I am not a big fan of new years resolutions. Or, rather, the word "resolutions". However, I have many things that I would like to learn, do more of, or improve upon, and this time of year seems appropriate to lay all those thing out in the open.

This past year, in hindsight, was very full. In addition to the general business of homeschooling and getting this tiny farm up and running, we managed to build a barn, acquire seven angora goats and a large flock of ducks, purchase 24 guinea hens for tick control (and gradually lose half of them to predators), put in permanent fencing, maintain a very large vegetable garden, installed a wood stove, and bought the house from my parents.

In between are all the little things. The events, processes and ideas that go along with or into the planning and execution of the finished products are perhaps the more important parts of the whole. I learned so very much in our first year here, too much to list in one post. And in the midst of all these projects, we have learned about our space, our home, the land and our own boundaries. We are gradually coming to love this 1960's split level ranch of ours, with all its quirks and problems. It has welcomed us with no complaints, though we have had many, about finding small ways to make it ours.

The sheer bounty that this land has provided us, is in itself enough to be thankful for. More vegetables and fruit than I could find time to can or fit in our deep chest freezer, and surprise discoveries than I can count.

Now, as we enter a new year, this is typically a slower time for our family. A time for resting, crafting and planning. The seed catalogues are sitting before me, and it is fun to dream. Truthfully, I'm not sure I could handle any more on my plate than I had last year, but perhaps I will have learned enough to aid the efficiency of what I need to do, and to accommodate a few new things already in the works (more on that in a future post!). For now, it is time to rest, dream, plan, create. And knit. Yes, lots of that.

Happy New Year, friends!