Love the Alaska backwoods trip with you. Even though it was just a visual, I enjoyed the narratives and ohtos. …since I always wanted to go to Alaska but never found the time, even though I have traveled to many wonderful places.
I Love how Ava is so curious and brave to put her in the water with sea creatures. Must have been a joy to see her test the waters of many adventures. She’s so sweet.
I love the fungus glasses on the tree….and you feel the wonders of nature first hand. How weird but wonderful…..even G*d has a sense of humor in His creations! Thanks for sharing your spring break!

Thanks for the Spring break outing – I had a good time. Ava is growing so quickly – too cute she is. God bless.

i love your blog, some day i hope to see alaska. have a happy spring!

Alex, God is not tsk-tsk-tsk-ing you. He is totally in love with you…more so than you are with your daughter, if you can imagine that! It’s an absolutely wonderful thing! I was raised Catholic and am a proud-to-be practicing Catholic. For Lent, I am giving up time…time to reflect on His word, time to reflect on myself, time to reflect on my relationship with Him, time to pray more. In the past, I have replaced a sacrifice of the typical food stuff with something that pushes who I am into a more positive place….for example, giving up complaining. I find those sacrifices more rewarding. When I fail, I don’t give up and God doesn’t give up on me either. Would you give up on your daughter if/when she fails? You are God’s daughter. He loves you no matter what…and there’s nothing you can do about it. 🙂 Many blessings to you and your family!

Alex, I just love posts with darling Ava! And tickle is the best word. I love that tickle is one of Ava’s first words. How fun is that? I get tickled over a lot of things… as a matter of fact, I usually get tickled over things that aren’t necessarily that funny! 🙂 But it sure makes the bumps in the road a little easier when we can laugh, huh? Thanks for this post… glad you are okay. I got a little worried when we got our email alert for your post… and it wasn’t there! 🙂 Stay warm. – Dori, the Ranch Farmgirl –

February has been the “month of mishaps” here… one after another…and thank goodness this month is about gone. I’d gladly send you the snow and ice we have had as well as the bitter cold temperatures! West Virginia isn’t supposed to be undergoing an ice age but it sure acts like it! and if someone tickled me, I would NOT laugh. That is one thing that I have always HATED and I never did it to my babies!

Somehow I missed the blogs before valentines day….but you tickled my heart….ava is so cute, she tackled my memory of the days when my kids were that small. Love his she is so curious and searches out fir those little things that can be irritating if were not feeling up to par. Its the winter dreads due yo the lack of Don, but you got your sun! Ava! Enjoy her because she will grow up and move away, enjoy her irritating tackling curiosity charm, fir she us a charmer.

You know those dreadful feelings could be due to insufficient sun ….you sound like you need vitamin D….you need MORE in the winter months. I Been there and notice this…..did you know anyone living in the northern hemisphere deal with this….get 2000mg of vitamin D a day and those yucky feelings of the blues will go away! Then you will be truly ticks pink and not in the blues, then things went be so irritating. If that’s not enough try L_tyrosine, that makes you feel better too. Be cause MST people get down in he drums n the feeling department. Oversees emotions can do that to you….kids can overwhelm you by all the caring you do fir others. It will take approximate be to two months before you feel less irritated. Then you can really enjoy just looking at Ava! Me smiling, days get better….spring will be here soon…

Happy Birthday Ava, We share January as our Birth Month, Mine was the 24 and I like January. I happen to be born many years before you are your Mother and father were even thought of. LOL Just wanted to wish you “Happy Birthday” and many more Butterflies. Keep that sweet smile. you are Precious. Hugs Juanita farm sister #1020

I love your stories. You do such an awesome job. I admire someone who can put such feelings down on paper (or ??). I love babies, so have greatly enjoyed your keeping us all posted on your daughter’s growth. Awesome!!!!
much love and hugs

Happy birthday to the little one…I think its so beautiful to bring such joy into other peoples lives. Hope you make it more secure for her and cement it with your continued love. Love is beautiful when its more secure. She is do beautiful. Its how God meant it to be….wholesome and enjoyed to its fullness. Glad to see the fruit in of love.
Love the/first horse. Cute photo. Eva is so beautiful.

