Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Dreaming out Loud!

As the years go by and Curt's retirement creeps up on us (only 2 years away), we find ourselves talking about the future, where we're going, what we're doing, where we will be living, what kind of house we want to buy. It thrills me, it gives me chills because it will be our first home together and we have the chance to get exactly what we want, it's like getting your dreams and making them a reality.

As we talk about these things, we sometimes just chat back and forth about the kind of house we want to own and we're both on the same wavelength because we're thinking about something between a cottage, farmhouse, ranch house kinda thing. We want land, we want space, we want a chicken coop with chickies running around, we want fruit trees and we want veggie gardens and a porch and big windows and a fireplace and my dream kitchen. But we're also realistic and we know that chances are.....BIG CHANCES.....that the home we buy may not be exactly all we want it to be at first, but that's what makes it more exciting right? Knowing you can build it whichever way you want it.

So I'm dreaming out loud today, I'm throwing it all in here, the first step is to know what you want and then you work towards making it happen. Mind you, what you'll see here may make you shake your head at times, but that's what makes dreaming fun because there's no limitations on what you can have.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Oh it's just what I envision,I think it would make me really happy to drive into our own Ranch one day....I can almost smell the fresh air.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Yeah, this would definitely make me smile.

You think this chicken coop is big enough *snort*

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

And this is how you know it's a dream, because we all know how well I do with keeping plants of any kind alive LOL

But hopefully one day, I'll have a beautiful vegetable garden.

http://www.calfinder.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/vegetable-garden.jpg

The kids of course, want a horse....which I guess in a way is my dream too, I've always wanted a big property with horses and goats running around LOL

I'm sorry, I'm starting to laugh because I just picture myself amongst the goats probably freaking out everytime one came my way.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

All joking aside, how amazing would it be to wake up every morning and walk out onto the porch with a beautiful view, hot cup of coffee in your hand and nothing but the sound of the animals around you?

Image and video hosting by TinyPic


But for now, I'm moving away from the dream and tuning back into reality, where my wonderful family, my crafting, my cooking and my homemaking surround me, bringing me joy no matter where in the world I'm living.

Like the looks on my children's faces when they went off to school this morning wearing their new gloves and smiling because mommy made them.....no matter that I was up late just to finish them because the reward I get is worth every minute of lost sleep.

Photobucket

Photobucket

So simple and easy to make and the kids LOVE them...they were very impressed because as they said "wow, I can still play and write like this". Yes, Yes you can :)

I've started on another pair for Jasmine, she's requested ones that go all the way to her elbow, apparently it's in fashion, so she says LOL

In the middle of all this knitting frenzy, I sent off Curt to pick up the kids from school yesterday afternoon, while I fixed some Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting...it was their afternoon snack and boy were they happy.

Today is going to be filled with cleaning, menu planning and grocery list making and computer searches for the perfect laptop for me. It will be my first, I've always had a desktop but I find myself missing the ability to carry my puter with me wherever I go, to be able to fix dinner while working on the next recipe for the blog, or to check email while sitting in bed under the warm covers.

So I'm on the lookout for my very first laptop, I don't need it to have all the bells and whistles but there IS one specification I told Curt I absolutely need. It HAS to be pink! He called me "such a girly sometimes" LOL Yes I am!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Tell me that is not the cutest thing?

Oh and I'm also working on making a list of things we need to replace in the home, or buy, or bills we want to pay off completely, for when the tax return comes in.

This year we won't be able to make it to South Africa, so we're staying close to home and planning just a short vacation, maybe a trip to the beach in California OR a camping trip in the mountains OR 2 weeks of just cramming in as much entertainment nearby as we can...day trips, trying out new diners and restaurants, hitting the Theme Parks or who knows?

But yeah, to get any of that done, I do need to get off this computer, as much as I wish I could stay and chat the whole day....but look, you're free to stay and relax, I'll even leave you some Pumpkin Cupcakes and hot cuppa.

Photobucket

31 comments:

Lulu said...

oh Sandra, i just love coming by..YOu always put a smile on my face..I love your dream home...

i love the knitted gloves, so cute..Keep on knitting you do great work..
I love the pink laptop, too cute..
have a wonderful day...
hugs,

The Raggedy Girl said...

Love the girly pink laptop but I am a MAC girl and would never switch. Isn't it wonderful to dream about your home. You might want to go to HGTV and enter to win the dream home. It is in California this year but you could sell it and then move to Idaho.
Roberta Anne

Jill said...

My husband and I definitely dream about living on a ranch out west some day, too. I am certain I am a cowgirl in a city girl's life. ha! In fact, we almost bought some ranch land in Colorado last year but decided against it. (And those cupcakes look delish!)

Christy said...

Oh, I love your dream home too! That entrance is so inviting. If you ever get it, I suggest you open up a bed and breakfast and feed us visitors pumpkin cupcakes, they look wonderful.

Anonymous said...

By gum, that chicken coop is bigger than my house!

I hope you do get your perfect ranch you certainly deserve it...or you could come to England and get a little cottage...and then I could visit and eat your cakes! :)

Love and hugs

Sarah x

Barbie @ Mamaology said...

How fun to dream! You motivate me to bake more.... I LOVE too, just never take the time. I think my family needs some pumpkin cupcakes:).

Michele said...

