Blight Blog - letting true grit come to light

It's been a little over a year since I retired {early} from working with
the State of Michigan.  

Here's the scoop...Intro...Click HERE.

And surprisingly, or not, it's taken me a year to adjust. 
I've let life take me for a stroll, just wondering where it would all lead.  
Sure, Russ and I plan, daily in fact.
But, we rarely plan for anything off our 40 acres. 

Why? 

No need to. 

Now I want to share that information with you, the reader, and faithful follower.

Stay tuned as I spell out how we actually do live...without:

A stove.

A refrigerator.

A kitchen table.

No hangers for clothes ~ only one nail.

Not shopping for clothes except at resales.

The list is long...

And what we live with...

Raising our own meat.

Harvesting Maple Syrup.

Living with outhouses.

Using horse and dog power.

Constructing every building on our 40 acres, including furniture within, and out.

Starting a "House Church" on site.

In other words, it's time to talk "turkey".

 

I always said I wanted to do a "Blight Blog", and now is the time.

 I told some folks who were here for a dogsled ride this weekend

to not let money stand in the way of their dreams.  

It's truly not an issue when you live in "God's Economy".  

I'm excited to bring our life to you, in a whole new way.

Right now my fingers (and feet) are freezing as I've been in our little 38 degree building, 
the Wee House,
waiting for the fire to warm it up.  
It has, but my fingers are cold, even at 42 degrees.  
I was too tired last night from being out in the snow all day, 
and never made it up to put more wood on the fire to last the night.  
Thank you God for letting it be above freezing.

With Jesus at the top of your list, you will survive anything this world throws at you.

I'll be back...
I'm off to the local friendly Post Office to mail out not 1, but 2, books sold this past weekend.

Check out my Amazon store if you wish,
and see a great variety of outdoor books,
and then some.

Michigan Woodswoman Amazon Store

Until next time, dear friends, God willing.

Can I Get A Witness?

God is so good.

I'm so grateful he provides us with daily beauty to grace our lives.
 

Can I get a witness?

Amen!

Until tomorrow, dear friends.  God willing.

Thankful

I am thankful for many things.

The recent snowfall.

Our tour guests.

Our gentle dogs.

Did I say gentle?

And thankful for brothers {in-law} who love to help in the chores.

Thankful for my hubby's good care of each and every dog.

And truth be known...even the dogs are thankful.

And tell us daily.

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."
1 Chronicles 16:34

Until tomorrow, dear friends.  God willing.

Winter is Truly Upon Us

After receiving 8 fluffy inches of beautiful white powder yesterday,

winter is indeed, 

truly upon us.

One {1} degree this morning and tour folks scheduled.

Are we happy?

Until tomorrow, dear friends.  God willing.

January Visitor

For the last week, we have been anticipating the arrival of "brother, Mike".

It's always fun to have him visit.  

He loves to talk, eat, and chug coffee.

Usually, we put him to work, as a CCW instructor for our training session.

 

But not this time.  

This was a trip based on relaxation.

He's only been here a little more than 24 hours, 

but I can honestly say it feels like a vacation for us.

Russ has someone to walk along side, and chat with, while doing chores.

And between chores it is lots and lots of coffee, good eats and chatter.

Just the way you expect a lazy winter day to be like.

And the best part of all, is...I get to see the love of brothers in action.  

It's a bond that can not be broken.  

Or even choked out of you...{smile}

Until tomorrow, dear friends.  God willing.

Hans - A Furry Farewell

If you've been to our sled dog kennel, you've met Hans.  

He was one of the "big boys", always happy to see folks.

Whether doing a fun run with a tour guest or family, 

or leading Russ into the finish line of the 2003 Midnight Run, 

Hans did it with gusto!

Often times, stopping to "water" trees along the way.

That was our Hans.  

Years ago, we were so impressed with Hans' father,
Kiwi,
we knew we had to add Hans to our kennel and join his "daddy",
who we had purchased months before.

So we made a trip up to the U.P., Michigan's Upper Peninsula,
to Iditarod musher, Al Hardman's, cabin to retrieve Hans.

As we picked up Hans,
Al and other local mushers were heading out on a 100-mile 2-day run.

.
After saying goodbye, we loaded up Hans in the cab of our truck and headed home.

Smiles on our faces.

Especially on Hans' mug,
after we introduced him to "fast food" upon crossing the Mighty Mac.

Home.

We knew he was to stay with us forever.

The big guy captured our heart, just as his father, Kiwi had done, upon his arrival.

The last half of his life, Hans battled illness.
 
It began with vet visits, films sent to MSU, and many discussions, with many vets.

In the end, it was diagnosed that Asthma was the culprit.

So from that point on, each month, we gave him an injection for his Asthma.

After a day or so, he would proudly bark, loud and clear,
showing us his strength from within.

It never kept him off the trail. 

He actually did better on the trail.

But as the end of the year was coming to a close, so was Hans.

This Christmas Eve, at 3:55 p.m., Hans quietly slipped away.

We knew it was coming.  
He knew it was coming.

He had stopped eating, and was sleeping and resting most of the day.

He died as he had lived.

With dignity, respect, and very loved.

It wasn't Asthma that took him, but a long life.

Thirteen years on the trail. 

The trail of adventure.

We will miss you Hansey Boy.

Your buddies miss you.

You and those big feet of yours left a void in our kennel, and in our hearts.


Until tomorrow, God willing.