I read that on a plaque somewhere and that it was pretty appropriate. Most people are not happy with their lives. This year I'll be turning 47 and am feeling the pinch of unreached goals. The bucket list syndrome, I suppose. January has been the month to take stock and see if I am truly blooming where I am planted. So let's see:
1. Phone lines (therefore dial-up computer lines) have been down for over a week. Every time it rains hard we lose our phone service.
OLD ME: How inconvenient. Paying for service I do not get. Can't be online when I want to
be., etc
NEW ME: How nice not to have the phone ring all day. Not really unsafe as I do have a cell
phone, can get a whole lot more done without talking on the phone.
2. It is so incredibly cold that I can't get a lot done in the barn without freezing my tushy off.
OLD ME: Just get done the have to stuff and get the heck back in the house.
NEW ME: Do as much as I can, warm up and get right back out there. If it is too cold; do
the necessities and then get the heck back into the house!! (I am not dumb)
3. Not working outside job so no paycheck in my name.
OLD ME: This is a tough one. Having cash in my pocket sure made it easy to get whatever I
wanted within reason. Also meant having easy access to money if Appleseed Farm
needed somthing before I could make the money.
NEW ME: This is a tough one. Upside to all of this is I get to stay on the farm as much as I
want. I can go places when the walls start closing in but who wants too? There is
always the barn, the seedling room, the greenhouse, something needing my
attention.
4. Not enough time to do the "housewife" things
OLD ME: Either just didn't do them or stayed up all night to make sure the house was in
order, meals prepared, etc..
NEW ME: Just don't do them or stay up all night to make sure it is all done. (why hasn't
that changed?)
I could go one but I guess the best lesson for me is that I have always bloomed wherever I have been planted. Sometimes I just need a dormancy period to have a gorgeous flower whenever I want to.
See ya on the farm
Charlotte
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Has anyone seen my camera?
You know how the old saying goes: A messy desk is the sign of true genius (or something like that). Does that count for your whole house? January is suppose to be the month of organization and get in shape (ie: lose weight). Jan is half over and I have done neither. I wanted to take some winter pictures of our farm for an article I am writing but can't remember where I put my camera. I have searched the house to no avail. Hopefully it is at the shop, I will go there tomorrow to pack up for the show.
I forgot our biggest business news of the month (year). Earlier this month we had a pretty big snow storm. Several inches fell and because of poor budgets in small towns, the roads in Hymera were hideous. To be fair, they were bad everywhere. I got a call from my Mom telling me to get to the shop fast because (wait for it...) someone had hit the building bad. Now this building has stood in the same place for as long as I can remember and nothing serious had ever happened to it. We own it for less than a year and it gets hit by a huge truck with a teenage driver. This poor kid was scared to death but did come up with a great story. Supposedly he swerved to miss someone openning their door to go to the post office and lost control. Honestly, he was going very slowly and had it all under control. Now, I didn't raise 2 teenagers for nothing and since the building was knocked off its foundation, I can only surmise that someone was playing on the slick roads and lost control. What do you think? We are still in the process of repair. Then we have to have the Board of Health back in to check us out. What a headache. But...thankfully no one was hurt. For that we all offered a prayer of gratitude.
Finally got the first of the seeds started today. I seem to have a bluesy month. All I want to do is sleep. I have finished 46 aprons in the last month or so. I think we are all ready for the show this weekend.
I'm trying to decide what to launch next. Definitely has to be something retro or useful. I am trying out a new bread recipe tomorrow using the PourAPie. PourAPie is our own pie filling in a jar. You can see it at our website at http://www.appleseedfarm.com/. I want to try it as a filling in place of cinnamon and sugar. I'm going to try blackberry first. I'll let you know. Anyone out there who knows of a place to get wholesale rhubarb for making strawberry/rhubarb pie filling, let me know. We have planted about 200 plants but will be another year or so until they are big enough to put into production.
Out to the chicken coop. It is wet as it is raining here again. I do get to use the soggy straw in the compost pile so I guess it is a win-win. I'm just thrilled for eggs at the market this summer. Go girls!!!
