With Autumn Comes Change...

Both in nature and here at Dealan-De Farm.  When last I wrote, we were still awaiting the arrival of newborn kids...

...Nearly 2 weeks later, the first finally arrived!  Guess Grace's calculations were a bit off!  Well, this IS our first time with goats, afterall...And, our dairy cow experience was quite a long time ago.  We just got too excited, too soon!

Tilly gave birth to "Ridire" (means "dark knight" in Gaelic) during one of our many torrential downpours last week. Isn't he adorable?!

Next one due is Edna, aka Eddie.  As a veteran mama, she will likely have twins...this weekend, hopefully!  And, finally, Satine, sometime in early-October.





Isaac, "Classified Tech", is now "official", according to the US Trotting Association. 

He's been DNA-tested and freeze-branded. 

Yesterday, he got his very first set of shoes, and today, he took to the road for a 3-mile jog!  Time to earn his keep around here!  Hoping to start racing him this spring of 2019.













I am on the cusp of a change myself right now - in just one week, my time at Holiday Hair in Exeter will come to a close and I will open a new chapter in my career at Oley Valley Hair Salon in Oley, PA...less than a 10-minute drive from home!  I will miss the young ladies at Holiday, whom I have enjoyed getting to know, but this is a change I have been hoping for these last couple months.  It is time to reclaim my Sundays for church and family.  It is time for me to have a more consistent schedule that I can control to a greater degree than I ever could at Holiday, a corporation-owned salon. As my list of regular clients grows, I will certainly earn a better income than I ever could at a corporation salon, too, though this is more about my time than my earnings.  I will be working by appointment, no longer relying on "walk-ins" to keep me busy. No longer wasting hours hoping someone comes in for a color or perm... AND...I will be expanding my repertoire, giving facials and basic manicures as well as hair services at my new salon in Oley - woohoo!  Ya'll know how I like to keep things interesting, right!


And, finally, last weekend Don, Will and Nate participated in the 4th annual Penn's Wall Highland Games in Quarryville, PA!  Rosie acted as score keeper and Grace and I shared the role of photographer.  As always, we had a blast at this local Scottish Festival.  Of course, I have some photos to share with all of you:

What a great time! This festival gets better each year with more competitions, more musicians, new demos and great food.  I encourage all of you to come out next year.  It is always the 2nd Saturday in September.






So, I'm still swimming four times a week, and loving it.  Swimming came quite naturally to me as a kid, and I was asked to swim competitively a few times, but when forced to choose between swim team and dance, both huge time commitments,  I always chose dance.  No matter now, though.  The strokes were deeply embedded in my muscle-memory.  Swimming laps just feels so good!

Acupuncture has helped me tremendously.  I am almost back to my normal energy level, and my joint pain has been minimal this last week, Praise the Lord!  I'm sure my dietary changes have had something to do with it, too - minimal dairy, gluten and sugar.  (Sugar is the hardest for me!)  More fish, more veggies, brown rice and quinoa.

Just five weeks from tomorrow, Don and I head to California.  I am so excited for everything we will see and do there!  Eight adventure-filled days!

Next Post will surely be chock-full of adorable kids - goat kids, that is!

"It Takes The Time It Takes."

A "Farmer Don" (aka. my husband) quote which I have heard him repeat many times during his years farming - concerning hay-making, crop-raising, and livestock giving birth.  In fact, that's where we're at right now....

Tilly on Sunday.

The goats today.  No babies, yet.

Grace's goats, Tilly and Edna, look as if they might burst at any moment!  By the book and according to Grace's calculations, Tilly was due on Sunday.  While she has definitely been showing signs of imminent labor since Sunday afternoon, no kid, or kids as the case may be, as of this blog post. 


As I recall from our few years of dairy farming, "first-timers" tend to take longer...like twice as long!...as veteran mamas.  And, this is Tilly's first kidding. 


Edna, on the other hand, has done this before.  While she is, technically, due nearly two weeks after Tilly, she seems to be showing signs of early labor today!  Hmmm....things could get pretty exciting on the homestead by this weekend!

Switching gears completely now....

I am realizing how important it is for me to MOVE...  Move my body often and consistently and moderately.  Move big, move small and always stretch.  I am slowly grasping the concept of  what "well hydrated" actually means for me, too.  (My eyeballs were floating the first three day, lol!)

As I mentioned in my last post, I haven't been feeling so great...not my usual perky self.  While I don't think my physician assistant was wrong in her diagnosis of the TMJ, she did nothing to further assess the cause of my rather-sudden pain and tightness during my visit.  Given that I have been very fatigued with joint pain and stiffness that has moved down into my shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands, I will probably be heading back for a more thorough checkup very soon.

