| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| shell-belle |
Posted - Sep 14 2013 : 12:26:17 AM
Hi
My name is Michelle, and I'm a wife and mother in my early forties.
I am an RN.
My husband and I have owned our own small business for the past fifteen years. Due to some health problems I've had lately, I've been unable to help at our store as much as normal. I've had several surgeries, an infection, and finally a total knee replacement. Because of this, we are in the process of selling our business. We are going to lose a great deal of money, and are quite depressed over it. However, we can no longer do such work, it is physically demanding, and even though selling out has been emotionally devastating, we cannot continue with it. It is time for a change.
We are currently living in a small town, in a house we bought about twenty years ago as newlyweds. We are now buying/selling/refinishing antiques, and beginning to do a bit of woodworking, as well as other art and decorative items. We have a lot of tools, and a welder....we might buy a plasma cutter.
Even though I feel it is a step down, in a way, from being a nurse....I love the creativity....my next items I will be trying to make are floorcloths and wall hangings made from canvas....which I paint.....I love to paint....and design...and decoupage......and bead. I love mosaics, I like to take a bunch of stuff.....and make it beautiful. I like to find an old crappy piece of furniture, and sand it, and stain/paint/whatever to it.....I love primitives, and shabby chic, and French/English country design. I love antiques, imagining the people who used to own them. I've salvaged all of my grandmother's furniture. Spent two months restoring it.
I love working with my husband, our bond and love is stronger than ever. I love having a free schedule....we may go to an auction, or set up at an antique show on a weekend.....spend a day photographing items for the internet.....we may be up at the break of dawn sanding a buffet, or sleeping in and running to hobby lobby, or the thrift shop......and working til midnight.....lost in paint and fabric and scrapbook paper and glitter and old dusty furniture. I love road tripping with hubby to some new flea market or sale, windows down, root beer floats in hand.....just us and our chihuahua, now that the kids are grown.
Pinterest is my guilty pleasure.....as well as HGTV.....and magazines...."Victoria", "Country Sampler", "Country Living", "Romantic Homes", "Romantic Country", "Southern Lady", "Mary Jane's Farm", "Martha Stewart", "Flea Market Chic"....etc.
My dad died a while back, and things have happened, which made me realize I will never want to move back to our home state. The family farm, we were renting out, the house in shambles, and when we visited to decorate graves.....I realized I never wanted to live THERE again, too many "things" have soured it for me. I do need to return for a few things that are meaningful to me.....the weather vane, the screen doors, the garden gate, the cream separators. I have until the end of the year, I guess. My brother and I sold that farm, it was emotionally difficult, but it was pretty large, and the thing I will miss most is the barn. If we decide to move from here, we will buy an acreage.....and I want to....I do.
I hate to be a wuss, but I must have central heat/air. An old house would be ideal. But ohhhhh a barn.....I love a beautiful red barn. A garden.......an orchard......raised flowerbeds. A chicken shed....and some other buildings.......I'd love to make a greenhouse and potting shed out of old windows and screens. A brick smokehouse. I'd like to give aquaponics (sp?) a try. A studio to work out of. A shop. This one place I've been fantasizing about has an old CHURCH they moved out there to restore.....I want to restore it....what a lovely thing.
A little acreage, no need for anything as large as our farm was....just a place of peace for us....a simple way of life. Nothing fancy. Some veggies, some fruit, a few animals. Chickens to give us eggs. Nothing that requires millions of dollars in equipment. I just want to get away from all the want want want, the idea a fifty inch TV might make one happy....or a new car.
My interests/hobbies include: spending time with hubby/kids/friends/family/my dog.... enjoying my fish aquarium......cooking......baking.....gardening (and canning.....I love to can, make pickles, jellies, etc.). Flower gardening, too. I'd love to start an herb garden. Animals. Crafts/art. Riding the motorcycle. Antiques. Visiting new places. Fishing and hunting. Camping (we have a 1998 Aero-lite I haven't glampified yet, and I'd LOVE to get a little tiny one to decorate, although ours isn't a large camper by any means). Hunting morel mushrooms is a favorite hobby.
Well that's all I can think of hopefully I will make some friends here, hopefully soon we shall rent out this house and I will purchase my little dream acreage, for we are still looking! :-)
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| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| monique |
Posted - Sep 20 2013 : 11:00:12 AM
Welcome to this wonderful group!
http://thymeandlavender.blogspot.com
www.wolshopmonique.nl |
| Penny Wise |
Posted - Sep 19 2013 : 5:43:08 PM
michele...oh my! reading your post...it truly sounds like you are making peace with your heart and soul and that is so important!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
enjoy-relax-breathe!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Farmgirl # 2139
proud member of the Farmgirls of the Southwest Henhouse
~*~ counting my pennies; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
| ceejay48 |
Posted - Sep 19 2013 : 5:21:56 PM
Hi Michele,
Welcome to the Connection!
