New Year's Day 2026

 

"Celebrate what you want to see more of."

~Tom Peters

New Year's Day 2025

"Learn from yesterday, 

live for today, 

hope for tomorrow."

~Albert Einstein

 

May peace and good fortune follow you

throughout the new year.

God bless and keep us, everyone.

~daisy

Happy New Year!

 

"A person who never made a mistake

never tried anything new."

~Albert Einstein

Here's to new beginnings!

Blessings...daisy

Happy New Year!

From our home to yours-

We wish you a happy, healthy and wondrous new year!

May God bless and keep you.

~daisy

Change Is Good!

 

 

Let's face it.

Change can be hard.

Even though we know that 

it's best to shake things up a bit from time to time,

straying from the customary can be a struggle.

Our family thrives on routine and the familiar.

Last year, we made three big changes

that really paid off.

 

 

The Top Three Changes in 2020

 

 

Berkey Water Filter

We have permanently ditched the plastic water jugs

in lieu of this fantastic system.

For years, we wrestled with the dilemma of

needing clean water to drink and with which to cook,

while despising the idea of a steady stream of plastic 

coming into the house.

The Berkey turned out to be the best solution.

It gives us a safe and reliable source of water,

is renewable and long-lasting,

and it saves us money.

We would recommend it highly to anyone

who is looking for a way to reduce or eliminate

their plastic bottle dependence.

 

 

Getting Chickens

It was almost by accident that we acquired poultry.

My good friend was relocating out of state

and needed to find a home for her 60+ birds.

With only a little more than half an acre,

I knew we could only take a handful,

but we are so glad we did.

I had been thinking about becoming a chicken keeper

for the last few years.

In fact, one of the reasons we chose this neighborhood,

was because there were no restrictions on having chickens.

So, we took the plunge.

It surprised me how much I grew to love it.

They are so rewarding to care for and it's been wonderful

learning more about them and their habits.

Even Big K and C, who are not big animal lovers,

have become somewhat enamored with them.

Who knew?

Along with providing eggs for our family,

the chooks are a source of non-stop entertainment

and will no doubt be helpful in the garden

with their poop-laden bedding and bug patrol.

It's been a win all around,

and rumor has it that the flock may be expanded come springtime.

 

 

Misfits Produce

This organic produce delivery service is something 

that I never would have thought I would use.

I've been shopping once a week for decades,

but wanted to find a way to support organic farmers

and help stop the waste that happens with food in our country.

Misfits produce is all organic, minimally packaged

and mostly incredibly delicious.

A few times we have gotten something 

that was past its prime, but

our overall satisfaction with the service is quite high.

It feels good knowing that we are helping to use food

that might otherwise be tossed out and in keeping with our more ecological ideals,

there is no plastic wrap involved in the packaging of the ordered items.

For the last few months, we've even been able to customize our order,

making the service even more appealing.

We will continue to support and promote this valuable business. 

So, maybe these three great experiences 

will help me become less resistant to change.

It's a new year and a brand new chance

to try something different.

 

What changes do you plan for the new year?

It's a Fresh, New Year!

 

 

The mantra for 2020 was:

 

Go Forth.

Do Good.

 

It worked so well to keep me focused on the big picture,

that it will continue to be the song in my head this year.

 

There are always new goals,

as I am task oriented

and feel good when things are crossed off the weekly to-do list.

With so much extra time at home last year,

several garden projects were completed.

There weren't as many opportunities to volunteer

or get out into the community,

but that was a necessary element of the madness that was our reality.

 

The biggest goal for this year is my desire to do more for others.

I'm calling it The Kindness Project.

I've made myself a goal to do at least

one random act of kindness a month.

I've already started, 

but haven't yet figured out how best to share it

to keep myself accountable,

without seeming like I am seeking out praise for the endeavor.

Here's a helpful link if you are interested in joining me.

 

For the foreseeable future,

Garden Friday posts will be suspended,

as there is not much to report.

Colder temperatures have slowed growing,

although you won't hear any complaints from me.

This is the first year since we've been here,

that winter has decided to stick around for a while,

and I am enjoying every minute of it.

