The best gift of all.

Recently I saw an interview of a man who spent a year travelling and saying thank you to everyone he had ever met that made a difference in his life. This could be a teacher, a friends parents, etc. I thought what a great idea. For anyone that knows me you pretty much know how I feel but it is my goal to do the same. If my time on this planted ever ends I want the people in my life to know how specail they are to me. At my funeral they can say how much I loved them and how special they were to me rather than saying what a nice gal she was. I will also give the best gift of all this year to my children. It will be the gift of love and respect which both of them have earned by being so wonderful and making me who I am. I am very grateful and that my friends will never be a question. So it is time again to put those red shoes on and get writing my letters to my sons. I prefer the red shoes than the big girl panties. Have a wonderful day.

Your Life Changes

This whole chicken thing has been a process in the making. It started about 3 years ago begging my husband to get some. His reply was we are not getting any flippen chickens. No, No, No. Then he started getting the idea that a homestead would be nice to create on our land. So.........we started this evolution with CHICKENS. The arrival date was Friday. I can not tell you how excited I was to pick them up. I realized on the way home that our lives had changed forever. There was never going to be a day that we had not ever owned a chicken. It was kind of a neat realization. It made me realized just how fast we change our lives. Sometimes it is the most simplist of ways. Our lives are supposed to change. Maybe I was not meant to be a city girl. I sure like the country and I love my chickens. We now call them the Ladies of the House or The Girls. Their new home is completed and once they have left the brooder they will be able to move in. It has been a very fun project for me to create this space. I bought the chandelier yesterday and it is going to be perfect. The nesting boxes were custom made by a dear friend and we are now in the process of finding the perfect tree for them to roost on. Photos will follow. In the meantime, put your red boots on and change your life forever. Happy Mothers Day......

Getting a PHD in Chickens

I feel silly. I have read more about raising chickens than I ever did about raising children. I am having a hoot. The coop has been ordered, the floor is in and we should have the bare coop here within a couple of weeks. It will be quite the coop. The girls will be living the life. Not so sure my dogs are happy about the "girls" but...... I cannot believe how excited I am about raising chickens. Wait, it does not stop there. I am even entertaining a cow and pig. This is crazy. Who would have ever thought. I guess for now I will put my red boots on and see how it goes with the girls before I become a true farmer. The smell is the only thing that would hold me back. Have a beautiful spring day.

How clueless are we?

I am obviously very clueless or too busy to see and enjoy the beauty of life. I just reviewed a slideshow of Vermont Nature photos and wondered to myself why I do not see those same things. These pictures came from a Senior in highschool. What a gift she has. I think it is time to put my red boots on and look for the beauty. It is there if we want to see it. We do not have to be so busy that we do not see the beauty of life right in front of us. Have a beautiful day.

One day I want to be..........

Have you ever wondered what you wanted to be when you grow up?. I always did and a couple of the things I really wanted to be was a Wife and Mom. The other things that were of interest to me I always put on the back burner and when the chance came other things were more of interest or importance. These things have changed over the years but I still have new interests so I may not ever get to do those things but if you never let those desires go, you still have things to look forward to. One of the things of concern to me now is when my kings move on to their life. OMG. I am already in therapy over it. (just kidding) I think it is important to have a plan. My life has been so busy and involved with the kids and school and all their activities and so on. What would I do without them? Because I have thought about it and dread it so much, I have been creating a plan for when that day comes to help my adjustment. However, I am starting to reach out and create a bit of "my life" again. My son's have blossomed this year and daily I see the man coming. I am very proud of both but the pealing away is awful. It is totally a bitter sweet. So my questions, my fears and my dreams are all surfacing. It poses a very good question. A question I have not thought about in years. What do I want to be when I grow up?. Right now I am in the process of becoming a chicken owner of 17 girls. I never would have imagined me owning chickens. I am now looking for red boots. My point. Put your red boots on and do what you want to do rather than dwell on what you never got to do for whatever reason. Let it go and get some chickens. Happy Spring

Vermont Queen aka "Dutchess of the Daily Grind": Acts of Kindness

Vermont Queen aka "Dutchess of the Daily Grind": Acts of Kindness: "I get great pleasure doing things for others and a couple of years ago I started something that also brings me great pleasure. I bought a co..."

