Versatile Blogger Award: Hooray!
Thank you Alicia for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award! I love blogs, and yours is especially one that touches my heart. If you don't know Alicia, she and her husband are farming south of us in Oregon at Afton Field Farms. We have so much to learn from them and continually admire their animal practices and stewardship of the land. Plus, Alicia's blog "High Heels in the Barnyard" is another wonderful look at farming, through her eyes.
When you are nominated you:
- Thank the person who gave you this award. That’s common courtesy.
- Include a link to their blog. That’s also common courtesy — if you can figure out how to do it.
- Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly. { I would add, pick blogs or bloggers that are excellent!}
- Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.
- Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.
My nominations:
- That Mutt: A dog blog: Lindsay's blog is incredibly written. Every time I have ever had a dog behavioral question I go to her blog first. She's also branching out into the world of cat behavior more and more which you know I love! The thing I like most about Lindsay is her open-minded attitude towards pet ownership. She doesn't believe in a one-size fits all approach to animals, which we appreciate here on our farm because we're not a one size fits all farm :) I found Lindsay when I googled, "are animal rescues snobby" and her post "Do dog shelters make it too difficult to adopt?" came up.
- Sugar Mountain Farm: Walter and his family live in the mountains of Vermont where they have damn near perfected the art of pastured pigs. When I think of the kind of pigs we want to raise and how we want to raise them I always go back to his farm. He's quick to answer our own silly questions and is constantly working to improve his own flock management (although since he's been doing this since 2004 he's pretty much got it down!) Additionally, Walter's approach to Livestock Guardian Dogs is the one we take on our farm. He believes that a dog can be trained to guard your flock, guard your home but also still be great in other situations. His post, "Killer Kita-Training the Untrainable" is a great example of his writing style and knowledge.
- My Rhythm and Rhyme in Motherhood: Nicole is the wife of a family friend who I've never actually met, but who I feel like I know! She is a mother who home-schools her children using the Waldorf Education Method and has placed an emphasis on memories and creations and not things. She and her husband Craig are homesteading...they raise chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits and can often be found rescuing baby birds or picking fresh strawberries at a local farm. I always like checking in to see what they're up to!
- The Collie Farm Blog: Michelle raises Katahdin Hair Sheep just north of us in Washington and, if you are in the sheep or herding dog world, her blog is fascinating. She is incredibly analytical. Instead of just understanding that something works, she wants to know why. She has run countless tests to determine how best to manage her pasture and her flock. Michelle is free-flowing with knowledge, always answers questions and is, ALWAYS honest. LOVE THAT!
- May You Shine: A Style Blog: Maria and I met through a mutual friend, who I have also never met (but our moms are friends, does that count?) She and her husband have just welcomed a fabulously handsome little man into their lives after ten years of marriage. She also has a blog, Home Ec Flunkee, where she talks more about her home life and adventures in making things (she's way more talented than she lets on!) Bonus, she's an Oregonian! Even though I no longer wear my diamond wedding ring (in favor of a much more sensible gold band my father gave me in high school) I appreciate her outlook on life and tuck away her tips for a rainy day. Her post, "We are all meant to shine" sums up the direction of her fairly infant blog well. I look forward to watching her blog (and Henry!) grow.
- Journey of Life and Love: Erin is my soon to be sister-in-law's, sister. She is in Columbus, Ohio and also the owner of Irish Eyes Photography. On her business site Erin shares photography advice AND her pictures are just lovely...she makes many of the props herself! Erin's personal site is a beautiful and personal look at her own family's journey which began too soon with the loss of Rosalynn, her angel baby, and now is continuing with the joy of Ava, her rainbow baby. She is so warm and open, Erin's blog is, as she puts it, "sometimes funny, sometimes sad, always honest."
- Save our Shropshire Sheep: This is a tragic, tragic story. Montana Jones, of Wholearth Farm is raising Shropshire Sheep, a heritage breed of sheep. Some of her sheep have a QQ genotype (think people DNA). This QQ means they are less resistant to scrapie. It doesn't mean they have it. So, the night before the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was set to slaughter someone stole her sheep. They're still "on the lamb" until the CFIA comes up with a better plan than destroying every single sheep. Montana's blog will rip your heart out but have you rooting for her all that same time.
