A New Year Upon Us

Looking back over 2010 we are thankful for the happiness and blessings we’ve experienced this past year at Verde Farm. Our foray into farm living has provided us inspiration and purpose. We wish you all a safe, happy, healthy and prosperous 2011 and fulfillment in your life’s journey.  

Here is a sampling of some of our blessings this past year.

New Year’s ReflectionsLooking back on the months gone by, As a new year starts and an old one ends,
We contemplate what brought us joy,
And we think of our loved ones and our friends.
Recalling all the happy times, Remembering how they enriched our lives,
We reflect upon who really counts,
As the fresh and bright new year arrives.
And when we ponder those who do, We immediately think of you.
Thanks for being one of the reasons We’ll have a Happy New Year!By Joanna Fuchs

Shep’s Christmas Eve Adventure

Well the big day is over and I sure hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We were very blessed and enjoyed a memorable few days with our family. However, Christmas Eve brought an unexpected event this year. I was settling in at my sister’s where we spend Christmas Eve night. My husband decided not to spend the night because of the snow, cold and our animals. I was settling in for the evening with my step daughter, nephews, sister, brother-in-law and mother. We were playing games, wrapping presents and laughing.

Shep our Great Pyrenees

I decided to call Richie to see how things were and to tell him what time to be at my sister’s the next morning. He sounded short of breath and worried. He quickly told me our dog, Shep, had disappeared right after I left and he’d been looking for him for two hours. Words can’t describe what Shep means to us, he’s more than a pet--he’s a fixture, a part of everything being in its place. His guardian instincts and deep bark, while on night patrol, far from keeps us awake, it allows us to sleep. He’s also my husband’s best friend. Richie jokes that he spends more time with Shep than he does me, and he’s not far from the truth.

My brother-in-law Jason and I quickly got up to drive over to the farm and help look for our lost guardian. With Presley, my step-daughter and my oldest nephew Perry in tow, off we went in a heavy snow.

Shep protecting his flock

When we arrived, Richie was searching around the pond area with a flashlight. We all divided up and the cold and the wind not only made our search bone chilling, but also exacerbated our worries about Shep. We had no idea where he was, we didn’t know if he was hurt, cold or something far worse. It was difficult enough knowing he was gone.

The area near the pond

I decided to get the four-wheel drive utility vehicle out and head into the woods. The snow began to fall even harder. Magnified by the headlight beams, it looked like giant cotton balls floating in two tubes of light.  Even though Presley, Perry and I drove every road and path available in the woods behind our house, there was still no sign of Shep.

Back at the house, we shut off the engine to gather our thoughts. We heard a dog barking in the distance. It’s Shep! Is it Shep? We started the four-wheeler and barreled down the snow covered and desolate main road toward where we thought the barking was coming from. It was midnight, Christmas Eve. We pulled into a closed convenience store and listened for the barking. Now, the bark seemed to be coming from the hill behind our house. It was difficult to locate the barking. Every time we moved to a different location, so did the sound of the barking. Our four-wheeler doesn’t have a windshield and our faces were exposed to the elements. I was afraid of frostbite so I decided to take myself and the kids back home and let the men continue to look.

We came in to warm by the fire

Finally, at 12:45 a.m., I headed back outside to see where Richie and Jason were. I hadn’t seen their flashlights in a bit. I yelled for them, but no answer. I yelled again. Ok, I admit, at this time I was getting a bit panicky. Here we were, it was almost 1a.m. on Christmas Eve, the snow was falling even harder, there was no Shep, and no response from Richie or Jason. I suppose I’ve watched too many scary flicks, but I began to think perhaps we had a serial killer who killed our dog, killed the men and was now going to come get me and the kids. While running this doomsday scenario in my head,  I heard a whimper and then my beautiful dog came running to me from  the woods. Shep was home.  I called my husband’s cell and thankfully they were coming up the front of the property and couldn’t hear me yelling for them. What a relief.

We all piled into the Jeep to go back to my sisters. There was still so much to do. Richie went inside to warm up and go to bed. I didn’t get in bed until close to 3 a.m.,  but I can honestly say it was a Christmas Eve we will remember forever.

Best Friends: Shep and Richie

Shep has never run off. He’s as consistent as day and night. But somewhere in his dog head he decided Christmas Eve was the night. Perhaps he was trying to do some last minute shopping or was worried he hadn’t been a good boy this year and Santa was going to pass Verde without stopping to see him.  Whatever reason he decided to run, we were so happy he was home. He got a mighty good meal on Christmas just to let him know how much.

