the simple life

Sweet December

/ inkspeare

Here in Southern Virginia, December is milder in comparison to Jersey, however, when it is cold, you can feel it in your bones, deep in your bones. Sunday, I woke up in the middle of the night and looked through the window; it was snowing, a little surprise since we were not expecting anything in our area, and it had been raining all day. It was a decent dusting that certainly spoke of dreaming of a white Christmas.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. (Photo by M.A.D.)

Christmas decor has become simpler for us since we moved here, especially outdoors. Indoors, I like little touches here and there, not too much, a little something in each room. Life has become simpler in many ways.

I have always liked the look of two potted trees at each side of the front door, and a wreath, but I did not want to spend money on two artificial trees and large wreath, so I made mine. From time to time, I might find a little cedar tree growing in an area where it should not. I remove it and plant it in a pot until it grows large enough (about 12 inches) to be replanted in the perimeter of the property. I have been growing three tiny cedars that were about 2-3 inches when I found them, all on the same day. These have grown quite lovely. These grow fast. I planted one on a cement urn. It will become an outdoor Christmas tree. Now its branches are not strong enough to support a string of lights, so I attached a bow.

Little cedar growing to become a Christmas tree. (Photo by M.A.D.)

I planted the other two cedars on large pots and placed them at each side of the front door. These look lovely and will continue to grow. When these become too big for the porch, I will plant them on our property, and I will keep an eye for any little cedars that can take their place on the porch.

Little Cedars in training. (Photo by M.A.D.)
I made the wreath from recycled ornaments and greenery that I already had.

Here, December is a prelude to the colder months, and temperatures and weather are all over the place; one day could be freezing, the next day, very warm. Overall, I have found summer to be hot and humid, and winter, cold and wet, and not every year we get a considerable amount of snow. In fact, one year did not snow at all. I find the weather here very variable. Do I miss the Jersey blizzards? No, but I do miss other things.

A little stroll around town during the season is magical. The town dresses up for the holidays, and in a warm evening, it is enjoyable.

A little bit of history. (Photo by M.A.D.)
Lighting the lanterns in the evening is a Chatham tradition. (Photo by M.A.D.)
The many lights around town are just lovely. (Photo by M.A.D.)
Almost as if straight out of a Thomas Kinkade painting. (Photo by M.A.D.)
People love to see the decorations on this home. (Photo by M.A.D.)

Stores dress up their windows as well. I have fallen in love with the magic of this little town.

For me, December is also a month of deep reflection in many areas of my life. A month of planning for the new year and of dreaming as well. But most important, it is when I celebrate the birth of my King and Savior, Jesus Christ, reflecting in all that it means and also, all the joy and beauty of the season: friends, family, decorations, food, traditions … It is all good, all a blessing.

Photo by M.A.D.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 KJV

This will be my last post for this year. I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season. May your lives be filled with all the joy and love of God, and may your New Year be filled with all His blessings. Until next time.

Love and Light,

Maria Antonia Diaz

In Retrospect, and a Farmhouse Christmas

/ inkspeare

Just a few more weeks until the end of the year, and for us it means closing projects and getting ready for winter. According to The Old Farmers Almanac, we should expect a cold and wet winter. If they are right, that means planning ahead for many things such as pellet fuel and other weather-related items. During winter, the focus shifts from the outdoors to indoors, and all outdoor projects cease. In retrospect, what I have learned throughout the renovation process of this old farmhouse can be summed up in one phrase besides hard work, and that is adding value. For those not familiar with this blog – my husband and I purchased a dilapidated 1910 farmhouse and set out to fix it one step at a time, for the long term. At that point, there was not much value on the structure, but the land and a good foundation. We realized that anything we were to do to the structure would increase its value over time. Our main goal has been to build value over time. We had a minimal budget to make it livable, and from that point on to improve it. One of the things we focused on due to budget limits was to forgo “the fancy” and go for solid materials, whether recycled or new, and at a discount from various sources, preferably. We obtained materials through different venues: contractor surplus, Craigslist, discount stores, antique shops … and some we bought new from home improvement stores, but always minding sales and sticking to the budget.

