Wednesday 6 January 2016

Reasons to be Cheerful


Hello
Just started to follow Gary at A Day in the Life (I found him via John Gray's blog) He has a great post on reasons to be cheerful and I thought "THAT'S what I should be doing in my next post"
I am unashamedly going to pinch his idea, firstly as a way of counteracting  my last post, but also as a way of updating my profile and re-introducing myself to my followers old and new.
Good idea eh?!
I shall recycle old blog pictures to illustrate, so to remind you.. here I am!

I have many reasons to be cheerful AND thankful
 firstly... My Family
I have a husband David (we have been married 50 years next month)  who is a great fixer, mender and maker of just about everything. The perfect smallholder husband. He is far from perfect, as am I obviously, but I'm used to him and don't fancy breaking in a newer model.
I have two daughters, both in their fourties. I won't say what they do for a living as they might be identified, which they might not like! I see the youngest daughter most days and the elder one at least once a week. We gossip, laugh a lot, dance around the kitchen and cook together amongst other things and generally get on well. We don't agree on everything but are able to say so and move on.
My eldest girl ED, is married and has a daughter (YGD) who was a latish surprise and is spoilt by us all obviously. She loves to come and stay with her grandma and grandad Chick Chick, when all thoughts of Ipads etc are forgotten as there is so much for her to do here. She has a great dad, who is used to our barmy family now!
My youngest daughter YD, who is now single, has two children, Our grandson,GS, who is 24 this year and a daughter EGD, who is 21 next week.  I'm not sure how much to say about these two as they are adults and I haven't checked with them on what I could write!
  I wont bore you with sisters, nephews,nieces in-laws, friends who are like family, godchildren, foster children and so on or you will be reading all night.
Here is David with his girls.. Our grandson was working when this was taken. He always has to work New Years Eve.


 Where I live
I live on a two acre smallholding in beautiful Derbyshire. The north boundary is bordered by a busy A road, the west and east by neighbour's land and the north by the river Amber.
We have been here since 1981 and each day when I go outside to feed the animals I look out onto my little kingdom and feel grateful. I won't say lucky as luck has never come into it. Hard work, frugality, bloody-mindedness yes, luck. no!
 I never tire of being here, it is who we are and is appreciated and loved by many as well as us.
Here are a few pics to give you an idea. Those who know me will notice that there are no "corners of shame" as I want you to admire how beautiful Derbyshire is and believe that it our smallholding always looks like this (it doesn't)

 I am having difficulty choosing from my pics, so those above show the house and the paddock and  part of the orchard. Next time I will load some that show the vegetable patches, greenhouse, beehives etc.Next time......

What we grow
Our animal friends
What I do to keep my post-retirement brain active ......
In my next post, if I can retain your interest.
All for today.
Many many thanks for your comments on my last post.
Gillx




27 comments:

  1. Lovely post, Lovey family lovey house (the wisteria makes me envious)Lovely views look forward to your following posts :-)

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    1. We inherited the wisteria when we moved here. We love it so much that we have planted another to grow up the front of the barn , which it now envelops on two sides.
      Hope your baby is still feeding well.
      Gill

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    1. And you FIV
      Just been over to your post. Good stuff!
      Gill

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  3. Beautiful photos Gill. Your home looks lovely. Looking forward to the next post.

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    1. Thanks. it's not looking too beautiful at the moment . It is a positive mudbath.
      Gill

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  4. PS. I love Wisteria and yours is wonderful.

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    1. Thanks. we have two. I will post a pic of the one on the barn soon. we love it too and with careful and pretty drastic pruning we get two flowerings a year.
      Gill

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  5. You cheated and didn't use Winter pictures :)

    Plenty of shameful areas around my place this time of year :)

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    1. true PP.I will take some and show you all how dire it is this time of year!
      Gill

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  6. Good for you!
    I love your photos!

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    1. Thanks Annie.
      I'm quite enjoying doing this, especially looking at the summer pictures in these grey days.
      Gill

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  7. The farm looks idyllic. When I'm out and about I often think of those poor people in London (I used to be one of them) all shoulder to shoulder, breathing in polluted air. Country life is best.

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    1. Your place is far more idyllic than ours,but like you it is our little corner of English heaven away from the hustle of the city.
      I couldn't live in town again
      Gill

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  8. Gill - a nice insight into your country life - agree about Derbyshire being a lovely county. Look forward to hearing more.

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    1. Thanks Weave. Your written pictures of Yorkshire are even more evocative than my pics. Isn't it grand to be happy living as we do?
      More on its' way now
      Gill

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  9. great post Gill, looking forward to the next one :)

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    1. Thanks SOS. Your posts on survival kits are really interesting. I have been looking forward to each one.
      Keep prepping!
      Gill

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  10. Lovely to "meet" you. We live in Nottinghamshire and love to get into Derbyshire whenever we can, usually at weekends. Bakewell's an obvious favourite but when it's not crowded - so hardly ever!You're very lucky to live in such a beautiful county.

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    1. Thanks Mrs LH. If you are travelling into Derbyshire from Notts you are almost bound to be passing our house. Look for the "Honey for Sale" sign and pop in for a chat.
      Gillx

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  11. Hello :-) we are just starting out on our small holding adventure so i will read your blog with interest! Nice to meet you. Tracy.

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    1. Hi Tracy. I have been reading your blog. How exciting! The move is this weekend I believe.
      The very best of luck
      Welcome to the mad world of smallholding
      Gill

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  12. Love to read your blog, you always seem so busy with your committee work, family and extended family.

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    1. Thanks for Janice. Glad you like reading my random thoughts.
      Yes, I like to keep busy, I'm not too good at keeping still.
      Good to see you here
      Gill

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  13. Two of the things I'm most grateful for as well. I'd be lost without all my family for support and advice and to pick me up when I'm down or the other way round!

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    1. And now you have an extra treasure! Many congratulations on the birth of Alistair.
      Gill

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  14. This is a great post Gill. It's nice to see your place and how green it is.

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