Priorities

Wow, it’s been over a year since I’ve been here. I wonder why? With the fencing business, the homestead and the children, my writing has been a low priority, that’s why. But, I’ve recently reprioritized my life and have decided to de-stress (not to be confused with distress).

Our family has been blessed with a prospering (read time consuming) business, two pie-in-the-sky adults, and two active and imaginative children. Needless to say, sometimes our priorities get discombobulated and we need direction. We the help of some wonderful new(-ish) friends, we’re starting to find our way. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition…

Matthew 6:25-26 Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and clothing? Look at the birds of air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Psalm 55:22  Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Phillipians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything  by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

PRIORITIZING:

1. Question the cause of your stress, then determine if it is essential or nonessential.
2. Get rid of every nonessential thing (physical and emotional) that causes you anxiety.
3. Live one day at a time (cliche? I know). Realize that you are not who you were yesterday, you are who you perceive yourself to be, and, the possibilities are limitless.
4. Learn to accept God’s forgiveness. Quit rehashing bad decisions and make better ones!
5. Stop thinking of yourself so much! Being of service to others can greatly change your perspective of your own problems.
6. Have faith.

Re-inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe

After watching the new movie, Georgia O’Keeffe, I have become re-inspired. If you haven’t seen it, watch it. It’s tragic, yet strangely inspirational.

I’ve always been in love with O’Keeffe’s paintings and have a favorite local artist, Pat Siegner. Last Christmas my husband bought the original Painted Hills for me.

This year I’m asking for Mountain Top Sunrise…

Siegner’s work echoes that of O’Keeffe’s, please have a look at her website: http://www.patriciasiegner.webs.com

In this unique landscape color is fleeting. Pat’s mind often calls up the most vivid image, the rhythm and shape, the music in the landscape. From this music she composes something different, “a new song.”

“I see things in shapes and colors, as well as the whole, and try to paint the emotion I felt when I saw it,” notes Pat.

UPDATE 2/2/2011

I am so stoked, Pat just gifted me a fabulous new painting! A Big Sky at Dawn, a 22 x 30 watercolor crayon and acrylic.

Tom’s Impact Grazing Experiment

Check out my newest post (with photos!), Tom’s Impact Grazing Experiment, from the Emerging Homesteader:

The four foot tall sagebrush was a constant source of irritation to my husband, Tom, it was inhibiting the grass and forb growth — limiting the amount of graze available for our animals. We discussed it almost daily, how could we get rid of that brush?

Forgive Me!

Wow! I’ve forgotten how busy springtime can be! With all of the fencing, roping, gardening, child rearing, spring cleaning and general homesteading, I’ve neglected my blog. BAD BRE {insert face slap here}!

I’ve also been extremely busy with my new freelance writing business, which I started last month. I have already had quite a few projects and several repeat clients! A new and entertaining blog will be coming soon — well, relatively soon. And, in the meantime, if you’re feeling neglected please nudge me, tweet me, instant message me or write on my wall. For those of you who aren’t keeping up with the latest in social networking, I’m referring to twitter and facebook… the links are over there —> just scroll around a bit until you see Social Networking.

Changes?

Don’t be alarmed, I change my background almost as often as I rearrange my furniture (which, if you know me at all, is compulsively). Embrace the change, go with the flow, and, as I tell Tom, orient yourself with the arrangement before you go to bed.

Holy Goat! I Made Cheese!

Click on the link to read our newest post:

How I Made Cottage Cheese in 10 Easy Steps

Because the girls drink about half a gallon of milk a day, I waited until I had about three gallons of milk stockpiled (good thing, too) for my first attempt at making the most simple and basic form of homemade cheese – cottage cheese.

On my first attempt, I didn’t get the milk warm enough and it didn’t separate.

On my second attempt, I got the milk warm enough, but didn’t add enough vinegar, and I don’t think it separated properly. I’m not sure because I left the room and my “helper” (Tom) strained it without using the flour sack and most of the solids went down the drain.

Okay, so third time’s a charm and here’s how I did it…

Building Fence

Our little business has been featured in the Burns Times Herald! Please check out the article from guest author, Randy Parks, Building Fence:

“If you’re doing something worthwhile son, dammit, make it last.”

Chris Wall, Wild Bill and the Montana Kid.

There’s no certainty that Tom Schaefer ever heard these words in the song by Wall, but if you take a look at his work at the end of a day, the philosophy is the same…

Lillie Jane’s New Glasses

You think your job is tough? Try keeping glasses on a not-quite-two-year-old!

Lillie Jane's New Glasses

It’s a Queen Thing, Dear.

Check out the newest post, It’s a Queen Thing, Dear., from the Rural Biographer:

I remember the first time I met her and how I instantly disliked her.  It was a sunny day, but not a warm one.  The cloudless sky was so bright a blue that it hurt your eyes just to look at it.  The wind whipped, but not through the trees for there were none.  You could taste the dust on your lips and feel the fine powder in your hair.  Everyone was wrapped up tightly in their fall jackets and brightly colored neckerchiefs.  The people scurried around preparing for the upcoming rodeo, paying little attention to each other.

Take Your Child to Work Day

For me, every day is Take Your Child to Work Day. I propose Don’t Take Your Child to Work Day, huh? Yeah, I’d sign up for that.

Taking the Girls to Work

New Photos

We’ve added some new photos to the slide show! Check it out on the Rural Biographer page!

Wicked Awesome Link

I just put a link up on my blogroll, check out Organicsue’s Blip.fm station – it’s wicked awesome!

Awakening

Check out the latest post, Awakening, from guest author, Robin Ross, at our Rural Biographer page!

New Slideshow!

There’s a new slideshow on our Rural Biographer page!

Nu-skin, Neosporin, and Athletic Tape

Go see our newest from the Emerging Homesteader, Nu-skin, Neosporin, and Athletic Tape:

Under an overcast sky the wind whips around us, saturating our clothes and our hair with that fine, floury, desert dust and the pungent smell of branding smoke. I sip at my beer, imbibing a little liquid courage. Jake and Tom are both standing there in their matching buckaroo costumes — flat, black hats; large, colorful neckerchiefs; wool sweaters over button up shirts; fringed leather chinks over Wranglers with 40 inch inseams; underslung cowboy boots with silver spurs –  eyeing me with hope and encouragement…