Hey, guess what? We never stay up that late, too. 

Three Years of Blogging

Yes, it is three years since I started my blog. I became High Prairie Farmgirl. I have transitioned the blog from very timidly inexperienced and kinda rinky-dink funky. I found that I had not enough experience to make it look as I envisioned. After one year of DIY, I hired a blog designer to create the custom look that I have now. There were no followers for quite a while, but that was OK with me...this blog was for myself. I am not running a business, and trying to sell anything. I just wanted to connect with other women who enjoy similar interests. Sometimes it is difficult to blog...then I put artwork or vintage postcards on the blog. I am honored that I have followers now, and that so many people enjoy visiting the blog. I am often surprised by the audience showing in the stats. I  think that time has flown by. Thank you so much my friends. 

Finding quotes for an Art Journal

via Pinterest

I am looking for inspirational quotes to use in art journal. One unlikely source that I have found is O Magazine. I have been getting it for several months now (before I started the magazine diet). The November 2012 issue is really good. Here is a good quote that I will be using. So True, and all Brave Girls will love this...

Living your best life starts with knowing - and celebrating - what is best about you. You are ready to give yourself a hand - and plant the seeds of your true purpose - to blossom into your most fulfilled self.

A Happy New Year

December Moon

via Pinterest

Tonight is a full moon. It is cloudy right now...but last night it was very clear. There is snow on the ground, and the full moon made the landscape very clear. I saw our cattle at their feeders at midnight. I think that the moon kept me awake. I have seen many wildlife outside in the middle of the night. One memorable night there was a huge Bull Elk pawing in the snow, his antlers were the largest I have ever seen. He was all alone, it was majestic, and magical.

Do you love Goats?

I have never owned a goat. This topic is something new to me. There are blogs devoted to goats. Millie in Iowa has a blog about her farm Eden Hills. Eden Hills She blogs nearly every day, and has many great photos. Anyway, I like this photo!

A Bright New Year

Homemade Carrot Cake - Yummy!

Bob's Red Mill Carrot Cake!

I made this carrot cake recipe for our Christmas Dinner. The recipe is on the back of the bag of Whole Wheat Pastry Flour. I have to say that this is my first time to make Carrot Cake....ever. The batter looks different from usual cake batter. I wondered about that. The finished cake is wonderful. Frost it with a simple homemade cream cheese frosting. Yummy!

I want to tell you that the company is located here in Oregon, and it is employee owned. It is milled here with the finest NW wheat. It is becoming common in the baking aisle of grocery stores in this area.

Joy

About Peace...In Your Heart

Brave Girl's Club has be helpful for me. It is the longing inside me to have the beautiful life I want. To create and live my truth, with joy, peace, and self care. To know my own truths...to have peace in my heart and soul. www.bravegirlsclub.com

Christmas Sleigh Ride

Christmas Wishes

Peaceful Joys

Merry may Thy Christmas Be

A Happy Christmas to You

With Christmas Goodwill

about yesterday....

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I need to go to Crazy Woman Campground...

I wish for July...I know where I need to go. In Wyoming there is a campground...Crazy Woman.

I need to run away from home. Hubby is nuts.

Lincoln - the Movie

I took hubby to this movie today. A good historical movie, we really enjoyed it. There were many great actors in the cast. Hubby liked it... and that is something...he doesn't like much.

Christmas Decoration?

If I could just keep the lights on him...this is hard enough. He does love playing in the snow!

Blizzard Warning! In Oregon???

Here in Western Oregon, where it rains for 8 months of the year?  That was the forecast...starting last night, with very high winds that were warm. Here at the farm, we indeed had the winds. The power was off for 18 hours, the snow here is minimal...about 2-3 inches. There was deep snow is higher in the mountains. (The ski areas will open now.) I was happy that I had run the dishwasher, washed all the dirty clothes, and put warmer blankets on our bed. This morning it was time to put on the warm wool sweater and bundle up.

I built a good fire in the fireplace wood stove insert. The house got warm and I was comfortable. There was plenty of time to read books and magazines. I had bread rising, and had to bake it in the camp trailer oven. It cooked OK...not as nice as the house oven. 

Now, the next 2 storms are coming in with very low snow lines and 6 to 12"...even at the Pacific coast. I think that we will be shoveling snow, and removing the snow from the driveway in the near future, there will be 1-2 feet of snow at this elevation (2500').  We will be staying near home for the time being. People in this area don't drive well in snow conditions, and it is hazardous. It is dangerous to be on the roads with them. Tomorrow, it will be time to put on the warm Sorel boots for outdoor use.

I may not post to the blog because of power outages again. Not looking forward to that.....

