Butterflies, changes and sorrow

The past five months have been packed with changes from all sides.  Last year we really did not focus on the homestead too much.  We were all in different directions.  One daughter was pregnant and I attended her prenatal appointments with her, as her husband could not get off work for each one.  I helped her prepare for her little one.  It was exciting and a little sad as I watched my eldest daughter become a mother.  She opted to use a midwife and to have a water birth at home.  I was very excited and blessed to be included.  I have been attending births for over 10 years, studying and making plans to become a midwife myself some day.

In September of last year my daughter gave birth to a beautiful little girl, Samus Michelle.  She was born at 38 weeks but sadly was stillborn.  This has been very devastating for all involved.  I have discovered after going through it myself that I can bear anything for me, but for my daughter I have grieved more for this promised grandchild then my own that I have lost.

The aftermath of being available for my daughter and her husband had us putting the majority of everything on hold in our own home.

She and her husband have good days and bad as they deal with the loss of their daughter.  Thankfully God has blessed them with their own home, a 1920s Texas farm house in a small town close to family.  Concentrating on repairs and renovations, moving and decorating has helped us all tremendously.

Fast forward to 2019.  We are forging ahead with homestead plans and projects.  My scheduled looks like this:

January: Repair vehicles
February: Insulate loft, inventory food storage
March: Garden expansion, planting and trees
April: Organize and declutter bedroom and complete floors, ceiling (vacation)
May: re-screen front porch, landscape front of house, black out shades for house
June: Clean up barn area, burn trash, clean up land and repair fencing
July: Purchase tractor, repair driveway, cut and stack wood for winter
August: Finish pantry construction, start on kitchen reno (island, paint and backsplash)
September: Clean, organize and repair container (level, roof, shower, storage) (vacation)
October: Plant winter rye and oats for livestock, prepare location for Christmas tree seedlings, canning and food preservation
November: Finish wood stove area, clean chimney
December: Christmas preparations (we are hosting family this year)

We have had several long time pets pass this year.  Shout out to Muffin (12 years), Furry (8 years), Sophie (13 years).

PD#2 is volunteering at the local zoo (she wants to attend college and major in zoology), started driver's training, and is working her way through our homeschool/high school program. Staring dual credit at local college in fall
PS#2 turned 10 and is a hot mess
PS#1 turned 30 and is a hot mess (I see a theme)