In the meantime, my two massages helped tremendously with my jaw and neck and upper back.  And, I began working with an acupuncturist last week.  Timothy's great - gave me lots of good "healthy living" advice, and introduced me slowly to the tiny needles used for treatment.  What an odd sensation!

One of his suggestions included "get moving".  I need to move the "congestion" out of my joints and tendons.  He suggested swimming or aqua-fitness for now, since bearing weight exhausts me lately, tempting me to lie on the couch every moment I am not at the salon or grocery shopping, and that only makes my joints ache even more. 

Perfect.  I love to swim laps!  Love the graceful, steady rhythm of it; love how you can leave the world behind when you are underwater. 

So, I found a gym with a pool.  Turns out its less than half a mile from the salon and only a ten-minute drive from our home!  Went four times in the last week already.  As soon as I feel up to it, I hope to add a yoga class and a ballet barre class, both weekly, that are offered at the same gym!






I have to admit, Timothy asked me a couple of questions that caused me some distress..."Have you considered seeing a rheumatologist?"  And, "Is there any history of RA, rheumatoid arthritis, in your family?"

Immediately, memories of my grandmother, crippled by RA during the latter years of her life, flooded my mind.  I watched, over her last 15 or so years, as this autoimmune disorder took my spunky, opinionated grandmom and turn her into someone quite dependent and rather difficult to be around.

I did my research.  Today, there are better treatments available for RA, if that even is, in fact, what I am looking at here.  I am struggling to make that next doctor's appointment... a big part of me doesn't want to deal with that possibility and how it could affect my life.

Many of you already heard our other news:  Don and I have a special trip coming up!

Years ago, when I was pregnant with Rosemary and we were trying to keep up with our toddler twins and Grace, I wondered what we may be missing out on by starting our family only a year into our marriage.  There were places I wanted to see and things I wanted to do....

...Don's response?

"We'll only be in our early forties when the kids are mostly grown up.  And, we'll probably have more money by then, too, so we'll still have plenty of opportunity for that sort of thing."

We talked about going away for our 20th anniversary, but that just couldn't work.  Too many other things going on in our lives that year.  So, I thought, "Well, maybe for our 25th?"

Don, being the impatient, somewhat impulsive man that he is, decided one day that THIS should be the year we take our first big trip together.  He surprised me by booking a trip to Sonoma Valley, California!  He did his research first and discovered that October is the best time of year to visit, as the weather in northern Cali will suit both of us - not too warm for him, not too cold for me.

Knowing what I enjoy, he planned a winery tour, zip-lining through the redwoods, and kayaking down the Russian River, as well as a drive along the coast in a convertible and a couple of nights in a hotel overlooking the ocean!  I am super excited!  I need to get a GoPro for some awesome footage of our adventure.  Hopefully, this will be the first of many!

Enjoy a couple of photos from our cousin, Sarah's wedding last weekend.  A fun, outdoorsy wedding that perfectly suited the personality of this pair!

It's back to school time, and Rosie begins her on-line classes next Monday.  Best wishes to all of you beginning a new school year, whether it be at home or elsewhere, public, private or homeschool!  And, I promise to post again when these kids are born!

I debated whether or not to write a post this week...I've been feeling pretty...BLAH, lately. 

I went to the doctor a few weeks ago and she diagnosed me with TMJ.  Here, I just thought I had an ear infection or sinus infection of some sort.  Or even some kind of virus because I'd been having pain all down my neck and even my arms.  The fatigue has been very challenging.

But, she says its TMJ and prescribed anti-inflammatory pills...which I promptly stopped taking after experiencing some nasty nausea...and told me to "rest my jaws".  Ummm, I talk...ALOT...in my profession. 

Plus, I love to eat; especially crunchy things!

To complicate matters, she also added a hormone pill to further address the PMDD... and my body is taking some time to adjust - Oye!!




So, I made an appointment at the Spine and Wellness Center.  My first therapeutic massage helped quite a bit.  Going for another next week, then probably a couple of session of acupuncture.  I'm hopeful that this treatment will work well for me, along with getting back into regular yoga practice. 

And let's not forget the dietary adjustments!  Yes, I am working on eating healthier - way less sugar, less caffeine, no dairy, no gluten.  Lots of water.  I have developed a taste for fish in recent months, too.  Salmon, mahi-mahi, opah....

Next week, I have the opportunity to take a mini-retreat.  A couple days by myself down at the bay.  I can rest my jaw, rest my body, rest my mind.  Peace.  Quiet.

Then, I gotta hunker down and get prepped - I am teaching two writing classes at our homeschool co-op this year!  When I agreed to do two classes, I was thinking I would only get about 6-7 students per class, like I had last year for my literature class.  However, at this point I have.....TWELVE...students in EACH class!