See ya on the farm
Charlotte
I forgot our biggest business news of the month (year). Earlier this month we had a pretty big snow storm. Several inches fell and because of poor budgets in small towns, the roads in Hymera were hideous. To be fair, they were bad everywhere. I got a call from my Mom telling me to get to the shop fast because (wait for it...) someone had hit the building bad. Now this building has stood in the same place for as long as I can remember and nothing serious had ever happened to it. We own it for less than a year and it gets hit by a huge truck with a teenage driver. This poor kid was scared to death but did come up with a great story. Supposedly he swerved to miss someone openning their door to go to the post office and lost control. Honestly, he was going very slowly and had it all under control. Now, I didn't raise 2 teenagers for nothing and since the building was knocked off its foundation, I can only surmise that someone was playing on the slick roads and lost control. What do you think? We are still in the process of repair. Then we have to have the Board of Health back in to check us out. What a headache. But...thankfully no one was hurt. For that we all offered a prayer of gratitude.
Finally got the first of the seeds started today. I seem to have a bluesy month. All I want to do is sleep. I have finished 46 aprons in the last month or so. I think we are all ready for the show this weekend.
I'm trying to decide what to launch next. Definitely has to be something retro or useful. I am trying out a new bread recipe tomorrow using the PourAPie. PourAPie is our own pie filling in a jar. You can see it at our website at http://www.appleseedfarm.com/. I want to try it as a filling in place of cinnamon and sugar. I'm going to try blackberry first. I'll let you know. Anyone out there who knows of a place to get wholesale rhubarb for making strawberry/rhubarb pie filling, let me know. We have planted about 200 plants but will be another year or so until they are big enough to put into production.
Out to the chicken coop. It is wet as it is raining here again. I do get to use the soggy straw in the compost pile so I guess it is a win-win. I'm just thrilled for eggs at the market this summer. Go girls!!!
See ya on the farm
Charlotte
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Where is the sun?
It is definitely January in Indiana. Gloomy with melting, thawing muddy mess everywhere. I made the mistake of going to the barn in a pair of crocs yesterday. Wet, cold feet are not a good combination in the winter.
The girls (chickens) are finally laying again. We are getting 5-8 eggs per day. Not a good ratio due to all the girls we have but much better than the past couple of months of nothing. Buying eggs from the store hurts when you are paying to feed the girls and they aren't doing their part.
I haven't seen the grandkids since Christmas. We have been passing around the flu (swine flu?) since a couple of days past Christmas. I sure do miss those rugrats. Sam called to tell me she was mad at me because she hasn't seen me. She was coughing the entire time she was talking. What do you tell a 2 year old? Tucker and Lauren are growing like weeds. Wyatt is doing well in school. He seems to like the 4th grade pretty well.
I received an e-mail response from the economic development people about the Hymera project. They have been working closely with the town on infrastructure (water, waste water (that used to be called sewage) and stuff like that. Good for business attraction but not for promoting the town. I plan to meet with the gentleman soon. I'll post as soon as I have the meeting.
Getting ready for our first show of the year. It is in Robinson, IL. It is called a Winters Day in the Garden. If you mention this blog I will give you 10% off your purchase of Appleseed Farm products at this show. Hope to see you there.
See ya on the farm
Charlotte
The girls (chickens) are finally laying again. We are getting 5-8 eggs per day. Not a good ratio due to all the girls we have but much better than the past couple of months of nothing. Buying eggs from the store hurts when you are paying to feed the girls and they aren't doing their part.
I haven't seen the grandkids since Christmas. We have been passing around the flu (swine flu?) since a couple of days past Christmas. I sure do miss those rugrats. Sam called to tell me she was mad at me because she hasn't seen me. She was coughing the entire time she was talking. What do you tell a 2 year old? Tucker and Lauren are growing like weeds. Wyatt is doing well in school. He seems to like the 4th grade pretty well.
I received an e-mail response from the economic development people about the Hymera project. They have been working closely with the town on infrastructure (water, waste water (that used to be called sewage) and stuff like that. Good for business attraction but not for promoting the town. I plan to meet with the gentleman soon. I'll post as soon as I have the meeting.
Getting ready for our first show of the year. It is in Robinson, IL. It is called a Winters Day in the Garden. If you mention this blog I will give you 10% off your purchase of Appleseed Farm products at this show. Hope to see you there.
See ya on the farm
Charlotte
Sunday, January 17, 2010
NEW YEAR NEW ME
Today I decided was the time for a new me. I kind of like the old one but she was way too timid. She was always fearful of what other people would think. I could not talk her into calling gift shops to see if they might be interested in carrying Appleseed Farm products. Well NO MORE!!
I have printed out a long list of gift shops to begin the cold calls. Be warned if you own one, I might be just calling you to chat.
The other aspect of business that scared me is the financials. Not the new me. I will know each month where the business stands and where our money has gone. To paraphrase Heidi from "project runway" One day you have it and the next you don't.
