The Past Year…
This past year has been an eventful year for myself, as well as the Man. Together, we worked very hard at making new goals, and even harder at achieving them. Many hours each day were spent remodeling the barn and putting up fences to make a home for our soon to arrive horses. When they finally did arrive after many setbacks, we knew our lives had forever changed, and the path had been set. We are now making plans to add goats in the spring, and the coop is built and fenced in preparation for chickens in the spring. We planted a few more varieties of fruit trees, as well as added some rows of blackberries in the garden area. As usual, the Man also spent many hours canning the Fall harvest, producing enough bounty for ourselves and for friends and family. While we were making plans to become a farm, the Farm became us.
The past year showed a turn around in our lives outside of the Farm. For a few years, we had mostly turned inward, and had grown content to live the lives of hermits. The reasons for the self imposed seclusion are many, and certainly worthy of a good tell all, but those are stories for another day. We realized that we needed to learn to trust again, and to take chances with letting others into our lives. We’ve made some new friends this past year, one in particular that started out as doing the right thing, and turned into a friendship and a bond that will never be broken. We had friends that we had lost contact with come back into our lives, and we picked up right where we left off. Through my involvement with the Masons, I continued to find and befriend the good men and women that I had sought so hard to find, and my faith in humanity began to heal.
The beginning of 2011 also marked our tenth year together, and we began it as we have every year before. With love, respect, and endless laughter. We stood side by side and worked harder than we’ve ever worked before, and it made us stronger both as friends and as soul mates. A year later, the goals we achieved, as well as our dreams for the future, have given us a clear map of where our path leads. We ended 2011 and welcomed 2012 the same way we have every year…holding hands and sitting beside each other, giving thanks for another year together, and looking forward to what lies ahead for the coming year. The past year was a very good year, and the coming year looks to be just as promising. Come what may…and side by side…
Me and the Man... 
Don’t dare forget you promised me a bull for my birthday…sweetheart…love of my life 🙂
January 1, 2012 at 1:06 am
Oh jeesh…
January 1, 2012 at 1:10 am
Here we are at the start of a brand new year. I am amazed at what the two of you have accomplished in 2011. I look at all the fences and the barn and i see the spirit you both have to make a better life for two sweet horses. How tired, sore and worn out you must have been at time’s and yet the two of you just kept plugging away untill everything met your satisfaction. Your spirit’s would not let you give up untill everything was done and you could look back at all the hard work and think, it’s been a good year. I really admire the two of you for the good thing’s you do for other’s, how you respect one another. When i read your blog’s i can see in my mind’s eye what good people you are. I pray that the new year will be a little more relaxing for you both and that for me, i will be able to face what ever life bring’s me. Happy New Year to you both, with love.
Aunt, Ruby
January 1, 2012 at 6:56 am
Rick & Jack,,
I’ve really enjoyed reading the year end blog,,, To know that all relationships will endure set backs, disagreements, and yet the love that i see between the both of you, that has helped you acheive all of your accomplishments is an amazing thing,,, That makes me happy…
I’ve never met Miss Ruby but she seems like a lovely lady that has so much love for the both of you. Everytime I’ve read a comment that she has left, it’s always been very sweet words of encouragement. She seems to be a very open and positive person that has touched your lives in a very special way. Keep her close to your hearts and cherrish her with all your might, these are the types people we all need to have around us. I also think she is giving you (rick) a run for your money with the writing skills,,, LOL
To my good friends, I hope ya’ll have a big HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!
Love one another, treat each other with respect, and alway’s keep the doors of communication open
Your Friend
Curt
January 1, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Thank you, Curt…and a very Happy New Year to you as well, my friend! I hope the coming year is good to you and yours..
Aunt Ruby is a very special lady…you would love her immediately!
January 2, 2012 at 10:22 pm
Thank you, Aunt Ruby…It is for people like you that I write this blog, and I’m very happy that you enjoy them…and I have no doubt that you will be brave in the coming year…you’ve always been a strong woman that has handled everything handed to her with grace and style…I love you very much…
January 2, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Thank you Ruby, and thank you Curt for the incredibly kind words. And you are right Curt, about Ruby. She is a treasure and we know it. I love her dearly…as does Rick. Rick’s family has been an inspiration to me and came at a time in life where I had really lost faith that there were people like them left in the world. I could write a book about each one of them…they all helped me turn from a road I had gotten lost on and back onto a path I had given up hope on. Rick didn’t drop out of thin air…he came from a family that actually knows what “family values” are and that has to do with love, patience, and support for one another…and very little else.
January 2, 2012 at 10:37 pm