Chores consist mostly of leaf shredding,

wood chipping 

and peeking underneath the row covers for signs of life.

 

So, without the garden updates to share,

Friday Fotos will give a snippet of what's happening around our homestead.

 

Hoping that 2021 treats you well

and that you are able to move forward

toward your own goals.

Be Blissed!

 

 

Happy New Year!

 

 

 Here's hoping that the trail ahead

leads you to your destiny!

Blessings to you and yours in the New Year.

God bless us, everyone.

~daisy

Gettin' Stronger Day by Day

 

Body By You

Mark Lauren

 It's a new year and a great time to put yourself on the list!
I've been regularly exercising for almost 40 years,
and truth be told, I always loved elementary school gym.
Working out has always been part of my routine,
and a way of 
confirming my gratitude 
for the health I've been given.

With various ailments over the last few years,
my goal has been to increase my knowledge,
engage in healthier eating practices,
and find a workout that speaks to me.
Thanks to Mark Lauren's book,
that last objective has been easy.

Being diagnosed with osteoporosis several years ago,
I've been on a quest to remain drug-free
and deal with this illness on my own terms.
I have a fabulous doctor who respects my decision
not to take pharmaceuticals for this chronic condition.
Through diet, supplements and the right type of exercise,
I've been able to reverse some of the damage to my bones.
I'm not out of the woods by any means,
but I'm on the right track.

Body By You was an answer to prayer.
I was looking for a program that I could easily do
using my own body weight.
The exercises in this book accomplish that
and also require very little in the way of equipment.
In fact, the equipment consists of everyday items
you already have in your home, like tables, doors and chairs.
For example, push-ups are done against a countertop for the beginner,
then get progressively more difficult as you get stronger.
A chart in the book enables you to keep track 
of each exercise and your progress.
 There are variations on each movement,
so it can be custom-designed for each individual.
With plenty of pictures to guide you,
each pose can be modified as needed.
Another great feature is that the work out
consists of 4 exercises with just 2 or 3 sets of 12.
In under 30 minutes, you have completed your workout for the day.
For me, doing this workout on Monday, Wednesday and Friday is perfect.
That allows me to include yoga on Tuesday and Thursday
and a daily 1-1 1/2 mile walk around the neighborhood.

 
I have been doing yoga and weight bearing exercises
for over 20 years, hoping to create healthier, denser bones.
When I knew my bone density scan was coming up,
my goal was to keep my numbers from getting worse.
This book is part of the reason that I've improved. 
If you're looking for an efficient, effective workout,
I hope you'll give this book a try.
(This is not a paid endorsement,
I just like to keep the good stuff moving.)

Welcome 2020!

May your steps find you

right where you want to be

in 2020!

Blessings!

~daisy

New Year 2019

We've spent a quiet holiday season close to home.
Our second anniversary of living here in North Carolina
reminded us of how many blessings we have.
Steady employment.
A cozy home.
Room to garden.
Friends with which to share and grow.
Seasonal living.
It's been a great change for us.

We still have many things to work toward,
and in fact, looking forward keeps me motivated.
While enjoying a book recently,
a unique phrase struck a chord.

"Good things are constantly happening to me."

I'm thinking that's a pretty good mantra
to remember into the new year.
Knowing it is the first step toward 
          making 
            it 
               a 
                             reality.
What a blessing this life is.

May you be gifted
with dreams coming true.
God bless us, everyone.
~daisy

Happy New Year!

Happy 2018!

Yesterday we celebrated our 1st anniversay

of living in this great state of North Carolina.

May your year be filled with 

laughter, 

learning 

and 

love.

God bless us, everyone.

~daisy

Ten Things to Improve Your New Year

Resolutions are often forgotten 
by the 3rd of 4th week of the year.

Unless we are unwavering in our conscientiousness to live in the moment,

it can be challenging to maintain a toehold on those goals.
With busy lives, it can be a tall order.

Here are some simple things to try.
Try one or all of them!

They are easily incorporated into a daily routine.