It's funny that whenever I tell people I live in Montana, they automatically assume I live on a ranch, have horses, and own a few cows!! In reality, I share 8 acres with my parents, I live in a mobile home that I inherited from my grandparents, and the only animal I have is one very large, loveable dog. The views of the surrounding mountains are "to die for" though!
I leave you today with a couple of quotes:
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."
Epicurus (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you will die today."
James Dean (American motion picture actor, symbol of rebellion, 1931-1955)

Mari said...

I would love to live out in the country surrounded by nothing but land too! I don't think chickens or goats are on my list though. The gloves turned out cute and the muffins look sooo good!

Carla said...

If your going to dream, dream BIG! Love the gloves, love the cupcakes, and that laptop is 'perfectly pink':)

Christina said...

Me and hubby do the same thing. Dream about the house we will someday buy, and the place we will someday live, and wonder when that someday will be. I like the dreams you have and I am sure many of them will come true.

Yes I love the cute pink laptop. I have the pink razor phone so like you I love pink stuff.

PS I left you a little something at my blog when you get the chance check it out.

heidi @ ggip said...

I would love to have a garden like that too! A ranch sounds fun, but I have no idea how to run one.

A pink laptop would be awesome!

Cheri said...

Mark and I both would love a log home. There's just something so homey about log homes.
Probably will never happen- but I love dreaming about it!

Melonie said...

I think the quote from Marie are dead-on for what you've posted here....you really did a great job sharing about your dreams while reminding us about the dreams we are living right this moment (she says as the baby is napping and she's snacking on M&Ms lol). This was a FUN post to read. I really enjoyed it!

As for the pink laptop - I've seen Sony and Dell making them, and I think Mac does too! So you should be able to find one pretty easily that also has the other things you need. AS for me, my old Vaio died in November and my dad gifted me with a new one - in RED. EEEEEK!!! I'm so in love with it. And it matches my red cell phone (natch).

I hope you find the perfect laptop - and the perfect cottage/ranch/chicken coop etc. :-)

Anonymous said...

Your family's dreams are ALOT like ours ;-)

autumnesf said...

Ditto, ditto, ditto!!!!

No telling where exactly we will end up. Hubs assignment here is up in two years but really he could drop his papers at any time as he's on year 22 or 23 or something. Just when I got used to the idea of 30 he tells me maybe its time to get out.
He's so sweet -- he doesn't want to be moved to far from my mom since dad passed away.

Anonymous said...

Our dreams are very similar!

Wendi said...

Your dream house sounds wonderful! Many of the things you want are on my wish list also.

That is some chicken coop!

Tammy ~ Country Girl at Home ~ said...

Your dream house and land sound wonderful! I enjoyed the photos! The cupcakes look great too! My favorite type of cake is a spice cake with cream cheese icing, and I bet these taste similiar!

Tammy

Anonymous said...

I"m with you -- all my electronics need to be pink! ha ha So far it is the cell phone and digital camera - plus Em's dvd player and cd player she got for Christmas! She's a pink girl too!

I just love the gloves! I found out there is a learn to knit class not far from me! I am most definitely going to join someday!

Sherry

Blessed Beyond said...

I'm so glad to have stopped by. I love your dream home! It's beautiful! Your cupcakes sounds yummy! What a special treat! The kids gloves are awesome! I agree, the reward of seeing them so happy is worth it all! Love the pink laptop! I have a pink camera and pink cell phone. I tease hubby all the time that I need a pink laptop. Thank you so much for answering all of our questions! It was awesome!

Hugs and Blessings,

Katrina said...

Your dream home looks like mine!
As far as a laptop, I recommend Dell. They are the best for the money that I have found, and you can get a pink one! (The Inspiron are good computers, and are available in lots of colors.) =)

Keri said...

Those cupcakes look delish!

Only 2 more years till retirement? Wow! Lucky :) Sometimes I feel like *J* will never get there. We still have 11 years to go! I cant imagine ever settling down anywhere at this point.

Lara said...

Thanks for sharing your dreams. I love your dream home. And the gloves look so nice.

Stacia said...

What beautiful dreams Sandra.
I hope they all come true and in a few years you will show similar photos but with you and your family in them!

Anonymous said...

Your dream home sounds awesome! Two yrs will go quickly! I know your dh is AF, but what type of work does he do? What types of jobs is he looking at? That's one of my concerns for my dh. he's not concerned at all about starting to get an idea for what he'd like to do upon retirement. with him being away so much, there's not much opp to focus on that. i dont want to be struggling out in the civilian world!
Anyway, my dh would probably love to have your dream home! he's a country boy LOL! I grew up in a small town in kansas, but I'm definitely not a country gal. I consider myself not necessarily city, but more suburbs ;)
It's good to dream & I'm glad you & your dh share the same ones!

Have a blessed day!

Not Another Omnivore said...

The food and gloves look amazing!

NAOmni

Susanne said...

That's a lovely goal Sandra! There is something about being out in the country!

I'd love a dream kitchen too one fine day!

GranthamLynn said...

Oh Sandra...I just love coming by. I always like your new looks btw. I enjoyed reading about your dreams. I thought I was speaking; your dreams are just like mine. I loved all your photo's especially the chicken coop! Mine wouldn't include snow though!
Many Blessings to you. You always make me smile.

Michelle said...

Hi Sandra

The laptop is the way to go!!!To own a home would be heaven wouldn't it?have a good day.

gail@more than a song said...

Those are some great dreams! Fun times to look forward to.

Anonymous said...

I would love to see you post your pumpkin cupcake recipe. They look very good.