it?

You know. 

That Call of the Wild.

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Over the years I would watch and question those around me. 

Co-workers, family, friends. 

And ask…

Do you have it?

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Some wouldn’t know what I was talking about.

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Some understood, but didn’t know the power, the lure, the curse.

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There are times I wish I had been born without it. 

That I could just “go with the flow”.

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But I can’t. 

I won’t.

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It’s in my blood, my head and my heart.

The desire, to be, and live among Nature.

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I would guess you have it too...
 
Until tomorrow ~ God willing

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Refuge

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There’s times in your life when things feel pretty bleak.

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You feel like you just can’t take one more step.

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You feel like there is no way out.

Your life feels like a whirling dervish ~ spinning out of control.

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Why not look up...

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Know that no matter how dark your darkest hour gets, there is always light shining on you.

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For He will reach out to you and cup your hand in His. 

He is there, day or night. 

He will hear a whisper, a thought, a tearful plea.

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Like any father, He only wants what is best for you. 

And He will do anything within His power to make your pain go away. 

Trust in Him. 

And His power. 

He is all powerful and can do all things.

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Know this and believe…

And believe in a better day. 

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It will come.

Like the full moon, which comes on a cycle, so shall your happiness. 

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Ask for it.

Wait for it.

Embrace it.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1

Until tomorrow ~ my Father by my side ~ God willing

This post was originally featured on my first Blog...found here at Russ-Stick Acres.com Blog on 12/9/09.