Hope your Christmas was a bit calmer and filled with more sleep than ours. As we wrap up 2010 we wish you and your families a happy, healthy, prosperous and blessed new year.

Our boy...Shep

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas-Part II

Hello farm friends, thank you for walking around the farm with us and checking out the decorations and our critters. It has turned quite cold since our last post--and sunny Saturday. The temperatures are now in the single digits, snow is on the ground and wind chills are registering below zero. Not easy weather for farm folk, or farm animals. So, let’s get out of the cold, take off those mittens and go inside for a look around. If you please, have some some cocoa or gingerbread coffee--all the better to take in the Christmas season.

Let’s start in the dining room. This room is black and cream so I use black, cream and gold decorations in here. The flocked tree has pretty black tassels, bulbs, gold ribbons and my very first Christmas ornament making it’s 41st appearance this year. I cherish that bulb and it works well in this room because it’s gold. The mantle is covered with greenery and white lights, but the highlight is the gold letters spelling NOEL. I love the way this room sparkles at night.

Our kitchen and gathering room has a simpler feel. The tree is tipped with iridescent hints of ice, and the greenery on the mantle has the same shimmer. We put red and white birds and lots of bird house ornaments on this tree. Everything in this room is red and silver with touches of green. My sleeping mouse from White Sheep Farm rests in this room.

I call the parlor "Mamaw’s parlor" because I have all her furniture in this room. Last year while I was decorating in here I could smell her perfume and I just knew she was sitting there watching me. She loved Christmas. I like to use vintage decorations in this room. The Santa and sleigh is a replica of an antique decoration. My goose feather tree also goes in this room. If there were a fly on the wall, it would have certainly seen me smiling the whole time I decorated this tree. It just makes me happy. The small mantle is adorned with greenery and burgundy flowers and beads.

Our live tree is a 10 foot tall Fraser fir. It is covered with woodland creatures, feathers, acorns, leaves, pine cone ornaments, pheasants, and lots of honeysuckle vine. I envision this tree in an old smoking library back in the 20s. It is beautiful and smells so good. I love the decidedly masculine feel of this room, and so does Richie.

I love this mantle with the silver poinsettias, clear beads and the reindeer standing guard. The little church, below, was given to me when my father passed away. I cherish it so much.

Well, that’s about it. It is hoped you enjoyed the Christmas tour of our house. What a wonderful time of year we get to share. I love all the decorations I’ve seen on your blogs and honestly haven’t seen a Christmas tree I don’t like. Everything about Christmas brings a smile to my face-except the last minute shopping. Ah, I still have nine days. I think I’ll sit down and have a piece of peanut butter fudge.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas-Part I

Welcome to Christmas at Verde Farm. It’s been a busy month. We started decorating right after Thanksgiving and I still didn’t get everything done. However, I am pleased with the things we did accomplish. We used a lot of natural decorations this year such as pine, holly, magnolia, pine cones and honeysuckle vine, things we had growing on the farm. I love that look. So, you might want to put on some mittens or don a winter’s cap because we’re going outside to take in the Christmas season.

Fresh wreath on the back door with some added embellishments

We had a beautiful snow already and according to the weather report it looks as if a storm is headed our way. Early snows, especially in December, certainly ensure the Christmas spirit for us. It has been bitter cold this past week, but Friday saw an increase in temperatures which rolled into Saturday. The animals took advantage of the sunshine spreading out over the property, running, playing and eating, all excited about the coming holiday. We took advantage of the nice weather, as well, by getting outside and taking some pictures. From sun to snow, here we go.

Flower cart filled with pines and berries

Donkeys in the pasture enjoying the sun but ready for the snow

The animals gathering and talking about a Christmas party they are planning 

The wagon heading home with a tree, packages and decorations

Santa's bag sits ready for the big night

Zephyr showing his tail feathers as he was excited about the decorations

A wreath with jingle bells next to the sled

Let’s look at some snowy shots.  

The barn wearing its wreath

A view of the front porch

Primitive bench on the front porch with a little holiday cheer

We put fresh white pine garland around the french doors and adorned it with red and silver sparkly balls, red ribbon, and white lights.

