Content...

Shocking, huh? I'm actually doing a post on this seemingly abandoned blog.

Through the past couple of months, I have begun seeing changes in life. People I know are courting, or being courted, friends are engaged, my big brother is going to be married next spring, a friend just had her first child... Things are changing and I can't do a thing about it.

Amidst all of this change, how do I feel about my state of singleness that I find myself in, at the age of 19? I will be perfectly honest with y'all and say that I am:

Content.

It's the honest-to-goodness truth. I am about as content as content can be. I'm happy for those I know who are moving on into the next stages in life; but I do not feel envious, jealous, or wishful. I do not find myself wishing that "Mr. Right" would hurry up already and find me. I am quite content to keep my status of being single.

Is it wrong of me to really not care that I'm single? Is it wrong to say that I enjoy it? I've never been the sort of girl to have those romantic daydreams; my brain is too full of questions that are all vying to be answered. I've certainly never been able to understand the whole flirting thing. Why do it, when you could have a normal, interesting conversation in which both sides learn something new?

Perhaps I'm just a hopeless case; forever to remain the spinster that I have dubbed myself... Either way, whether I some day get married, or I remain single, I shall be content.

Just Dreaming...

I miss San Juan Island...

Megan and I, in 2010, watching the San Juan coastline come into view while on a ferry...

Need Is The Mother Of Invention

Or so they say...

Yesterday was our big brothers birthday, and one of his gifts was the LOTR, DVD trilogy. Buuuuut, the movies didn't come in a box, and for some reason, we all wanted them to be in a box. So we set out to make one! Some devious creature got a hold of us younger siblings, and we decided to make the box really silly looking; so Jacob made the box out of a cereal box, lots of tape and black construction paper. Emily and I had thought at first to draw little stick figures of the LOTR characters, but then we had a better idea...

We decided to draw the Veggie Tales "Lord of the Beans", characters! Below is our finished product. What think ye?

Frodo, Gandalf, and Gimli.

~Caitlyn

Through The Ashes Of Pain

There is a little spot in the 98 acres that recently got bulldozed (to make entering the property easier for vehicles). That small spot was now a mess of broken branches, mud, and remnants of a small cherry tree. It looked pretty bad.

But despite the wreckage, a small patch of daffodils still came up and bloomed.

Even through the ashes of pain, they still bloomed.

That thought came to me today, when I looked at them.

They reminded me of myself.

These past couple of months have held some painful experiences for me...

But through the ashes of pain, my Saviour lifted me up.

And now He asks me to bloom for Him.

Father God, grant me the strength to bloom, even through the fiery trials of life. Amen.

Where Did I Go?

Yes, I know, I don't blog on here very often. I guess it's because right now, not much has been going on in life that doesn't have to do with farming. Aaaaand, I usually try to keep that over at my *other blog*.

Some of you already know about my farming blog, but I decided that it was finally time to announce it publicly on here. At first, it was merely a way for our farm customers to keep up to date with us and whatnot, but it's morphed into an all-around farming web log.

So, if you haven't visited yet, feel free! You can find the link either on my "blog list" on my sidebar, or you can visit it HERE.

Wisdom for the day...

You need only two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct tape...

If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40...

If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

Enigma I be

Admittedly, I am a strange person.

I love pretty dresses, tea parties and whatnot; but on the other side of things, I am completely at ease when, ahem, butchering animals.

On my bed you would find an array of books with titles ranging from, 'Mrs. Dunwoody's guide to homemaking', to Joel Salatin's book, 'Holy Cows and Hog Heaven'. The librarians have given up trying to figure me out. ;)

If I had to choose between a day shopping in town, and a day spent at home working in the barn, I would probably choose to stay home.

I call myself old fashioned, yet I have an MP3.

My idea of a fun day is to stay home, clean the barn, trim goat hooves, stack hay and shovel compost onto the garden.

People ask me what kind of music I like. My answer? Good music. I've never cared for bad music, but I do like good music. ;D I like variety. A little bit of classical, a bit of Celtic, some bluegrass, some Hammered Dulcimer, throw in a wee bit 'o' Josh Groban, and voila! You're lookin' at my mish mash of tastes.

The smell of coffee makes me nauseous. (my family is sure that there was a mix up at the hospital)

As much as I like pretty skirts and dresses, nine out of ten times, you will find me in a faded denim skirt, simple t-shirt, and a horrendous--looking green sweater (it's comfy, what can I say!).

I think it would be fun to have an emu! (what I would do with said emu, I have no idea.)

I don't really care for movies, yet can do quote after quote from various films with my sisters.

I love gardening, and my best crop every year is weeds. Hmm.

I like "eating healthy", but I also really like making chocolate truffles. ;)

So there! Now you know the truth! I am a strange character. But then, what a boring existence this life would be if people weren't strange in some way or another....