Acts of Kindness

I get great pleasure doing things for others and a couple of years ago I started something that also brings me great pleasure. I bought a couple of little hearts made of silver at a local Art Gallery and at different times I placed them on my husbands key board. This went on for awhile and I would find little things here and there. It had been awhile since I hade done that and I again bought some different shapes of hearts. Rather than using a bag, I just dropped them in my coin purse. Before I got a chance to do it I was paying for something somewhere and the cashier was having a horrible day. The customers were agitated bacause the line was so long and even though she called for help, no one came. So when it came my turn I was more than compashionate than usual and when I went to give her change I noticed the hearts I had bought for my husband. I counted out the change and included a heart with it. The look on her face was pricesless. My heart grew that day knowing that even the simplest things can make a difference. I suggest you put your red shoes on and make a difference. It is a wonderful feeling and very unique. Have a beautiful day.

To be Right or to be Happy.

Are you the type to be right or to be happy?. I say this from my most infuriating experience of being right and I will explain a good example. I go to Costco at least once a week. Almost every single time, I am in a rage before I even get out of the truck. First off you have to find a spot that does not already have a cart obtaining the space, (that is what starts my blood boiling). So, ya get out of the truck and move the cart so you can get in and that is my cart for the day. No drama. Then you walk closer to the doors and see some _______ putting their cart into the handicap spot. OMG. This would send me over the edge. I would kindly say to the person "you really are not going to leave that there are you"? and the exchange of words would begin. This has been a part of my Costco experience ever since I have been going to Costco. So, you all might be thinking what a bitch I am or that it is not any of my business anyway. Well, you all might be right but my point is this.I will never have control over what others do that I do not like so it is up to me to change my glasses and see the situation differently or my experience at Costco will always be the same. Don't think this is an easy task for me or that every muscle in my body isn't tight or that I do it every time But, I am trying my best to put my red shoes on every time I go there and just accept it. I get out of my truck, move the cart, park the truck and start putting a smile on my face before I see anyone else. Then I proceed to the doors and when I see someone doing this, I simply say, would you like for me to put that away for you?. Some day I would like to think I could say that and mean it but I am totally not there yet. Do we want to be right or do we want to be Happy. I choose to put my red shoes on and be happy. I can not be concerned with what others are thinking or doing. Have a beautiful day at Cotco.

Family Heirlooms

Just what is a family heirloom?. In my opinion, it is something our parents had while growing up that we LOVE and WANT to have in our homes that bring us happiness or fond memories. I ask this question because of many reasons but recently I was at a party and this topic came up about a friends mother-in-law that was trying to divide her belongings between the kids. This situation faces all of us at one time or another. My mother-in-law has asked me similar questions just recently. I also have had boxes and boxes of my grandmothers and great grandmothers stuff that followed me all the way to Germany and back. Some of this STUFF made it all the way to Vermont. This is the reality of it all girls. Why is it a tradition to carry other peoples shit around when we don't even like it, use it or remember it? I now only have what I love in my house. I know this may have hurt my mother and mother-in-law's feelings but what am I supposed to do. Carry it around until they die and get rid of it. No, be honest and let them give it to someone else that may enjoy it. We have the right to collect our stuff too. Just don't try to give it to your kids when they don't want it. A lot of guilt comes with those boxes of stuff if you let it. I say, put your red shoes on and go shopping and collect your own shit that you LOVE. Have a beautiful day.

You could always say this "No thank you, I am having a lot of fun collecting my own stuff but thanks for thinking of me" that was very kind.