At first, we prioritized on adding value vs curve appeal or latest trends. One of the main reasons for that was realizing that because we planned on living here for a long time, the newest and fanciest of materials would become “dated” over time, thus losing appeal for future buyers. It was the opposite approach to flipping a home, where the focus is to attract new buyers quickly. Adding value over time will continue to be the focus, until the time comes to sell, which will probably be in our late golden years. By now, we have more than tripled our initial investment, and we are satisfied with that. There is much more to be done “at budget,” however, always keeping in mind adding value. Curve appeal will continue to be added small bits at a time, which will enhance value. Adding value to a property can be done by adding features that stand the test of time or improving existing ones. Also, features that appreciate with time instead of depreciating. A good example would be adding land, or even building an addition that recuperates the initial investment plus, over time. Creating an attractive landscape is another way.

The concept of adding value can be applied to writing or anything in life. When I started this blog many years ago, I set out to write about two journeys at once, writing my novels and restoring this farmhouse. Both journeys have been rewarding and enjoyable; however, far from finished, more half-way into the journey. As long as I keep my focus on value and not on trends, quantity, or fast-paced agendas, I will be fine and on time.

I will share a few pictures of this old farmhouse decked for the holidays. It has been a long (and rewarding) way. Hope you enjoy them.

I hope you are inspired to give the old a second chance, and to keep on going toward your goal, whatever that might be, defying the odds.

I will end this post with a favorite quote.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7

‘Tis the Season

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It is the season to look up, down, and all around. No matter where we look, there is something to be seen. From meteor showers to leaves on the ground, critters looking for shelter, or the bright moon, to planets that look like bright stars; all of it is beautiful. There is also the unusual, the unexpected, like a spring flower coming up in the garden in the cold weather, or the late red rose that doesn’t wither after a frost. All of it, although simple, is wondrous.

A majestic morning moon peeking through the leafless branches.
That very bright star on a very dark night.
The same star (I think it is planet Jupiter) zoomed in.
The ground covered in leaves (for the third time).

Nature is ready to take a rest, but it is still whispering its wonders, and displaying its magic.

Garden Offerings, Better Late than Never, and a Thankful Heart

/ inkspeare
Yummy carrots (photo by M.A.D.)
Sweet potatoes that look like carrots (Photo by M.A.D.)

Here in the USA, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day very soon, on November 23rd. For many, it marks the start of the Holiday season; others call it Turkey Day, in reference to the main dish served, roasted turkey. When I think about it, there is so much to be thankful for, not only on that day, but every single day. From the moment I open my eyes to receive a brand-new day the simple blessings are many. Take a moment and think about it; even that first cup of coffee is a blessing not to be taken for granted.

It is easy to be thankful when everything is going well in our lives, but not so easy when things are not working as expected or when undesirable and sad events happen. It is then when a thankful heart, although difficult, will benefit us the most. It will open the door to peace within, even in the middle of the storm. Giving sincere and heartfelt thanks to our God when we feel “less blessed and challenged” will humble our soul and will be a step taken in order for us to appreciate what is good in our lives, which is plenty.

Being thankful in the midst of sad or painful situations is not easy, but it is a start, one that gets noticed by the same God that only wants to shower us with blessings. When everything is going fine in our lives, sometimes, we forget and take for granted many things, many people. We might want more, become unhappy with the status quo, and totally disregard our daily blessings. Sometimes, what brings us into focus are the same things we dread or fear, and those things become a tool to bring us back to a state of appreciation, and therefore, a grateful heart. Every day presents an opportunity to be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving Day!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.

Romans 15:13 NIV

The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made.

Psalm 145:13 NIV

Let us come before Him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 95:2 NIV

Welcoming Autumn

/ inkspeare

This year I have been in the mood for Autumn days. It is almost here, and I have enjoyed already a few crisp mornings, decorated a bit to enjoy the season, and collected a few veggies from the garden. Wild turkeys have been visiting, and I saw the first large flock of starlings flying by. This year, they did not stop here, but kept flying. I hope the next flock does; hundreds of starlings pecking on the grass is lovely to see. The birds are almost gone, and I have not seen a hummingbird in the past couple of weeks. A few leaves have fallen, and some trees are starting to change color. Nature is preparing for a new season. Just as in life, change is needed for a new season, even when transition might hurt. Rebirth always follows.