Some may be more difficult than others,

but no matter how many you decide to test drive,
one of them may just change your life for the better.
Give 'em a whirl.

1.  Get rid of your full-length mirror.
If you find yourself being critical about the way you look,
give yourself a week without the opportunity to see "the worst".
You may find that you really feel better about yourself.

2.  Start using butter.
Okay, this really does NOT have anything to do with number one up there.
Think about assimilating your new view of yourself (sans mirror),
with seeing, being and enjoying the real you.
Make the transition to eating real foods.
Eating simply adds simplicity to your life.
Butter is made with cream, water and salt.
That's it.  
Besides, butter just makes everything taste better.

3.  Get outside daily.
This will affect you no matter the season.
We all need a dose of the sun's Vitamin D
and it's not the same when supplemented in a pill.
Take a walk, look at snowflakes, listen to the birds singing.
Being connected to the outdoors can be a sacred thing.
You deserve to embrace all of Mother Nature's blessings.

4.  Create 5 minutes of silence for yourself.
Whether you work full-time, go to school,
run a household, or are independently wealthy,
it's vital to listen to the wisdom inside of you.
When we are so busy that we keep silence at bay,
we lose the chance to learn what we need to grow.
Feel free to combine numbers 3 & 4!

5.  Consider your intention first when making decisions.
Using this powerful tool can make the difference between
smooth transitions and hard lessons learned.
If we focus on what we hope to accomplish first,
we learn to develop our sense of purpose,
and preferences will be more easily  determined.

6.  Make yourself smile.
Just remembering a fond memory can change our mood.
Whether it's something from long ago, or earlier in the day,
 bringing to mind those things that cheer or encourage us,
can alter our entire day, in a good way.
We can control the thoughts we allow,
so why not use them to our advantage?

7.  Give something to someone at least once a day.
It could be a compliment, a hug, or a small token,
but make it sincere.
This is a win-win, because not only will you feel better,
it's sure to brighten someone's day.
And hey, then you can use this situation to cross number 6 off of your list.

8.  Say thank you more often.
Surely there is someone who has done something kind toward you.
Be sure to acknowledge and appreciate those acts of generosity.
It could be something as basic as opening a door so that you can pass, 
or as compelling as taking the time to shake a veteran's hand 
and thanking him/her for their service to our country.
Not only do you feel good doing it, 
but it also solidifies the perspective that good souls surround you.
Sometimes we need to be reminded.

9.  Make something yourself.
It could be your first loaf of homemade bread,
sewing a pillow, writing a poem, or building a bench.
Fostering the sense of creativity that we all have
is paramount to one's well-being.
We are innately creative,
we sometimes just get too busy to nurture that part of us.
It's worth it.
Trust me.

10.  Simplify in any way you can.
Start with one shelf in a bookcase, one bathroom cabinet,
or one corner of the garage.
Sometimes we need to get the "stuff" out of our way.
Keeping in mind what is working for you,
or what might be better used by someone else is key.
Always focus on intention when clearing the clutter.
It really does make a difference.

I'd love to hear some of your ideas for improving your new year.
Have you already started?
It's never too late to get crackin'!
Enjoy your weekend, y'all!
~daisy~

Happy New Year!

After my take on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas,

my friend Faye challenged me to come up with a poem

for each new holiday.

I make no promises, but this one is just for her.

(Sung to the tune of "Happy Birthday to You")

Everybody, sing!

daisy's ditty
by daisy

Happy New Year to you!

May your wishes come true.

Be blessed on this new day,

And the rest of them too!

May twenty-sixteen

Bring you tasty cuisine 

Eat well and be certain

That your plate's always clean. 

May you keep yourself well,

In your efforts, excel.

Take care of your body

And you'll feel just swell.

Take time for yourself

You're an important elf.

Do something exciting,

Don't sit on the shelf.

Your garden will grow,

As you may well know.

If tended with fervor,

The veggies will show.

Some silence is key

But not often free.

Be sure to enjoy it,

Before it does flee.

Happy 2016!

I have a feeling it's gonna be a banner year!

Continued blessings in the New Year!

~daisy & crew~