Valentine's Day

So, were we good to ourselves yesterday or did we expect someone else to treat us special?. I used to do that every year and every year I was crushed. It didn't matter that my husband was good to me every day of the year but boy was he in trouble if he didn't remember Valentines Day. That means he was in trouble at least once a year. He is not a hallmark type of guy and never will be. I have learned not to set the expectations and I am not crushed anymore. It is more important to treat ourselves like a queen all year long than to expect it once a year by someone else. Even when they do do something, it is usually not enough. Right. The wrong color of flowers, a restaurant we don't care for etc. Think about it. We can set ourselved up for disappointment when we set expectations. They didn't put enough effort into it. They must not care. Now that we know this we can let go of the expectations and plan our celebrations accordingly and have a great time. Expectations are a terrible thing and we should not do it. If we want them to do something for us we need to write it down word for word so they get it and they don't get it wrong. If we do this, we can celebrate Valentines Day. If not, good luck, I hope you have a beautiful day. Happy V-Day

Are we helping our kids grow up or not.

How many times have you heard "Mom, do you know where my DS charger is", mom, "do you know where my laptop charger is"" mom........................OMG, it can drive you crazy. So, I started lableing them with tape so they know who's is who's and the argument is over before it starts. I also dedicated one drawer in the house specific to those easily lost cords. A good idea would be to say this. If I find this cord laying around the house and not put back after using it than that electronic becomes mine for a week. It is amazing how fast they put back the cords when they are done. My kids do not have a clue about the price of things. I am trying to teach them and it is fun to watch their eyes open wide. Gloves are a biggy around here. They take them for granted because in Vermont it is one of the things we collect and value so dearly. If you lose your gloves and are forced to wear the cheaper ones than your hands will freeze. After wearing a pair of those long enough I guarantee they will keep a closer eye on the good ones. Making them pay the price of things makes them pay more attention. Mom and Dad are not there to replace things. We are here to provide them but not over and over and over. I am so guilty of doing this and now that I am getting nervous that they will not know how to be accountable as an adult I am spending every waking moment teaching them about life and reality of things. I am already sad thinking of one of them leaving home in 5 years. I sure hope he can find his laptop charger. hee hee   So, now that I do not have to look for cords, it allows me to do something else. Life is a beautiful thing.

Why worry about things

Have you ever worried about something and in the end it all worked out the way it was supposed to or the way it was going to anyway whether we worried about it or not?. We all worry. I was the queen of that too. I was frazzled,frustrated and discombobulated most of the time. In the last couple of years I have spent a LOT of energy making my life peaceful and in order for me to do that I had to give up worrying. Easier said than done. Yesterday my husband said to me "it must be nice not having to worry about anything" After I about killed him for his snide remark I thought about it all day. I wanted to defend myself and then realized, "good". I am proud that he would think that. All my hard work is paying off if I am demonstrating peace with my body language and words. I don't want to worry about the flat tire or the broken garage door. It is what it is. I want to take a deep breath and let it work out. Me worrying about it is not going to fix it. I also do not want to worry about what others think of me. It is not any of my business. I do think it is cool that that is how my husband thinks of me though. So, I will put my red shoes on today and continue to make peace in my life. I can only fix the things that are in my control and those are the things I have a right to worry about. If I can fix them then I don't have much time to worry either. Have a peaceful day.

Trapp Family Lodge

When we lived in Germany we were able to tour the beautiful countryside and learn about the Trapp Family. I romantisized about where the movie was shot. It was beautiful. Today my son had a ski race at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. It was breathtaking. It was there that Koben and I decided to take up cross country skiing. We went to the ski rack tonight and bought what we needed to do it. The bindings will be set and we will be cross country skiing by the week-end. As we were driving home we got stuck in a snow storm and it took us over an hour to get home. What an awesome day. Vermont is the most wonderful place to live.

I love you!

I will admit, I am a needy kinda gal. I need to hear this from my husband all the time and still wonder if he loves me. Separate topic. So the other day I said I was going to tell my kids I love them but in a way they would always remember. Both my boys have freckles and one is left handed and one is right. So I said, "You know what I really love about you, I love your freckle on the left cheek right under the other freckle". I told the other one the same but on his right cheek. This was at different times but they both looked at me like I was a freak. I know that they will always remember this because they still remember what color I love them. I love one the purplest. So, put your red shoes on and tell someone why you love them.

