Happy New Year!

I've been away for the while due to Christmas, the prep and the aftermath... feel like I have a lot of catching up to do with everyone's blogs! Things are getting back to normal, though, and it feels good. I've had a chance to reflect on this last year and turn my thoughts and energies towards the coming year. While I know January 1st is just an arbitrary marker of time, I do enjoy a little reminder now and then to gather, inspect and regroup.

I prefer to stay away from the term "resolution" cause if I don't follow through, I tend to feel I didn't jump high enough. I like the phrase "New Year's intention". That way I can do my best to stay focused and motivated, but if something gets in the way, or life moves in another direction, then there's no grade below a C! I think the healthiest motivator is pure desire and I try and remove the bonus prizes. I liked someone's quote recently of "follow your passion, not your pension".


So, with reflection, this year has had a lot of joys and a lot of scares. A bit of a roller coaster ride for sure! The housing market has continued to decline which has made the selling of our home more difficult. We still are going to list it when the workshop is fully constructed, but aren't holding our breath for an offer that will lead us to sell. So, whether we sell or whether we have to stay, we're trying to make peace with either outcome. Positively, I have learned a lot more about my horse and horseback riding. I'm gaining a lot of valuable skills that will forever be with me. I've established myself here in this town as a mental health therapist, and even though I'm not making a ton of money, I have my own business and a lot of freedom with scheduling. I built a chicken coop and got chickens and that was months in the making and something I'm very proud of. I get enjoyment each and every day from Jack and the girls! My partner's resurgence of melanoma was one of the down turns and now we're sitting with stage 3C, but besides the surgery to remove 6 positive lymph nodes by means of a modified radical neck dissection, all the treatment has been holistic with no chemo or radiation. So, far so good, and the current health and energy levels for both of us are high! Juicing about 8 fresh juices each day is part of the treatment my partner partakes in, as well as watching what foods are eaten. It appears to be working, as mountain biking and running daily are back in the daily routine! So, that's a very rough outline of my past year. I could get more details, but don't want any folks nodding off!


As for this year, I'm excited. I like feeling like a kid about life and all the things I want to do. I am considering a couple of things for the new year. One is the possibility of getting honey bees and hive(s) on my property to have and sell a little honey. I've been looking into it and if I could build the chicken coop and take care of the chickens, I think I can take care of some bees. Another possibility is raising a few turkey. I don't eat meat, but am considering raising one for my family and a few for friends for when Thanksgiving comes. I am adamantly against factory farming which most people here support when they buy their Thanksgiving turkey, so if I can humanely raise a cage free, organic turkey and prevent them from purchasing a factory farmed one, then that is in line with my vegetarian values.


One thing I'm DEFINITELY going to do is raise some chicks. I am hoping it can be done naturally with one of my hens and hope one goes broody in the spring. If not, I'll get a small incubator. I look forward to the challenges and joys that will bring.


Getting my shop all constructed is first on my list and we'll be starting on that as soon as this cold front passes.


Giving a garden one more try is also a definite - esp. now that I have chicken manure for fertilizer and saw someone who has a thriving desert garden and saw how they kept the rodents out. I hope to plant in spring.


I also hope to grow my business a little so I can save a bit of money and hopefully go on a real vacation. I haven't been on a vacation aside from an extended weekend in several years.


So, these are the things that are top on my mind and they are my intentions for the New Year. I'm feeling very grateful and very energized and motivated. There are many more things I want to do, but the list might start growing too long, so I wanted to put the big ones down. I love the feeling of getting excited about life. There's so much to do! I feel grateful for this little 5 acres out in the desert and if we're prevented from moving, we'll just do the best we can with it.


I would love to know what your intentions/resolutions are for the New Year - please share!! And, for now - I hope everyone has a very safe, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!!!!