That's 12 middle schoolers in one, 12 high schoolers in the other.  Better bring my A-game!

Grace is doing superbly in her current higher education program!  She has straight A's on her weekly exam and her attendance is perfect.  She loves it.  She is now able to take clients at her school, and I got to be her first.  A delightful 60-minute facial.  The public can make appointments for services, too, so she also had a few additional clients this week.  She's very good! 

Contact us if you are interested in an appointment.  She must do at least 30 facials before her graduation!





The puppies are doing well.  Growing like weeds, of course.  Tig and Penny have accepted them into their "pack" after only a few days of grouchiness.


On the homefront, Grace is moving into her bedroom this weekend, for certain, and Rosie will be just a couple weeks later, by the end of August for sure. 

Woohoo! 

Then, I can transform the 2nd downstairs bedroom into my respite space.  For decompressing, and, apparently, grading many essays this school year!

Much to our surprise (not really!), when William informed his employers that he would be leaving to move back to PA in just a few more weeks, they decided to "let him go" immediately.  Oye!

So, Will moved down here this weekend.  No worries.  Don really needs another guy for his business, and he'd rather have his sons working with him than anyone else, so Will doesn't even need to job hunt.  He is already moved in with his brother, as well!

That's really all for now, Folks.  Hopefully, my next post will include the kids...baby goats, that is!  Just about two weeks until that fun happens!











Closing with one more adorable puppy pic:

Catch up with ya'll after my downtime at the bay!

This Journey Called Life....

...is chock-full of highs and lows, isn't it?!  Well, at least in our family...because we live.  We engage the world around us...put ourselves out there.  Sometimes wear our hearts on our sleeves.

These past few days have been a bit of a roller coaster.











Fleetwood Community Theater worked hard for the last couple of months to put on the musical, Mary Poppins, and I had the pleasure of choreographing several scenes.  This weekend, our four shows went splendidly.  Given the nature of live theater we did have our hiccups and tech issues, but everyone handled those like pros!  I had so much fun with the whole experience.  I even got to be part of the stage crew, moving props on and off the stage and helping actors with quick costume changes in the wings.  That was a brand new role for me, and I have the bruises to prove it!  Yeah, my "night vision" is not so great, therefore moving around backstage in the dark was a bit hazardous for me, lol!

Would I do it again?  \

                    If they ask me....probably.

Also this weekend, we learned that William, who stayed behind in NY when the rest of us moved back to PA, is going to be moving back here in October.  I am so thrilled about this!  Westbrook Enterprise is doing quite well.  In fact, Don and Nate can barely keep up with the work, so Don offered William the opportunity to join them, hence his decision to leave the golf course at the end of this season.  William is going to help the family business expand, too, into septic system design and inspection, taking classes and earning certifications next winter when the installation work slows down a bit.

William is so different from Nate and Don.  He brings balance to the family, and he'll be a great addition to the business.

And, now for the sad news:

Brook and Nate broke off their engagement.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Returned the ring, too.  The details are a private matter.  Nate is heart-broken at the moment, and the rest of us share in his pain because we were all invested. But, there is also an element of relief.  Some underlying issues rose to the surface in the last few weeks; some important things that Nate insisted be resolved before the wedding, and Brook is not ready to deal with those things, so it is better that they wait.  They may, yet, work things out.  However, if they cannot, better they figure that out before they jump into marriage.  We will be praying for both of them, that God will direct their paths!

In the meantime, since Nate already secured a spacious two-bedroom apartment, William already has a place to live when he moves here in about two months!

All the sweet kittens went to their new homes last Thursday.  They entertained me immensely for six weeks, but alas, they had to go.  We already have four adult cats living on our property which is quite enough.  But, I was still a bit blue on Friday and Saturday, without them running around the kitchen, playing in our shoes and snuggling with me on the couch.  Not to worry, though....Don to the rescue!  (I say that, tongue-in-cheek!)

Rosemary has been wanting her own dog for about a year...one who can travel with her, accompany her around the horses.  She saved up her money.  Our friend, Brianne's, Aussie Shepherd had a litter and made Rosie an offer.  How could she refuse?  Tig and Penny have been terrific dogs; fairly easy to train, obedient for the most part, and very loving.  So, Don and Rosie drove up to Brianne and Mike's on Saturday, while I was at the theater.

What I never expected...

Don and Rosie decided to buy Grace an early birthday gift....Brianne had one last puppy for whom she has been unable to find a suitable home, so she made my family a sweet deal that, apparently, Don couldn't refuse....

