Where to begin....

It's been quite awhile since I've had the heart to touch this thing. Life just gets in the way sometimes. I'm trying my best to be thankful for what we have right now instead of dwelling on how we seem to be in stasis. Faith has always been a struggle for me since I'm such a "gotta see it to believe it" person but I'm trying to just hold on to the thought that rain clouds never last forever and the sun always breaks through.

I recently started another job and it's fantastic, basically my dream job. Mostly I've found myself crocheting and crafting to get Christmas presents for everyone done. We just don't have the money this year to buy anything, and really, Christmas shouldn't be about expensive crap you don't need anyway. The weather here is hard to enjoy for me. A few weeks ago we had a snowstorm...and we had eight to ten inches. It made me miss North Carolina quite a bunch.

Living with other people when you've been used to living alone is putting stress on us both. Hopefully if all works out in the next couple weeks the husband should be back to work and we'll start trying to find something to buy (we're hoping to be out of here shortly after Christmas). One thing I have learned in living in close quarters without a heck of a lot of room is that much of the "stuff" we've accumulated we don't actually use or need. When we move our stuff out of storage I think a lot of it will go into the dumpster. Simplifying things makes me so happy.

That's about it for now. I have a scarf ready to be finished that is calling my name.

Until next time,

xoxo Stacie

A Wonderful Life

It's about time I updated about everything! We're settled in back in Maine, we're both working, and the man-formerly-known-as-Mr.-Marine-but-hereon-know-as-Adam received his beautiful package from the Police Academy and we're well on the road with that. I am not really that keen about my job but it's just temporary until we find out where we're going to be with the State Police.

Last week I went to the most AMAZING FAIR EVER; Common Ground Fair. There were so many amazing things to see and I wish I had a million dollars to spend on all the great food and books. I got an amazing goat book that I know I'll spend many winter nights pouring over thinking of the goats we'll have soon. I also tried switchel, an old haymakers' drink made out of vinegar and honey which was fantastic. It was a really inspiring day!

I also tried my hand at cheese making. Adam and I ventured to the local health food store where I bought the culture, vegetable based rennet, and a gallon of local raw goat milk. It was a super easy process (or at least the book I read made it that way, I highly recommend Ashley English's Home Dairy) and the feta came together quickly. The whole experience was very much like a science project. It was cool to watch the curds and whey separate and to see the curds turn into a solid mass when wrapped and hung in cheesecloth. Unfortunately,  I can't tell you how it tastes until Thursday because the cheese has to cure for three days. The suspense is killing me!

Well, I've got some things to take care of before I head off to work. I've missed writing and I'll be back to it on a regular basis fairly soon.

Until next time,
xoxo Stacie

Farm Days (warning...PHOTOBOMB!)

We have just returned from a week home at my parents' in Maine so my husband could take his tests for the State Troopers (and so we could find somewhere to stash our furniture for awhile). In between random family visits and knitting group (!!!) I took a few hours one morning to walk around my parents' house and take some pictures.

There were amazing views (this is my parents' backyard, by the way)

Yummy jellybean tomatoes

Beautiful Zinnias

Inquisitive bunnies

Piggies getting ready for market

Gorgeous Sunflowers (complete with bumble bee!)

And crazy alpacas. Get out of the barn, Noble!

All in all we had a fantastic trip. I missed curvy mountain roads, cool weather, barefoot walks in the grass with old friends, my fantastic family, and just being around love, home, and family. We got everything done we set out to do and my husband is well on his way to becoming a Maine State Trooper. Keep your fingers crossed for him! I hope you enjoyed the photos (I sure loved taking them!).

Until next time,
xoxo Stacie