Winter Wonderland at Marxwell's House

Snow AND Christmas decorations?! A first at our new house :)

Shelby and I staying warm and looking cute (well, Shelby is, anyways).

Ollie loving the snowy pasture!

I love how the snow traces our trees and bushes.

Farewell to the Past, Welcome to the New Year 2013!

2012 was definitely a busy year digging our heels into our country living and setting the foundation to build our future. We have a barn finished enough to house our (in order of appearance to the farm) two alpacas, two angora goats, two dairy goats, and two sheep. Along with our animals  comes the responsibility of animal care, and we've learned to trim hooves, vaccinate, inspect, clean, mate, and keep a clean and safe barn and pasture. Truly a humbling and ongoing process for this family who has no previous farming experience.  Besides the on board animals at Fresh Eggs Farm, we have comitted to growing our farm in 2013. We have placed an order for 16 chickens (plus one that Meyer's gifts us to raise and donate to those less fortunate) to arrive in the Spring, so we have the winter to convert our shed into a chicken coop. Also, we have joined the Butler County Beekeeper Association and have made a commitment to start two hives in 2013, out past the pasture. Our fruit trees are planted and garden tilled, compost piles composting but in need of an organized holder, and overgrown brush and debris piles nearly cleaned up and out. There is so much left to do, but the foundation is set and solid.

 Professionally, substitute teaching has allowed me to work regularly in several surrounding counties: Preble, Butler, Montgomery, and Warren, all through the AESOP system. I have been approved for a long-term (10 week) subbing position for a local first grade class, which is an opportunity that I've been waiting for awhile. My renewed teaching license is good until 2016, and now that we're settled in our home, I should be able to find full-time work soon.

The kids are all having a good year at their schools, better than last year, now that they are settled in and more familiar with people and the area. They've adapted extremely well to the area and our farm...I'm sure this experience will be the positive impact on their lives that we were hoping it would be.

 Shelby, aka Wonder Woman, has done an incredible job building her career and growing this farm - nothing short of astounding! I am pretty sure that she could accomplish any task handed to her, with the help of the internet and her fire for getting things done. If I asked her to send us to the moon, I am sure she could develop a plan to make a rocket and synch it to the computer and our cellphones to track our trajectory safely to the moon. She shares the passion, ambition, and planning to make this all happen. Her program continues into 2013 with talk of a multi-year commitment, and more professional responsibilities with her company. Shelby has definitely had a successful year at work and on the farm!

There are several goals for our home for 2013:

• Insulation and caulking - we definitely need to weatherproof everywhere to reduce drafts and increase energy efficiency. Insulation in the attic and basement first, along with caulking around the doors and windows. 
• Wood burning stove - By next winter, we plan on heating by wood in our parlor stove...a definite priority!
• Begin flooring the attic to create a more usable space.
• Clean the basement and create more usable spaces, such as food storage, seedling starts, and emergency shelter.
• Change the parlor from a computer/crafts area into a living/gaming extension of our living room. 
• Build stage one of our back deck, out into the yard, overlooking Narnia and our wildflower area. Big project, but it will give us our back yard back.
• Kids' playhouse in the front cove area, starting with a deck footprint.
• Finish the barn, build the chicken coop, and build a rabbit hutch area onto the barn.
• Finish cutting trees and planting new trees.

So, goodbye and farewell 2012. Time to make room for 2013 and the opportunities it has in store!
Happy New Year, and may the new year treat you well!

Marxwell and Rue

Once upon a time, as all good stories must begin, there lived a young boy in a home in a village. This young boy was named Marxwell, and Marxwell had a good heart, a kind soul, but not very much gold. One of the benefits of not having very much gold is that this often spurs adventure and exploration to find out more about the world around one's self. Young Marxwell did just that – he set sail to travel lands that many are content in just hearing about. Across the ocean and throughout the old counties of Europe, Marxwell experienced different cultures and people. His experiences were rich, but the emptiness in his heart grew more apparent as he had no one to share these experiences with. . “But who could possibly want such a meager man for a journey in life?” he asked himself. Still, he set course for home to search for such a woman. Marxwell hit port and found a job, earning enough money to rent a home and feed himself. Outside of work, Marxwell looked and looked for that special person to share his adventures with, at no avail. Just as he was preparing himself to give up his search, Marxwell spotted a spectacular glow from a nearby meadow...Reluctant, but curious, he traveled into the meadow, over a brook and behind a hedgerow to view what event could be causing such a glow on this sunny day. There, centered in a field of daisies, was the fairest maiden Marxwell had ever seen.