~Caitlyn

The joys of cell phones...?

Yes, I do have a cell phone. ;) I know how to call people on it, but that's all. If I need to turn it on or off, or have it recharged, I usually have to find someone in the family to help me out.

The interesting part about this cell phone is that #1, it has a Mississippi number, and #2, it's my brother's old phone. I never get any calls on that phone that are for me; they're either Chris's friends who haven't gotten the memo about his new phone, or it's a wrong number from a Mississippi resident, which is what happened one day....

Upon answering my phone, I was greeted by the sound of a woman with a southern drawl saying, "Hi Caitlyn, (I always give my name when answering the phone) My name is Officer so-and-so from the police station and I'm wondering if you could call your friend Colton and ask him to move his car."

Bewildered, as I had absolutely no idea what this lady was talking about, I stammered that I didn't understand (have I ever mentioned that I don't like phone calls!?).

She tried again, "Your friend, Colton, needs to park his car somewhere else and he gave your number as a contact, so I'm wonderin' if you could call him real quick."

My sense of humor had caught up with me by this time, as I realized that she must think that I lived in Mississippi, and this person whoever he was, had obviously given a wrong number. Trying not to laugh, I told the lady that I knew no one by that name and that I think she had the wrong number.

Those police officers don't give up easily!! She doggedly replied, "Ain't he your friend? 'Cause he gave this number as a contact number."

"No Ma'am, I know of no one by that name."

"But ain't he your friend?"

"No Ma'am."

"But he gave me this number as a contact."

How does on answer to that!? This cycle continued a few more times. She wouldn't take 'no' for an answer! Half frustrated, and half wanting to laugh hysterically, I finally said, "Okay, I'll call him."

It probably wasn't the best way to end that crazy cycle, and who knows what happened to that person's car, but the officer finally let me go after that!! And yes, I laughed until my sides hurt after I hung up.

I do not like phone calls.... ;)

~Caitlyn

Wordless Wednesday: Boots

Emily has been busy at her work....

~Caitlyn

Jes' bein' me

I couldn't resist the temptation of sharing this picture with y'all. ;)

The below picture is of me holding a baby Gopher Snake. Isn't it pretty? Okay, so I'm probably the only one who thinks so....

For some reason, I've always had a fascination with reptiles and amphibians. :)

~Caitlyn

Lovely rain....

I like rain...

I suppose that's a good thing, seeing as I live in a very rainy state. ;)

I was outside a few minutes ago, gathering some plantain and enjoying the wet. While out there, I couldn't help but think back to when we were still boarding horses...

My favorite time to ride was when it was raining. I would grab a lead rope and then simply hop onto the Quarter horse named 'Peaches' that we were boarding. Peaches enjoyed the rain as well, so off we went! A drenched girl upon a drenched horse, moving in sync beneath the falling raindrops...

Sometimes, I didn't even bother to use a lead rope around her neck; She chose where to go and at what pace. She new the ground better than I did; on dryer areas she would move into a graceful trot and then go back to a walk in the wetter parts. I merely sat atop her, enjoying the ride... Now we trot, then back to a walk; stop to shake off some of the water; try a lope? Ooops! Too wet, back to the walk we go. She eventually stops, my ride is over. No hassle of un-tacking her, no walking her to cool her down, I just slide off and walk away.... Until the next rain, Peaches.

Being outside this evening, made me miss having horses around. There is just something irresistible about riding in the rain...

~Caitlyn

Only One

I am only one,

But I am one,

I cannot do everything,

But I can do something.

What I can do I ought to do;

And what I ought to do

By the grace of God I will do.

~Anonymous~

How has the Lord been working in your life lately?

~Caitlyn

Well THAT was unexpected!

While upstairs this afternoon, I was suddenly called down by mom and Megan who were urgently telling me (and all who were upstairs as well) to hurry. Upon getting to the kitchen I looked out the window that views the porch and saw....

A huge, fluffy black dog that didn't belong to us! "Where on earth did he come from!?" But none of us could identify him. He looked quite comical; lolling on our porch as if he had always belonged there. :)

He turned out to be a very friendly fellow and our dog Copper was ecstatic to have a playmate. But alas! He had a collar; so we had to phone the owners and tell them that we was here. As it turns out, he lives just up the road from us. :)

Quite fittingly, his name was Bear. ;D I'm thinking he is perhaps a chow chow/ lab cross? He's got a very blue tongue, which hints to his chow chow ancestry.

I admit, when I got called down I was expecting to see a squirrel or something; I never expected a dog!! ;D

~Caitlyn

Things that go bump in the night

Now, I am not afraid of the dark.

I usually enjoy it.

It's noises in the dark that scare me.

