House bound

I've been house bound now since late November. It is just too hard to do much walking around when you feel as if all your innards will fall out your bottom. On Jan 2,  I will be having my surgery so I will be very busy resting and recuperating in the new year. At least for the first few months of it.

Have you made your New Year resolutions yet? I have so many plans in my head and have been writing them all down. To begin with I hope to find a better way of being self sufficient. I first hope to get the greenhouse that we began this Summer, finished. Get all the many galvanized containers up into the corral area where I plan to have all my gardening next to the greenhouse.  Hoping I can grow lots more veggies and even plant more fruit trees. I wish to learn how to use a steam canner. That way I can store more for emergencies, eat healthier, and spend less in the grocery store. I would like to learn how to cook meals with fresh produce rather than store bought out of a can or box. I would like to learn how to crochet other than a single or double stitch. I hope to learn how to use herbs for healing and in cooking. I wish to keep using natural and organic products. 

So as far as New Year wishes go, mine are not the regular 'hope to lose 20 pounds' , although I may keep that one, but to improve on how we spend our money and what is really more important to our survival in case of any kind of emergency.

Yeah, the world did'nt end on Dec 21, but we all know that times are tough for so many and the future does look somewhat bleak. We so need to start looking out more for each other and pray that our future will still be there for the younger generation and that we find peace in our hearts in the troubled times ahead.

So I intend to do my part by doing what I know best by planting a garden and canning veggies and sharing with our neighbors and friends. I have coop issues to fix, will need to replace some laying hens so I keep the eggs coming in, I hope to build more shelves for the surplus supplies I hope we will be able to put up. I am thinking of raising a couple small milk goats and maybe some rabbits, but still trying to get hubby on board with that, plus I would need to learn how to raise them.  I would love to go solar but cost wise I don't think we can do much. I plan to put out a couple more rain barrels but with spigots so it will be easier to transfer the water about.

As you can see, I have had lots of time on my hands while waiting for surgery and will have plenty more time to think of all the things I wish to do next year. I am usually pretty busy shoveling snow and hauling in firewood for the stove, but that has been taken over by my newly retired husband. Hope he doesn't burn out too soon on keeping what chores need done through this Winter. Maybe I'll suprise him with a new smaller figure some time in the Summer of 2013. One can only wish, right? Besides, I don't expect I'll see many gourmet dishes coming my way for the next few weeks. He'll probably try to get me to eat bologna sandwiches. LOL

So here's to hoping all your wishes and resolutions come true for the new year. But mostly I wish everyone good health, happiness and love.

Merry Christmas

My Wish From You

This year is the first time in my adult life that I will not be decorating for Christmas. This does make me somewhat sad but I am counting on all my blogging friends to make my wish come true.

Here's my wish.
I wish that each of you will continue to post many pictures of your holiday decorations and continue to share your dessert recipes, your craft ideas and your wonderful stories. Now that wasn't so bad to ask, was it? I know I have never been dissapointed in anyone. I always look forward to seeing the many beautiful blogs and the great ideas and decor so many of you share with all of us.

You see, this is my favorite Holiday I look forward to. Only because it makes so many people smile when they see all the beautiful lights, smell all the wonderful smells of pine or cinnamon, the many desserts and yummy dishes that are made. The sound of the Christmas music and the delight of the children seeing Santa. People reaching out to their neighbor, maybe speaking for the first time in a year. This is a Holiday that brings out so much love in everyone who believes. You get what I'm trying to say.

I would rather be sharing my fudge recipe with a friend, baking loaves of bread to give to a neighbor, wrapping a secret gift for someone in need, making that special something for someone I love. But this year brings me in another place. One where you can't think of much else other than the pain you are in, disappointed because everything you try to do puts you in more pain, and asking yourself when will this end?

The reason I write this is because I do not have the energy to figure out how to repair my computer at this time and also knowing I will be taking a break for a few months to recuperate. You see, I will be rather busy having what I believe they call the big H (hysterectomy). So I will not be able to endulge in all the fun activities and shopping I would much rather be doing. I won't be making the tons of candy and desserts I so love to give. I won't be able to help the charities I so love to give to. Lately the most Christmas enjoyment I have been getting is lying in bed watching all the great old Christmas stories on tv.

As I write this my body is telling me I have sat up long enough. I just wanted to let you know that once my spirit and health is back, I will fix my computer problem and be back in the blogging world.

Until then, may you all have a Merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year.

God bless you all,
Gail