My Fiance, My Friend

The word from the Don Williams song “You’re My Best Friend”, or from Tom T. Hall’s “I Love” {“I love coffe in a cup, little fuzzy pups, bourbon in a glass, and grass…And I love you too”} say it so well. I fell in love with a close friend, who has become my best and most trusted friend. Sometimes it is hard to tell where his thoughts end and mine begin.

I don’t see how I could become any happier, but then again I’m sure I will. Sure sometimes we bicker, and I do nit-pick…and sometimes he just dosen’t quite understand. But we still love each other, even with all the eye rolling and hand waving. I know we are not the only people who feel this way, and it is a beautiful thing.

What make me really, really happy is knowing this isn’t all by chance. Not for us, or any one else. This is the way God planed it to be. God dosen’t just have a some one out there, He has your some one. Some one to share all the love that God put into their heart. That I belive is a big part of His mast plan. After all the bible does say “we love, becaus He loved us first” And that is so true, I know if I didn’t have the love of God in me, my fiance would be stuck with a very bitter woman. And there is no way I’d still be the woman that he is in love with. So I am thankful to God for loving me, giving me love, and helping my share that love.

To Fence Or Not To Fence?

Thats what Wendell & I are talking about now, what fencing and were to put it. In the long run we want to fence {and cross fence} it all so that we could turn any thing out, dogs, horses, goats, sheep, geese, even little baby pigs. For now we have barbed wire on three sides in the back.

Most of the land is so grown up that we have to clear a trail along the fence just to get the wire to it. Long story short looks like we will fence of the yard first, then the garden, then the few acres the meet up to them. That will give us enough room for the animals we have an the few more we are going to get. And we wont have to brake our backs or the bank to get it done.

We are also thinking of digging another small pond. Just east of the garden is a spot were water stands almost all year long.

It is all still very exciting.

Some of the trees looking from the pond to the open land & garden

Our little pond in late summer 

Update jan 08 2012 we are also talking about growing a hedge fence on the back land. Most likely I’d have to wait til next year befor I could plant it, and it would take 2-3 years befor it would really work. We’ll find out in due time what we deside to go with.

Dresses!

I’m thinking about wedding stuff again. I’m so glad we have a year, even though it’s a little less then a year off now. I  still don’t have to rush, or think about it 24/7. Don’t get me wrong, I can not wait to merry my dear Wendell. But we have got a lot that needs doing between now and then. Like build a house….I’m working on plans for that, but I’ll tell you about it another day.

Here is a look at some brides maid dresses I’ve drawn out…colored pencil is not my stong sute but you get the idea. Not too sure of the fabric yet, that is what will really make the dress. Nore the neck line. I think I’ll crack down on it after the holidays. The dresses will not be the same color, but they will match the grooms men. Who will have the same color shirts, as well as vests. The plum dress is shown with a pattern vest to the side with some of the same colors in it. Sleeves are gather to a ruffed edge, and a lower neck line. While the navy dress has a high neck line and cuffed sleeves. The skirt is of a little diffrent cut as well….

It seems no matter what I’m thinking about these days be it dresses, flowers, livestock, building suplies, I always end up feeling excited, happy and blessed.

Got Goats….in a car?!

Yup we did it! We picked up our first three goats, all does, and LaMancha or LaMancha/Nubian cross. One is bred to kid in march, I can’t wait!!! And neather can Wendell, he has been bit by the goat lovers bug. Okay photo time…

 Cookie in the back seat. She is a people lover, and seemed to enjoy the car ride. She is 2 and has kidded befor, the lady we got her from said she was a really nice got she just didn’t need another milker.

 The girls by was is now the roof on their shelter. The dark thing off to the side is luke, Wendells mutt. Cookie does not like him. She head butted him the other day. We have another dog out there right now, a big cur. They don’t seem to mind him. Below is Wendell, his bud, and my brother all working on the shelter. With every bord that went up the girls had to take a look.

We will be getting more. Maybe another doe from the same lady, just didn’t have the room or cash last weekend. But we are on a waiting list to get some reg Alpines in the spring. Alpines and Nigerian Dwafs are the breeds I love, and used to have as a teenager. With our goats we will show, sell, breed, eat, milk, and make things like cheese and soap…or at least try for those last two. Showing is the only part thats more for fun then anything else. We are so excited to have our goats!

Get’n A Good Start…

My friend and fiance Wendell & I are making big plans, and doing lots of work to start our homestead. We are also having a lot of fun planing our merrige. It will be set in the mid 1800′s, and shared with meny of our family and dear friends. Who would think that a wooly faced woodsman would be all excited about dresses and flowers and food. And that this bride to be is more excited about getting dairy goats then her ring. It’s safe to say we are a matched pair. The more details I share with family, and the closeist of our friends the more I hear how well it fits us. The wedding it just a little over a year away. And I’m glad for it as it gives us enough time to get our home ready, and my out of state family time to prep for the trip.

