Uncertain Times

Good morning from Montana!   

It is 2 days post election day and many results are not in yet.  Like who will be leading this country for the next four years??  

I do not intend to politisize (is that a word?).  I am sure people (including me) are struggling through this very stressful time.   Dealing with so much uncertainty is so hard.  So so so hard.  

I have been very lucky, blessed, what ever you want to call it, through this time.  I still have my job.  I guess I am considered an essential worker.  The NICU continues to have babies in need of care, despite the virus.  So far, at least for us,  most of our patients are not related to Covid 19.   At least not yet.  

I have an amazing husband.  His job, insurance, also is something that hasn't stopped.  He has his own company and office and has been able to socially distance while working.   The other thing about this amazing man is that he is a volunteer firefighter, EMT.  He often has put himself at risk in order to care for our community.  

My home is my sanctuary.  I love coming home from a long day/night at work and relaxing in front of the fire.  My dinner is usually waiting when I get home (another thing my sweet man does for me) Yesterday, I was looking out the window and saw my horses.  

Now, a little back story.  I used to dream of what my "perfect" life would look like.  It included a wrap around porch ✔  living in the country ✔ big red barn ✔ horses ✔✔.  

I have looked out the window and often see the horses.  But yesterday it was different.  I was reminded that I am so blessed.  Is my life perfect?  Absolutely not.  Do I have stress and worry? Absolutely yes.  But, yesterday, looking out the window, the feeling of gratitude was overwhelming.  

No matter what happens in the next few days..weeks..months.... I hope there are things in your lives that fill you with gratitude, peace, love and hope.  

Really? A Pandemic?

Hello!

For some reason consistently blogging is not my jam.... My last post was in 2017.  And a LOT has happened since then.

Our farm is not named Crooked Creek Farm because someone else somewhere has that name.  We are called Sapphire Farms. We live next to the Sapphire Mountains in the Bitterroot  Valley, Montana. Thus the name.  We attempted to farm hay one year.  We bought some used equipment for a trial run and found that it wasn't going to be something we loved. (understatement)   We did put up about 132 bales that year so that was some reward for the hard work.

After that we thought, well what can we do with this land?  Cows? (truth is I don't like the taste of the "grass fed only cows") Some other kind of crop? Some other animals? After a lot of thought we decided to become a Lavender farm.  Found a supplier, gave him half down on 600 plants back last February and started to map out the plot.  

We were supposed to pick up the Lavender in early June.  I called and called the supplier. Finally heard from him that he wasn't going to be able to have the plants due to some kind of issue with the propagating dirt.  Buh-by down payment.  Still haven't gotten a refund.  😡

So after some discussion, we planted Sunflowers.  I AM NOT SURE WHY.   

We planted 12 rows that are 90 feet long with 6 different varieties of branching Sunflowers.  Put over 1000 seeds in the ground.  And the majority grew and are still growing.  I suppose we should have had a full on plan as to what to do with them, right?  

We decided to make bouquets and put them in mason jars and sell them.  Problem is...they grow and bloom at different times.  Who knew? 😏  Currently, we are set up to sell them at the local grocery store on Saturday.  This Saturday.   A few days from NOW.   

To add to the chaos, we decided to make it a fundraiser for the fire department.  Thought that might give folks the incentive to buy.🌻

What does all this have to do with the Pandemic? you ask.   Nothing really.  I do have some thoughts about the Pandemic and how we have been navigating it.  I think that is for the next post, probably in 2025. Since I can't seem to keep it going.... Enjoy the rest of your week.  

Cindy