Love and Light

Farmhouse Project – The Side Entrance

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We are trying to finish a few projects that were scheduled for this year, and one of them was to fix the bottom part of the side entrance. Water accumulates when it rains, thus forming a puddle, and later on, it turns to mud. My husband worked on this project over the past weekend, and I love the result. One more item taken off the long list, and we are happy with that. There are still a few projects that were scheduled for this year but will have to wait until next year. We might be able to tackle one or two more, but not more than that. For the purpose of this post, and so that the reader can appreciate the before and after, I will share some pictures from the early days when we bought the old farmhouse showing that particular area as well.

The Process

First, my husband measured the area and built a frame, tested it, and later on, removed all the grass in that area and leveled the ground. Then, he attached and fixed the frame, poured cement, leveled the cement, scoured the sides, and let it set. It took a couple of days for it to dry. Last, he removed the wood frame, and cleaned the area. It was a simple process, but it took time. We decided to leave the steps the way they are now because they are in good condition, and so far, there is no need to redo them. We worked on these steps when we bought the place.

The Before

This was the condition of this area when we bought the old farmhouse. It’s been a long way. The two gargoyles go with me wherever I go.

One more project done on this old farmhouse. I hope that you enjoyed the pictures and reading about the process, and that it inspired you in some way.

Love and Light

Farmhouse Project: The Front Steps

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The long list continues to be tackled one item at a time as time and money allows, and with the help of the Lord. This project has been waiting for a while, mostly because we were not sure of what to do with the steps, and what would be the best economical way to fix them. If you know anything about construction or masonry, you will know that this type of work is very expensive, and we did not want to spend a lot on these steps that were functional but needed some help. My husband came up with a good solution, as well as under budget.

When we first bought the old farmhouse, the steps were broken as well as the entire porch, so we decided to patch things up as best as possible and paint them. For the purpose of this post, I will share the steps/porch from the beginning so the reader can appreciate the development so far. Most important is that we are happy with the results, and I think that my husband did a great job at it. I did not work directly on this particular last project, only appreciated the process and took pictures.

Here is a photo of the early days, as it was when we bought the derelict farmhouse.

The porch and steps of the old farmhouse, as it was when we bought it. The cement was broken, well, everything was. (Photo by M.A.D.)

In order to move things along the way, we fixed the porch and steps as best we could and painted them. Here is a picture of what we did in the meantime.

We knew that we needed a more permanent solution, eventually. Here is where we are today, and the process my husband followed to level the steps and build new steps.

First, he measured and built the steps using cement, and tiles that we had bought from a builder but did not use in the house remodel. (Photo by M.A.D.)

This is what the steps look like once the cement has cured. The steps are thick and heavy.

He measured, leveled, and filled the old steps in order to place the new ones.

The final result. Eventually, we will have to fix the porch floor by adding slate, but that is another project in its own time.

In the meantime, I was admiring a gigantic but beautiful slug that I saw by the side entrance. The next project will be fixing that area a bit better.

I hope that you enjoyed this project and became inspired with a little DIY.

Love and light.

Critters and Veggies

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The garden just started to give its loveliness; we had a late start, but this autumn seems promising. Lettuce is all done by now, and so are the potatoes, and the blueberries. Carrots are on the way. We are awaiting the ripening of the grapes, but the deer have been busy around the vine. (Photo by M.A.D.)
The hummingbirds have been very busy this year. Since moving here, this is the year when I have seen more of them feeding. That is just wonderful. (Photo by M.A.D.)
The tail end of a black snake on the porch. One thing I have learned since I moved here is to look before I step outside. On one occasion, as I was stepping outside by the side entrance, I almost got rammed by a leaping deer running from barking dogs I heard at a distance. His companion followed. It missed me by a few inches. The scared couple flew through the air. I thank God that I did not step out a second before. (Photo by M.A.D.)
And here is the black beauty going about her day. (Photo by M.A.D.)
Mama Turkey and her darlings made another visit. They have grown fast, and now they are less likely to follow her in a straight line. They are adorable. (Photo by M.A.D.)
And of course, my lovely crows, for whom I named this place “Black Crow Cottage.” I have observed different families raising the babies this year (at least three families, that I could tell apart by the size of the babies). They have been nesting nearby in the back woods. At times, the families are near to each other teaching the babies how to forage for food. In this picture you can see Mama Crow to the left; she is larger. (Photo by M.A.D.)

