Two Crazy Peas in a Pod

A beautiful reminder from our Creator to take in the beauty of the world

Yesterday as I passed a colleague in the hallway at work, I casually asked if he was enjoying his summer, and his quick reply as he hurried along was, “nope, too much to do here”.  It made me sad and I can identify with him on some level. Life is busy with all sorts of things to catch our time - family, career, household/outdoor tasks and somewhere friends and fun hopefully fit into those few gaps in our lives.

Gratitude Meter

Oh my gosh…. It’s Sunday evening and the end to a quiet week-end.  I was going to turn on the news ….. and thought yuck!!!  I didn’t want to see or hear about any of the negativity that would be reported on.  So instead I propped my feet up by the fire, poured myself an adult beverage, put on a play list of music, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli and Adele…. blissful!  And decided to write to you instead.

Food, friends and gathering around the table

With the beginning of the New Year I’ve been mindful to take ( and make) the time to spend quality time with family and friends.  Here’s a quick overview, Thursday evening a gathering occurred that was a reunion of work pals and their spouses.  We were a band of very different kinds of people who were either hired (my case) or elected to Executive Officer positions (my guests) and through the good and sometimes not-so-good times at work, we forged a genuine affection for one another.  And after a few years apart, the idea had been put out by a fellow colleague to have  a “reunion” and he suggested going to a restaurant.  While I do love going out to dinner, this event just begged for a quieter setting. And with that,  I suggested that I host a dinner to encourage lingering at the dinner table where we could  enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed fashion.  The other’s eagerly adopted the idea and an impromptu dinner party came together.  It was glorious…I have to admit.  I have some very basics on food that I can fall back on and the menu consisted of Dijon Pork Lion,  Gourmet Mac n’ Cheese,  Apple-cider cranberry sauce, and the guests brought a salad, bread, dessert and wine.  We gathered, shared stories, poked fun at each other and laughed a lot.  It was a beautiful evening.  As everyone was leaving, one said, let’s do this more often…..  it seems as a whole, that we fail to set aside time to celebrate friendships forged by shared experiences.  Alas… another resolution for me!

On Friday, I took the leftovers and shared them with my mom, we played Scrabble and I got beat by my 82 year old mom…..she gloated over the winning.   Lol

Saturday I baked and baked.  I called my daughter Jen and asked if she could take a few photos of me to help submit to a magazine I’m trying out for.  After the quick photo session,  a heart-to-heart chat over coffee with my beautiful girl.  Mom and daughter time is always a blessing.

Chocolate Shortbread, Espresso Chocolate Cake,  Nutella Bread,  Cinnamon roll bread (a few successes, a couple of need to work on the recipes)

My other fav place to write when I'm not parked by the fire

This morning on my way to visiting a new church,  I dropped the yummies off to the Sheriff’s office (they were excited). It’s my way to show my appreciation for their dedication and something that I’ve been doing for several years now. Truth be told, I’m not sure who gets more excited, me getting to bring “baked with love” yummes to them, or them when they see my arms laden with baked goods.

And after church, a cup of tea with some dear friends.  Then a nice phone chat with my sweet man.  Can it get any better….?

And I have to tell you, that connecting with friends and family keeps my “Gratitude Meter” fully charged. The beauty of taking the time to spend with those you care about are the kinds of memories that warms this girl’s heart on a cold winter day.  

I hope your first week-end of the New Year was meaningful and that your Gratitude Meter is fully charged as we begin the new year.

All my best, Gayle

P.S. I’ll be getting the recipes up on the website soon – Good Farm Food ( the Espresso Chocolate cake is already on the Cake of the Month page.)

                                                                                        

Words, Kindness and a Blessed Thanksgiving

Any time I can play outside on the farm, is a great day

I write for a living.  The words I put down on paper in my work life world are well, nothing short of boring….. but they document important actions taken and are referenced for years to come.    What I really love is writing for Home and Harvest Magazine and blogging.   Life has been good and full, but so many distractions pop up that I find myself writing blogs in my mind…. and usually the words rarely make it onto paper.  My passion is to share real life as I see and feel it. For example, this morning I walked outside and smelled the scent of wood smoke which in my mind is a comfort smell that “says home”.  Then the earthy smell of leaves floated up and I felt the warmth of the sun as it radiates not only on my face, but as it seeped into my soul.  I see the clouds resting on the tops of the pines trees and can see the freshly turned soil in the farm fields around me.  Nature has such a calming effect. And if you can’t experience it for yourself, then maybe my words can re-create the scene in your mind’s eye.   These simple things in nature help keep me grounded and sane in an often crazy and chaotic world.

