Saturday, December 5, 2015

Reunions

Coming back to Colorado, again came down to timing.  Whether you believe in fate, luck, circumstance or serendipity...we could not have asked for a better reunion.  Whether up in the sky or down on the ground, we are so thankful for this time shared.  Glad for the universe pulling us back this way, even if just for a couple of days! 



4 seater plane


my seat


round mountain and beyond


elk river


home ranch closeup aerial view


hahn’s peak fly around





the zirkels


hahn’s peak afar


steamboat springs


full of hay


catalonia...growing up!


happy herd


chex and shiloh, still love birds







This trip has been so beautifully unexpected.  
I cannot thank you all enough.
Love heaps,
xx

The Journey Westward...


We’ve made a decision to move back to the pacific northwest, and in doing so, will be driving once again across our beautiful country.


Nebraska


Wyoming








back to Colorado...









Very Thankful

The holidays are made even better when you get to spend them in the company of those you love.  A teacher training course brought us to Kentucky this year and we were blessed to be back in the Ohio area around Thanksgiving time.  






While in Kentucky, we stopped by NAILE (North American International Livestock Exposition).  These are the cleanest dairy cattle I have ever seen.



the quarter horse show wasn’t bad either.


Kentucky Horse Park



kayaking on the ohio...



...with my dad. :)


John made his mom’s famous rolls, and they were a hit!


turkey fruit


A friend raised our bird this year, which we smoked on the grill.
Turns out to be a great way to cook a turkey!



Haven’t had a Thanksgiving here is quite awhile.  We have so much to be thankful for this year... especially each and every one of you!  May your journey be filled with wellness, wonder and joy!



Old Family Homestead

Very little survives the ages and still stands in good condition.  It’s normal for materials to naturally, over hundreds of years, begin to deteriorate and need to be refurbished, remodeled, or torn down.  When we found out a house that John’s 9th great grandfather built (circa 1690), still stands in Newton, Pennsylvania on over 200 acres... it was definitely worth a detour to check it out!  Luckily for us, the oldest original part of the house was uninhabited and although it is not open to the public, we were able to take a tour. 


 
The original home was only the far right portion, where the windows are smaller.  It was three stories and a family of 10 lived in that little house. 




first floor with modern cabinets








third floor





The barn even stands in impeccable condition.  Note the structural design, and the beams, as if they are brand new.










Lime Kiln Farm

A simple question about chevre, prompted a road trip to the lovely Hudson Valley, New York.  A cheesemaker, whom we had originally met in Italy, has now relocated stateside.  Although still in the development stages, it is a place one will not forget.  Providing the best pork east of the Mississippi, and masterfully crafted artisan cheeses...when things are up and running,
 it will be a place well worth a visit!



baby berkshires


beautiful fall foliage


my favorite bull calf


 old barn beauty


milking shorthorn


bony


frolicking








toggenburg goats


hudson river


miss michigan


easy cheese


new goat feeder/chute we built from materials around the farm


success!









As with most things, timing is everything.  As it turns out, it wasn’t the right time for us to stay longterm, but we enjoyed the limited time we had.  Wishing you all the very best in the days ahead!