- Thrifty NW Mom: I'm not even totally sure where in the NW, "Mom" is and a large portion of her blog is devoted to couponing, which I don't do as much as I'd like but hopefully no longer need as we work to grow our own food. However, she's also super thrifty! She is the one who taught me how to make my own laundry soap! I get her weekly e-mails and sometimes I don't click anything, but other times I click everything. It's hit and miss but it's a wonderful blog and resource I love having in my cross check.
- Happy to Be Homeless: Kristin and I went to high school together. She and her husband recently quit their jobs, sold all their possessions and are now traveling around the globe. They blog extensively about each place they visit so if you're in the market for a travel destination chances are you can get advice from their site. And really, is there anything more lovely than watching a couple follow their dreams?
- Wrestling Roots: Tim and I also went to high school together, and yes, he's following his passion too, which in this case is preserving the history and legacy of wrestling throughout the world. While it's not a topic that I would probably be drawn to if it weren't for Tim I have to say that, more often than not, I find myself laughing out loud and taking something interesting away. Tim is a very talented writer and very fun to read. And, as a bonus, there's lot of great pictures of sometimes handsome men (not be confused with "the handsome man") wrestling with no shirts on.
- Circle the Wagons: Elizabeth and Wade are newlyweds, saving for a farm! Her blog is a tribute to all things country: Wade's adventures at the sale barn, her experiences on her parent's farm and her own personal life. Rooting you on Elizabeth! You'll get your farm!
- Exotic Hikes: Douglass is a hiking guide in the Pacific Northwest. His blog literally makes you feel like you're there. If you're looking for a trip or simply want to experience the beauty from your computer screen, check out his blog!
- Rural Women Rock: Rural Women Rock is a great blog about empowering women. You can read my guest post on it here >>
- Fresh Eggs Daily: If you are in the chicken or duck world, chances are you know about FED. If you're not then you should, the writers put A LOT of time into providing informative and helpful posts to better manage your flock.
- Ruffled Blog: I love beautiful photos. This is where I go for beautiful pictures of weddings, engagement sessions and great DIY tutorials. Although much of it is wedding focused a lot of it is farm based, and as the president of the Aesthetic Committee I am always looking for ways to beautify!
And here are 7 things you may not know about me:
- I have worn the same overalls since high school. They are brown corduroy and I love them. They will never go out of style and when they finally turn into bits of fabric and buttons I may weep.
- I play favorites with our animals. Of course, it changes every day. My current favorite is Boots, because he lets me kiss him on the lips and Mrs. Robinson because she may or may not give me a goat baby in the next few days. Yesterday it was Turkish because he did such a good job helping me guide Athena into the pen under the laying house (she's got a tiny bit of hoof rot). The day before that it was Tiger because I woke up and he was inches from my face, not talking, not touching, just staring. What a weirdo.
- I can't whistle, at least not with any sense of purpose. It's ironic because my mom is probably one of the best whistlers I've ever met. I read once that you're supposed to whistle when you're tending your bees so instead I hum, usually Christmas Carols.
- I am a terrible barterer. Once while on a day trip to Tijuana with my parents I tried to barter for a beaded bracelet. The guy basically told me to pay the whole price or take a hike.
- It is not okay to sneak up on me. Ever. I will fall to pieces. Nick knows this and if I'm showering he will announce himself from very far out as he is entering the bathroom so that gradually his voice gets louder and it's never a surprise. I love that he does this for me.
- I also love that he puts toothpaste on my toothbrush for me, makes our bed every morning and always asks for a smooch before we leave each other for the day.
- Sometimes I question our sanity when I look around our farm and see all these animals, staring at us. Sometimes I think of throwing everyone in the back of the truck and heading for Nicaragua. Most of the time, though, I just feel so blessed to be living my dream with the most kind, generous and yes, handsome, man.