Rocco in Paint

Months before Rocco became sick I had been wanting to commission a portrait of him from the amazing Mica Hendricks of Busy Mockingbird. She captured him perfectly and in a way I will always remember him; Ears perked up, tongue out and ready for another adventure.

Also, she not only does animals but people too! You should really check out her work. I mean it.
HERE is a blog post of hers with details and examples.

Can you tell I feel very passionately about this? She is awesome.

Rocco Remembered

A few weeks ago we had to say goodbye to our sweet pet and friend Rocco. Just typing his name makes me tear up.

A couple months ago he was diagnosed with a very invasive cancer, one that sent out little baby cancer cells to create tumors in and on him.

Many of you knew him. He changed so many peoples perspective of what a large dog is.

He was sweet and kind. Loved children, babies especially.

He was a terrible farm dog but a wonderful companion.

He was always in trouble and was prone to wander; eager to make new friends in the surrounding farms I'm sure, but terrifying to see lurking around your yard if you were a new neighbor.

He was an avid barker and garbage forager.

He was blissfully void of thought but the most thoughtful creature when you were feeling low.

We were hoping to have a guard dog and farm dog when we got him and we ended up getting the most loyal and loving friend anyone could possibly ask for.

I am a farm girl. Raised on a hobby farm and now running one. It makes you not cold, but aware of life and death and the order of things. This one threw me for a loop though. So many people have told me that they have had to take time off of work when their beloved pet died and I can now see why. I'm a mess. It's been weeks but I cry every day.

It is hard just walking around the house. He was just a puppy when we started building and he is as much a part of this house as the beams that hold it up. In every corner there is a memory of him.

 So, hug your dog today for me, and remember that dobermans are just puppies in a really big and scary dog body.

A Wintery Wonderland Sort of Weekend

So when they predict snow in the valley it's not only the kids who get excited. I LOVE the snow. The sheep not so much.
Mark woke me up around 5 am and I couldn't help waking El. It's the one time of year that waking a teenager at the crack of dawn is allowed.

Since school was already out and Mark couldn't really go into work, we took the opportunity to deliver the wreaths we made to our neighbors.

Rocco came too. Ate some snow. Had a good time.

So I have spent the last two days cleaning and decorating. I'm the kind of person that has to do a deep cleaning before putting anything new out. That is why it has taken almost two full days.

The reason I say almost is because Mark and I take breaks to read a chapter here and there from Mockingjay. We read the series years ago but it's always good to brush up don't you think. Paired with a warm cup of tea and the bright snow filling the house with light, it was the perfect day.

So stay tuned for fun pick of the house filled with season cheer. And oooh and awh  over it because it has taken a lot of time and energy. 

Taking a Closer Look

 Some days all of the work to be done around the house, inside and out, can be overwhelming. While I'm watering the pots, filling the chicken feed, weeding the path I still see the mess that is my gardening bench, plants that should have been repotted last season and don't get me started on the inside of the house!

In times like these it's important to slow down and enjoy the little things.

A few wonderful women I know have been slowly going through the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. You can see her blog HERE. The funny thing is I was too busy to start the study with them when they first talked about it. Fortunately it was held off and, as life always does, circumstances changed and we have been reading and meeting together since January.  Now I am changed by it.

The book goes over the concept of the Eucharist. In short: Thanksgiving, joy and the ugly beautiful in life. 

I am now practicing the art of thanksgiving and it has changed me. It is a discipline that has actually been difficult to exercise. Every day, several times a day, I write down anything I see I am thankful for. Perhaps it is a milestone I have made or just the brilliant white/pink of the native checker mallow plant in my back yard. Looking for these things slows everything down. Puts it all into perspective.

So I stop. Sit in the grass and every inch of my world is covered in the beautiful. If I didn't weed and fuss it would still be here. So why not take a moment to enjoy it. 

And sometimes I have my trusty companion to sit next to me. 

He says hi.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to Bramblefield Blog. We hope to entertain and inspire others interested in:
•The Arts & Crafts Movement
•Sustainable Living
•Gardening
•Painting
•Farming
•Building
•Thrifting
• & General Awesomeness
Most postings will be done by me: Elizabeth with some framing/building tutorials by Mark my unbelievable talented hubby. 

A GIANT thank you to Shandell at Breaking New Ground for helping me set this all up. I am a bit stunted when it comes to web design and accounting but she made it all make sense. I will tackle accounting another day. 

As each season comes to a close we like to reminisce about all we have experienced or accomplished so here is one of our summer-time highlights:

The "New" sheep got a hair cut

  This is just a minor step in the adventure that has been Mark's sheep endevoure this year. (back story to come) The sheep in this picture are quite wild and quite old. In fact this will probably be their one and only year with us. These old gals are the beginning of Marks sheep farming legacy.  I'm sure our neighbors get a kick out of watching us "herd" the sheep but until our trusty Dobe decides to help out we are on our own.
  After several sessions of hoof trimming we now know a lot more about the under side of a sheep. As it turns out their feet are fairly susceptible to problems (she types with a twitching in her right eye). The smell is noxious to say the least and though we are doing what is best for them they don't always show their appreciation. 
  As I type we have a ram out romancing the ladies and hope to have a few little lambs to show you in January.
Until my next post I hope you all have a blessed day!
-Elizabeth