this is always my favorite blog post to write. i love looking back on what we have accomplished & how we have grown. it is also a good time to reflect & learn from the disappointments of this year. this last january i never would have thought we would be where we are- owners of a little farm & surrounded by such a wonderful community. we have been blessed beyond measure! a recap, shall we?
january-
in january, we began the year in our home in town. luke was still working out-of-town & away three nights a week. i decided to make three goals for every month & we went on our annual family retreat.
february-
in february, luke & i made a sheet fort for date night. i did a lot of creating in february, knitting luke a hat & finishing my first ever quilt for my first nephew. i also shared how we meal plan! in february luke found a job in town & came home for good. this is also the month my papa passed away.
march-
in march i hosted a dear friend’s baby shower, we added six new fluff balls to our backyard flock & we celebrated easter with a hike in the ozarks!
april-
in april we celebrated my 24th birthday & the birth of my sweet first nephew! i also took a big leap of faith & headed for the colorado mountains. #coloradogirls2013!
may-
in may our raised beds were well established & our garden was growing. this is the month i also started running!
june-
in june, we walked the farm for the first time & fell in love. we went through the hoops of home ownership this month. we also sold our first coop in preparation of moving to the farm. the first piece luke ever built. it’s still close to my heart.
july-
july was a very crazy month! we went on a three day float trip along the buffalo river with friends & luke’s brother. we also bought the farm! it was a surreal moment & one i will never forget. we spent the last part of the month doing demolition on our home. it was exhausting but well worth the effort.
august-
august was also such a busy month, but so so good. we celebrated four rich years of marriage & luke’s birthday! i also ran my first ever 5k. we visited the county fair & i managed to fit in a whole lot of canning.
september-
in september i took a big leap & went to a be crafty event in tulsa. there i met some amazing ladies! my best friend visited our farm for the first time & we sold our first dozen of eggs!
october –
october, one of my favorite months, was met with some amazing memories. i launched my etsy shop for the first time & was met with incredible support. the women of my family & i also enjoyed our war eagle crafts fair tradition!
november –
in november i began prepping for holiday craft shows, stitch by stitch. we also finalized our farm logo!
december –
december was a wondeful, full month. we focused our intentions on the winter season & what it could bring for our little family. i also made many handmade gifts for the dearest in our lives. under the full moon, we experienced our first births on the farm with the arrival of five baby goats! days i will never forget. we brought in the holiday season with our traditional christmas breakfast.
we are so thankful for this year & the richness it has brought to our lives. i cannot wait to see what is in store for 2014!
love,
natalie
luke & i usually celebrate christmas together on christmas eve eve. with a full week of traveling to see family during christmas, we really savor the time with just us two making our own memories & traditions as a little family.
as you know, i love making our home festive. it makes me happy & fills me up to decorate while making do with what we have. the wee stocking is our dogs’ shared stocking. no wee one to announce, we promise.
the little wire carousel is filled with cards from loved ones near & far. my very favorite part of christmas for sure. the box of cards are ones i have saved from past years.
we usually celebrate our christmas with breakfast for two. luke made martha stewart’s french toast with nine grain bread & a side of local bacon.
little details from this year’s gift wrappings. i added a wee bit more color than usual & added little handmade ornaments to clothespins (inspired by ashley!).
& a couple of gifts were exchanged. our budget is always small, but we are able to make & give so much with what we do have. luke found this apron for me & i love it to say the least.
i had this farm sign made for luke. a little more than our budget allowed but the blessing of so many photo shoots this past autumn season made this possible. a full heart kind of day, indeed.
feeling blessed to have each other & this little farm. we are incredibly thankful for you, too. thank you for following along on our adventures!
i will be back in a couple of days after a bit of traveling & merriment! until then… happy everything!
love,
natalie
oh, it has been such a wonderful week full of baby goats & christmas cheer! we have been spending every extra hour outside cuddling the sweet kids (we’re now up to 5 kids! 3 girls & 2 boys!). today i thought i would share with you what is happening inside our home in preparation for the holidays! a little elfing of sorts!
i really love wrapping gifts. i purchased some small bells from hobby lobby, collected acorn tops from around the farm & hot glued the tops to the bells. i also added string so that i can adorn them to packages easily.
i also made these very homemade tags with my little letter stamps (also found at hobby lobby) & vintage shipping tags.
there is a growing pile of drop stitch cowls (free pattern from spiderwomanknits) over here. i started on these when my mom was in the hospital & i am able to knit one up in about 2 hours now. a wonderful, quick & well-loved handmade gift idea!
i found some feed sacks back in october from a flea market for about $3 a piece. my grandpa grew rice for riceland for quite some time before he retired from farming (& became a home gardener! you really can’t stop growing now can you?).
i knew when i saw the feed sack that i wanted to make grandpa a pillow for christmas. i found a pillow from the thrift shop for 50 cents & made a pattern from that. a super simple homemade gift idea for less than $5! vintage tea towels & fabric would be lovely options, too.
i also made my first apron! i found this adorable fabric while visiting ashley & knew it would make the cutest apron.
i used some binding, pom pom trim (everything is better with pom poms… wouldn’t you agree?) & a pre-made yellow fabric flower from hobby lobby. after an hour or so, i had an apron! i am quickly falling in love with sewn gifts for the holidays!
wishing you all a wonderful weekend just before holiday festivities!
what are you making for dear ones this holiday season?
love,
natalie