Not only did Quigley join our family, but Audrey, too!  The girls are thrilled.  They are both very good at dog training and care, so I am confident we'll have all well-behaved dogs.  But...but...FOUR dogs under the age of 5 years in one household!?  Well, at least until our girls choose to move out and, hopefully, take their dog with them, but one never knows for sure how that will all work out with young adults!  Oh my word!

Don plans to fence more of the property so that they all have plenty of running space as these little ones grow up.  OYE!  My husband is NUTS!  His impulsivity both thrills me and frustrates me!

Thankfully, I have off on this rainy Monday.  Between 30 hours a week at the salon and Mary Poppins' rehearsals and shows, I desperately need some downtime today.  My body is adjusting to some new medication, too, so I'm feeling exhausted and nauseous these last few days.  Good day to relax with some puppy love, right?!

Next blog update with adorable puppy pics in August; expect some baby goat pics, too...Wow!...this summer is just flying by too quickly!  I need a vacation!

Behind the Chair And More

Blogging is a flexible hobby, thankfully.  During this busy season of my life, I don't have as much time to sit, reflect, and compose as I once did.  But, I do still take MANY photos, capturing a plethora of moments from the quiet and serene to the action-packed affairs that fill our lives here at Dealan-De Farm.

We've been back in PA for over a year.  The pace of life right now is definitely more frenetic than it was during our years in little ole Homer, New York.  Less quiet afternoons wandering through the woods, more time commitments and activity.  We have settled into a fairly steady rhythm, though.

When I turned 30...ehem...too many years ago...I developed a heart for young women in that 17 to 24-year range.  Those can be some tough, challenging years to navigate, I know firsthand. Finding oneself.  I thought I would love to mentor, encourage and even inspire young women by becoming a youth leader at church.  That door, however, never opened for me.

Instead, I became a hairstylist at 40.

Now, more than ten years after those first stirrings in my heart, I happen to work with young women everyday - both my fellow stylists, and some of my salon guests!

A couple of weeks ago, Don prompted me to think about my goals and plans in my new career...

...He was thinking more about financial gain and position...He encouraged me to consider other options besides working in this corporate-owned salon.

The more I dwelt upon it, however, the more I realized, "I am here for a reason and I am not supposed to go anywhere right now."  Last weekend, a young mom, pregnant with her second child, sat in my chair for some highlights.  She's going through some rough stuff with her fiance and feeling defeated.  I was able to encourage her and offer some positivity.  I keep her in my prayers even after our time together.  How cool is that?  God orchestrates these meetings, I'm sure, and I'm so humbled that He chooses me to be His tool sometimes.  If I want to fulfill my heart's desire to pour into the next generation of  women (truly, women of all ages), then I am in the perfect place!  And, I feel like I can be far more effective where I am, behind the chair, than I ever would've been as a youth leader in a church.

Switching gears now, I want to share some photos of fun things we've been doing lately, from visiting a Celtic Festival a few weeks ago to celebrating Independence Day at one of my fave places, Buttonwood Beach down by the Chesapeake Bay to an afternoon hike with Rosemary, and of course, one more kitten photo...

This celtic musical group, all siblings, was terrific!

Couldn't leave the festival without something!  This pretty plaid wrap is a gift from my hubby!

With the wedding only about two months away, we figured it was a good time to introduce Brook to Buttonwood Beach, where Nate spent quite a bit of time with me, his siblings and my Dad during his childhood.  It was high time she met Nate's other crazy cool grandparents, my mom and dad, too!

What a lovely day that was!

Hiking with my daughters and my dogs has been a cherished pastime over the last decade.  However, this summer, between our work and school schedules, plus my commitment to the community theater, we rarely get a chance to get out together lately.

Today, Rosie and I made it happen!  Sure, it was a little warm and buggy, but we enjoyed exploring a new park.  And, Rosie was thrilled to note that horseback riding is allowed here, so I'm sure we'll be back.

There is an old abandoned building covered in graffiti at the start of this trail, then the path is covered in raspberry bushes.  I should've brought a basket for the berries!

And, finally, I have about one more week of the "kitten invasion".  Having Mickey's litter in the house has been AWESOME!  They are sweet and cuddly and sooo entertaining.  Nothing like kittens to reduce stress and soften the soul.

The opening night of Mary Poppins is just one week away - Yikes!  My work is mostly finished, of course.  Just helping out with the finishing touches.  I am proud of our ensemble and I know they will put on a terrific show next weekend.


Keep watching my blog for a special surprise coming up....more than one,  in fact.

Grace's goats will have their kids next month, so more adorable animal pics to share.  We are 90% sure that at least one of them is carrying twins!

This guy is beat from our hike today!