Happy 2025!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Things are humming along pretty darn easily around here. The weather has been extremely mild, and all the horses are out together, healthy and happy. I wouldn’t complain if deep winter skips us. 

I go back and forth to the barn everyday, but mostly to take care of my old barn cat, Tuffy, and to practice the flute in my barn music room. 

Tuffy is almost 14 now, and I love having him out there with me. He’s a bridge between the past and present, as I can still remember Cowboy watching over them as kittens. 

The barn room addition was the highlight of 2024. 

Looking out the window from the barn room at sunset. 

It quickly morphed into a music room when I rediscovered my love for the flute after a FORTY year hiatus. Apparently, the piano and guitar weren’t filling the need I had to wail with the woodwinds. I had to buy a student flute to get started. I did that February 2024. I became obsessed with relearning and playing, and by October upgraded to a very magical, beautiful instrument, which has captured my heart even more. When we travel, I miss it and long to get home. 

I don’t know where this flute journey is going to lead me, but there is a flute choir in our city that I’m watching with great interest. 

My barn is a magical place for me: music, Old Mr. Tuffy, my sweet horses, and the barn garden, …quietly awaiting spring. 

The apples from this little tree became daily treats for my herd in late fall. The memory of them eating apples from my hand is a sweet one, indeed.

Oh, the memories of fresh herbs, flowers and tomatoes.

 

It truly is my Sanctuary. 

My husband loves it, too, and we often remark that we could happily live in our barn. 

Our daughter and grandson still live here with us, and we have become quite addicted to him. He left for five days during Christmas and I don’t know if we’ve ever felt so bored. There was plenty to do, of course, but it’s like the spark had gone out of our home. 

We certainly did NOT ask for these circumstances, but we don’t know any other way except to turn sadness into joy. It’s like the fable of turning straw into gold. We didn’t ask for it, but we are DAMN well going to turn it into a blessing. It might take a little time, a little faith, a little ‘one foot in front of the other,’ but with love and dedication—it happens—you go BEYOND mere healing to something much greater. 

Would I have returned to the wailing instrument if I hadn’t needed, so deeply, to speak music out of my brokenness?

Probably not. 

And what a horrible tragedy that would have been, as returning full circle to the flute can now be counted one of the best decisions of my life. 

I can imagine my dad smiling next to me when I play. He and my mom didn’t have much money, but they bought me my first flute on payments, and it opened the door to a life of music and many other musical instruments.

Interesting tidbit: a couple months after returning to flute, I looked down at it and noticed the 222. I had bought a Yamaha 222 student flute without even realizing the significance. It’s like I had been blind and suddenly could see. That is the number my family holds dear as a “message” from my dad. Just further confirmation that it is ALL connected. 

I look forward to 2025 and EVERYTHING it will bring, and I wish the same for all of you. 

If you do stop by to say hi, please give me an update of your own happenings!