 A gift from Mother Nature herself, he imagined, for her skin was smooth and white, her eyes so beautifully colored with the ocean's blue, gorgeous flowing hair framing her face, and lips that begged kissing. His heart pounding in his chest and blood rushing through his ears, Marxwell approached this goddess, gaining courage only from the overwhelming feeling that they were meant to be together. Her voice caressed his ears and exposed his mind to a greater awareness. And when that magical kiss happened, the world became brighter. The two became forever connected through heart and mind and soul.

 Marxwell and Goddess Rue became a single entity living through two bodies, yet though only one soul. Life became an adventure a hundred times more exciting and wonderful than any either had experienced before. Life became living, experiencing the world where they had previously only existed. Time knows no boundaries for such love as these two experienced, and the days ran into weeks ran into years. Rue and Marxwell started a family, but far from settled down. This family shared love and adventure, from beaches to farm country and beyond, experiencing all of life and learning the joys of different lands and lifestyles. Marxwell became a teacher and Rue continued to save the world, and their children grew to save the world also. 

Of course, there were misadventures along the way, because mortals are stupid and Marxwell was very mortal. But he learned from the raptures that he cast on his family and humbly tried to keep growing to be a better person, fueled by the love that surrounded him. Children grow and set course on their own adventures, but this family continued to love one another through many adventures together, even when the oldest were also setting their own path. Marxwell and Rue continued to use their dreams as blueprints for their life together, loving one another and enjoying the joys of life fully, hand in hand. Some say that if you listen closely to the wind, whether it be on the ocean or at the falls, in the meadow or on rural farmland, you can hear them kiss. Because it is through living life and enjoying the simple things it has to offer (which are, quite often, not very simple at all) that love grows best and strongest. And as the sun sets on this story, we will end as all good stories must end: And they lived happiest ever after.

Dear Shelby,

I love you so much. Our life is so amazing because we live it together – I love every experience we have had and every moment and place that we have had our adventure. I am far from perfect, but I am a much better person for having you in my life. Together we make our dreams realities, and we explore much that life has to offer, as a family. I am so sorry for the heartache and headaches and bad moments that I spotted our relationship with, but I always love you, I always admire you, and you always amaze me. When I met you, I felt that you were a shining angel sent to guide me through life, and I still feel that we were meant to take this journey together. You are beautiful inside and out – so caring, nurturing, funny, smart, cute, beautiful, and sexy. You make the world a better place to live and our home a nest for love and happiness. You amaze me, Shelby Rue. I love you with all my heart and look forward to the many adventures the future will bring us. I love that we travel on the winds of destiny, and I do believe that the rest of our life will be better for the life we have lived so far. I hope that you find it in your heart to forgive me for the stupid things I have done in the past, and let me prove to you the man and the husband I will be for you in the future, for the rest of our exciting, amazing life together. 

Love,

~Mark

Things I Love About Our Farm

One of the reasons that we bought a house in rural Ohio was to finally start our farm. Our 1.3 acres is just big enough to house us, some animals, and our plant food, with room left over to play. So, here are some of the reasons that I love our farm:

• Fresh milk! The best product, in my eyes, that we have harvested from our farm is goat milk. I never thought I would drink it, but I like it, and we get half a gallon on a bad day (a gallon on a good day). Beyond milk, we've made cheese and plan to make soap and other products. Major score!
• Our farm animals are fun to watch and take care of. So entertaining and full of personality, our alpacas, sheep, dairy goats, and angora goats are our pets that give us company along with the fiber and milk for our home.
• Fiber. I haven't found the time or patience to knit or crochet yet, and I probably won't be a great spinner, but I do love the different textures and colors of our fiber animals. Alpaca fiber is so soft, as is angora, and the sheep fiber is coarser and spongy. We have creme (alpaca and sheep), blue grey (angora), tan (angora), reddish-tan (alpaca), and chocolate brown (sheep). Beautiful and cozy!
• Perhaps one of the greater reliefs in getting our home and land was the opportunity to plant our buckets-o-trees. We have paw-paw, pear, peach, apricot, plum, and apple. We are also working on our blackcap hedges and blueberries, and our property came with the bonus of grape vines. Not too shabby :) This year we started a small portion of the garden we hope to have, eventually. So much more to do, but enough to have the satisfaction of harvest!
• Our house is amazing! A nineteenth century farm house, fairly original condition except for the new (full-size) windows and kitchen. Our home has the rooms, space, and character that we've always dreamed of...like I said, amazing :)
• The cellar...it's cool and creepy and mysterious. We haven't done much to it and it still needs cleaned out, but the potential is there. I'm sure we'll find some awesome history down there someday :o
• Our porch, while technically part of our house, is our retreat. Part of our porch is off of our bedroom, and it wraps around in front of the living room. perfect for hanging out in the morning with coffee or in the evening with a drink...or two. Also great for family harvest sessions, playing, and family chill time.
• Our yard is amazing and has as much character as our house. The driveway curves to the road, with our barn and pasture to the east and our yard to the west. Trees block most of the view of the road from our house, and vice versa, maintaining privacy for us. The back yard slopes down and gives us space for our garden and, eventually, our deck. The back patio is big enough for our grill and a table for cookouts. Having a farmer's field next to us also gives us more privacy and wildlife to enjoy. 
•  Seclusion. We are 20 minutes from anything except Fairhaven, which is a small town with no business. This means the stars are ours at night and the wildlife lives in our back yard. 

This place has been our home for just over a year and the to-do list is lengthy...there's so much we want to do, and we're excited to do it. It is the house of our dreams and the home we've wanted all our lives. We knew at first sight that it was what we wanted, just as we did with each other. I can't wait to see what it all looks like in ten years!

Things I Love About Shelby

In honor of my wife, Shelby, and her birthday, I would like to share just some of the things that I love about her:

• Shelby loves with all her heart and loves unconditionally. She is not judgmental but will neither accept judgement of her or her family and friends by others. 
• Living life fully, Shelby is always up for new adventures. We've been to college, lived at the beach, and started a farm. Life is exciting, and balance is key - we need to have the means to live, but it is essential that the whole family enjoy new experiences together! She has the intelligence and drive to make it happen, and she has, many times.
• Shelby's sense of family has kept ours strong from the beginning. I had two children when we married, and she managed to get custody of them for us, accepting them as her own. Since then, we've had three more of our own. Lots of love in this big family of ours!
• As dedicated as Shelby is to living life, she is dedicated to her job. I admire the effort that she puts in to her work and the admiration that she receives from the people she works for and with.
• Rue is my hippie girl - has been since the day I met her. Natural beauty and no need for makeup, she turns heads and receives compliments still. Like her favorite flower, the daisy, Shelby's sweet and pretty from the time she gets up until she's asleep once again at night.
• I love Shelby's laugh - it's easy to laugh along with the heart-felt laughter and gaze into the eyes that sparkle with her chuckle. She is also funny, which keeps us all laughing together.
• Shelby is cute, but she is also very sexy. She loves like no other, and can bring us to different worlds together...definitely talented and very sexy. Her touch still gives me goosebumps...
• With Shelby, it is the simple things in life that matter the most. Sunsets, sitting on the porch, walking on the beach, snuggling up to play Scrabble or watch a movie on a rainy day. We enjoy nature, family, and life without the complications of high maintenance expenses.
• Without Shelby, I wouldn't have a college degree, lived at the beach, milked a goat, or enjoyed the love of our children. She got my and our dreams off of the ground, and for that I am truly indebted. She is an incredibly special woman, and I love her for all that she has done for us.