I love your Farmgirl stories, but this is the best. Your Ava is a lucky girl. Love and hugs to all of you, and Happy Birthday to your little one. May your year ahead be full of more firsts and more sleep!

lWell dern it! This made the little ole lady tear up! Alas, my oldest daughter, born 1/21, turned 40 (OMG!!!) this month. And yet your article brought back all the sweet memories and a few tears of those first years. And ya know, it doesn’t change as the years quickly fly by…you will still feel that incredible pride and joy in your child regardless of the age. Thank you for a lovely walk down memory lane and Happy Birthday all you January babies! Blessings in all of your endeavors!

If you get a fever this winter, soak some slices of unpeeled potatoes in a bowl of
apple cider vinegar for about 15 min.
Take them out, put them in your socks on the soles of your feet.
Within a few minutes your fever will drop to normal.
My husband tried this after otc meds wouldnt bring down my 103 fever, and I was talking out of my head.
The next morning, I was surprised to stand up with vinegar soaked potatoes in my socks but well. That remedy brought down my fever in 15 minutes.
It really works!
Wishing you and that sweet baby health and happiness…..Diana, Noel Mo.

I also prefer natural remedies, and self healing. Some things I’ve had luck with are as follows:
If the ears get involved, I soak two small cotton balls with onion juice, and place one in each ear. Incredibly it takes away the pain, and draws out infection.
For sinuses, crush a clove of garlic, and breathe deeply through your nose. I have also added crushed garlic to olive oil, and smeared it on my chest during a particularly horrible cold!
Also never underestimate the power of hot lemonade with honey and a shot of Jack Daniel’s! It makes you sleep and it makes you sweat out toxins. Plus for just a bit, the whiskey makes you feel less like you’re dying! But no more than twice a day, otherwise you’re just masking the symptoms, and might as well go ahead and use the cold medicine. (shudder)

What I have sounds nothing like what you have. I just have a common cold and on day 5, it’s following the typical pattern of going away on days 5 and 6 before I wave bye-bye for good. I have a barrage of herbal treatments that I do, which may do nothing, but it makes me feel like I am doing something. The absolutely most awesome thing I take is medicinal mushrooms. I’ve tried several brands and the hands-down winner is MycoFormulas Immune Defense. I’ve warded off many colds by taking this at the very first suspicions that I might be getting sick. Honey is a huge relief straight from the jar for sore throats and coughs. Of course, I take a bunch of other things….echinacea, goldenseal, elderberry, andrographis, and astragalus….and tons of Vitamin C. This time I added zinc at the urging of my boyfriend. Soups full of garlic, lemon, ginger, and shiitake mushrooms always make me feel better. And a hot steamy shower clears up the sinuses. When things get sticky at the end, the netti pot is a godsend. TerraFirm Botanicals “Root It Away” cough syrup works great for coughs….I get it from Mountain Rose Herbs. And I do admit that I take phenylephrine. It is non-drowsy and takes care of sniffles or stuffiness…and in the nose spray form, it works miracles. I do believe that getting sick now and then is really good for our immune systems, but there is a limit to how raw my nose can get before I reach for a little help from the medicine cabinet…and it really makes life tolerable. Stay warm, keep away from other people, and don’t push yourself at the end or you will relapse. And just think of how strong your immune system will be after this ordeal!!

We are faithful neti-ers at my house. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t ALWAYS take a peek to see what’s come out. Hope you feel better soon!

I love to make a steeping pot of wellness tea….fresh chopped ginger, garlic, lemon an cayenne and just a touch of honey….it works wonders!!

I use Homeopathics – any of the Hyland’s brands that pertain to what you have. I also use Young Living Essential Oils – Thieves Oil (Throat-in water or drop on tongue&Rub on Chest-use neat) , Lavender(chapped lips, inflammation, nausea, laryngitis, sleep aid-use neat or diluted), Frankincense (asthma,coughs-use diluted in an organic vegetable or coconut oil), Lemon Oil in water with local honey (whiskey too if you like it). You can check out on google. These oils are my 4 favorites when sick.

Happy Hugs From The Ozarks For This New Year!
Loved your thoughts and your pictures of your life with your family.
Your dog looks just like mine, his name is Noel. We found him a few days before Christmas 9 yrs ago, hit by a car in town as we walked down Main St. We took him home with expectations to have to have him put down after the weekend, but instead he improved so much so fast, that you would never know he was ever hurt!
What a joyful Christmas present he was for us then, and today!
Took Yoga many yrs ago in high school, never knowing how today it would help my rheumatoid arthritis fight today, 43 yrs. later!! Thanks for reminding me to stick with it!! Diana, Noel, Mo.

