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!