 

Oh the beauty of  a frosty morning

As I navigate in my own world, I am keenly aware of how words spoken and actions taken are mental records that will live on in the memories of other’s that I come into contact with.  As hard as I try, I know I fail and sometimes I am not as gracious as I could be. But I think I have a fairly high success rate in relaying kindness to other too.  When you go through a difficult time that is when you see who your true friends are.  They are your special earth angels.  They are the ones whose actions are the balm to a wounded soul and they offer kind words of solace.  From going through my own difficulties, I know who those people are, they are the ones who daily, weekly or even monthly reached out to me, and they still do six years later.  They are my champions, as I am theirs and our friendship and love have no bounds.  From them I learned to ensure that your good intentions of reaching out to others doesn’t get put aside.   I have learned the difference between true friends and those who are the “fluff kind” of friends, where there really isn’t any substance and their words are empty.    After seeing what true friends look like, I take my role of being a good friend very seriously.  As my oldest daughter and I were talking just  the other day and we both feel we are “works in progress”…..  Ever continuing to improve, while never perfect, we make strides each day to create a better version of who we are.  When you are a healthy version of you, then you have the ability to be able to help others.

And I know that I am truly blessed.  I am thankful for good health, a wonderful man in my life, the love of my family and a few really good friends.  And the other day I came across this saying and have it posted on my work bulletin board to remind me to show compassion when I get weighed down by life….

.  

Today is a blessing from Almighty God

Today will never come again

BE A FRIEND. BE AN INSPIRATION

Encourage someone

Be a Blessing to others

Take time to care

Let the words you speak bring healing and not pain or hurting

And as Maya Angelou said “people may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel”  ~  

 

Simple pleasures in life with someone you love, can it get any better?

Each day we have the opportunity to reach out to family, friends and even strangers and show kindness and caring.  This will be recorded in a person’s mind forever.  Do what you can for them, but remember to take of you as well.

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving.  All my best, Gayle

P.S. A special thank you to those who take the time to comment on my blog, you are a special blessing to me and thank you for taking the time to reach out =) swheatfarmlife@gmail.com

Blessings in Life

My Vintage Beauty

Today in the hallway I ran into a colleague/friend and after a bit of chit chat, she looked at me and out of the blue, said “your house is good for you”.

And I realized over the last four months that a slow but good change has been happening in this girl’s world.  For starters, I feel comfortable going on a solo girl date (just me) and sitting outside to enjoy downtown Moscow in the late afternoon at my fav Mexican restaurant.  So, on any given Wednesday you most likely will find me sitting outside enjoying a nice cold one while either reading, writing or people watching.  A small but glorious indulgence.   

A couple of times I have even slipped down to the historic Kenworthy theater to catch a second run movie.

Sunrise over a wheat field by my house

 

And with the start of harvest this year,  I have not felt an emptiness or any depression.  I see the whirlwind of activity happening around me and I  still love the smell of harvest.  Now viewing it from a neutral setting still gives me that needed farm fix, and  I find harvest a thing of beauty rather than a painful part of seeing my old life happening without me.  I haven’t gotten to the point where I can see my own farm being harvested, but maybe someday.  Farmer Joe and I have settled into a more comfortable amicable relationship and he fills me in on what is happening on my farm.  He also patiently answers my questions and gives input when I need technical expert advice when putting together an article for the magazine.  I think we both are in very good places in our personal lives and just that in and of itself is a healing feeling.

It's old, in need of repair.. but I love this barn

I’ve started dating again and found a very special someone.  He is an unexpected bit of blissful happy for me and is so good for me in so many ways.  We are slowly introducing each other into our each other's lives.  It has just worked out that I see more of his world than he has seen of mine, but that will change.

 

Here is what I’ve found.  Change can be good for the soul. And sometimes life will change the road you travel and how you choose to travel that road is your call. I’ve seen enough sunrises and sunsets to know I have and am living a good life. I’ve felt the small little arms of my baby girls around my neck, I still enjoy hugs from the grand angels, I continue to be surrounded by a loving family and know I have the kinds of friends who are loyal and have my best interests at heart, my dog adores me, I’ve laughed so hard I’ve almost peed my pants and I’ve also felt despair and sorrow. Through the peaks and valleys of life I know that the good Lord has always been there, helping and guiding me through it all. And for that I am blessed.  And from all that has come down my pathway, there are so many life lessons that continue to impress into my heart and soul that I wonder if I’ll ever have enough time to share what I see through this girl’s world.  

As always, thank you for stopping by.  My goal is to start blogging more on a weekly basis.  As always, it does my heart good to hear from you (www.swheatfarmlife@gmail.com) , so let me know how you are and I’d love to know what resonates “happy” in YOUR life or what simple pleasures that you indulge in.  All my best, Gayle