Just looked back on my journal and my “word” for 2014 was organize. I did good in January, then must have forgotten about my word because no more organizing was done all year. No need to pick a new word this year..I’ll continue on with organize and hope to do better. Love your blogs..i live in west central Minnesota

Dear Alex, I loved your New Years post. And I really loved all the sweet pictures. Here’s looking forward to longer days, huh?! 🙂 – Dori, the Ranch Farmgirl –

Dear Alex, So I HAVE been doing Yoga and I didn’t even know it! Max and I are down on the floor together at least once a day! Ha! I’m with you…more cuddles, more kisses, more laughter, more fun, less worry…more daily JOYS! My word for last year was soar. I did some soaring, some gliding, some flying and some flapping. There may have been a few rough landings in there too… Oh, well… we are only human after all! Warmest wishes for a Happy New Year! Deb ( the Beach Farmgirl )

I loved this review of resolutions! And how true they are – so many made, so many fall by the wayside. But these are easy to follow or to use to germinate new resolutions (such as, “I will draw more”, “I will read at least one best seller that is not a seed catalog”) Thank you for such a lovely bit of a read. Wishing you a wonderful new year full of blessings, art, fun and just a little bit of whimsy! P.S. I am a knitter! And we love to knit for wee heads like your daughter has!

Love, N

I really enjoyed your blog today. Made me smile and even laugh (not AT you, WITH you!) I have to say yours is one of the only blogs that I try to read religiously when it comes in my email box. You brightened my day today. Thanks!

Way to go, Alex!!! with all the sewing. Merry Christmas to y’all. God Bless.

What wonderful precious memories you are making with your family. That is the heart of the farmgal. After 49 years I still make a snafu every year in someway. As the Amish say “it keeps me humble and thankful”. Merry Christmas and God Bless you three.

This was a perfectly charming and uplifting post. I meant to start my day with some Advent reading from the Scriptures, but checked my e-mail first and found this gem. We’ve been putting Christmas trees up for 36 years and this year one of ours fell over as we tried to adjust it. The water was already in the stand and it spilled all over our floor. It was quite a job trying to scoot this giant balsam (I misjudged the size also) around so as to dry the wood floor underneath. It did dawn on me that maybe we are getting too old for these live trees, but now that they are up and looking beautiful, maybe not.
God bless you and your family.

Alex, I love your honesty and humor and I laughed through your post. You did a wonderful job on the aprons and I’m so glad you did not burn down the yurt in the process. Always enjoy your writings (I can sew, but do not have the knack at writing that you do – see we all have our gifts!).
Enjoy all the wrappings with your little family (pun intended) and safe travels.
Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Actually to be able to take an object (such as a book or another apron) is very talented when it comes to sewing. You have a good eye!! And a beautiful baby!!! I imagine that grandparents are excited about little Ava coming to visit!!! Happy Holidays!

Alex, This post was a delight…I giggled ( along with you ) through most of it until I got the part where you caught the bag on fire… Then I got worried! LOL! You can blame that on the fuzzy brain you acquired after Ava was born. As a mother your intuition will bloom and grow but darned if you won’t lose your common sense from time to time! I think your Christmas is perfectly Wilder! You’ve got it right and you are TOO crafty! Your aprons are fantastic and ORIGINAL. Don’t be so hard on yourself girl! It’s great Evan is so helpful and knowledgeable. Blessings to you and your sweet little family…
Love your posts!
Deb ( Beach Farmgirl )

Your apron looks great!! High five 🙂

You did a great job. Seeing without a pattern sounds like something I’d do. I’ve sewn lots of things that way and they always turn out just fine lol. Well done. Love your tree, Ava sure looks a cutie, and the aprons. Sewing by headlamp is pretty cool 🙂
Happy new year
Denise
Australia

Reading your post was totally amazing. I have been sitting at this same job now for about 21+ years and how I envy your life style. I went to Alaska two years ago, but from a tourist point, no hiking and getting into the wild. Once you get past a certain age you are afraid to do anything mainly fear of the unknown. I commend you for all that you do for yourself your family and your surroundings. Wishing you the best always. Maria

