Our Latest Farm Purchase

For years now, Harold has been wanting a good tractor/loader to use for things around the farm.   We need something reliable that will move dirt, move large rocks, move snow, haul logs, etc. etc.   So finally we were able to purchase this 400 FarmAll tractor with a DuAl loader.   It will be so useful and great for so many things around here.  This is something we should have had at least 10 years ago!  This tractor is a 1955 version, but has all new hydraulics, and the engine was recently updated.  It's still in pretty good shape for an old gal!  And the price was within our affordability.   I suppose now I'll have to learn how to drive this thing?  Maybe not - might be a husband thing, ya know?

Harold drove this home from where we bought it, 10 miles away.  I followed behind in the pickup, in case I had to tow him.    Didn't need to, though, the tractor made it home just fine.   Harold was pretty cold, even though he was bundled up good!

Another view of the new piece of equipment.

The Winter Doldrums

About this time of year just about everyone is sick and tired of winter, anxious for warmer temps and spring, and tired of being cooped up indoors.   This must be the 'winter doldrums' that is often talked about.  It's easy to be bored, easy to gain too much weight by snacking too much, and somehow nothing seems interesting. 
     To combat boredom in the middle of winter I usually start a new project, or get out the cookbooks and try some new recipes, or find a new book to read, or get started on cleaning and sorting projects.  Anything just to keep busy!  Sometimes I have to really work at it to stay motivated, because it's easy to just go take a nap.   If the weather isn't too cold or snowy I'll go for a long walk.  Or I might call someone I haven't talked to in a while.  Sometimes I re-arrange furniture.  Today I hung up some new curtains in the kitchen - they weren't really new, but I have several sets of curtains and I hung up a pair that I haven't had on the windows for quite a while.   It makes the kitchen look different and that's what I wanted:  something new to look at!
     What do you do to combat the winter doldrums?  Will you share some of your tactics?

We're Committed Now!

We've been living in an unfinished house since we moved into it in May of 2006.  We actually built the home in 2005, but it was nowhere near complete enough to move into until spring of the following year.   But since 2006, we have not finished the living room or the bedroom - two of the hardest rooms to finish.  We, that is, I, decided that "enough is enough" and I got tired of the polka dotted walls (polka dotted, as in dabs of sheetrock mud to cover drywall screws).   It was always a matter of time and money to finish projects, and then Harold got sick with multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer) and his level of energy took a nosedive.  I have carpal tunnel issues with my hand and it is difficult for me to hold brushes and trowels without pain after a few minutes of gripping, and since Harold does an excellent job of drywall finishing we have put projects on hold until he can get to them.   We also finally scraped together enough money to finish a few things, and so here it is - 2015 and we are going to finally finish the living room!!!

Here is what the living room looks like now:

We still need to take down the rest of the ceiling fan and two more pieces of  furniture.   See the polka dotted walls?

We have furniture stashed all over the house, making it hard to get to things.  This will help us to get going!

I will post a photo or two of the finished room later on.   I am thinking of painting two walls with a pale blue and two walls with a pale beige, and putting up a wallpaper trim I bought a couple years ago that has blue and beige flowers.    The bay window will have a sheer valence curtain of either beige or blue (or both), and all window and floor trim will be painted white.   We still won't be able to afford flooring, so I'll paint the wooden sheeting floor again with a fresh coat of beige paint.  Our decor won't be magazine fabulous, more like "country eclectic".   At our age, buying new furniture seems like a waste of money (that we don't have anyway).  The finished living room will certainly be an improvement, though!  Next project will be to finish the master bedroom.   Wonder how long that will take?  This is what happens when you build your own house all by yourself without using professional contractors and you do things as you can afford them.   But, we will APPRECIATE things more!

And Another Year Begins!

Happy New Year to all!  Can you believe it's already 2015?  I have changed the looks of the blog again, as I like to start a new year with a new look!  This will be the start of my 3rd year blogging.   I truly appreciate all the comments and views from my readers.  If you don't know how to comment, try using the name/url to do so.  If you don't want to publish your name, then use anonymous.

Here is something I started last year's blog off with, and I still think it is a great suggestion for a general New Year's resolution for everyone:
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Mend a quarrel.  Seek out a forgotten friend.
     Write a love letter.   Share some treasure.
Give a soft answer.  Encourage youth.
      Keep a promise.  Find the time.
Forgive an enemy.
     Listen.
Apologize if you were wrong.
     Think first of someone else.
Be kind and gentle.
     Laugh a little.  Laugh a little more.
Express your gratitude.
     Gladden the heart of a child.
Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.
     Speak your love........speak it again.........Speak it still once again............
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Wonder what 2015 will bring?  It always seems a little scary, yet exciting to begin a new year.   I always feel like a kid with a new coloring book and a new box of crayons.   No matter what 2015 will bring, let us always remember to trust in God daily and let Him direct our paths.   Things always work out better when we let God be in the driver's seat!