Right now there is not much to our little homestead other then rocks. And trees, can’t forget them. Most of this fall has been spent cutting down, and removing all problem trees. One almost hitting our tiny travel trailer house. I’m so glad for the help from our familys so far. His dads tool box is open to him, as is the hay barn. He will also be letting us run stock on a small pice of his land. One my brothers is our go to guy with a chainsaw, we’d be way behind without him. I think the plan for this weekend is to get some sort of yard fence up for the dogs, and pull nails from the bords we will be reuseing for our add on. And maybe get a pair of dairy doelings. There is and old hog pen that will work for them for this winter. It’s all hard work but so much fun.

The wedding plans are coming together at a nice pace I think. One of my grandmothers is going to make my dress. My other grandmother is gathering info on the place we want to have our wedding at, and letting us set up a tent on her land for the party. We want to have it out side the only cherokee courthouse still standing, the seting is beautiful. And I’m already thinking about the food. We are going to try to raise the meets, and maybe some of the other foods. I love warm hearty foods, and I’d love to have a big ‘ol feast. And there will be music too.

I am so happy. I feel loved and so very blessed by God, I’m sure he is smiling on me now. I’m thankful for all He does from me, and those around me. My awesome, wonderful, loving God.

Oh Fall

I love the fall. It get’s cooler, the colors change. I know I’ll soon be eating awesome food around my even awesomer family. I feel really crafty in the fall too, when ever there is a chill in the air my kniting and crocheting seems to pick up. My only trouble with the fall is for some reason part of my mind seem to think it’s spring. Not only do I clean more, but I start thinking about babies, animal babies that is. It’s like I can seen enough calves, kids, and lambs. I get to thinking about chicks too….it’s almost as if I wish I could skip the winter. Not that I want to do that at all, I love the snow & wood smoke. But I sure will be more then ready for some fuzzy, little wabbly critters to be seen my april if not sooner.

What keeps my day dreaming slowed down just a little bit is making Christmas gifts. Last year I make a list, and purdy much stuck to it. I’ve got an even bigger on this year. And I’m sad to say I have yet to get a real start on it. I think that is what I with do today though… I’ll leave you all with a few photos.

One of the meny hand made jewelry items you can find for sale on my face book page KotaCountry, click photo for link

My mother filly looking at one of my dogs

Jubal is my first colt out of the first mare I got. He was born april 20, 2011. And I'm having lost of fun watching this horse grow, learn, and change colors

 

 

Welp…

here I am at last – bloging.  For though’s who don’t know me yet I’ll share just a bit with you for now {I’ll add a bio soon} I dearly love my Lord, black coffee and working young horses…There is nothing like sliping into the saddle of a horse that you know no one else rode, or at times even layed a hand on. Your heart is pounding, and at the same time there is a deep peace as well. Yep, I love it. That how ever is not what I do for a living. Nah, there is much more to it then that… But all things in due time my friends.

Ok, so you know I love to ride horses, I also love to draw & paint horses as well as other livestock, rustic settings, and what ever else strikes me. I’ll show case my work here from time to time, along with hand crafted & beaded jewelry…and who knows what else. You can have a look see on face book, the page is called KotaCountry

So…other then me, who’s hungry?

Pumpkin Cookies – perfect for fall, cream 1 cup of shorting with 1 cup of sugar & 1 cup canned pumpkin. Add egg {1} Then sift & add 2 cups flour, 1 tsp bakeing soda, 1 tsp {or more} cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt. Mix it up and spoon it on a cookie sheet. Bake it at 375. Depending on the size of your cookies it with take 8 to 15 minutes…they are rather cake like, I use a toothpick to test. I know this sounds good, but now it gets better – you make icing! 3 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 sugar, 3/4 tsp vanilla all gos into a pan to melt & brown. Then you add 1 cup powdered sugar ~ What I did to make this recipe mine was add a LOT more cinnamon, and I added vanilla to the cookies. I’ve also used brown sugar in place of sugar for the icing. These cookies are fun to play around with, quick to make, hard to mess up, and even harder to keep around. A fun fact I wanted to share is; Six of the seven continents can grow pumpkins including Alaska! Antarctica is the only continent that they won’t grow in. Thanks to http://www.pumpkin-patch.com/facts.html

Now as I have said I drealy love my Lord. I talk to him a lot, about just what ever. Like how my foals are turning out, that I’m thinking about painting today, I tell Him I love & need Him. I also try to be quick to ask for His hand when I need it. You should never feel like something is too little for God, be it your time, or what troubles you. I believe He wants to be a part of your every day life. Just look how little this psalm is.

Psalm 117

Praise the Lord, all you nations! Praise Him all you people!

For His mercy and loving-kindness are great toward us, and the truth and faithfulness of the Lord endure forever. Praise the Lord!  

As small at it is, it is still full of power, you are told that God aint gonna quit you. It tells you to praise Him, and that He is worthy of that praise. I don’t know about you, but that makes me feel good.

 

Welp, I’ve got horses & dogs that need playing with, goodies to make….and a kitchen to clean {yuck} But I’ll talk to you all later