Hey Alex! You DO look happy out on the trail and so does Ava and your pooch! Reading your post reminded me of the hiking my hubby and I used to do in the Sierra Nevada’s. We hiked Mt. Rose ( a great day hike) with great friends one day with a reward of bbq ribs at the end of the day. Boy did we need it… Trail mix and water only go so far on an 8 hour hike! We also mountain biked, canoed and cross country skied too! It seems like forever ago.. These days our walks are mostly on the beach but you post has inspired me to get out and discover some of our forest walks/hikes. Yes! Even in winter! Max our corgi and my moms dog Barkley would love it! I miss wondering off the beaten path and getting to know a different piece of land well. Blessings to you and your sweet family! Love, Deb, the Beach Farmgirl!

Alex, what a great post with beautiful pictures! And your precious little Ava is just such a doll baby. Where in Utah were you when you lost your campsite?! My husband and I lived in Southern Utah for 27 years. Raised our kids hiking all over the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (our property actually bordered it). My son also rode his horse for miles and miles in the Monument land. He “rescued” a number of tourists that, unfortunately, relied on their GPS to get them where they were going and got lost, stuck, or ran out of fuel in that vast Monument land. You can probably relate to that in Alaska too huh? Loved your post. – Dori, the Ranch Farmgirl –

I love your post. I am still working on the splitting wood thing. I always shut my eyes.. You give me hope.

Good morning Alex,

What a beautiful post. There are so many things I would like to comment on that you wrote, that I don’t know where to begin. First about the daily routines that you are going through raising a family and the daily chores that come with it. I have two boys and I had them while I was working at a very stressful job with one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the country. I do CSI in a forensic laboratory and have done so for over 26 years now. (Hopefully retiring to Montana very soon) And I remember going out to numerous crimes scenes in the worst neighborhoods and processing them. After I was done and had packaged up all the evidence, coming back to the laboratory, going over all the photographs, making sure I had gotten everything I needed, writing up the field notes, etc.. I could not wait to get back home and do all the “daily” chores that keeping a home requires. I could have had the most worst day with my two boys at home that I would never trade for the best day at work. Being at home grounded me against all the craziness I saw in the world. And nothing at home would ever be as stressful as one day at work. I loved doing all those chores at home. And yes I would love to chop wood any day. It is a stress relief. It is good work, healthy and rewarding in the simplest and deepest of terms. I guess I saw both worlds, those of the work force and the life of a parent at home. I have to say, I would chose the life of a parent at home. This is the most rewarding. Your analogy of the life of a tree is so much like the life of us… (Note: I have also felt the same way when reading, “The Giving Tree” to my boys to).

There are no words that I can say here regarding your article that come close to how your article made me feel this morning. Just amazing!!!

Deborah

One of my favorite photos which was on a postcard, is an old-time lady in a long, dark dress, out in front of an old farmhouse. She has an axe held high, which is taller than she is, and is splitting wood! The caption is, “Frailty, thy name is woman” supposedly by William Shakespeare. I,too, love trees, and when the forest behind my house was being clear-cut for pasture, I rode my horse there for the last time on the needle-covered roadbed under the tall, beautiful pines, and apologized… After it was over, I felt as if I were on the moon, and seldom went back there. Not much later, I moved away. But that is an experience I will never forget. “Progress” is often painful. I loved your “tree” pictures and enjoy your stories of your life in Alaska. Thank you.

Alex, I LOVED THIS POST!!!! 🙂 It made me smile through the whole thing. It also made me want to go get that book – like right now. I’m headed to New Mexico for a month with my folks, think maybe this book just might be the ticket while I’m there. Well, I better run. I’m “busier than a one armed paper hanger”! 🙂 – Dori, Ranch Farmgirl –

P.S. That darling baby of yours? I could just squeeze her.

Goodness! I don’t think I have been privy to that many cliches in one article ever. Laughed most of the way through it and want to commend you on a great job.

Ava is certainly growing and she was always cute, but, hey, she may be getting cuter!
lol Moms are always biased. I always enjoy seeing her pictures.

Precious baby!!! Little sweetheart!! Love the aerobics instructor outfit!

Snug as a bug in a rug, that is!!!
xo Deb