Hope you enjoy the images.

Love and Light.

At that Age

/ inkspeare
photo by Maria Antonia Diaz

I find myself at “that age,” when I finally feel that a bridge has been crossed, and the perspective from the other side of the bridge is very different from the side left behind. I can surely say that life takes a different meaning from that point of view. The things I wanted then are very different from the things I want now. One of “those things” that I have learned is to stop trying to “fix” people. What I thought in my younger years that people needed to hear, was not necessarily what needed to be said. Advice should not be given unless it is requested. Pretending to know what people need in their lives, how they should live or fix their problems, even when it is meant with a good heart, is wrong, especially when the advice isn’t requested. When we are young, we want to change the world and we might take that feeling and desire and translate it to offering wisdom from our “fresh” point of view, especially when the person is happy and satisfied with how a life is being lived. Why assume another person’s life is broken? Because it is not suitable to our standards? Why assume that our way is the only way, and the other person needs anything from us to be fulfilled, not left behind? Why “fix” their existence?

With age comes maturity. Many steps have been taken and the soles of one’s shoes are worn enough. I’ve stopped giving advice that is not solicited. I’ve stopped thinking that I have the right answer. I’ve learned that there is no need to prove a point, unless someone asks for my opinion. I’ve learned to love and shut up, to enjoy my way while accepting other people’s right to live their way without harming others, even when I don’t share their opinion of how they handle situations. There is a modern say, “You do you.” In a way, I understand it. It is not to say that I don’t care about what goes on, consequences, moral issues, the illnesses of a society … all of that is real, and needs to be addressed, first, in our life and circle, then by supporting the agencies that fight against the injustices and crimes committed in society, however, that is another subject, and very different from the topic of this article.

Crossing the bridge gave me a sense of peace and understanding of having been once at the other side. With peace comes understanding, with understanding, acceptance, with acceptance comes the realization that what I thought was good for me is not necessarily good for another in their own journey. Although many suggestions and opinions come from a place of love and genuine concern; however, it is not a “one fits all” reality. I might be hot-tempered at times, maybe somewhat opinionated, still dreaming of a better world, but no longer do I give or take unsolicited advice. The bridge has been crossed.

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye but do not notice the log that is in your own eye.”

Matthew 7:3 ESV

Farmhouse Project Update

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Finally, the stump of the old tree that was taken down is being honored. I felt so sad when I had to get rid of the very old tree. It was a liability and dangerously close to the house; besides, it was showing signs of disease. But the tree refused to go down; it came to life again. I thought of a way in which to make us both happy.

I trimmed its new branches. My husband built a replica of the farmhouse, and we placed it atop the trunk. He decided to paint the window trim blue as well. Our window trim is white, but we thought it would look better that way. The inside painted in yellow suggests that the lights are on. We added a few woodland critters, a welcome sign, a mailbox, and sitting arrangement on the porch. I recycled those miniatures from the faerie garden. I think he did a great job and I love it. (Photo by M.A.D.)
Side view. All materials, with the exception of the gray paint and clear coat, are recycled. We want to build or paint a faerie door on the trunk. (Photo by M.A.D.)
We added a color changing spotlight. I took this picture from indoors through the window glass at night (too many night crawlers around). The rosebush gives a nice touch to it. (Photo by M.A.D.)
Same view during the day. (Photo by M.A.D.)

This is a project that we had scheduled for some time this year. The original plan was to add faerie lights and a Clematis plant or a type of vine to the trunk; however, we thought that a spotlight would be better, and the tree branches that grew again took the place of the Clematis plant. Hope you enjoy reading about this project.

UPDATE

My husband finished the faerie door. All materials used are recycled. I think he did an awesome job. Love it!

Faerie door using recycled materials. Photo by M.A.D.