Christmas Tree Cutting

Today was the day to get a Christmas Tree. Hubby and I went out in snowy conditions. Our neighbor has several acres of Christmas trees growing right next to us. We do a little trading for a tree(s) the last 5 years or so. We were home with a nice tree in only 1/2 hour. It is now dripping dry in the shop...maybe we will bring it inside tomorrow. I have several tubs of decorations inside, ready to unpack. I plan to dispose of unwanted things this year, I have already disposed of 2 boxes. It is about time.

We used to go out into the Willamette National Forest, to get trees with a $5 permit. It was a time and gas wasting struggle to find my hubby's perfect tree. I would get him to take someone else along, so I could stay home.

No words to express the sorrow of yesterday.

Tremendous sorrow over the tragedy yesterday.

A Little Off...and some snow

I had something strange happen to me yesterday. I drove by a friend's home in our small town. The place is vacant, empty, and sad looking. They (the couple) were renting, and he retired...so, it was going to happen sometime. I have known my friend for so long... since 1979. I am wondering...where are they? He was talking about taking to the road in their travel trailer.  I am finding myself, thrown off kilter a little. You can be certain that I will ask people, and find out what happened. Hum....and it snowed a little last night. Disappeared? Vanished? Sometimes when people in your life leave...it is almost like they never existed, when you never hear from them. I am still here is the same house, same address, phone and all. Then, one day you get a Christmas card, with their signature and an address from some strange place.  

The Real Things...

"The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what you have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when thing go wrong."
Laura Ingalls Wilder

This old quote makes me sit and think.....and to remember what is most important to myself.

Vintage Homemaker

I like the vintage prints of people caught in their everyday lives. My mom did not teach me very much about how to cook or make pies. The other day, I made hubby a homemade apple pie, with my own home canned apple pie filling...he is in heaven. I use a pie crust recipe from Susan Branch. I cut the recipe out of a Country Home magazine long ago. It is not anything special...I think the real trick is chilling everything for the pie crust for an hour or two. When making crust, keep it cold...and take it easy with the dough. Overworking the crust makes it rubbery and tough. A light hand will keep it nice and flaky.

I used to be a terrible pie crust maker, it would stick to anything. I could not roll it out. I was so frustrated that I would just put it in the pie pan and press it with my fingers. I learned with practice, and watching Martha Stewart make pie crusts. A nice flat dough scraper is essential, it helps so much to getting the dough lifted and ready to go into the pie pan.

December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor

" A Day that will live in Infamy..."
71 years ago

My parents remembered this day well. It was probably the most significant day in their lifetime. I was born much later. Has much changed....

In memory of another generation, honoring citizens and our military. 

Be Good to Yourself

Wow, sometimes we can be way too hard on ourselves. This is a reminder to be kind, gentle and caring to yourself.

1956 - Tale of Two Sisters at Christmas

The year is 1956, the place is Spokane Washington. Both of these little girls really believe in Santa Claus. A formal photo is a very rare thing for this family. We were almost 5 and 6 years old. I have no idea why the little brother (2) is not in this photo. My mother loved this photo, it was her favorite photo of us together. My curly red hair is escaping from my hat.

Sis wanted this photo scanned. She is going to use it for her Christmas cards this year. I am not sure the color that I like best. What do you think?

A Book and Magazine Diet

When I was in Portland on Saturday, I stopped in a lovely little shop in Sellwood. I am sorry that I didn't get the name, however it is right between 2 of the Stars Antique Shops. I saw this new book, and of course...I had to take a peek. It looks like an interesting read. I, however...am on a book and magazine diet. This means that I am not purchasing these things for a long period of time...at least 6 to 12 months. A difficult challenge indeed! I am determined to stop the impulse purchases, there is really nothing new in them. Now that I have admitted this problem to you...I am more committed than ever. I don't even take a look at magazine racks.  How about you?

The Way to Christmas Spirit

I am back from two Christmas Shows, such fun! The delightful decorations and ideas abound. I have a bunch of new ideas now...and am so excited to start my decorating.  Here are some very tempting pictures from Molly Mo's show on Dec 1.

The outdoor decorations are fun, using a vintage pedestal sink with loads of fresh greens. The vintage cast iron grate is painted white and filled with fresh greens and old deer antlers. Hum...hubby would definitely like this..and he has plenty of antlers to use.

The indoor decorations are pastel, white, and sparkle everywhere. Vintage glass ornaments abound, and pretty little white trees atop glass candlesticks. Christmas fortune cookies...too. Old family Christmas photos tucked into tiny frames to hang from the tree.

I have to tell you that my family had one of those hideous silver aluminum trees when I was growing up. Now these ugly things sell for $125. Ugh!