Today feels right to blog again...

I think I may have mentioned this in one of my old blogs, but most mornings now, after John and I come in from the barn (which doesn't take much time these days, now that the goats are winding down for the season in milk production), I sit for a bit and meditate. 
See, Michael Whaling created this most magnificent piece of art that will hopefully be a part of this gorgeous property from now till the end of time.  It's his stone wall.  I've shown it to you in previous older posts, but video doesn't do it justice. 
This wall is now an important part of my life.  After spending my first waking moments with the animals and making sure they are hayed and watered with John, I'm ready to spend a moment with one of our barn animals in particular - Bubby, one of our amazing cats. 
You can't compare animals to animals like you can't people.  Everyone's so beautifully different and important, there's simply no need to want to try.  So Bubby and the wall share my special morning time. 
Michael brilliantly built into this stone structure, which surrounds Josh's wonderful garden, with a seat.  Two actually.  One on the side nearest our house, near our entrance, and one beautifully centered in the corner.  Not sure why, but that one draws me in most often. 
This morning, I situated myself on the seat with Bubby.  I almost didn't feel the need to ponder this morning, but as John and I approached the house, he reminded me of what a nice morning it was weather wise.  He was right.  Prior, stepping out of the barn revealed an amazing 1/4 moon and a single star (which I actually think is one of the planets) and a rose hinted light cloud cover.  The sun was getting ready to rise and the temperature was nice for this time of year.  Perfect.  How could I resist. 
I called to Bubby, who had followed us from the barn to the house and he bounded over to follow me to our seat in the corner.  We sat for a few moments and I got inspiration to write. 
Since I've been spending this quality time with Bubby and the garden and the wall and the sky, I've noticed I've felt lighter... happier... smiling and laughing a lot.  It's just such a good feeling.  I think Bubby's been happier too.  lol. 
It's nice.  It's simple.  It's good.  And you know what?   I think life is too.  Complications seem to be smoke and mirrors to me lately.  There's something deeply good going on underneith it all.  Secretly and beautifully hidden.  I can't help but feel like I'm kind of waking up to it myself.  I think we all are.  And I can't help but smile about it.

This is a photo of Bubby.  He's so striking here.  I took this before the wall was finished.  Interestingly, he's sitting right next to our favorite seat, before we really started sitting there regularly.  (Maybe life whispers.)

Thanks.

It’s been a bit since I’ve been on and I apologize to anyone who might have been wondering where the heck I went.  I think in my last post I mentioned how I was working hard to keep up to the exciting orders that were wonderfully coming in.  It was great trying to keep up, and I’m not sure I did an entirely perfect job at it since my posting suffered a bit.

But, alas, I am back after having learned a truly valuable lesson - the importance of communication.  I learned that no matter how busy this life gets, it’s important to stop, take a moment from the hussle and check in with your friends and family – which thankfully now includes you. 

So what’s going on?  Well, this was an amazingly meaningful holiday (Thanksgiving) to have experienced.  Funny how in the past I was always so caught up in the excitement over the food and how stuffed I would make myself by night’s end that I somehow may have missed a point.  This year was a bit different. 

I decided to live up to the name of the day and stuff myself rather with appreciation… for everything… and everyone I’ve had the privilege to know and get to know in my life.  And of course, that still includes you!

Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

I’d like to be clear here that I’m not referring directly, though I feel great gratitude for it as well, to your purchasing our products.  That is wonderful and a very kind gesture and I really enjoy knowing that there is interest in this aspect of our lives. 

But I’m talking about something a little deeper (which I believe is where I will be dipping from now on in these posts – another little something I’d learned from this epiphany).  I guess I’m referring to a new connection I feel with you all - which I’m thankful for.  Superficially, you know about me, just a little bit from my brief cameo in Season 1, my relation with John and maybe a bit more from what I’ve written in some posts, here.  But how can you really know someone with such limited information.  In reality, we don’t… or do we?

Sometimes, even without knowing, we do… intuitively.  

We’re all a lot more alike than we think.  We are, after all, people.  We’re much more similar than different.  We all have struggles and we all have loves.  Sometimes I wonder if the struggling is really about that ever search for that love.  I’m not only referring to romantic love, which is the most obvious form, but the more pervasive, subtle love and acceptance we all crave to feel – for others and even for ourselves. 

Now, for entertainment purposes, some of John’s and my challenges are televised.  Interesting situation to be in.  And it’s a good thing.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to reach out to you in this special way.  It’s all about feeling connected.  Sometimes we don’t.  Sometimes we do.  Now I feel it.  The show may have been one of the tools for that, but I feel this desire to reach out has been growing in me even prior.  And for that I am ever thankful. 

So, thank you for reading and making an effort to connect to me.  Through the holidays, try and connect a little bit further with friends and family.  You may already know this, as I discovered on Thursday, that you’ll start appreciating the day, each other, and yourself all the more for it.   

I’ll explore this more in future posts, but more importantly, I’ll stay in contact more often… because it makes me happy.  I hope it does the same for you.  Thanks again.

Playing catchup...

Look!  It's a herd of mini Pokeys (in various phases of completion) reading my blog!

OK, I've obviously had too much coffee... 

But I'm charged up to work hard at completing the many orders that have come in recently.  Things have been busy!   Usually, I try to post a new blog every four days, but have since gotten a little behind.  (By the way, THANK YOU everyone for your orders.)

I'd normally be creating a video blog at this point, but honestly, it's been a rush to produce those mini Polka Spots', painted glassware, candle holders and goat bells, that I haven't had the time to record a decent video. 

The good news is that the business is doing well!  We're happy that so many of you are interested in our products.  Makes us feel good. 

Being that the store is so new, we're still fine tuning details and ironing out systems to make the shopping experience the best it can be.  It's a fun juggling act that I enjoy.  And, since I make items on demand, it's an exciting race to get the orders made and shipped in a timely fashion.   If there is a bit of a delay, just realize that your items were made fresh - just for you.  :)

I'm just about finished with our current orders, so I'll be able to focus on new Christmas items next.  At that point, my goal is to post a new item every two days. 

Thanks everyone!

Jason