Starting my blog

Ok, not always so good about documenting things. I used to journal all the time as a kid. But as an adult I have gotten a little away from writing. But I have a lot of changes coming my way and I think this will be a good outlet for letting off some steam during those changes and good ways of documenting my thoughts ... the good, the bad, and the ugly!!

Dearest hubby will retire in June 2010 from the US Navy and we have the undaunting task of going from a scheduled life to a more relaxed civilian way of life. Since this is all either of us has known in our life for ages (I joined the military in 92 and then married into it in 94. Been on both sides of the fence. Dear Hubby has been in the military for almost 22 years now!!), it is going to be a big change. Hubby has the opportunity to go to school for free (his residential state of IL offers free school to their veterans if they return to IL within 6 months of getting out or retiring from the military) so we are jumping on it. Between his retirement and GI Bill, we should manage to squeak by.

That being said, we are lucky that my mother in law has a home in a VERY VERY small town next to the little bit larger town she currently resides in with her dad, my grandpa in law. She has offered us the opportunity to live in this home rent free but it needs a lot of work (which me and dear hubby have no qualms about doing) and it is much smaller than we are used too but you cannot pass up the opportunity like this! Both my husband and I can be creative in many ways and my mother in law is super creative so slowly we should turn that house around. Plus we have the opportunities to use some green ways to make the home better.

Also the house sits upon 3 acres .... that is totally awesome for a girl like me who has always thot the postage sized lots we have managed to rent were a god send!! With the arrival of a mother in law that loves to dabble in gardening and landscaping, I have picked up the love of gardening in the past few years. This year has been one of my most successful years as I grew tomatoes, blackberries, green peppers, gypsy peppers, and cucumbers. My strawberries weren't quite as successful this year as dear hubby had weed whacked them down this past spring ... therefore it was like starting from square one. So I am looking forward to growing an outstanding garden next year ... hubby and I are on our way to researching the proper way to lay out a garden (companion gardening especially) and grow it. We have big plans to say the least!! LOL

Also on the agenda is keeping some chickens for eggs. As much as I would love to provide my own meat, I just could not imagine raising a chicken with the intention of eating it. I am just not emotionally set up that way!! LOL But to be able to provide fresh eggs ... I am so looking forward to this adventure. It is going to be so much work it is scary but will be so self satisfying. We are already researching chickens and chicken coops (we have decided to build our own) and how to manage them.

I am a city girl on my way to being a country chick. I look forward to learning many things (I get to learn to can and preserve next year with my mom in law ... I have always wanted to learn to do that since canning some tomatoes in high school home ec class!!) and learning to sustain life in a more basic way. My sewing has already gotten better so that I can make my hubby and I our own clothes and clothes for dogs!! LOL

I am anxious to see my dogs have a HUGE fenced in yard to occupy their free time with. They too have been accustomed to small yards for the past 5 years ... they will not know what to do with themselves with such a large yard and freedom to do things in it!!

So here starts my blog ... my way to major changes ... possibly the loss of my sanity ... LOL ... but nonetheless, big changes and lots of chances to learn new things ... here is to living, learning and loving my life!!