2014 and A New Manifesto...

It is finally done.  And I am pretty pleased with it.  Here is my 2014 Manifesto.  As you may know if you have followed my blog, several years ago I found a post by a fellow blogger on their own manifesto (post with links here) and I thought it was a grand idea for making resolutions and seeing them all the time to remind myself of what I wanted to accomplish.

Last year I took a pic of the one that I printed and hung...

I feel like I did ok...I did run the half marathon, I did more gardening and made more food at home.  I sort of rode my bike more...and did grow the blog some.  We explored when we could, and while we did not buy a farm yet, we are well on our way with our move to Central CA.

This year, I feel like I have great goals and resolutions.  Things I can really work toward and are important to me.  Or reminders to slow down and check out something new. 

If you want to make your own, I did this all on google draw.  I had a lot of fun checking out all their fun fonts and playing with the design.  Nothing super fancy, but fun nonetheless!

What are your goals for 2014?

Happy New(ish) Year!

Ash

2013 Manifesto (finally)

If you have been following my blog for a while, you may remember that last year, instead of just writing up some resolutions for the new year, I had gotten inspiration from another blogger to create a manifesto.  It was a lot of fun, and got me to think about things I want in life.

My 2012 Manifesto was full of good stuff, some of which I was successful at, some of which I was not, and some of which is an ongoing mission.  So this year, I created a new manifesto, with some of the same sort of goals as last year, and some new goals.  

Last year, I feel like I made the mistake of half way through the year re-hanging it in a place where I never looked, which was the exact opposite of what the point of creating this is.  It should be hung somewhere to remind me everyday that I want to achieve bigger and better things this year.  So...this year I've hung it in the bathroom.  No missing that! :)

As I look at this, this year is about growing and becoming a stronger person, not just physically, but also mentally.  I want to do things this year that will really set me up for a bright and exciting future.

If you have set some goals for the year, write them out and hang them up for all to see.  And if you have not, it is never too late!

Happy 2013, friends!

Ash

PS - I made this in the drawing 'program' of google drive.  Was easy and there were lots of fun fonts to choose from.  If you don't have a lot of editing software on your comp (like me) or you are not a big editor (like me...hehe), this worked great!

Back to the Ranch...

As you may remember, in past years we have taken a trip down to central California to check out a wonderful ranch, the Work Ranch.  They offer trail rides, they raise cattle, they have the cutest cat in the world, they raise barley and just so happens that my parents are helping as ranch hands right now, so I get an awesome excuse to go see this wonderful place.

It was soooo wonderful there.  I helped each morning feed the horses, calves, goats and pig.  The weather, while chilly, was sunny and clear.  And having time to sit and look out at the rolling hills and slow down from my crazy life, well, let's just say that it was pretty tough to come back to my daily grind.

The view from our bunk house....

Visiting the calving area....

Look at the calves!

Love the old architecture on the farms...

An old farmstead...

Sweet animals to feed...

An evening by the campfire...

A fallen old farmhouse...

The ranch is very close to the fault...

And, they also have an area where you can dig for fossils...we found this awesome old sand dollar in the middle of California's rolling hills.  Pretty awesome to think about.

They have some of the best pets I have met, too.  This guy is Miles, but their cats and other dogs were pretty darn fun, too.  Including Charlie the cat (no pic...boo...), who likes to ride on the Kubota with us when feeding the animals.

Hope you can take a little time this year to explore (or re-explore) some special places.  Which reminds me, I need to share the 2013 Manifesto with you soon! 

Ash

Trash + Mod Podge = Fun!

I have to admit that I keep a lot of things that should probably be put out to be recycled or trashed.  But one of my favorite thing to do with the 'trash' I keep is to make it new with Mod Podge!

One of my New Year's Resolutions (my 2012 Manifesto post tells all) is to be better at saving for the things we want to do.  I decided that a fun way to kick it off was with new piggy banks.

First, I took old tea canisters that I have saved and cut some scrapbook paper to fit each.  Then....grab the Mod Podge!

And slather it on!

Then coat the top and find embellishments!

One for travel....

One for a house fund...

And one for our new businesses!  

(I seem to find other things to do right now than actually get the biz off the ground....but soon, by golly!!)

And after they are dry.... ta da!!  

I decided not to make slots in the tops, as I figured I'd hurt myself doing so.  But I am sure you could puncture the lids easily enough if you wanted and snip out a coin slot.

Now I totally have the bug and I am on to boxes and and other random items I am finding in the house....

Ash

2012 Manifesto

Recently I came across this post at Creative Clever of a manifesto for her new year, and decided this was definitely for me.  I had to create one of my own. 

First...here is Creative Clever's manifesto....

And here is mine (I made a smaller version)....

Hope your new year is everything you want it to be, and you find a lot of fun stuff to inspire you as this did me!

Ash