Upon closing up the barn and returning to the house, I heard something rustling around near our creek that borders our property. Knowing full well that my dog was snoring inside, and that what I was hearing could in no way be a deer, I froze in my tracks as I listened to twigs cracking, and water splashing as something crossed the creek.

I really, really don't like noises in the dark.

I hurried into the house, only to be greeted by mom asking me if I could pop back out and get some catnip to make some tea.

Outside? In the dark? All the way to my herb garden? fifty feet away from the creek? Oh corks...

My herb garden had never seemed so far away as I cautiously crept back into the inky dusk. I tried to tell myself that it was probably just a raccoon, beaver, nutria or a Bigfoot, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched....

My courage finally failed (did I mention I don't like noises in the dark?) and as soon as I grabbed a handful of catnip I hightailed it back to the house. Mr. Bigfoot could have the creek to himself.

Moral of the story? Get needed plant BEFORE it gets dark, and if it's already dark, SEND SOMEONE ELSE!

I really, really don't like noises in the dark.... ;)

~Caitlyn

Music to my ears....

I awoke this morning, to the wonderful noise of a tractor rumbling past our house. :)

I love that noise.... 'Tis music to my ears. Forget Mozart or Bach, I'll take the melody of a tractor any day...

I also love seeing the combines out in the wheat fields, harvesting the crops. They make me think of great, lumbering beetles. ;)

So, how has your summer been?

~Caitlyn

They say you learn one new thing every day....

And today I was informed by a younger sibling that:

Cheese is a fruit.

There! my education is now completed! Imagine what struggles in life might have arisen had I not known that cheese was a fruit!

~Caitlyn

Sisterly Affection?

Emily and I learned something today.

Bush beans, fresh from the garden, will stick to clothing when someone throws one at you.

Sisters can be dangerous....

Especially when in the kitchen with a huge bowl filled with fresh beans.

I can't even tell you how it started, but before I knew it, I found a long, skinny bean sticking to my shirt and a certain sister trying to pull the "ever-so-innocent" look. being the very mature older sister that I am, I, uh--well-- that is to say-- retaliated! ;)

Maturity went to the wind as Emily and I pelted each other with the poor vegetables. Laughing, throwing, feeling ridiculous, the war waged on.

Let's just say that after a few minutes, I ended up stalking, er, walking off, with seven green beans sticking to my shirt.

She may have won the battle, but I'll yet win the war.....

Sisters are so fun! ;D

~Caitlyn

Day #7

Five things I couldn't possibly live without.

Meg has been having fun teasing me about my five choices. Her guesses were: my spinning wheel, yarn, knitting needles, tea and my library card. She was close. ;D

Drumroll please!

1. Laughter. What can I say? I live in a big family, and I have goats. My sense of humor is well developed and almost everything makes me laugh; or at least smile. "Love life, live, laugh" is sorta' my motto. ;)

2. My goats. They are such goofy, sweet, loyal, patience testing creatures. I can't imagine life without them!

3. Lavender. What's life without lavender?

4. My spinning wheel. Megan guessed right on that one!

5. Small Farmer's Journal Magazine!! I absolutely love this magazine and can't possible imagine life without it!

Voila! Five material things I couldn't possible live without.... Does laughter count as a "thing"....?

~Caitlyn

Day #6

It's taken me days to think of a moment that I would want to relive.

It's not that there weren't any times I wouldn't want to redo; it was that there were too many! How on earth do I choose just one! :-/

But in the end, I decided that if I could relive one single moment, that moment would be have to be a whole day. The day I spent shadowing at a vet clinic. :)

Now THAT was a fun day! The staff was friendly, it was a busy day, and I was amongst people who loved the same things I do: animals, and helping them. :)

I still chuckle when I think about the Irish Wolfhound puppy that we had to haul onto the x-ray table. It stood higher than my waist! Oh, and then there was the overweight, heavily pregnant, St. Bernard that also needed to somehow get onto that x-ray table. Took four people for that one... ;)

I remember the sweet little Belgian Malinois puppies that came in to have their dew claws removed. I wanted to hold one sooooo bad, but was too shy to ask! Finally, after five minutes of agony, I hesitantly asked to hold one. The owner was delighted that I liked her puppies, and quickly gave me three puppies to hold! ;D

So there, one moment to relive. That of being at a vet clinic....

~Caitlyn

Day #4 and #5

Well, I don't watch TV, so I can't really give a favorite television program.

But I do have favorite quotes! I think these are my top three favorites:

"Do not part with your dreams or aspirations. For when they are gone, you will still exist, but you will have ceased to live."

"The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of life is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The beauty of life is to give. the joy of life is to love.

~William Ward~

"My dear friend, when will you learn that being normal is not always a virtue? It sometimes denotes a lack of courage."

The last one makes me laugh. ;D

~Caitlyn