I haven’t made a journal entry in almost a year. I’d been nearing it the past month or so, but was still pushing it off a little. Then I happened upon Darcy at Life With My 3 Boybarians, who I feel like I know really well, without even knowing her at all in real life. (Rambunctious boys. Lego overabundance. Over-commiter. Don’t mean to be creepy, but we may have been separated at birth.)

And then my friend-who-I-know-in-real-life-and-would-really-like-time-to-get-to-know-better, Holly, posted a funny new entry over at MooBee Farm. Perhaps we’ll have some bonding time next week, when we’re sweating and worrying over our pigs and kids at the county fair.

Their posts were light taps on the shoulder to get me moving again. Thanks, ladies.

It’s been a wild and crazy year. I had to take a little time for some cancer stuff (more later) and a lot of job stuff (more later) and some family stuff (more later). So, had I even wanted to write, I don’t know that I would have had time. And, if I had time, I don’t know that I would have wanted to write. A paradox, eh? Writing would have meant facing some of the truths of life in black and white. Truths like…how odd my face looked when I didn’t have my dark eyebrows and eyelashes that I took for granted for most of my life. (Remind me to show you my bald passport photo sometime and tell you about the looks at customs.)

I scribbled random thoughts in my worn paper journal, but pen and ink are somehow softer than type on a computer screen. So. Here I am again. I’m ready to write. This post has been a long time coming….

In the past year, the pullets have grown into beautiful hens. They provide us great eggs and greater enjoyment. I can now say I totally get the phrase, “Don’t lay an egg.” I’ll try to catch it on video. Chicken freak-outs make me laugh.

Chickens in the Yard

Boys in the Meadow

The boys are nearly grown. They don’t lay eggs, but are otherwise just as funny as the chickens.

And I’m looking forward to growing (just not anymore around the hips, please), getting my groove back, and enjoying the beauty all around.

Lily in the Woods