Houseboat Living

When I woke up I looked at the clock and Yikes it was noon! I NEVER sleep in this late, so it was a shock to me. I am taking the Ky. State Insurance exam on Friday morning and I need every minute I can get to study for it. I've been told that only about 30% pass. No pressure!

I am taking Brave Girls Art School and wanted to work on lesson one today. I guess I will sneak it in when I take breaks from studying.

So, while I go read this HUGE insurance manual you can read the next little piece that I wrote for Mary Jane's Farm. Have a great day!

We plan on living on a houseboat full-time eventually.

This is the small one that we have now.

We have this for sale and we hope to 

get the bigger one in two years.

Hey, howdy, and ahoy friends!

So, I know that you’re thinking “what is she going to be able to do on a houseboat?  ”Well as we all know, “Farm girl is a condition of the heart”, and not your location.  I am all about “Farm girl” both on my fifty acre sheep farm and on my 1971 River Queen Houseboat.  I will be sharing my adventures on my boat whether it’s art, decorating, crafting, cooking, or fishing. Since I do raise animals I will have to pop in on them and see what they’re doing every now and again, but will focus on the water life this houseboat season. (All of the animals except one ewe is gone now)

The first thing that you learn when you buy a houseboat is that there is always another one that is bigger than the one you already have that catches your eye. Of course that has already happened to me. I will be considering that new purchase as we go through the 2014 houseboat season.  In the meantime, here is a   picture of the River Queen. It is moored at a marina that is on Rough River Lake, a Corp of Engineers lake in McDaniels, Kentucky. There is fantastic fishing on this lake, great boat neighbors at the dock and always plenty of swimming, water skiing, and sun.

You’re free to come aboard!

I'm Back!

Okay everyone. It has been way too long since my last post! We have had a crazy year so far and I have been traveling, visiting Grandchildren, and trying to get my Kentucky Insurance License. It makes me tired to just think about all that has happened. I am getting it together and will be blogging regularly now.

I once submitted a few articles for the "MaryJanes Farm" magazine. She was looking for a few new bloggers at the time. I thought I would share them with you. So, here's one I wrote on "Balance".

Balance…….

I wear many hats. I am a Wife and the Mother of four grown children. I am the Grandmother of six small children. I own a farm with animals and gardens. I own an online business and have a passion for the water and crafting. Balance is something that is so important, but doesn’t always come naturally to me.

I think that it is a constant and ongoing process for all of us.  My biggest tools in maintaining my balance is first and foremost using my calendar. I make sure that I buy one that has large daily planning areas and put all important dates, appts.,deadlines, and call backs in first. My housekeeping chores are set up in zones and each week one zone is covered. I use stickers to color code personal, business, recreational, and chores. Planting schedules are also included on the calendar.

The next thing and is the most important is for you to make time for yourself. I understand that it is often easier said and done. If you don’t take care of yourself then nothing seems to come together and it is easy to get overwhelmed. Make yourself a priority and put yourself on the calendar! Schedule a date night or friends night out. Catch up on some recreational reading, or get/give yourself a manicure. Reward yourself for all that you do for your family, friends, and co-workers. You’re worth it!  ~ Deborah

A New Adventure Awaits......in North Dakota?

North Dakota you say?  What is in North Dakota? In a word....work. We are going where the work is for my Husband.  This is not a new concept to me I must say, as I was a military wife for many years. Still, it is a lot of hard work getting ready to do a cross country move. Well, it's a half the way across the country anyways.

This is a picture of a house that we are looking at out there. It has 4 bedrooms and 1.5 baths.  Compared to our small Kentucky house of only 950 sq feet it will seem like a mansion! It sits on 2.3 acres so there's room for a nice garden. There is also a closed in Gazebo that would be nice in the summer time.

There has been a water feature and a fire pit added in the back yard. The property in the back is farmed and any development coming in is highly unlikely. The previous owners did quite a few improvements to this house already.

The kitchen has a commercial triple sink and a six burner stove. Nice!

There is plenty of room for an art studio, my spinning wheel, and loom.  I don't know if we will buy it or not, but when I saw it all I said was wow.  We'll see I guess. In the meantime there is plenty to do to get ready for the move.  Decisions to be made, animals to be sold, and belongings to be sorted and packed.  I better remember to take my long johns!


Update to Post

I have returned to Kentucky for the Summer while Mark is working outside of Minot.
We are putting our farm up for sale as well as the houseboat. There is only one Merino/Ramboulet Ewe left. She needs a good home.

Bajidoo Bangle Give Away!

Let's get this blog off to a good start this year by having my first give away!


This is a Bajidoo Bangle. Hand made. Very pretty!  So here are the rules:


1~     chance for every "like" on our facebook page (which is also having drawing for every 100 "likes") 
2~     chances for mentioning my contest on your own blog
2~     chances for becoming a member on this blog
2~     chances subscribing to our newsletter

Leave a comment to let me know which of these you have done and Good Luck! Winner will be drawn on Wednesday January 11th in the evening.


Thank you for all of your sweet comments and for participating in the drawing......the winner of the bangle is.......Maggie Barbour!!! Enjoy Maggie!

Happy New Year!!

New Years Eve is a time for reflection, hope, and for a few, even regret. But the new year holds an opportunity for a year of "firsts".  All over the world a new year is beginning. A clean slate. Take a chance this year. Make it count.  I hope that each and every one of you have a safe and prosperous new year as you begin the new chapter of your life.

Life Book 2012

It's almost time to start this amazing journey and www.HippieChickArt.com is going to carry all of the art supplies needed for this year long class as we can! We will offer specials for this class, so keep an eye out for details.

Here we go!

I have registered for the Life Class 2012 and am super excited to start that!  I am participating in a "journal swap" with 22 other artists.  It is a year long project as well.  I have opened the online art supply store www.HippieChickArt.com and am always doing something to add to, improve, change, stock, ship, web work, emails, etc..  That has had a sharp learning curve for sure!  I started the new p/t  job @ Kohls last night. It paid off already though! I got a $140.00 mini duvet set for $21.00. Yay!  I will probably spend all of the checks from there right in the store!  


This is all combined with my regular art, Christmas presents, journaling, and my farm! Whew!
Time for a nap....if I had time for a nap!