A great place to share/get ideas and make new friends!
ENJOY!
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
my aprons - http://www.facebook.com/FarmFreshAprons
living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com
from my hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
| Janice |
Posted - Sep 19 2013 : 12:44:33 PM
Hello Michele.
Don't think of it as a step down but a side step. Maybe add another step or two "Doe-see-doe"
Janice (another middle age gal) |
| sherone_13 |
Posted - Sep 16 2013 : 07:28:05 AM
Welcome to Farmgirls!
Sherone
Farmgirl Sister #1682
Thirty-One Independent Consultant
www.mythirtyone.com/233237
My Blog
www.annapearlsattic.blogspot.com
My Etsy
www.etsy.com/shop/annapearlsattic
Women are angels. When someone breaks our wings, we just jump on our broomsticks and fly! We are flexible that way! |
| jan49829 |
Posted - Sep 15 2013 : 4:43:57 PM
Welcome Michelle!!!! Looking forward to getting to know you.
Janet
Farmgirl Sister #3340
http://hardatworkcrafts.blogspot.com
http://Jan49829.etsy.com
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| Tapestry |
Posted - Sep 15 2013 : 11:49:56 AM
Hi Michelle and welcome to MJF's! I'm a former LPN who also had to give up nursing after 32 years. Like you it was a hard but necessary decision based on health issues. Arts and crafts of various kinds have been my salvation. I've had to learn to slow down and live life at a slower pace. Actually, in some ways, my health has taught me greater patience and keeps me learning new crafting techniques which then blossom into new loves. Sometimes when one door closes, another one opens. In time I think you'll see the changes in your life as something that will eventually bring you even greater pleasure and harmony in your life. God always has a plan for us. I'm also a grandma to a 4 year old boy that is the light of my life. I have 2 grown sons and a new daughter in law. My oldest son is my grandson's daddy and my younger son is the one who just married. Wishes I had 2 DIL's but sometimes life just doesn't work that way. My hubby (2nd marriage) and I have a very spoiled rotten Shorkie, named Dickens, who lives up to his name daily. We also have 2 cats named Missy and Crier. We live in town in a little Victorian cottage. We love our neighborhood and we're close to a river in one direction and downtown in the other but a quiet street and we're content. I do wish I could have a couple chickens but city bylaws make it impossible for us as our lot size is too small according to their rules. I know you'll love it here. This site is a blessing to all of us. Mary Jane is a wonderful woman who has brought us all together to share a common love of all things family and home. Enjoy!
Huggz
Cheryl
Happy farmgirl sister #353
Look for rainbows instead of mud puddles 
http://pinterest.com/ctapestry/
http://tapestrysimaginings.blogspot.com/ |
| Kirksmom71 |
Posted - Sep 14 2013 : 6:58:15 PM
Hi there Michelle......welcome to the Farm!! We love newbies...come visit on the Virtual Porch!
My best to all,
Mel
Sassy City Girl with Farmgirl Fantasies! |
| shanda |
Posted - Sep 14 2013 : 4:46:39 PM
Welcome to the farm! You'll find a lot of like-minded sisters here! Enjoy!
Blessings,
Shanda
Farmgirl #4233 |
| prayin granny |
Posted - Sep 14 2013 : 10:08:40 AM
Welcome Michelle,
You will find kindred spirits here! Jump right in and enjoy!
Blessings,
Linda
Country at Heart |
| Cissik |
Posted - Sep 14 2013 : 09:17:12 AM
Welcome
You'll find a lot of really nice Sisters here. Your dream is a great one and I know from what I read, you'll achieve it some day. My hubby and I want a few acres and a house with character. I would decorate a red barn with barn quilts. I love to quilt, love primitives and love to make stuff, reuse and repurpose.
Lots of people here share whatever they have, so you've come to a great place.
Sylvia
Kent, WA
Farm Girl #5389
http://vintagehousegoods.blogspot.com |
| edlund33 |
Posted - Sep 14 2013 : 07:59:39 AM
Welcome to the farm Michelle. You will have lots of fun and meet some great farmgirls here. Enjoy!
I too enjoy painting, gardening an antiques.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
http://blueskyanddaisies.blogspot.com
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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