For the Land Lubbers

Are you a vacationer or a traveler?

Do you stick with the familiar...the safe...the known?

Or are you willing to explore,

to observe,

to go off the beaten path to find the authentic

to discover gems off the main roads,

and moments of beautiful simplicity?

You can guess what we are.

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Sharing with

Les Saintes

Iles des Saintes

Have you ever heard of them?

Three tiny French governed islands off  the coast of Guadeloupe commonly know as les Saintes.

Quaint, pristine and picturesque. 

Speaking French is as absolute must, so we only visited the town on the main island briefly.

Instead we ventured over to one of the other uninhabited islands where the sports crew from our pirate ship had all the toys and were just waiting for someone to come play.

So we snorkeled and sailed,

and on the advice of the the young crew hiked to the top of the island 

where we found the remnants of Fort Josephine.

Along with amazing scenery,

and a few wild goats.

So fun to go exploring and have the place all to ourselves.

Just an amazing day.

The Pirate Ship

We needed time. Away.

So very spur of the moment we found this ship, this adventure,
and set sail on what the grandsons dubbed
Marme and Papa's Pirate Ship.

In reality, it is the Royal Clipper the worlds largest full rigger.

We had never even been on a normal sized sail boat before.

A way out of the box experience for sure.

The lands we visited were interesting, but what I loved the most was the Sailing.

Feeling the wind.

Day or night.

Watching the crew work,

And having some fun as well.

This seaman looks like he might just have some great tales to tell

We pretended to be helpful.

Meandering into remote places had me in awe of the sailor's skills.

Off the beaten bath for sure.
Much more of the story to come, with many thanks to all who scrambled to help with people care and barn care and work responsibilities so we could embark.

Rest is a very good thing.

I've been away on a most incredible journey....

A Novice Shepherd and a Blizzard

It would have been nice to have had just a few inches of snow instead of over two feet to test my winter barn skills. I gave my small flock extra nice good orchard grass hay in their inside feeder, extra nice soft straw for bedding and hoped for the best. The sheep's heated water trough is outside and not movable so I had to leave the bottom half of the stall door open. It seems they didn't mind at all. I think a few might have even slept outside from the look of things... seeming to say Silly Lady. We are wool covered sheep. We are made for this weather!

 When it was all over, I shoveled a path out for them to get to their outside feeder, the former pig palace. 

I keep a round bale of mixed hay out there for self feeding when I am cityside. Not ideal for all that vegetable matter working it's way into the fleeces, but for this first year, it will have to do as I navigate my way through my duel life. 

But Hassie decided to make her own path.

Silly Shepherdess.

So all is well at Lindenberry Farm

Hope the same for you.

Let's all belly up to the snow bar!

The Calm After the Storm

The setting full moon early this morning above the two feet plus of snow that Mother Nature gave to us.

No matter what the season or the weather, this view from my kitchen sink window makes me smile. 

Hope all are well with you and yours no matter what you woke up to.

~Joan

So Grows the Family

New baby boy is home with his family.

And ready for a life time of love.

Welcome to the world Griffin Michael.

Marme loves you so.