Laughing Wind Farm

Settling into the new year.....

Seems like the second I plan to write in this, something else comes up that requires my total attention (ie. KIDS!)  But since they are higher on the priority list than this, I really can't complain!

We have been having some really strange weather here in Ohio---not at all like we normally have.  Today was about 60 and actually completely and totally SUNNY!  The sunshine was so bright that it hurt  my eyes trying to drive this afternoon---and it was worse since we have had nothing but clouds now for like 2 weeks.  Ah, felt like spring, smack dab in the middle of WINTER!  I am sure that by now, all the trees and plants are thoroughly confused!  We saw several robins hunting worms--a wild sight for here this time of year.

I have really tried to come up with ways that we can start living more like a "country" family while we are stuck here in the middle of BIG CITY!  It is my goal and my dream to get us out of the city and into something more rural.....but in the meantime, it makes sense to me to be learning the art of country living.  Right?

So, my list of things to either learn, or to practice more fully is as follows:

1) baking our own bread and baked goods (we have done that from time to time, but not really every day like I plan to)

2) to designate one weekend day each week as "no electricity" day. (Now I know that I can't not use some of it--but we can keep the lights off, and all the extra things.  We will use lanturns, and do some old fashioned family things in place of tv or computer.

3)to begin to cook more from scratch. (That is going to really be a challenge, since I do not really enjoy cooking, and am not really good at it!)

4) to start sewing....I have a machine, and I learned to sew in high school, but haven't done much since.....and to also teach both grandchildren the basics

5)to research and see if there are any community gardens here in the area---some cities do have.  If we can locate one, we will plant our first really small family garden.

If I can accomplish even part of this, I will be doing very well.  I find myself running ragged most of the time--with my part time job, with the extra grandkids for the school year, and with the extra time needed to care for AND teach my oldest grandson with severe ADHD (and a host of other problems..).

I am enjoying reading these other blogs, and am learning alot.

Brand New Blog~~~~Brand New Year

I have been comtemplating what exactly I wanted to accomplish by starting a new blog~~~and I think I have come up with a few things.

I realize this is a "homesteading" blog, and also that I currently reside in the city~ in an apartment of all places.  However, it has always been a dream of mine to live on a piece of land, and it is a goal that I plan to really work towards in earnest this upcoming new year~~~~so maybe I belong here afterall...

I am Janice.  I am 49 and have lived both on a farm (12-18) and in some of the largest cities in the country (Detroit, Anaheim, Phoenix, Columbus...)  After having tasted both---my heart lies totally with the farm lifestyle.   More than anything else in my life, I would love to own a small piece of land and a few animals.

I am a single grandmother, raising 2 grandchildren---Caleb, age 10 and Bailey, age 9.  I homeschool Caleb, and Bailey goes to the public school here and is in the gifted and talented program where she excels.

I want these two kids to have a chance to know something besides urban living~~~to realize that there is more to life than city busses, and PEOPLE rushing here and there! 

My goals for this new year are to start  to adopt the country/simple lifestyle even while we are forced to reside here in the city.  I already do some things that are pretty much out of place here---like bake our own bread, and make jelly---but there is so much more that I want to learn, and in turn teach these grandkids.

I look forward to reading and learning from those of you already living the country lifestyle.