Crusty Bread

This is the best bread I have ever had. I bake 1 loaf a day now. It is too easy not to. Enjoy. All you need is a 6-8 qt. Dutch Oven. I bought a Le Creauset at TJ MAXX for half price and love it.

3 Cups of All-purpose Flour or Bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
1 1/2 Cup plus 2 Tbs. water

Mix and cover with plastic wrap for 12-18 hours.
Flour work surface and pour bread out. Fold over 1 or 2 times, lightly flour and cover with plastic wrap for 15 miutes.
Flour kitchen towel (not terrycloth).
Quickly shape bread into a ball and put on towel.
Flour top and cover with kithen towel for 2 hours.
Pre-heat oven and Dutch oven to 450.
Put hand under towel and flop into dutch over.
Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until golden brown. It is absolutely to die for.

I mix one at night and in the morning. I always have the makings of fresh bread ever since I tasted this. It has been one week. hee hee. So put your red shoes on and bake some bread. You deserve it.

The Wedding Gifts

How many of us have fine china, silver and crystal? Things we got as a wedding gift or things we only use at the holiday time. WHY. At Christmas time we eat on beautiful plates with silver spoons and cloth napkins. Our tables are set all pretty and the candles are lit. NO, NO, NO. You and your family deserve to eat on it every day. I decided this last year. I have now moved my silver into the everyday drawer. When I bought it I bought enough for both boys to take with them (heirlooms). Last Christmas I realized they probably would never know it was ours for how seldom we used it. Not only do you deserve it but it will be something special and unique about your family. Candle light dinner everynight is a wonderful family tradition. Setting the table can be time consuming so when you put the dishes away, put them back on the table for the next meal. Your table is always set. Put fun little notes on each ones plates. By having your table ready at all times, it forces us to eat together more often. So put your red shoes on and set the table. Enjoy

Spirit of Holidays

Have you ever heard someone say. "I need to clean my house, we have company coming"? What, you don't deserve to live in a clean house?. Not saying how you should keep house but you should have it the way you enjoy it. If my house gets messy, my head get messy. I function much better when things are picked up. I love to cook but I can not cook in a dirty kitchen. So many times we let our homes get that way because we are busy but the fact of the matter is we need to take that as a sign. Call in sick. Take a mental health day. Do whatever you need to do. Your head health is a major part of not only your life but your family's. Think about it for a minute. I am learning to just sit down for 5 minutes and not move. That sounds silly but when I am running 100 miles an hour I feel overwhelmed. By just sitting there and taking a few deep breaths I can figure things out. Please don't wait for company to come. It's your life. So put those red shoes on and play catch up. I also make my kids account for certain things and they need to feel needed anyway. We have created this team (family) so let everyone play their position. We do not have to be super woman. We don't.

The real King and Queen

Why am I the Queen

One might think that my title is a bit over the top or conceded but............. This is how you need to look at yourself. I spent weeks trying to change the name to something less "I don't know" but then I reminded myself that I do want to live like a Queen. Our home is our castle. We create it. So lets remember that as we read these daily blogs. We are a Queen and we shall treat others the same. With the world so diffucult we need to create our own or possibly a fantasy world. Fantasy is a beautiful thing. We can tell ourselves that everything will be ok. And it typically is. So try it. Let me know how it feels. Put on those red shoes and have a beautiful day. The Queen

Your Life

You need to CREATE it. Treat it as a piece of Art. Choose all the colors and mediums. Start with a clean slate and pick the people you are going to have in it. Excluding the toxic ones. Where is this life going to take place? What music are you going to listen to. We are responsible for what we do with it. Who is in it.  No one else can be responsible for it. It is not possible. Make everything a choice and your life will become very simple. I choose to live in Vermont, wear red shoes and surround myself with things I love. You do not need a lot of things but you do need to love what you have. Life is not a dress rehearsal. Life is Good.