A simple wreath on the kitchen window


Thanks for walking around the farm and taking in our outside holiday decorations.  We will share the inside with you on our next post.  Until then, enjoy decking the halls, baking, shopping and taking in the reason for this wonderful season.  

Merry Christmas,

First Snow-First Giveaway

Hello farm friends, we had our first snow of the season this weekend and it was beautiful. Big, white, cottony flakes peppered down all day Saturday. It didn’t cover the roads, but provided a thin layer of snow over everything else making it ideal for Christmas decorating and shopping.

This past week, I shared my appreciation for the wonderful blog friends I have, and in this spirit I decided it was time to do a giveaway for our Verde Farm buddies. The rules are simple: If you are a follower you get one entry. For a second entry, comment on this post and include the most memorable Christmas gift you ever received, and why. For a third, if you share the giveaway on your blog or in one of your posts, that will enter you another time. Just be sure to tell me that you shared it. If you are not a follower and you become one, you get entered automatically and have the above options for extra entries. If you don't want to follow and just enjoy stopping by, that is perfectly fine too. You don't have to be a follower to win, just share a comment so I can add your name to the bowl.

The prize is a wonderful gift basket from a beautiful place called Yellow Goat Farm.  They make wonderful soaps, herbal lotions and sachets as well as unusual jams, and all from organic herbs. I think you will love the goodies in this basket. The giveaway starts now and will close Friday Dec. 10, at midnight. I will announce the winner the following day and get it in the mail to you by Christmas. Good luck to all our wonderful friends.

We are linking up with Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.  If you’ve never seen Mary’s site or the Mosaic Monday entries, you are missing out.  Beautiful entries every week. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas,

A Special Christmas Memory and Gift From White Sheep Farm

I got the wonderful news last week I had won a giveaway from Teri at White Sheep Farm. She has wonderful giveaways, and her handiwork is amazing. She asked us to share a favorite Christmas memory with her and she would select her favorite. I had to share one of mine. This is the story with a little more detail.

Teri’s Wintry Front Porch Scene

When I was in my twenties, and before I got married, my family had a house in the Smokey Mountains, near Gatlinburg, Tn.  I lived in Asheville, N.C. at the time and my family lived in W.Va.  Of course, the house wasn’t centrally located, but we sort-of looked at it that way. At any rate, it was a place to meet. A special place. I’ll not soon forget meeting my family a few days before Christmas during that period to spend old fashioned Christmas’s--as in stringing cranberry and popcorn garlands to place on the live tree we bought a few hours earlier from a local grower. It would also be pretty hard to erase the sounds of Bing Crosby, or Nat King Cole, and how Cole’s voice never failed to make the room a little warmer--even in front of a sturdy, crackling fire built by my daddy. I’ve never wondered about what we missed on TV those nights, because we didn’t have a TV in the room--but I do remember and cherish being with my family, laughing, singing and belonging.

I remember one Christmas Eve snowstorm that was a beauty. The flakes floated down, seemingly one by one, white cottony flakes landing perfectly on trees, window panes and the immediate, twinkly world in general. The snow put us all in a giddy mood and we took it all in together. My dad helped several visitors to the mountain out of the ditch, and spent a lot of time clearing the walkways and steps for us. He loved to stay busy and there was plenty to do. It was simply a postcard Christmas for our family and we soaked it all in, the snow, the old-fashion tree, the food but most importantly the love and laughter of being a family.

My dad passed away almost four years ago. Our Christmas’s have never been the same and never will. Among many things I miss about him, I miss his laugh. It’ll be hard to unlearn the sound of his laugh-- giddy and booming, so full of life.  We still enjoy our family and cherish the times we are together but a big heart and big personality is missing. He loved Christmas and we miss him terribly, even more so this time of year.

Me, Daddy and my little sister Anna many years ago

Well, that was my story and she chose it to win the giveaway, although it was a condensed version. It touched my heart and when I got my special gift in the mail, I was thrilled. She made me an adorable sleeping mouse in a match stick box.  See the precious note to Santa? She also threw in this beautiful pillow “Its a Wonderful Life,” one of my favorite movies ever and definitely one of my favorite quotes. It is a wonderful life, and I thank you Teri for this wonderful Christmas gift.

Lil’ Mouse

Santa’s note

It’s a Wonderful Life Pillow in with potpourri

If you haven’t seen Teri’s blog, please check it out. She has beautiful sheep, spins her own fiber and makes wonderful primitive decorations. I know you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Merry Christmas all,