Farm updates: I have a new seed starting room in the barn. It is insulated and heated. It just takes a small bathroom heater to heat it. I hope it doen't send the light bill in overdrive. I plan to begin some seeds tomorrow. A few tomatoes and peppers. Probably some eggplant. The first to the market gets the early customers. Last year I had my first tomato in May. I pushing for mid May this year, so I will have at least a bushel to take to the market.
Speaking of markets, we are going to try for 3-4 farmers markets this year. Our home market which is Terre Haute Downtown Farmers Market in Terre Haute, IN. Last year we tried the Vincennes Farmers Market in Vincennes, Indiana and my Mom loved it so she will return there. I am looking into a couple others, when we have decided I will let you know.
Gotta get supper done. We are eating at home almost every night. We used to eat out 4-5 times a week. I was raised very frugally and I guess that was my rebellion. Getting back to my roots. We have eaten out 1 time this month. Not bad. Let's see if we can keep it up.
See ya on the farm
Charlotte
I have printed out a long list of gift shops to begin the cold calls. Be warned if you own one, I might be just calling you to chat.
The other aspect of business that scared me is the financials. Not the new me. I will know each month where the business stands and where our money has gone. To paraphrase Heidi from "project runway" One day you have it and the next you don't.
Farm updates: I have a new seed starting room in the barn. It is insulated and heated. It just takes a small bathroom heater to heat it. I hope it doen't send the light bill in overdrive. I plan to begin some seeds tomorrow. A few tomatoes and peppers. Probably some eggplant. The first to the market gets the early customers. Last year I had my first tomato in May. I pushing for mid May this year, so I will have at least a bushel to take to the market.
Speaking of markets, we are going to try for 3-4 farmers markets this year. Our home market which is Terre Haute Downtown Farmers Market in Terre Haute, IN. Last year we tried the Vincennes Farmers Market in Vincennes, Indiana and my Mom loved it so she will return there. I am looking into a couple others, when we have decided I will let you know.
Gotta get supper done. We are eating at home almost every night. We used to eat out 4-5 times a week. I was raised very frugally and I guess that was my rebellion. Getting back to my roots. We have eaten out 1 time this month. Not bad. Let's see if we can keep it up.
See ya on the farm
Charlotte
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Where do I go in 2010
Of course I'm not leaving the farm!!! I just have to make goals and plans for the upcoming year (which at this point is half way through the first month).
We have moved our production site for our certified kitchen to Hymera, IN. This is a very small town. In fact, I grew up here. While I have driven through this sleepy little town numerous times, I had not really looked at it in the last 25 years or so. What an eye opener. Closed up businesses, run down houses... You know how most neglected areas are in small town USA. Well, I had an idea. Why not see if we could get something going here. All destination places had to start somewhere. I sent an e-mail to the local economic development district on Jan 10. Haven't heard a thing from them. I know that there are grants and things available for small rural areas with people who are willing to work. So, I am going to follow up and see if I can get somewhere on this. Some ideas that have come to mind are "Little House on the Prairie", Wild wild west era, living farming community, artist colony. What do you think? Let me know if you have any ideas for growth of this area.
The farm is sleeping right now. I, for one am very thankful. I needed the rest. I will begin to start seeds within the next couple of weeks. I can hardly wait. Other than that, we are resting and recooperating from the long spring, summer and fall right up to the Christmas holidays. A lot of people received PourAPie for Christmas gifts this year!
Until nest time..See ya on the farm
Charlotte
We have moved our production site for our certified kitchen to Hymera, IN. This is a very small town. In fact, I grew up here. While I have driven through this sleepy little town numerous times, I had not really looked at it in the last 25 years or so. What an eye opener. Closed up businesses, run down houses... You know how most neglected areas are in small town USA. Well, I had an idea. Why not see if we could get something going here. All destination places had to start somewhere. I sent an e-mail to the local economic development district on Jan 10. Haven't heard a thing from them. I know that there are grants and things available for small rural areas with people who are willing to work. So, I am going to follow up and see if I can get somewhere on this. Some ideas that have come to mind are "Little House on the Prairie", Wild wild west era, living farming community, artist colony. What do you think? Let me know if you have any ideas for growth of this area.
The farm is sleeping right now. I, for one am very thankful. I needed the rest. I will begin to start seeds within the next couple of weeks. I can hardly wait. Other than that, we are resting and recooperating from the long spring, summer and fall right up to the Christmas holidays. A lot of people received PourAPie for Christmas gifts this year!
Until nest time..See ya on the farm
Charlotte
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